RECORD OF EDRIS [ENOCH] THE PROPHET, U. W. B., ETC.

His birthplace was Manaf [Memphis] in Egypt, and in the phraseology of philosophers he is surnamed the third Uriah. In Hebrew his name is Ekhnûh and Khunûh. Among the Greeks he is known by the name of Batrismin and Aursin. The Arabs call him Hermes Edris almuthul­luth bilni’mat [who enjoys three graces]. From studying and investigating diligently the books of his ancestors, he was surnamed Edris. Hermes means Mercury, and the epithet grace [ni’mat] alludes here to prophecy and philosophy. It is related that in the beginning he was a disciple of Gâzimûn, one of the prophets sent to the inhabitants of Greece and Egypt. Gâzimûn means ‘fortu­nate,’ and also the second Uriah. It is said that when the children of Qabil were seduced by Eblis from the straight path into the abyss of infidelity and idolatry, and abolished the institutions of marriage, and became addicted to wicked­ness and abominations, the Almighty — whose name be glorified—invested Edris with the robe of prophecy, sent him to them, and allowed him to work miracles, so that many were brought over from infidelity and obstinacy to the mansion of peace and rectitude, and having been delivered from the toils of misery, they obtained the asylum of felicity; whilst another section of that com­munity continued to walk in the paths of wickedness because of the hardness of their hearts, and the preaching of Edris took no effect upon them. It is narrated in the ‘Tarikh-i Hukmâ’ that he invited mankind in seventy-two ways,* laid the foundations of a hundred towns, and estab­lished precepts in all countries suitable to their inhabitants, all of whom, as well as those who dwelt in islands, obeyed him. He appointed four men to be his vice-gerents in the world. These were: Ayallaos, and his father Laos, Asqa­lenus, and Amon. He invited people to the true religion, which is monotheism, to deal justly, to pray, and to leave off superstitions, which precepts lead to eternal salvation. He also ordered prayers and fastings on certain appointed days according to his law, and likewise to wage war for the sake of religion, and to bestow alms. He prohibited the eating of swine, of ass, and of dog flesh; also that of pot­herbs, and of things injurious to the brain, such as intoxi­cating plants and drugs. He ordained the offering of sacrifices at sunset, on beholding the new moon, on the arrival of a planet in its own mansion, or when culminating, etc. He was the first who practised astronomy, gave names to the planets, and to the signs of the zodiac, determinated their culminations, right ascensions, aspects, etc. He intro­duced writing and tailoring, and also established the custom of attacking and imprisoning infidels. It is related in the ‘Kassass Jehâni’ that Edris was very abstemious and ascetical, praying to God twelve thousand times every day. He was quite conversant with celestial things, and enjoyed constant intercourse with angels. The translation of the book ‘Ihvân-ussafa’ relates that Edris said: ‘I was revolving around the skies with Saturn for thirty years, and have become acquainted with the truths and niceties of the upper regions, and have ascertained the secrets of the invisible world.’ It is related in the ‘Tarikh-i Hukmâ’ that Edris had informed his people about the number of prophets who would be sent after him, and also of the deluge that would happen in Nûh’s [Noah] time. Accord­ing to the opinion of the majority of historians, he induced one of the mighty men of his monarchy to build that pyramid of Egypt which is known by the name of Gun­buzahrâm, for the purpose of preserving the tombs of his friends from the waters of the deluge. He himself left Egypt and travelled through the inhabited world, and when he had again returned, the Most High exalted him to an elevated station. According to authentic tradition, he attained everlasting life in paradise. The state of the case, however, is this: Edris was always anxious to meet his Omnipotent Nourisher, was meditating on death, and the length of time he would have to remain underground until the period of the resurrection, and on the passage over the bridge Sirat.* His ardent desire was to enter paradise without the intervention of the events just alluded to. Day by day he became more fervent in prayer, and his good deeds exceeded the merits of all the people of this world who go to heaven like angels. When A’zrayil had become aware of this fact, a desire rose in him to associate with Edris, and after permission obtained from the Omnipotent Creator, he descended on earth and became his intimate friend; but as he abstained from eating and drinking, Edris soon perceived that he did not belong to the human species. Then A’zrayil revealed himself, and said: ‘I am the angel of death!’ Whereupon Edris inquired whether he had come to take his soul. He replied: ‘I have come to visit thee.’ Then Edris besought him to make him taste the beverage of death. A’zrayil, having been allowed by the Lord of Glory to do so, took possession of his soul. Some assert that A’zrayil removed the soul of Edris to his nostrils, and then again to his body. Then Edris requested A’zrayil to show him hell, which he did after receiving due permission. Afterwards Edris mani­fested a desire to behold paradise, and by the command of the Glorious Sovereign, he was seated on a wing of A’zrayil, and thus arrived in the seventh heaven, and lastly in paradise, where he spent an hour in contemplating the rivers, fruits, huris, palaces, and youths of that blessed abode. After some time A’zrayil wished to take Edris away from the garden, but Edris, who was aware of the state of affairs, and initiated into secrets, refused to comply, and taking refuge near a tree, resisted all the invitations of his guide, saying: ‘Unless the Creator of paradise and of hell removes me, I shall not quit this place.’

Meanwhile the Almighty—w. n. b. e.—sent an angel to arbitrate between them, who, after conversing with A’zrayil, asked Edris, who replied: ‘Every soul shall taste of death.* I have eaten of the poison of the extinction of life, and, according to the edict, “There is none of you but will go down to it,” I descended to hell; and, lastly, according to the command of the Most High and Glorious concerning the inhabitants of paradise, “And they shall not go out from it,” I shall not go out merely because of A’zrayil’s words until the Omnipotent Inscrutable One orders me to do so.’ Then the divine announcement arrived: ‘By my permission he entered, and by my permission he acted; leave him alone, for the right is on his side.’ Some his­torians, such as Ka’b-ullâkhbâr* and others, have said that this is the meaning of the words: ‘And we have raised him to a high place.’ Others, again, have said that when Edris came out of paradise he began to worship God in the sixth heaven with the angels, and will continue to do so until the Lord’s command, according to predestination, is issued to him. Some assert that when Edris went to heaven by the aid of the angel, he requested the Lord, who answers prayers, to send him back. Accordingly, his spirit was immediately separated from his body; it was conveyed to the heavenly temple, and he was appointed to worship God in the company of angels.