The Prophet of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: I was near the House (i.e. Ka'bah) in a state between sleep and wakefulness when I heard someone say: He is the third among the two persons. Then he came to me and took me with him. Then a golden basin containing the water of Zamzam was brought to me and my heart was opened up to such and such (part)... My heart was extracted and it was washed with the water of Zamzam and then it was restored in its original position, after which it was filled with faith and wisdom. I was then brought a white beast which is called Al-Buraq, bigger than a donkey and smaller than a mule. Its stride was as long as the eye could reach. I was mounted on it, and then we went forth till we reached the lowest heaven. Gabriel asked for the (gate) to be opened, and it was asked: Who are you? He replied. Gabriel. It was again asked: Who is with you? He replied: Muhammad (may peace be upon him). It was asked: Has he been revealed to? He (Gabriel) said: Yes. He (Prophet) said: Then (the gate) was opened for us (and it was said): Welcome unto him! His is a blessed arrival. Then we came to Adam (peace be upon him). And he (the narrator) narrated the whole account of the hadith. (The Holy Prophet) observed that he met Jesus and John the Baptist (peace be on both of them) in the second heaven; Joseph in the third; Enoch in the fourth; Aaron in the fifth (peace and blessings of Allah be upon them). Then we traveled on till we reached the sixth heaven and came to Moses (peace be upon him) and I greeted him and he said: Welcome unto righteous brother and righteous Prophet. (The Hadith, 238)

In the Islamic tradition Jesus and John are constant companions, even in heaven.

The Hadith is an authoritative collection of traditional sayings and stories. To my mind it is similar in function to the Talmud.

In the following days we will conclude this study of John the Baptist with the stories of John and Jesus that are found in this tradition.

In these stories we read of two friends -- two partners sharing the ultimate journey -- each actively seeking the insight and support of the other.

Above is a page from an early 16th Century Ottoman Hadith.