Page:Folk-lore of the Holy Land.djvu/66

42 of Sho’aib’s and Mûsa’s own flock had been entrusted when the latter was sent on his mission to deliver Israel out of Egypt, and he entered into conversation. The man was surprised to see the Lawgiver, and inquired what reason he had for leaving the haunts of men. When Mûsa told him, the shepherd, to his great displeasure, took the part of Azrael, and suggested that, seeing the prophet was simply going to exchange the burdens, toils, and sorrows of this life for unending joys at Allah’s right hand, he ought to greet the announcement of his approaching change with joy. “I myself,” continued the shepherd, “greatly fear death, but that is only natural, seeing that I am only a poor sinful being; but you, who are so high in Allah’s favour, ought to rejoice at the prospect.”

On being thus admonished, Mûsa lost his temper, saying: “Well, then, as you say that you are afraid of death, may you never die!” “Amen,” replied the man to this wish, little guessing it was a curse.

When the shepherd had lived out his days he swooned away, and his friends, supposing him dead, buried him in the place where his grave is still shown, not far from the shrine of Neby Mûsa. But he is not dead, for in consequence of Mûsa’s words, “May you never die,” he cannot find rest in death, but is still alive and wanders about pasturing the ibex. He is sometimes seen by wandering Bedû and hunters of the wild goats in the district around the Dead Sea, and in the wadys on the west of the Jordan valley, as far north as the Sea of Tiberias. He is