When Pharaoh saw them, he was struck with terror and alarm; he stood and sat, and the matter grew severe for him because of what he witnessed. Then he said to his chamberlain: 'How many did you let in?' The chamberlain replied: 'Two.' Pharaoh said: 'I see three persons!'"

Al-Mufaddal ibn Umar, peace be upon him, said: Pharaoh, may God curse him, saw our Master Amir Almuminin, Blessed and Exalted is He, upon a horse of gold, wearing two sandals of gold, with two great mustaches, in the form of a powerful and subduing youth—Exalted is He who appears how He wills to whom He wills. Around him was a swarm of golden bees. He commanded the palace in which Pharaoh—may God curse him—resided, and it was uprooted, suspended from the earth and rotating. When Pharaoh—may God curse him—saw that, he knew he had been overwhelmed and taken from his place of safety. He hastened to submission and compliance, saying: 'O my Master, I have a promise from You, and You do not break the promise. You promised me a delay on the Day of Shadows when You appeared in the Veils of Lights, and You granted me respite until the Day of the Appointed Time. That time has not yet come, and You are the most worthy to fulfill His promise.' So our Master, Mighty is His Might, granted him respite and ascended to the heaven, while Abd Allah ibn Saba, peace be upon him, was before him."

(178) In another narration: Pharaoh, may God curse him, said to our Master Amir Almuminin, Mighty is His Might, when He appeared in the form of wrath and showed him the two long, great mustaches: "Had You appeared to me in the form You appeared in on the day You established the Veils of Lights, I would have recognized You." The narrator said: Then our Master appeared in the form of the Balding One (al-Anza'), the Full One (al-Batin). Pharaoh—may God curse him—sought a delay, so He gave him time and respite upon his confession. And our Master was Joshua son of Nun, Mighty is His Might.