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:
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."
