He was then carried up to the lowest heaven. Gabriel struck one of its gates, and the inhabitants of the heaven called out, “Who is this?” He answered, “Gabriel.” They asked, “And who is with you?” He replied, “Muhammad.” They said, “Has he been sent for?” He said, “Yes.” They responded, “Welcome and greetings to him!” The dwellers of that heaven rejoiced at his coming; the inhabitants of any heaven do not know what Allah intends to do on earth until He informs them.

In the lowest heaven he met Adam. Gabriel said, “This is your father; greet him.” He gave him the greeting of peace, and Adam returned it, saying, “Welcome and greetings, my son. What an excellent son you are!”

Still in the lowest heaven he saw two flowing rivers and asked, “What are these two rivers, Gabriel?” He replied, “These are the Nile and the Euphrates; their sources are here.”

He then moved on through the heaven and came upon another river1 beside which stood a palace of pearls and emeralds. He touched its water and found it to be the purest, most fragrant musk. “What is this, Gabriel?” he asked. Gabriel said, “This is al-Kawthar, which your Lord has kept in store for you.”

After that he was taken up to the second heaven, where the angels said the same as those of the first: “Who is this?” He replied, “Gabriel.” They asked, “And who is with you?”