Sahib Iblis, 19 July 2023
Iblis, leader of the people of separation, appears
Ancient, seldom smiling, of few words, his eyes scanning the soul within the body, drunkard and mullah, philosopher and Sufi, in practice like a toiling ascetic, his nature alien to the joy of union, his asceticism the abandonment of eternal beauty; since it was not easy to break away from beauty, he made a beginning with spurning adoration. Gaze a little at his visitations, gaze at his difficulties, his tenacity still absorbed in the battle of good and evil, he has seen a hundred prophets, and is an infidel yet.' My soul in my body quivered for his agony; a sigh of anguish broke from his lips. With eyes half-closed he turned to me and said:
"Who besides me has so gloried in action? I have become so involved in labour that even on the sabbath I am rarely at rest, I have no angels, no servants attending me; my revelation is without benefit of prophets. I have brought neither Traditions nor Book; I have robbed theologians of their sweet soul. None ever spun finer than they the thread of religion. yet in the end they left the Kaaba a heap of bricks. My religion has no such foundation; in the faith of Iblis there are no schisms and sects. Ignorant one, I have given up prostration, I have turned the organ of good and evil. Do not take me for one who denies God’s existence; open your eyes on my inner self, overlook my exterior."
