How Iblís awakened Mu‘áwiya—may God be well-pleased with him!—saying, “Arise, it is time for prayer.”

’Tis related in Tradition that Mu‘áwiya was asleep in a nook of the palace.

The palace-door was fastened from the inside, for he was fatigued by people's visits.

Suddenly he was awakened by a man, (but) when he opened his eyes the man vanished.

He said (to himself), “No one had entrance to the palace: who is he that has shown such impudence and boldness?”

Then he went round and searched in order to find the trace of that one who had become hidden (from sight).

Behind the door he espied a luckless man who was hiding his face in the door and the curtain.

“Hey,” he cried, “who are you? What is your name?” “(To speak) plainly,” said he, “my name is Iblís the damned.”

He (Mu‘áwiya) asked, “Why did you take pains to awaken me? Tell the truth, don't tell me what is reverse and contrary (to the fact).”