Then it sped off with us, each hoof-beat landing as far as its gaze could reach.

We arrived at a land and he said, “Dismount.” Then he added, “Pray.” I prayed, after which we remounted. He asked, “Do you know where you have just prayed?” I replied, “Allah knows best.” He said, “You prayed in Midian, at the tree of Moses.”

Again the mount raced on, its hoof touching down wherever its sight extended.

We came to another land where palaces appeared before us. He said, “Dismount.” I dismounted and he said, “Pray,” so I prayed.

When we had remounted he asked, “Do you know where you prayed?” I replied, “Allah knows best.” He said, “You prayed in Bethlehem, where Jesus the Messiah, son of Mary, was born.”

He then continued with us until we entered the city through its Yemeni Gate,1 proceeded to the qiblah side of the mosque, and tethered the beast there.

We entered the mosque through a gate by which the sun and the moon incline.2