Hatim could not understand the game that the dragon was playing. First, it assumed the shape of a rainbow dragon, then of a black serpent; then it became a lion after that it assumed the shape of a woman and then that of a buffalo, once again killing villagers with its horns and hoofs. As soon as the dragon changed its shape from a buffalo to an old man, Hatim could not stop himself. He went to him and said, “O mysterious man, what is it that you are doing? Why are you killing so many people and animals?” The mysterious man replied, “I am the angel of death. With each birth, its death too is written and it’s my work to carry it out. Your time has not yet come, so go and help mankind, as God wants you to do.” Understanding the different ways in which God works, Hatim continued his journey towards the red desert.
The Angel of Death
