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the Mount Sinai, where God spake with Moses) (peace be with him!), and the Faithful Land, Mecca. Also, Sophia, the wife of Muhammad, came to the Holy Abode, and ascended the Mount of Olives, and stood (as another commentator adds) upon the table-land at the summit of the mount, and said, Here, on the day of judgment, shall God separate men, and distribute them into Heaven and Hell. Two ancients remark, That they were one day sitting by Muhammad, when he said, Men shall be summoned unto judgment—a mingled, confused, hurrying, tumultuous multitude. They shall be brought unto The Place Appointed, which is in the coasts of the Holy City. There shall men stand over a widely-expanded space; and there shall they be judged by the spoken voice of God Almighty. This is said to be the great plain by the side of Mount Olivet, near the oratory of Omar, and known by the name of "The Appointed Spot,"-"The Sleepless Place." For (observes an author) we must make a distinction in the meaning of the word Sahara. It may signify, a desert,-the surface of land,-a widely-extended plain; but in Arabic it also signifies, a land which causes sleeplessness to the nighttraveller, who journeys in its neighbourhood; so that people cannot sleep, but remain awake there. It is said that the surface of this place is of white

earth, but good within the marrow of the soil. Also, whatever (a commentator thus expounds) we cut off from the earth, shall be added to Palestine; and whatsoever is cut off from Palestine, shall be added into the Baitu-l-Mukaddas.

As for Places of Pilgrimage here, there is the Tomb, a square Tomb, of the daughter of Samuël, mistress of a noble family, in ancient times. Of her it is said, That during her secret converse with God, all about her heart would seem to blaze with fire, splendidly radiating with light. And when we screamed out loudly, What shall we do? she seemed to have no idea of ill or harm, but said, Think not of that which is outside my robe; regard not that. She came to the Holy City, and died there, and her tomb is without the city, upon Mount Olivet: it is a place of pilgrimage. She departed (God be compassionate unto her !) in the year 135.

It is said by several authors also (and among them Abul Pharagius, in his book, 'The Virtues of the Holy City,') that Jesus son of Maria ascended up to Heaven from Mount Olivet. He came down from Heaven upon the Mount of Figs, in Damascus. When he was taken up to Heaven he was thirty-three years old. Another ancient says, There are four mountains :-Abraham's Mountain, Lebanon, Mount Olivet, and Arafát,

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which, on the day of judgment, shall all become of resplendent white, shining like the bright sky. All the earth shall be collected and brought together unto the Holy Abode, whilst the reports are collected. Here shall the throne be fixed, whilst the final distribution is made between Heaven and Hell. The angels shall traverse, with naked feet, the sacred precincts of the Shrine of Mecca, and praise their Lord, Muhammad, who shall judge between them with truth, and say, Praise be to God, Lord of the universe! Again, The close-pressing assemblage shall take place on five mountains,-Lebanon, the Mount of Olives, Sinai, and Ararat, (and Mecca). These shall all be bound into one grand hall. Thus also said God unto the mountain Kasyún :-" If thy shadow and thy blessedness hath departed, and gone to rest upon the mountain of the Holy Abode, be it so: nevertheless, thus will I do-I will build for myself a house within the midst of thee;" (now this house is the Mosque of Damascus, wherein God will be adored for forty years after the destruction of the world;) "neither shall day or night cease and depart before I restore to thee my overshadowing protection, and thy blessedness." (This, then, came down from God.) May the believer, the weak, the humble suppliant, obtain its accomplishment!

CHAPTER IX.

Narrative of the Capture of the Holy City by the Commander of the Faithful, Omar-Ibn-Al-Khattáb (may God crown him with contentment!), and how he cleansed the dirt and filth from the glorious Sakhrá. Narration of the Edifice erected by Abdul-Málik-Ibn-Marwán, and of the Ceremonies transacted therein. Account of the unrivalled Jewel, which was in the centre of the Chapel of the Sakhrá, with the Horn of Abraham's Ram, and the Diadem of Kosroës; which were subsequently removed to the glorious Kaaba, when the Khilafat passed to the sons of Hisham. History of the victorious seizure of the Holy City by the Franks, from the Moslems, subsequently to Omar's conquest. The length of time it remained in their hands. The victory of the Sultán Málik-Al-Násir-Saláh-Adeen, Yusuf-Ibn-Ayyúh (upon whom be God's mercy!). The wresting thereof from the hands of the Franks, and the demolition of all memorials of their rule. Restoration of the Masjidu-l-Aksá, and Al Sakhrá, the glorious, unto their former state. Their continuance in this state until now (and unto the day of judgment, if God please!).

KNOW that the capture of the Holy City by Omar-Ibn-Al-Khattáb (may God crown him with

contentment!) occurs in the writing of Rare Events deserving of credit, and narrated in numerous ways and by various relaters,' which I delighted to collect from the different chapters, and adduce each with expressions of applause, in arranging the history of this splendid conquest, which fell to the lot of those dynasties of Commanders of the Faithful, when righteous Khalífs ruled; under whom God magnified the faith, and whose just government restored blessings to the Moslems. Among these reciters, the author of the Muthír Alfárám introduces Al Walid, saying as follows:-A Shaikh of the noble tribe of Shaddad informed me, and said, After the conclusion of the battle of Yarmúk (Hieromax), the whole army of the Moslems marched into the territory of Palestine and the Jordan. Here we closely besieged the Holy City. The conquest thereof was, however, attended with difficulty, until the arrival of Omar with four thousand horse. He came down upon the Holy City on the eastern side-the Mount of Oliveswhich, in our siege, we were closely encircling. When, therefore, these comrades of Omar joined us, men who could fight so vigorously, their friendship and the arrival of Omar stirred up to energy and activity our hopes of victory. Long time did we fight with them, until, at last, a party came

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