Prevod

It is also related, O fortunate King, that one day the Caliph Harun al-Rashid examined the revenues of his dominions and found that the tribute from every province and country had reached the treasury except that of Basra, which had not arrived that year. He therefore convened his council and said, “Bring me the vizier Ja‘far.” When Ja‘far appeared before him, he said, “The tribute from every province has reached the treasury, but nothing has come from Basra.” The vizier replied, “Commander of the Faithful, perhaps something has happened to the governor of Basra to distract him from sending the tribute.” The Caliph said, “The tribute takes twenty days to arrive. What excuse can he have for letting all that time pass without either sending it or sending word of his excuse?” Ja‘far said, “Commander of the Faithful, if you wish, we shall send him a messenger.” “Send Abu Ishaq al-Mawsili, my boon companion,” said the Caliph. “I hear and obey God and you, Commander of the Faithful,” replied Ja‘far. Then the vizier returned to his house, summoned Abu Ishaq al-Mawsili, and wrote out a royal warrant for him, saying, “Go to Abd Allah ibn Fadil, governor of the city of Basra, and find out what has distracted him from sending the tribute. Receive the revenues of Basra from him in full and bring them to me swiftly, for the Caliph has examined the revenues of the provinces and found that all have arrived except those of Basra. If you find that the money is not ready and he offers you an excuse, bring him with you so that the Caliph may hear it from his own lips.” Abu Ishaq answered that he heard and obeyed, took five thousand horsemen from the vizier’s troops, and set out for Basra. When Abd Allah ibn Fadil learned of his approach, he rode out with his soldiers to meet him, escorted him into Basra, and brought him up to his palace. The rest of the troops encamped in tents outside the city, and Ibn Fadil provided everything they needed. When Abu Ishaq entered the audience hall and took his seat, he seated Abd Allah ibn Fadil beside him, while the dignitaries sat around them according to their rank. After the greetings, Ibn Fadil said, “My lord, is there some reason for your visit?” “Yes,” he answered. “I have come to collect the tribute, for the Caliph has asked about it, and the time for its arrival has passed.” “My lord,” said the governor, “would that you had spared yourself the trouble and hardship of the journey! The tribute is ready in full, and I had intended to send it tomorrow. But since you have come, I shall deliver it to you after entertaining you for three days. On the fourth day I shall have it brought before you. For now, however, it is our duty to offer you a gift from the bounty we owe to you and the Commander of the Faithful.” “There is no harm in that,” Abu Ishaq replied. The governor then dismissed the council and took him into a palace within his residence that had no equal. He set a meal before him and his companions, and they ate and drank, delighting in food and music. Then the table was cleared, their hands were washed, and coffee and sherbets were brought. They sat together in convivial conversation until a third of the night had passed. Then a bed of ivory inlaid with gleaming gold was made ready for Abu Ishaq, and he lay down upon it, while the governor of Basra lay on another bed beside him. But sleep eluded Abu Ishaq, the envoy of the Commander of the Faithful, and he began to ponder poetic metres and verse, for he was one of the Caliph’s closest companions and was deeply versed in poetry and delightful tales. He remained awake composing verses until midnight. While he lay thus, Abd Allah ibn Fadil rose, fastened his belt, opened a cupboard, and took out a whip. Then he picked up a lighted candle and left the chamber, believing Abu Ishaq to be asleep. But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent, leaving her tale untold.

When it was the nine hundred and seventy-ninth night,

She said: It has reached me, O fortunate King, that when Abd Allah ibn Fadil left the chamber, believing Abu Ishaq the boon companion asleep, Abu Ishaq wondered and said to himself, “Where is Abd Allah ibn Fadil going with that whip? Perhaps he means to torment someone. I must follow him and see what he does tonight.” So Abu Ishaq rose and crept after him, keeping out of sight. He saw Abd Allah open a cupboard and take out a tray bearing four dishes of food, some bread, and a jug of water. Then he carried the tray and jug away, and Abu Ishaq secretly followed him until he entered a hall. Abu Ishaq stationed himself just inside the doorway and peered through a gap in the door. He saw a spacious hall, luxuriously furnished, with an ivory couch plated with gold in its midst. To this couch two dogs were tethered by golden chains. Abd Allah set the tray to one side, rolled up his sleeves, and unfastened the first dog. It writhed in his hands, pressing its face to the ground as though kissing the earth before him, and gave a low, feeble howl. Then he bound its forelegs, threw it on the ground, drew out the whip, and lashed it cruelly, without pity. It writhed before him but could find no escape. He went on beating it until it ceased to moan and lost consciousness; then he lifted it and tethered it in its former place. After that he took the second dog and treated it as he had the first. Then he drew out a handkerchief and began wiping away their tears, comforting them and saying, “Do not blame me. By God, this is not my wish, nor does it come easily to me. Perhaps God will grant you relief and a way out of this distress.” And he prayed for them. All this took place while Abu Ishaq stood watching with his own eyes and listening with his own ears, astonished at what he saw. Then Abd Allah set the food before the dogs and fed them with his own hand until they had eaten their fill. He wiped their mouths, took up the jug, and gave them water to drink. After that he picked up the tray, the jug, and the candle, and made to leave. Abu Ishaq hurried ahead of him, returned to his bed, and lay down. Abd Allah neither saw him nor knew that he had followed and watched him. He put the tray and jug back in the cupboard, returned to the chamber, opened the cabinet and replaced the whip, then took off his clothes and went to bed.

