692 ISLAMIC MYSTICAL LITERATURE
the precincts of the sky and of the earth,
but without my permission you will fail!'^95THE DENYING RANKS ARE CONFINED
"Then the high king gave orders to Salman,
'We cannot leave these beings in this state.
From seven lights I made to cloak the faithless,
turn ruby light into a ruby curtain.
Transform the fire light, and make a curtain
from it, and keep them muffled in the cloth
and cover the white eternal farthest sea
with this curtain, color of ruby.' As it is written,
'We told you all to fall from paradise.'^96
"Right then Salman began to terrorize,
seizing the ruby light, and cloaking them
as by a ruby dome, cloaked the white sea
and farthest dome. He stripped them of their fire,
spreading it out below them. They lived
between these curtains for a thousand years.THE HIGH KING APPEARS
"After a thousand years the high king shone
in Salman's curtain, with his special beings,
the pure-hearted Naqib, Najib, and waverers,
and he shouted, 'These are my creatures. Bow
before them. As lord over them and you,
I command all who sprang out of the loins
of Adam's children, I command you now
to testify, for am I not your lord?'^97
"Then select beings and all the pure of heart
recognized the high king: 'Yes, we declare.'^98- Qur'an sura 55.
- Qur'an sura 2.
- Qur'an sura 7.
- Qur'an sura 7.