7 i8 ISLAMIC MYSTICAL LITERATUREand paradise glowed with light from this being.
The waverers were eager to discover
what kind of being it was. The inspired spirit
appeared to them. 'This being is from the first
and farthest realm. The figurehead of Fatima
is of the highest majesty that lives
in paradise. Her crown is Muhammad,
her earrings are Hasan and Husayn,
and the girded sword is the prince who is
faithful Ali. Her throne is the lord's seat
on which the high king—great is his power—sits
in splendor.' All praised and glorified this being.MEN ARE TEMPTED BY WOMEN
"After some time, Iblis became a woman,
a beauty. And everyone with him became
beautiful women before the waverers.
They all were tempted; for a man there is
nothing more tempting than a woman he
might have. Sensual lust caused them to touch
and lay their hands on them and grope around
their bodies. After nine months, out of them
emerged another being.
The snake and peacock
lived in the second and third paradise
of those who followed Iblis's insanity.HUMANS ARE EVICTED FROM PARADISE
"When the high king came in, he howled against
the lingerers, 'Get out of here, all of you.^153
Get out of paradise. Assume the form
of thin dark shadows.' He hurled them away- Qur'an sura 2.