(Suddenly) he -as saw a youth with a beautiful face and...

(Suddenly) he -as saw a youth with a beautiful face and clothes coming towards him -as from one of the places of his -as castle. When Suleyman -as saw him, he -as said to him: ‘Who allowed you to enter into this castle, and I -as have intended that I -as should be alone in it, for this day? And by whose permission have you entered?’ قال الشاب: أدخلني هذا القصر ربه، و بإذنه دخلت. فقال: ربه أحق به مني، فمن أنت؟ قال: أنا ملك الموت.

قال: و فيم جئت؟ قال جئت لأقبض روحك The youth said: ‘It was its Lord -azwj Who Made me enter into this castle, and it is by His -azwj Permission that I entered’. So he -as said: ‘Its Lord -azwj is more rightful for it that I -as am. So who are you?’ He said: ‘I am the Angel of death’. He -as said: ‘And with regards to whom have you come?’ He said: ‘I have come for the capture of your -as soul’.

قال: امض لما أمرت به، فهذا يوم سروري، و أبى الله عز و جل أن يكون لي سرور دون لقائه He -as said: ‘Go ahead and do what you have been Commanded to do, for this is my -as day of delight, and Allah -azwj Mighty and Majestic has Refused that there should be delight for me -as , without meeting Him -azwj ’.

فقبض ملك الموت روحه و هو متكئ على عصاه، فبقي سليمان متكئا على عصاه و هو ميت ما شاء الله، و الناس ينظرون إليه و هم يقدرون أنه حي The Angel of Death captured his -as soul whilst he -as was reclining upon his -as staff. Thus, Suleyman -as remained reclining upon his -as staff, and he -as was dead, for as long as Allah -azwj so Desired it. And the people were looking at him -as and they were under the impression that he -as was alive.

فافتتنوا فيه، و اختلفوا، فمنهم من قال: إن سليمان قد بقي متكئا على عصاه هذه الأيام الكثيرة و لم يتعب، و لم ينم، و لم يأكل، و لم يشرب! إنه لربنا الذي يجب علينا أن نعبده They were Tried with regards to it, and they differed, so from among them was one who said, ‘Suleyman -as has remained reclining upon his -as staff this day for a long time, and he -as is not getting tired, nor is he -as eating, and is not drinking! He -as is a lord unto us and it obligates us that we should serve him -as ’.

و قال قوم: إن سليمان ساحر، و إنه ليرينا أنه واقف متكئ على عصاه فيسحر أعيننا، و ليس كذلك And a group of people said: ‘Surely, Suleyman -as is a magician, and he -as is watching us, and he -asws is pausing upon his -as staff, so he -as has cast a spell upon our eyes, and it is not like that’.