times greater. Another hand counts the seconds in a sphere sixty times greater than the previous one, and yet others each count regularly decreasing fractions to a tenth of a second in vast spheres that regularly increase sixty times.

Let us suppose that if the circle described by the hour hand was the size of our clock, that of the hand counting tenths of a second would have to be the size of the annual orbit of the earth, or even larger. Now, let us suppose there are two people. One of them is mounted on the hour hand and observes according to its motion while the other is mounted on the hand counting tenths of a second. There will be an enormous difference, relatively as great as the difference between our clock and the annual orbit of the earth, between the things observed by the two people in the same period of time.

Thus, since time is like a hue, shade, or ribbon of motion, a rule that is in force in motion is also in force in time. Therefore, although the things we observe in the period of one hour would be equalled in amount by the conscious individual mounted on the hour hand of the clock, similarly to the one mounted on the hand counting tenths of a second, God’s Noble Messenger (Upon whom be blessings and peace) mounted Buraq of Divine Assistance and in the same space of time, in that specified hour, like lightning traversed the entire sphere of contingency, saw the wonders of the outer aspects of things and the aspects which look to their Creator, ascended to the point of the sphere of necessity, was honoured with divine conversation and favoured with the vision of divine beauty, received his decree, and returned to his duty. It was possible for this to happen, and it did happen.

And again it comes to mind that you would say: “Yes, so it could happen, it is possible. But everything possible does not occur, does it? Is there anything else similar to this so that it may be accepted? How can the occurrence of something unparalleled be posited through probability alone?”

To which we would reply: There are so many similar cases they are innumerable. For example, anyone with sight can ascend with his eyes from the ground to the planet Neptune in a second. Anyone who has knowledge can mount the laws of astronomy with his intellect and travel beyond the stars in a minute. Anyone who has belief can, by mounting his thought on the actions and pillars of the obligatory prayers, through a sort of Ascension, leave the universe behind and go as far as the divine presence. Anyone who sees with his heart and any saint of perfection can, through his spiritual journeying, traverse in forty days the divine throne and the sphere of the divine names and attributes. And certain persons,