THE DOME OF THE ROCK am not aware of any
version of the Moslem tradition about Mohammed's miraculous nocturnal flight which, as Mr. -Galley has sug- gested to you in his letter, describes the Prophet's ascent from Jerusalem to the seven heavens as having been made on Burak, his mythical winged horse. The traditional -story with which I am familiar states that the flight started from Mecca and, after two intermediate halts at Mount Sinai and Bethlehem, ended at Jerusalem. There Burak alighted on what is now the Haram-es-Sherif and was there tethered by the Prophet. From the platform Mohammed then, aided by the Archangel Gabriel, ascended by a ladder of light which was let down from heaven and, after progressing stage by stage through the seven heavens, he descended from the seventh back to Jerusalem by the same ladder of light. There he untethered Burak who bore him back to Mecca.—I am, Sir, yours faithfully,
Previous page
