It is recorded in several commentaries that the length of the ark was eighty, the breadth fifty, and the height thirty cubits. It contained three stories, the lowest of which was the abode of wild beasts and reptiles, the second that of birds and cattle, and the highest was the dwelling of Nûh and his followers. Such is the tradition of the followers of the book.* Some assert that the birds were in the first story, men and cattle in the middle, and wild beasts with reptiles in the last story; but Allah knows the true state best. It is recorded by Abdullah Bin Abbas—u. w. b., etc.—that the length of the ship consisted of six hundred and sixty, the breadth of three hundred, and the height of thirty-three cubits, divided into three compartments as has just been mentioned. Others, again, have reported in their commentaries that the length of the ark was one thousand, the breadth five hundred, and the height three hundred cubits. It was formed in the shape of a bird: its head being like that of a peacock, its eyes like the eyes of an eagle, its breast like the breast of a dove, and its extremity like the tail of a cock. It was lined outwardly and inwardly with resin and pitch. It is related after the Emâm of the Emâms of guidance, Hasan Mahani —u. w. b., etc.—that the length of the ark was one thousand and two hundred, and its breadth six hundred cubits, which tradition agrees with that obtained from Sâm, the son of Nûh—u. w. b., etc.—at the time when he was resuscitated to life by the prayers of I’sa [Jesus].