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Maria, (peace be with her!) were winter fruits made to come in summer, and summer fruits in winter; in the Baitu-l-Mukaddas did God cause the palm-tree to bud forth (or bear fruit) for her; in the Baitu-lMukaddas did Jesus (peace be with him!) speak, whilst a boy in the cradle; in the Baitu-l-Mukaddas was born Jesus (peace be with him!); and from the Baitu-1-Mukaddas did God raise him up unto Heaven. Unto the land of the Baitu-l-Mukaddas shall he descend from Heaven. In the land of the Baitu-l-Mukaddas did the Strengthener descend unto him. Yajúj and Majúj shall conquer all the earth, except the Baitu-l-Mukaddas; and in the Baitu-l-Mukaddas shall God destroy them: also, God thinks every morning for good upon the Baitu-1-Mukaddas: God also gave unto the Prophet (the peace and blessing of God be with him!) the Camel Al Burák, who carried him to the Baitu-1-Mukaddas: God also revealed unto Abraham and Isaac, (peace be with them!) that when they died they should be interred in the soil of Baitu-l-Mukaddas: God also revealed unto Adam, (peace be with him!) when he died in the land. of Eden, that he should be interred in the Baitu1-Mukaddas: Maria also (peace be with her!) died in the Baitu-l-Mukaddas. Unto this holy land did Abraham (peace and blessing be with him!) fly from Kútha.

In the last times there shall be a general flight unto the Baitu-l-Mukaddas, and the ark and the gracious presence (Shechinah) (of God) shall be lifted up on high in this Temple. Also the Prophet (the peace and blessing of God be with him!) prayed here, for some time. Here shall be the general gathering of all men, the general resurrection: unto the Holy Abode shall God come, in the darkness of thick clouds, amidst his angels; and all creatures shall burst through their graves without difficulty, and all (the inhabitants) of Paradise shall come down with pomp on the day of judgment unto this Temple. Hereunto shall all men assemble for the reckoning of the day of judgment. Here shall the bridge Al Sirát divide between Gehenna and Paradise. On the day of judgment, here shall the balances be placed, and hither shall all the orders of angels come; and on the day of judgment shall the Seraphin blow the trumpet on the wall of the Temple, and proclaim those great and terrific. words, "O flesh torn from the bones! O bones gnawed and cut! come forth unto your reckoning, and let your breath breathe forth again, and receive the recompense of deeds." Here did Zacharias bring up Maria, (peace be with her!): here did God grant to Solomon to comprehend the articulate language of birds: here Solomon

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preferred his request of a kingdom, with which no subsequent kingdom could compare; and here that request was granted. Here was that fish-pond which, being upon the surface of the earth, had its source from the East, its end in the West, and its middle beneath the Baitu-l-Mukaddas. Here was granted unto Solomon the secret, whereby to walk in one of the gardens of Paradise, and to find out the Sakhrá of the Baitu-lMukaddas. In this place God confirmed the kingdom unto him, and softened iron for him: here God revealed his gracious will respecting the wife of Imram, that she should devote herself to God here God forgave to David his crime; and here did God confirm Jesus (peace be with him!) by the Sacred Spirit. In the Holy House did God cause the revelation of his will to come unto John whilst a child in the Holy Abode did Jesus (peace be with him!) resuscitate the dead, and work miracles. Whosoever shall pray herein, his prayer shall be brought as near (to God) as if he prayed in Heaven. The whole earth shall be destroyed; but the Baitu-l-Mukaddas shall still be inhabited and still uninjured. Here did the palm hasten the ripening of its sour fruit to be gathered by Maria, (peace be with her!) Unto this Temple, affirmed the prophet, there shall be flight after flight of all good people. Whosoever prayeth here,

after having performed his ablutions and perfected that ablution by offering four rakas, shall be forgiven all that hath passed before this.

So far the prophet himself. In the traditions it is said, Whosoever prayeth herein shall come forth as clear from sins as he was on the day his mother bore him; and on the day of judgment there shall be, on every hair of his body, a hundred lights from God. His performance of the pious pilgrimage shall be graciously accepted; and God shall grant to him a thanksgiving heart and a confessing tongue, and shall place him in the midst among the damsels (i. e. the houries of the Mahommedan Paradise), and God shall associate him with the assembled prophets. Whosoever also shall wait patiently a year in the Baitu-l-Mukaddas, occupied in divine things, and suffering the extremity of want for that purpose, God shall bring down an abundant sufficiency for subsistence; before him, and behind him, on his right hand and on his left, below him and above him, he shall eat of overflowing and supremely good things, and shall enter into Paradise, please God!

Also, the very first corner that was founded (created) of the whole earth, was the spot of the rock of the Baitu-l-Mukaddas. Also, in the other world, the fountain of Moses in the Baitu1-Mukaddas shall be clearly visible. Here did

God reveal to Maria the joyful tidings of Jesus, (peace be upon them both!); and God repulsed her enemy Dajjal from entering the Baitu1-Mukaddas, who shall conquer all the earth, except Jerusalem, Mecca, and Medina. Among all his lands, this is God's especial chosen: here is the middle point of the earth; here the commencement of the spiral of Creation. Again, every morning God reflects upon peace and rest for the Baitu-1-Mukaddas, and rains abundantly upon it the streams of his mercy and longing affection : then he does the same to all other worlds. Again, the dew which descends upon the Holy Abode is a cure for every disease, since it is the dew of the tender mercies of Heaven. Also, thus saith the Mighty One, He who is buried in this Temple is among those who lie all around my house, the cloisters of heaven; a house to which none shall come; in which none shall be seen but he who is munificent and gentle. Also, said the prophet of God unto Abu-Ubaidah-Al-Jirah, Hope of all hope shall rest upon this Temple, when the time of temptation and tumult shall appear. Who said, O Apostle of God! what if I cannot reach that holy place? Who replied, Then I will be thy substitute; and I will take care to insure thy vicinity thereunto. Again, the place in Syria most beloved by God is the Baitu-l-Mukaddas; and the

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