Making of Man

AL-MUZAWWIR! the “Fashioner!” say thus;

Still lauding Him who hath compounded us:

When the Lord would fashion men,

Spake He in the Angels’ hearing,

“Lo! Our will is there shall be

On the earth a creature bearing

Rule and royalty. Today

We will shape a man from clay.”

Spake the Angels, “Wilt Thou make

Man who must forget his Maker,

Working evil, shedding blood,

Of Thy precepts the forsaker?

But Thou knowest all, and we

Celebrate Thy majesty.”

Answered Allah, “Yea! I know

What ye know not of this making;

Gabriel! Michael! Israfel!

Go down to the earth, and taking

Seven clods of colors seven,

Bring them unto Me in Heaven.

Then those holy Angels three,

Spread their pinions and descended;

Seeking clods of diverse clay,

That all colors might be blended;

Yellow, tawny, dun, black, brown,

White and red as men are known.

But the earth spake sore afraid,

“Angels! of my substance take not,

Give me back my dust and pray

That the dread Creator make not

Man, for he will sin and bring

Wrath on me and suffering.”

Therefore, empty-handed came

Gabriel, Michael, Israfel,

Saying, “Lord! Thy earth imploreth

Man may never on her dwell;

He will sin and anger Thee,

Give me back my clay!” cried she.

Spake the Lord to Azrael,

“Go thou, who of wing art surest,

Tell my earth this shall be well;

Bring those clods, which thou procurest

From her bosom, unto Me;

Shape them as I order thee.”

Thus ’tis written how the Lord

Fashioned Adam for His glory,

Whom the Angels worshipped,

All save Iblis; and this story

Teacheth wherefore Azrael saith

“Come thou!” at man’s hour of death.

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