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man (an Imám) who went to sleep with his head reclining on the lowest step of the pulpit; when, in a dream, a voice came and informed him of the site of Joseph's tomb three times before daylight. This man told the old woman, who told Al Muktadir. Again, it is said that Joseph's tomb was believed to be merely the burial-place of some one of the tribe of Israel; but a man came from Khorasan, and asserted that he had been directed in a dream to go to the Holy Land, and point out the tomb of Joseph. The Sultán commanded his son to go out with the man; which he did. Coming unto the spot, the workmen ceased not to dig until they came to a wooden waggon, which was crumbled into dust. Our old women never ceased to look for this dust, desiring to use it as a remedy for sore eyes.

Now, respecting a Grant made by the Prophet to Tamím Addarí and others. Abú-Hind-Addarí said, We went and presented ourselves unto the Apostle of God, being six in number,-Tamím-Ibn-A wís, his brother Nain, Yazid-Ibn-Kais, Abú Abdallah (author of the tradition), his brother Al-Taib-IbnAbdallah, and myself. So we saluted the apostle, and requested him to cut off an allotment for us out of the land of Syria. He replied, Ask whatever part you will. Hereupon, we rose up, and went aside to consult what place we should request.

Then said Tamím, I think we should ask the Baitu-l-Mukaddas, and the adjoining territory. But Abú Hind said, The Baitu-l-Mukaddas is now exempt from foreign rule; is it not? Then said Tamím, Yes. Then said Abú Hind, I fear we shall never effect the foundation of an Arab kingdom there. Then said Tamím, Let us ask Gabriel's house. To this replied Abú Hind, That is a greater and more populous country than the other. What then, said Tamím, thinkest thou we should ask? Abú Hind replied, Let us ask the village and territory, wherein we may construct wells on the spots marked out before by Abraham. So said Tamím, Thou hast hit upon the right nail, and hast well settled the point. They returned then to the Prophet, who said, O Tamím, will you inform me what you have just agreed upon; or shall I inform you? So he said, Thou shalt inform us, and shalt precisely hit upon our opinion. Then he said, You thought one thing, O Tamím! and this man (Abú Hind) thought differently; and the opinion of Abú Hind is assented unto. Then the Prophet asked for a piece of parchment, and wrote a grant thereon; of which the following is a copy:-"In the name of the most merciful and compassionate God, this writing commemorates a gift made by Muhammad unto the Dárians, when God shall grant

unto him the land. He giveth unto them the House of Fountains, and the moist muddy place, and the House of Abraham, and all that is therein, to belong unto the Dárians for ever.-Witnesses, Abbás-Ibn-Abdul-Mutallib, and Hamár-Ibn-Kaís, and Shazil-Ibn-Hasan, and the writer." Then he went into the house with the writing, and, in transferring the writing to cloth, ratified it, adding besides something which is unknown, and fastened it outside the cloth with two fastening straps, and brought out the instrument folded

up.

It is said that men appointed Abraham to be chief of all, and his posterity to succeed him; and this is the prophet who governs and directs all who believe in God (as the chieftain of believers). Then said he, Depart until ye shall hear that I have fled. Therefore, says Abú Hind, we departed until we heard that the Prophet had fled unto Medína; then we presented ourselves, and requested him to give us another and a more extensive grant. Hereupon he wrote the grant of which the following is a copy:"In the name of the most merciful God! This is the grant made by me, Muhammad, apostle of God, unto Tamím-AlDárí, and his company. I grant unto you BaitAinúm and Hibrún, and Al Martoom, also the House of Abraham, with all the suit and serviceowers therein, and every thing else therein, an

absolute gift perpetually alienated and freely given unto them and their heirs after them for ever and ever; and may God trouble whosoever shall trouble them herein!-Witnesses, Abú-BekrIbn, Omar-Ibn-Al-Khattáb, Othmán-Ibn-Afán,

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Alí-Ibn-Abú-Tálib,

and the writer."

Moáwiyah-Ibn-Abú-Sufián,

And after the decease of the Prophet, and the accession of Abú Bekr, when the army was warring in Syria, Abú Bekr gave us also a grant (copy):-" In the name of the most merciful God! from Abú Bekr to Abú-UbaidahAl-Jiráh. Peace be upon thee! I praise God (he who is the only God) for thee. After the usual solicitations, I hereby prohibit every one who believes in God and in the last day from plundering the village of the Dárians; and if its inhabitants have evacuated the territory, and the Dárians wish to sow therein, let them sow; and when the produce comes, it is theirs and their due right. Peace be with thee!"

CHAPTER XIV.

Account of Ismaël; his removal to Mecca, and the visit made to him by Abraham, upon Al Burák. Also his mother Hagar; her death and burial. The time that Ismaël lived; his tomb; and the interval between him and Muhammad.

ISMAËL, son of Abraham, was the eldest of his children, father of the Arabians and of the Apostle, the lord of both worlds, our Prophet Muhammad. His mother Hagar was handmaid to Abraham. On her account Sarah was full of haughtiness and pride. She sent her to Abraham, saying, Take her. Perhaps God may grant thee a son from her. For Sarah had greatly desired a son, but despaired of one; and Abraham had beseeched God to grant him this blessing: yet the prayer was delayed till Abraham became old, and Sarah barren. Hagar then had a son; and Sarah grieved deeply that her time was past.

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