ISLAMIC MYSTICAL LITERATURE 68lrivers and fragrant herbs and babbling brooks
mark this violet sphere, as well as castles
of paradise below where the four rivers
of wine, milk, honey, and pure water flow.
They are called the water of life. Five great
lights of this sphere, who are known as the houris,
float over these castles. As it is written, 'Houris
locked up in tents.'^61 Their words are the water
of life when praising the exalted king.
"The river of wine is practical knowledge,
the river of milk their esoteric knowledge,
the river of honey their inspired knowledge
of the eternal and ultimate sphere.
As it is written, 'The paradise promised to those
in awe of god is in this way created.
In it are rivers with unpolluted water,
another river with milk of constant taste,
another with wine a delight to drink,
another fashioned of transparent honey.'^62
In this curtain 124,000 lamps dazzle.THE SUN-COLORED SPHERE
"Below this sphere is a curtain of the color
of sun, and from the violet curtain come
124,000 bright candles and lamps
glowing in this curtain colored by sun.
Five other lights are masters in this sphere,
commanders of these lights, 'holding a lamp
surrounded by a glass as if it were
a glittering star.'^63 This sphere is a great sea
intrinsic with holy light. One hundred twenty-four thousand suns
flow into this sea, and the earthly world
cannot suffer its heat. As it is written,- Qur'an sura 55.
- Qur'an sura 47.
- Qur'an sura 24.