714 ISLAMIC MYSTICAL LITERATURE
but it was the high one's will that spirits
and sons of spirits would fall into his hands.
Then the high king commanded that the low
go down to the earth. And after many years
he commanded the destruction of Iblis,
his spirits, and the sons of spirits. Iblis
and all the angels and the low ones warred
on other spirits and the sons of spirits.
They all plunged into seas, and some of them
became sea creatures. They were whales, snakes, fish,
some wild animals and birds, some Gog
and Magog,^140 some turned into shells, pigs, limestone,
everything in the seas is of their substance.
Iblis emerged among the angels and painted
their coverings and shapes in all the colors
of the seven heavens and earth. He made them.
"The covering and form of these angels
was like fire. They were haughty in their form
and arrogant, but Azazi'il became
a thousand times prouder even than they.
THE HIGH KING WANTS TO CREATE
PEOPLE ON EARTH
"Then the high king told them, T want to make
people on earth, endowing them dominion
over the world.' 'When the lord told his angels,
I will send a successor to the earth,'^141
they became three nations. One nation said,
'God does what he wants to.'^142 'And he decides
his ways. You want it solely at god's desire.'^143
- On Gog and Magog as powers on the earth, see Ezekiel 38-39; Revelation 20:8; Qur'an
sura 18. Magog is also mentioned in Genesis 10:2 and 1 Chronicles 1:5.
- Qur'an sura 2.
- Qur'an sura 3, 5.
- Qur'an sura 76.
