IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA?L IBN KATHiR 63"Then he was brought three vessels, containing milk, wine and water. He said
that he drank the vessel of milk and was told by Gabriel, 'You have been given
guidance, and so has your nation."'Ibn Ishaq related through al-Hasan al-Ba~ri, but with an incomplete line of
transmission, that Gabriel woke him up then conducted him to the door of the
masjzd al-haram, where he set him upon al-Bur~q, a white mount that was a cross
between a mule and a donkey; on its flanks it had wings with which it set its feet
in motion. It could place its hooves as far ahead as it could see. The account
quotes the Messenger of God (SAAS) as saying, "He placed me upon it and then
took me away, he not out-distancing me, nor I him."
I may add that in the hadith, which came down from Qatada, as related by Ibn
Ishnq, it says that when the Messenger of God (SAAS) was about to mount
al-Burzq, it became restive and so Gabriel placed his hand upon its neck where
the mane grows and said, "Now Burnq, aren't you ashamed to do that? I swear,
no servant of God more noble than Muhammad has ever ridden you." He
commented, "And it was so ashamed it burst out in sweat, then quietened down
until I mounted it."
Al-Hasan stated, in his Eadith, "And so the Messenger of God (SAAS)
departed, Gabriel accompanying him, until they reached Jerusalem. There he
found Abraham, Moses and Jesus among a group of prophets. The Messenger of
God (SAAS) acted as their Imam and led them in prayer."
He then explained his choice of the vessel of milk over that of the wine, and
how Gabriel told him, "You have been given guidance, as has your nation, and
you have been forbidden wine."
He went on, "And then the Messenger of God (SAAS) departed for Mecca
and set about telling Quraysh of all that."
He recounted that most of the people disbelieved him and that one group
reneged after having previously accepted Islam.
Abii Bakr, "the Trusting", responded by expressing his belief and said, 'LI give
him credence in communication from heaven, early in the day or in the evening,
so how should I not believe him regarding Jerusalem?"
(In his account al-Hasan) recounts that Aha Bakr asked him to describe
Jerusalem, and that the Messenger of God (SAAS) did so.
And, he states, "From that day on Aha Bakr was known as al-Szddiq, 'the
Trusting'."
Al-Hasan said, "And on that subject God revealed, 'And we rendered the
visions we showed you nothing but a way of testing people"' (szirat al-Isra";
XVII, v.60).
Ibn Ishaq related, quoting Umm Hani' as his source, that she said, "It was from
nowhere but my home that the Messenger of God (SAAS) made his night
journey. He slept that night after having made the final evening prayer. When it