Collectors of traditions have narrated that when the affairs of Mûsa were in the ascendant, great multitudes believed in him; but Fara’ûn said: ‘I will have nothing to do with Mûsa; I desire to ascend to heaven and to obtain information about the God of Mûsa, and to fight him, because I see no one in the world more worthy to be adored than myself. I consider Mûsa to be a liar.’ Ideas like these prevailed in his unhallowed imagination, and he commanded Hâmân to erect a lofty castle, from which he might ascend to heaven. Accordingly Hâmân assembled skilful architects from all quarters, who collected all the necessary materials—such as stones, mortar, etc., and were for a long time engaged in building. One of the later writers has narrated—but the responsibility rests with him —that the castle [when completed] was so lofty that anyone wishing to mount to its summit was obliged to travel for a whole year [sic]. When the edifice had been completed, Fara’ûn went up, shot an arrow into the sky, and challenged the Lord of Magnificence, with His angels, to throw that arrow back upon him besmeared with blood. That accursed one actually laughed, saying: ‘Lo, I have killed the God of Mûsa.’ It is related that after Fara’ûn had left this tower Jebrâil touched it with the extremity of his wing, whereon it crumbled into three pieces, one of which fell on the encampment of his army, and annihilated many people; another fell into the country of the Maghrab,* and every person connected in any way with the building perished. Several historians inform us that this castle had been constructed during the time of the nine signs, which were as follows: 1. The staff; 2. The bright hand; 3. The solving and knotting; 4. The retreating and division of the seas; 5. The inundation; 6. The locusts; 7. The lice; 8. The frogs; 9. The breath. Allah, however, is the most wise.