Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/315

 him.' So I saluted him; and he returned the salutation. Then he said, ' Welcome to the good son and good prophet.' After that I was taken up to the (tree called) Sidratu'l-Muntaha, and behold! its lotus fruit was like stone water-pots, and behold! its leaves were like elephants' ears. Gabriel said, ' This is the Sidratu'l-Muntaha. And behold! tour rivers, two of them hidden and two of them manifest.' I said, ' What are these, O Gabriel? He replied, ' As for the hidden ones, they are two rivers in paradise, but the two which are manifest are the Nile and the Euphrates.' After that the house called Ma'mur was raised up for me; and after that a vessel of wine and a vessel of milk and a vessel of honey were brought to me. And I took the milk. He said, ' This is religion. Thou and thy people (will act) on it.' After that prayers were ordered for me : fifty prayers for every day. Then I returned and passed by Moses. He said, ' What hast thou been ordered? ' I said, 'I have been ordered fifty prayers for every day.' He said, c Verily thy followers will not be able to perform fifty prayers every day. By God! I tried men previous to thee and contended with the children of Israel with severe strivings- Therefore return to thy Lord, and ask for some alleviation for thy people.' Then I returned; and He took ten prayers from me. And I returned to Moses; and he spake as before. So I returned; and He took ten more from me. And I went back to Moses, and he spake as before. So I returned; and He took ten more from me, and I was ordered to say ten prayers every day. After that I returned to Moses and he spake as before. So I returned, and I was ordered five prayers every day. Then, I went back to Moses, and he said, ' What hast thou been ordered?' I said, ' I have been ordered five prayers every day.' He said, ' Verily thy followers are not able to perform five prayers every day; for verily I have tried men before thee and have contended with the children of Israel with severe strivings; therefore return to thy Lord, and ask from Him some alleviation for thy followers.' Muhammad said, ' I have asked my Lord until I have become ashamed. But I am satisfied, and I resign (all to Him).' He said, 'Then when I passed by, a herald cried, 'I have given my orders, and have provided alleviation for my servants'." ' Muslim, Al Bukhdri.