The First Story

Wahb ibn Munabbih—once a learned rabbi who later embraced Islam—related that a mighty king resolved one day to ride out among his subjects so that the people might marvel at his wonders and finery. He ordered his governors, chamberlains, and the grandees of his realm to mount in ceremonial ranks, that his sovereignty might appear in full splendor. He summoned his most luxurious garments and commanded that his celebrated horses—those pedigreed racers of renown—be paraded before him. From among them he chose a stallion famed for winning races; he mounted it with an ornate saddle and a jewel-studded bridle and began galloping through his army, reveling in his own pomp and tyranny.

Iblis approached, placed his mouth at the king’s nostril, and blew into him the air of conceit. The king thought to himself, “Who in the world is my equal?” He spurred his horse on in haughty pride, strutting in vain glory and refusing even to glance at anyone because of the arrogance, self-admiration, and boastfulness that filled him.

A man clad in tattered clothes stepped before him and greeted him, but the king did not return the greeting. The man then seized the reins of the horse. The king barked, “Remove your hand! Do you not know whose reins you are holding?” The man answered, “I have a request of you.” “State your request,” the king said. “It is a secret,” the man replied, “and I will tell it only in your ear.” The king inclined his ear, and the man whispered, “I am the Angel of Death, and I have come to seize your soul.”

The king pleaded, “Grant me time enough to return home and bid farewell to my children and my wife.” The angel responded, “No—you will never see them again, for the term of your life has ended.” He then took the king’s soul while the king was still mounted, and the king fell dead to the ground.

The Angel of Death departed and came upon a righteous man with whom Allah was pleased. He greeted him, and the man returned the greeting. The angel said, “I have a request of you, and it is a secret.” The righteous man answered, “Speak your request into my ear.” The angel whispered, “I am the Angel of Death.” The man replied, “Welcome—praise be to Allah for your arrival! I have long awaited you; your delay felt prolonged, and I yearned for your coming.” The angel said, “If you have any affairs to settle, attend to them.” The man responded, “Nothing is more important to me than meeting my Lord.”

The angel asked, “How would you like me to take your soul? I have been commanded—just tell me.” The man said, “Take it while I am in prostration.” The Angel of Death did as he was asked and conveyed him to the mercy of his Lord, majestic and exalted.