It is related in the history entitled ‘Bedayet we Nihayet’ [the beginning and the end] that Adam went every year on pilgrimage to the holy city of Mekkah for the purpose of circumambulating the Ka’bah, and performing all the required ceremonies. Once when he had fulfilled all his duties he fell asleep in the rear of A’rafat, called Vâdi of No’mân, where the Almighty—w. n. b. pr.—produced the entire progeny from his loins, and placed them all at Adam’s right and left side.* When he awoke he glanced to his right side, and beheld luminous individuals, and also Jebrâil; he interrogated the latter about them, and was informed that these were the companions of the right hand, and the Cherubim of the palace of monotheism [originating] from the seed of Adam. At that moment the divine allocution arrived: ‘These are in paradise.’ When Adam looked at the company on his left side, he beheld those pertaining to darkness, and again asked Jebrâil: ‘Who are these?’ He replied: ‘These are the companions of the left hand excluded from the mercy of Allah.’ And then another announcement arrived from Allah, namely: ‘These are in fire.’ It is related that when the descendants of Adam were presented to him, his eyes alighted on a youth among the companions of the right hand who was of beautiful countenance and symmetrical in stature. He was weeping, and this reminded Adam of his own sorrow when he was expelled from paradise. On questioning Jebrâil, he replied: ‘This is one of thy celebrated descendants; his name is David. He is weeping on account of sin, and will be a prophet.’ Adam inquired about the length of his life, and was informed that its duration would be sixty years. Hereupon Adam turned his face towards the altar of prayer, saying: ‘O Lord, take away forty years from my life, and add them to his life.’ His prayer was granted, and David’s life was decreed to consist of one hundred years. When Adam had attained the age of nine hundred and sixty years, A’zrayil visited him to execute the business wherewith he had been entrusted. Adam said: ‘It is not yet time to take my soul, because, according to the divine promise, forty years of my life still remain.’ A’zrayil replied: ‘Thou hast bestowed forty years of thy life upon David.’ This Adam denied, and on reporting the circumstance at the Court of Glory, A’zrayil was ordered not to molest Adam before the expiration of the above-mentioned time, nor to deduct any from the appointed hundred years of David. After Adam had thus repented of his gift, the Beneficent King issued a decree that the children of men should henceforth in their grants and transactions make use of documents and contracts with the signature of witnesses, so that no one could afterwards resort to subterfuges; and if they did so they should not be listened to at all.
It is narrated in the history of Tabari, and in that of Hâfez Abru, that the vision which Adam had of all his descendants took place when he was asleep in the Vâdi of No’mân. It is, however, admitted by all that after beholding his entire offspring, he manifested a desire of returning to his usual abode, when suddenly the inspiration and divine command reached him to proceed to Yemen, and to direct Qabil, his children, and his followers, to the right road, and to restrain him from walking in the paths of sin and wickedness. Accordingly Adam travelled to their habitations, and preached to Qabil and to his adherents, who had adopted the religion of idolatry, and considered the drinking of wine and the worship of idols to be licit. Adam performed signs and miracles as is the wont of prophets, and converted many of his own and some of Qabil’s descendants, but the remainder continued to walk in obstinacy, sin, and infidelity, and were thus condemned for ever to walk in perdition.