"Beware, for Iblis is located within."
- Al-Tirmidi, warning of a baser self
Excerpted from Neale's "Threefold Death Motif in a Medieval Persian Hagiography"
"When Adam and Eve came together and their repentance was accepted, one day, Adam—upon whom be peace—went out to do something. Iblís came with his own child—named Khannás— brought him before Eve and said: ‘I have something important I must do. Watch over my child until I come back.’ Eve agreed and Iblís went away. When Adam came back he asked: ‘Who is this?’ ‘He is the son of Iblís who has been entrusted to me,’ said Eve. Adam chastised her saying: ‘Why didst thou accept?’ He became angry and slew the child, cutting him into pieces, and hung each piece from the bough of a tree and went away. Iblís returned and asked where his son was. Eve told him what had happened: ‘He cut him into pieces and hung each piece from the bough of a tree.’ Iblís called to his son. He became whole again and alive and came before Iblís. A second time he said to Eve: ‘Take him, for I have another important affair.’ Eve did not accept. [Iblís] entreated her and lamented until she accepted and then he went away. Adam came back and asked: ‘What is this?’ Eve explained the matter to him. Adam beat Eve and said: ‘I know not what the mystery is in this that thou dost not my bidding but rather the bidding of God’s foe by whose words thou art beguiled!’ Then [Adam] slew [Khannás] and burned him, scattering half of the ashes in the water and the other half in the wind then he went away. Iblís came back and sought his son. Eve told him what had happened and Iblís called to his son. The pieces [of his body] came back together and he became alive and sat before that accursed one, to wit, Iblís. Then Iblís said again to Eve: ‘Accept him again.’ Eve would not accept, saying: ‘Adam will destroy me.’ Iblís made her swear an oath and she accepted. Adam came, saw [Khannás] and was wroth. As many times as [Iblís] entrusted [Khannás] to Eve, Adam beat her and slew Iblís’ son. At last Adam said: ‘God knows what will happen. Thou heedest [Iblís’] words and not mine.’ Then he became wroth, slew Khannás, and cooked him. [Adam] ate half and gave the other half to Eve. Some say that the last time Iblís brought Khannás in the shape of a sheep. When Iblís came back and sought his son Eve told him what had happened saying: ‘He slew him and cooked [him in a] stew (qaliya kard).3 I ate half and Adam the other.’ ‘This was my goal,’ said Iblís, ‘to place myself inside of Adam. Since his breast has become my abode my goal is achieved.’ Thus has God—may He be exalted—said: ‘[Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, the King of mankind, the god of mankind, from the evil of the Whisperer,] Al-Khannás, who whispers in the breasts of mankind among Jinn and men [...]."
