[Footnote 98: The nocturnal journey is circumstantially
related by Abulfeda (in Vit. Mohammed, c. 19, p. 33,) who
wishes to think it a vision; by Prideaux, (p. 31 - 40,) who
aggravates the absurdities; and by Gagnier (tom. i. p. 252 -
343,) who declares, from the zealous Al Jannabi, that to
deny this journey, is to disbelieve the Koran. Yet the
Koran without naming either heaven, or Jerusalem, or Mecca,
has only dropped a mysterious hint: Laus illi qui transtulit
servum suum ab oratorio Haram ad oratorium remotissimum,
(Koran, c. 17, v. 1; in Maracci, tom. ii. p. 407; for Sale's
version is more licentious.) A slender basis for the aerial
structure of tradition.]