Such was his case. As for Abu Ishaq, he spent the rest of that night pondering the affair, unable to sleep for wonder, and saying to himself, “What can be the reason for this?” He continued to marvel until morning. Then they rose, said the dawn prayer, and were served breakfast. They ate, drank coffee, and went up to the audience hall. All day Abu Ishaq’s mind dwelt on this strange affair, but he kept it to himself and did not question Abd Allah about it. On the second night the governor did the same to the dogs, beating them, then making peace with them and giving them food and water. Abu Ishaq followed and saw him treat them just as he had on the first night, and so it was on the third. On the fourth day Abd Allah brought the tribute to Abu Ishaq, who received it and departed without revealing anything. He travelled on until he reached Baghdad, where he delivered the tribute to the Caliph. The Caliph asked him why it had been delayed, and he replied, “Commander of the Faithful, I found that the governor of Basra had made the tribute ready and was about to send it. Had I arrived a day later, I should have met it on the road. But I saw Abd Allah ibn Fadil do something so strange that I have never seen its like in all my life, Commander of the Faithful.” “What was it, Abu Ishaq?” asked the Caliph. “I saw such and such,” he answered, and told him what the governor had done to the two dogs. “For three nights in succession I watched him do this,” he said. “He would beat the dogs, then make peace with them, comfort them, and feed them, while I watched unseen.” The Caliph asked, “Did you question him about the reason?” “No, by your life, Commander of the Faithful,” he replied. “Abu Ishaq,” said the Caliph, “I command you to return to Basra and bring me Abd Allah ibn Fadil and the two dogs.” “Commander of the Faithful,” he pleaded, “spare me this task. Abd Allah ibn Fadil treated me with the utmost honour, and I discovered the affair quite by chance, without intending to, and told you of it. How can I now go back and bring him here? If I return, I shall not know where to look for shame. It would be more fitting to send someone else with a letter in your own hand, and have him bring the governor and the dogs.” The Caliph replied, “If I send someone else, he may deny the whole affair and say, ‘I have no dogs.’ But if I send you, and you tell him, ‘I saw you with my own eyes,’ he will be unable to deny it. You must go and bring him here with the two dogs, or you shall surely be put to death.” But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent, leaving her tale untold.

When it was the nine hundred and eightieth night,

She said: It has reached me, O fortunate King, that the Caliph Harun al-Rashid said to Abu Ishaq, “You must go and bring him here with the two dogs, or you shall surely be put to death.” Abu Ishaq replied, “I hear and obey, Commander of the Faithful. God is sufficient for us, and an excellent guardian is He! True indeed are the words, ‘A man’s tongue is his undoing.’ I have brought this upon myself by telling you. But write me a royal warrant, and I shall go and bring him to you.” The Caliph wrote him a royal warrant, and he set out with it for Basra. When he entered the governor’s presence, Abd Allah said, “May God preserve us from any ill your return may bring, Abu Ishaq! Why have you come back so soon? Was the tribute short, so that the Caliph refused it?” “Emir Abd Allah,” he answered, “I have not returned because the tribute was short. It was complete, and the Caliph accepted it. But I beg you not to blame me, for I have wronged you, though what I did was ordained by Almighty God.” “What have you done, Abu Ishaq?” asked the governor. “Tell me. You are my dear friend, and I shall not blame you.” Abu Ishaq said, “Know that while I was staying with you, I followed you on three successive nights, when you rose at midnight, tormented the dogs, and returned. I marvelled at this, but was ashamed to ask you about it. Then, quite unintentionally, I happened to tell the Caliph your story, and he compelled me to return to you. Here is his letter in his own hand. Had I known the matter would come to this, I should never have told him, but fate decreed it so.” He went on apologizing, but Abd Allah said, “Since you have told him, I shall confirm your account, lest he think you a liar, for you are my dear friend. Had anyone else told him, I should have denied it and declared the man a liar. But now I shall go with you and take the two dogs, even if it costs me my life and brings my appointed end.” “May God shield you,” said Abu Ishaq, “as you have shielded me from disgrace before the Caliph.”

