IT is related, O auspicious
King, that one of the olden monarchs was once minded to ride out in
state with the officers of his realm and the grandees of his
retinue and display to the folk the marvels of his magnificence. So
he ordered his lords and emirs equip them therefor and commanded
his keeper of the wardrobe to bring him of the richest of raiment,
such as befitted the King in his state, and he bade them bring his
steeds of the finest breeds and pedigrees every man heeds. Which
being done, he chose out of the raiment what rejoiced him most and
of the horses that which he deemed best, and donning the clothes,
together with a collar set with margarites and rubies and all
manner jewels, mounted and set forth in state, making his destrier
prance and curvet among his troops and glorying in his pride and
despotic power.
And Iblis came to him and, laying his hand upon his nose, blew into
his nostrils the breath of hauteur and conceit, so that he
magnified and glorified himself and said in his heart, "Who among
men is like unto me?" And he became so pulled up with arrogance and
self-sufficiency, and so taken up with the thought of his own
splendor and magnificence, that he would not vouchsafe a glance to
any man. Presently there stood before him one clad in tattered
clothes and saluted him, but he returned not his salaam, whereupon
the stranger laid hold of his horse's bridle. "Lift thy hand!"
cried the King. "Thou knowest not whose bridle rein it is whereof
thou takest hold." Quoth the other, "I have a need of thee." Quoth
the King, "Wait till I alight, and then name thy need." Rejoined
the stranger, "It is a secret and I will not tell it but in thine
ear." So the King bowed his head to him and he said, "I am the
Angel of Death and I purpose to take thy soul." Replied the King,
"Have patience with me a little, whilst I return to my house and
take leave of my people and children and neighbors and wife." "By
no means so," answered the Angel. "Thou shalt never return nor look
on them again, for the fated term of thy life is past."
So saying, he took the soul of the King (who fell off his horse's
back dead) and departed thence. Presently the Death Angel met a
devout man, of whom Almighty Allah had accepted, and saluted him.
He returned the salute, and the Angel said to him, "O pious man, I
have a need of thee which must be kept secret." "Tell it in my
ear," quoth the devotee, and quoth the other, "I am the Angel of
Death." Replied the man: "Welcome to thee! And praised be Allah for
thy coming! I am aweary of awaiting thine arrival, for indeed long
hath been thine absence from the lover which longeth for thee."
Said the Angel, "If thou have any business, make an end of it," but
the other answered, saying, "There is nothing so urgent to me as
the meeting with my Lord, to whom be honor and glory!" And the
Angel said, "How wouldst thou fain have me take thy soul? I am
bidden to take it as thou willest and choosest." He replied, "Tarry
till I make the wuzu ablution and pray, and when I prostrate
myself, then take my soul while my body is on the ground." Quoth
the Angel, "Verily, my Lord (be He extolled and exalted!) commanded
me not to take thy soul but with thy consent and as thou shouldst
wish, so I will do thy will." Then the devout man made the minor
ablution and prayed, and the Angel of Death took his soul in the
act of prostration and Almighty Allah transported it to the place
of mercy and acceptance and forgiveness.