Al-mi'raj | |||
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Naming | |||
Others | Almiraj Mi'raj Miraj | ||
Binomen | N/A | ||
Original | المعراج | ||
Romanization | almieraj | ||
Morphology | |||
Body type | Leporine | ||
Intelligence | |||
Sentience | Sentient | ||
Sapience | Non-Sapient | ||
Aggressivity | High | ||
Ecology | |||
Place of origin | Jezîrat al-Tennyn, Indian Ocean | ||
Diet | Carnivorous | ||
Locomotion | Quadrupedal | ||
Related species | Horned Hare | ||
Status | DD | ||
Behind the Scenes | |||
Universe | Real |
The Al-mi'raj, a.k.a. Almiraj or simply Miraj, is a strange animal which inhabits the mythical Jezîrat al-Tennyn: the island of the Sea Serpent, somewhere in the Indian Ocean. It has the appearance of a carnivorous hare-like animal with a single long horn on its head, reminiscent of a unicorn's.
According to history, the inhabitants of the island presented an Al-mi'raj as a gift to Alexander the Great after he slew the serpent which had been feeding upon their livestock. The creature is featured in the 13th century manuscript Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing, by Zakariya Ibn Muhammad Al-Qazwini.
In spite of its rabbit-like appearance, the Al-mi'raj is carnivorous. Some sources claim that it charges towards prey (including humans) and uses its horn to impale them before it devours them.