Then Abd Allah took a gift worthy of the Caliph and brought the two dogs, each on a golden chain and each mounted on a camel. They travelled until they reached Baghdad. He entered the Caliph’s presence and kissed the ground before him. The Caliph gave him leave to sit, and he sat down and had the dogs brought before him. “What are these two dogs, Emir Abd Allah?” asked the Caliph. The dogs began kissing the ground before him, wagging their tails and weeping as though appealing to him. The Caliph marvelled and said, “Tell me the story of these dogs, and why you beat them and then treat them with kindness.” He replied, “Caliph of God, these are not dogs, but two young men, handsome in face and finely formed. They are my brothers, sons of my own father and mother.” “How did they come to be dogs when they were human beings?” asked the Caliph. “If you give me leave, Commander of the Faithful,” he said, “I shall tell you the whole truth.” “Tell me,” said the Caliph, “and beware of falsehood, for it is the mark of hypocrites. Keep to the truth, for it is the ship of salvation and the badge of the righteous.” Abd Allah replied, “Know, Caliph of God, that when I tell you their story, they themselves shall bear witness concerning me. If I lie, they will give me the lie; if I speak truly, they will confirm my words.” “These are dogs,” said the Caliph. “They can neither speak nor answer. How can they bear witness for or against you?” Abd Allah said to them, “My brothers, if I say anything false, raise your heads and stare wide-eyed. If I speak the truth, bow your heads and lower your eyes.” Then he began: “Know, Caliph of God, that we are three brothers, born of one mother and one father. Our father’s name was Fadil, and he was given this name only because his mother bore twin sons, one of whom died at the very hour of his birth, while the other remained alive; so his father named him Fadil, ‘the one who remained.’ He brought him up with loving care until he was grown, married him to our mother, and then died. Our mother first bore this brother of mine, whom our father named Mansur. She conceived a second time and bore this brother, whom he named Nasir. She conceived a third time and bore me, and he named me Abd Allah. He reared us until we had grown to manhood, then died, leaving us a house and a shop full of coloured fabrics of every kind, from India, Byzantium, Khurasan, and elsewhere. He also left us sixty thousand dinars. When our father died, we washed his body, held a grand funeral, and buried him, and he passed into the mercy of his Lord. We arranged prayers for his deliverance from the Fire and complete recitations of the Quran, and gave alms on his behalf until the forty days were over. After that I gathered the merchants and the leading men and held a great feast for them. When they had eaten, I said, ‘Merchants, this world passes away, but the world to come endures. Glory be to Him who abides after His creatures have perished! Do you know why I have gathered you here on this blessed day?’ They replied, ‘Glory be to God, who knows all hidden things!’ I said, ‘My father died leaving a considerable fortune, and I fear he may have owed someone a debt, a pledge, or some other obligation. I wish to free my father’s soul from any claims others may have upon him. Let anyone to whom he owed anything say, “He owed me so much,” and I shall pay it, so that my father may be clear of debt.’ The merchants replied, ‘Abd Allah, this world cannot avail us against the next. We are not men of falsehood. Each of us knows what is lawful and what is forbidden; we fear Almighty God and shun the wealth of orphans. We know that your father—may God have mercy on him—always left money owing to him in other people’s hands, but never allowed himself to remain indebted to anyone. We often heard him say, “I dread holding what belongs to others.” And he would always say in his prayers, “My God, You are my trust and my hope. Do not let me die in debt.” It was his habit, whenever he owed anyone anything, to pay it without being asked. But if anyone owed him money, he would not press him for it, saying, “Take your time.” If the man was poor, he forgave him and released him from the debt; and if the man was not poor but died, he would say, “May God forgive him what he owed me.” We all bear witness that he owed no one anything.’ I said, ‘God bless you all.’

“Then I turned to these two brothers of mine and said, ‘Our father owed no one anything, and he has left us this money, these fabrics, the house, and the shop. We are three brothers, and each of us is entitled to a third of everything. Shall we agree not to divide it, but keep our wealth in common, eating and drinking together? Or shall we divide the goods and money, so that each takes his share?’ They answered, ‘Let us divide it, and let each take his share.’” Then he turned to the dogs and said, “Is that what happened, my brothers?” They bowed their heads and lowered their eyes, as though saying yes. He continued, “Commander of the Faithful, I brought an official appointed by the judge to divide the estate. He apportioned among us the money, the fabrics, and everything our father had left. The house and shop were allotted to me in place of part of the money due to me, and we were content with this. Thus the house and shop fell to my share, while my brothers took their portions in money and fabrics. I opened the shop and put my cloth in it, then used some of the money I had received in addition to the house and shop to buy more fabrics until the shop was full, and settled down to buying and selling. My brothers, meanwhile, bought fabrics, hired a ship, and sailed overseas to foreign lands. I said to myself, ‘May God prosper them. My livelihood will come to me, and peace of mind is beyond price.’ I continued thus for a whole year. God blessed my affairs, and I made such handsome profits that I came to possess as much as our father had left us all. One day I was sitting in my shop wearing two fur coats, one of sable and the other of squirrel, for it was winter and the cold was at its bitterest. As I sat there, my two brothers appeared, each wearing nothing but a worn-out shirt, their lips white with cold and their bodies trembling. When I saw them, I was deeply distressed and grieved for them.” But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent, leaving her tale untold.

