He said: "Because if they wanted to ascend to the seventh heaven, or descend to the depth of the seven earths, or go to the East and the West in the blink of an eye, it would not be far for them. So discern them."

I stretched my gaze toward them, and suddenly they were upon their horses, their swords drawn in their hands, with the army of Mu'awiya facing them. And suddenly, a man from among them would enter Mu'awiya’s camp and exit it with his sword upon his shoulder, and no one would say to him: "Who are you?" or "What concerns you?" or "Why have you drawn your sword?" When he exited and returned to his companions, he would say to them: "Indeed, Mu'awiya is jesting with his servant so-and-so, playing with so-and-so, diverting himself with so-and-so, consulting so-and-so, and doing such-and-such."

I said to myself: "Granting that he could enter the camp and roam through it, from where does he get the news of Mu'awiya’s pavilion? Do you see him entering upon him while he is in his place?" While I was contemplating this, I stretched my gaze and looked upon Mu'awiya on a throne of his, spread with silk (dibaj), with servants and youths at his head, and 'Amr ibn al-'As sitting below the throne.