S22 LIFE OF Mohammed. 



^0,000 heads, eacli head 70,000 faces, each face as 

 many mouths, each moutli as many tongues, and 

 each tongue spoke seventy thousand different lan- 

 guages, all of which were employed incessantly in 

 praise and adoration. This last and highest of the 

 celestial spheres was made of divine light: Here 

 was the abode of Abraham ; and, according to some, 

 Of Jesus Christ, who is alleged to have treated Mo- 

 hammed with the same respect as the other pro- 

 phets.* 



Having penetrated to the lotus-tree (Al Sedra)^ 

 \vhich is the utmost limit of created knowledge, the 

 boundary of these delicious regions, beyond which 

 no angel dares to pass, Gabriel took leave of his 

 fellow-traveller, commending him to the protection 

 of superior spirits during the remainder of his jour- 

 ney. Continuing his march through ranks of glori- 

 fied cherubim, and crossing two seas, one of light and 

 one of darkness, the solitary prophet passed the 

 70,000 veils of separation, each being a journey of 

 500 years in tliickness, and the same in distance 

 ■between them. They were composed, some of 

 darkness, others of fire, snow, water, ether, and 

 bhaos. Fmally, he pierced the veils of beauty, of 

 perfection, of omnipotence, of singularity, of im- 

 mensity, and of unity. When the last of these was 

 raised, 70,000 spirits were seen prostrate before the 

 throne, which was surrounded by a light of the 

 most dazzling brightness; A voice commanded 

 ■ him to draw near ; on wliich he advanced till within 

 two cubits, or bows' length, of the Divine presence; 

 As a mark of liis favour, the Almighty, we are in- 

 formed, laid his hand on the prophet's shoulder, 

 when a feeling of intense cold thrilled to the mar- 



* Prideaux thinks, in this latter instance, the prophet altered 

 his style of sakitation, acknowledging the superiority of the 

 Messiah, — a supposition at variance with the doctrine taught in 

 the Koran. 



