13 – The Ḥadīth of ʿAlī

It is narrated by Ziyād ibn al-Mundhir, from Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥusayn, from his father, from his grandfather, from ʿAlī:

When Allah—exalted is He—willed to teach His Messenger the adhān (call to prayer), Gabriel came to him on a mount called al-Burāq. The Prophet tried to ride it, but the animal resisted, so Gabriel said to it, “Be still! By Allah, no servant more honoured by Allah than Muḥammad ﷺ has ever ridden you.”

The Prophet then mounted it and continued until he reached the veil that is next to the Most Merciful, exalted is He.

While he was there, an angel emerged from behind the veil. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked, “O Gabriel, who is this?” Gabriel replied, “By the One Who sent you with the truth, though I am the creature nearest in station, I have never seen this angel from the moment I was created until this very hour.”

The angel proclaimed, “Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great.” A voice replied from beyond the veil, “My servant has spoken the truth; I am the Most Great, I am the Most Great.”

The angel then said, “I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah.” The voice from beyond the veil responded, “My servant has spoken the truth; there is no deity but Me.”

The angel continued, “I bear witness that Muḥammad is the Messenger of Allah.” The voice replied, “My servant has spoken the truth; I am the One Who sent Muḥammad.”