CONTENTS
SECTION I
CONCERNING THE CREATION AND DIVERS SAINTS AND MIRACLES
I. A Learned Moslem’s Ideas on Cosmogony 3 The Tablet of Destiny, and the great fountain-pen.—The creation of water, of Allah’s throne, of the atmosphere, of the great serpent, of the solid earth and the mountains, the “Kaf” range, and the seven seas and continents.—How the universe is upheld.—The cause of earthquakes and of eclipses.—How all these things became known.
II. Our Father Adam 9 Adam formed out of various kinds of dust.—Disobedience of Iblis. —Adam’s first troubles.—“El Karineh,” Lilith, or “El Brûsha.”—Creation of Eve.—Iblis bribes the serpent, and thus gets back into Paradise.—Adam’s forethought.—The fall of Man, and the ejection from Eden.—Increase and origin of various evil spirits.—Repentance of Adam and his reunion with Eve.—He is shown his posterity.—His great stature.—His death.—Place of Adam’s burial.
III. Noah and Og 13 Idris.—Birth and dwelling-place of Noah.—The “Nakus.”—Opposition.—The Deluge. —Iblis gets into the Ark.—A donkey in Paradise. —Og.—Voyage of the Ark.—Noah’s daughter and her supposed sisters.—Noah buried at Kerak.
IV. Job and his Family 17 Job.—His wife’s’ patience.—El Hakim Lokman identified with Aisop.—Account of a surgical operation.
V. Abraham, “The Friend of God” 22 Circumstances of his birth.—Impiety of Nimrid.—The child’s precocity. His longing for spiritual knowledge.—Destruction of Idols. —The furnace.—The flying-machine. — Death of Nimrûd.—Flight of Ibrahim.—His buildings. —The sheep-skin jacket.—Ibrahim’s hospitality.—A false friend.—A churl.—Several customs attributed to Ibrahim.—His death.—He is still alive.—His posthumous protection of the Jews at Hebron.
