| |
| AL-MUZAWWIR! the “Fashioner!” say thus; | |
| Still lauding Him who hath compounded us: | |
| When the Lord would fashion men, | |
| Spake He in the Angels’ hearing, | |
| “Lo! Our will is there shall be | 5 |
| On the earth a creature bearing | |
| Rule and royalty. Today | |
| We will shape a man from clay.” | |
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| Spake the Angels, “Wilt Thou make | |
| Man who must forget his Maker, | 10 |
| Working evil, shedding blood, | |
| Of Thy precepts the forsaker? | |
| But Thou knowest all, and we | |
| Celebrate Thy majesty.” | |
| |
| Answered Allah, “Yea! I know | 15 |
| What ye know not of this making; | |
| Gabriel! Michael! Israfel! | |
| Go down to the earth, and taking | |
| Seven clods of colors seven, | |
| Bring them unto Me in Heaven. | 20 |
| Then those holy Angels three, | |
| Spread their pinions and descended; | |
| Seeking clods of diverse clay, | |
| That all colors might be blended; | |
| Yellow, tawny, dun, black, brown, | 25 |
| White and red as men are known. | |
| But the earth spake sore afraid, | |
| “Angels! of my substance take not, | |
| Give me back my dust and pray | |
| That the dread Creator make not | 30 |
| Man, for he will sin and bring | |
| Wrath on me and suffering.” | |
| Therefore, empty-handed came | |
| Gabriel, Michael, Israfel, | |
| Saying, “Lord! Thy earth imploreth | 35 |
| Man may never on her dwell; | |
| He will sin and anger Thee, | |
| Give me back my clay!” cried she. | |
| Spake the Lord to Azrael, | |
| “Go thou, who of wing art surest, | 40 |
| Tell my earth this shall be well; | |
| Bring those clods, which thou procurest | |
| From her bosom, unto Me; | |
| Shape them as I order thee.” | |
| Thus ’tis written how the Lord | 45 |
| Fashioned Adam for His glory, | |
| Whom the Angels worshipped, | |
| All save Iblis; and this story | |
| Teacheth wherefore Azrael saith | |
| “Come thou!” at man’s hour of death. | 50 |
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