第43部分(第4/7 頁)

believed　that　painting　amounted　to　being　duped　by　him；　I　waited　confidently。

I　dreamed　of　the　endless　journey　that　awaited　me　and　of　my　future。

Meanwhile； as I was approached by the illuminated angel whom I’d just

seen；　Satan　vanished。　Part　of　me　knew　that　this　glowing　angel　who　had　caused

Satan　to　flee　was　Azrael。　But　another　rebellious　part　of　my　mind　remembered

that　in　the　Book　of　the　Apocalypse　it　was　written　that　Azrael　was　an　angel　with

one　thousand　wings　spanning　East　and　West　and　that　he　held　the　whole　world

in　his　hands。

As　I　grew　more　confused；　the　angel　bathed　in　light　approached　as　if　ing

to my aid； and yes； just as Gazzali had stated in Pearls of Magnificence； he

sweetly　said：

“Open　your　mouth　so　that　your　soul　might　leave。”

“Nothing　but　the　besmele　prayer　ever　leaves　my　mouth；”　I　answered　him。

This　was　just　one　last　excuse　however。　I　knew　I　could　no　longer　resist；　that

my　time　had　now　e。　For　a　moment　I　was　embarrassed　at　having　to　leave

my bloodied and ugly body in this miserable condition for my daughter；

whom I’d never see again。 But I wanted to leave this world； shedding it like

some　tight…fitting　garment　that　pinched。

I　opened　my　mouth　and　abruptly　all　was　color　just　as　in　the　pictures　of　Our

Prophet’s Miraj journey； during which he visited Heaven。 Everything was

flooded　in　exquisite　brightness　as　if　generously　painted　with　gold　wash。　Painful

tears flowed from my eyes。 A strained exhalation passed from my lungs

through　my　mouth。　All　was　subsumed　in　wondrous　silence。

I　could　see　now　that　my　soul　had　left　my　body　and　that