When it was the nine hundred and eighty-first night,

She said: It has reached me, O fortunate King, that Abd Allah ibn Fadil said to the Caliph, “When I saw them trembling, I was deeply distressed and grieved for them, and was beside myself with sorrow. I rose, embraced them, and wept over their plight. I took off my sable coat and put it on one, and my squirrel coat and put it on the other. Then I took them to the bathhouse and sent each of them a suit of clothes such as a merchant of two thousand dinars would wear. When they had washed, each put on his new clothes, and I brought them home. Finding them ravenously hungry, I set a meal before them, and they ate, while I ate with them, treating them gently and comforting them.” Then he turned to the dogs and said, “Is that what happened, my brothers?” They bowed their heads and lowered their eyes. He continued, “Caliph of God, I then questioned them, saying, ‘What happened to you? Where is your money?’ They answered, ‘We sailed overseas and entered a city called Kufa. There we sold a piece of cloth that had cost us half a dinar for ten dinars, and one that had cost a dinar for twenty. We made enormous profits, and bought Persian silk at ten dinars a length, though it is worth forty in Basra. Then we entered a city called al-Karkh, where we bought and sold and made great gains, until we possessed a vast fortune.’ They went on telling me of the countries they had visited and the profits they had made. I said, ‘Since you enjoyed such prosperity and good fortune, why have you returned naked?’ They sighed and said, ‘Brother, nothing brought us low but the evil eye, and there is no safety in travel. When we had amassed all this wealth and merchandise, we loaded our goods aboard a ship and set sail for Basra. We sailed for three days, but on the fourth the sea rose and fell, foamed and seethed, raged and surged, its waves crashing together and striking sparks like flames of fire. Contrary winds beset us, and our ship was dashed against a jagged rock and broke apart. We were cast into the sea, and everything we had went down. We struggled on the surface for a day and a night, until God sent another ship whose passengers took us aboard. Then we wandered from land to land, begging and living on what we could obtain in alms. We suffered grievous hardships, stripping off our clothes one piece at a time to sell them for food, until we drew near Basra. By the time we reached it, we had drunk a thousand draughts of sorrow. Had we come safely home with all we possessed, we should have brought wealth to rival a king’s, but this was what God had decreed for us.’ I said to them, ‘My brothers, do not grieve. Wealth is the ransom of the body, and safety is itself a prize. Since God has numbered you among the survivors, that is all one could wish. Poverty and riches are but passing shadows. How well the poet said:

If men’s heads are spared destruction, wealth is no more than the paring of nails. Then I said to them, ‘My brothers, let us suppose that our father died this very day and left us all the wealth I now possess. I willingly agree to divide it equally among us.’ So I brought an official appointed by the judge and laid all my wealth before him. He divided it among us, and each of us took a third. I said to them, ‘My brothers, God blesses a man’s livelihood when he remains in his own country. Let each of you open a shop and settle down to earning his living. Whatever has been allotted to a man in the unseen future must surely come to him.’ Then I helped each of them open a shop, stocked it with merchandise, and said, ‘Buy and sell, and preserve your capital. Spend none of it, for I shall provide all you need in food, drink, and everything else.’ I continued to treat them generously. They bought and sold by day, and at night slept in my house. I would not let them spend any of their own money. Whenever I sat talking with them, they praised travel abroad, spoke of its pleasures, described the profits they had made, and urged me to agree to journey with them to foreign lands.” Then he said to the dogs, “Is that what happened, my brothers?” They bowed their heads and lowered their eyes, confirming his words.

Then he said, “Caliph of God, they continued to tempt me, telling me of the great gains and profits to be made abroad and urging me to travel with them, until at last I said, ‘I must go with you, if only to please you.’ Then I entered into partnership with them. We assembled all kinds of precious fabrics, hired a ship, loaded it with merchandise of every sort, and put aboard everything we needed. We sailed from Basra upon the roaring sea with its clashing waves, where he who enters is lost and he who emerges is born anew. We sailed on until we reached a city, where we bought and sold and made handsome profits. Then we departed for another, and continued to travel from country to country and city to city, buying and selling, until we had amassed great wealth and splendid gains. At last we came to a mountain, where the captain cast anchor and said, ‘Passengers, go ashore and escape the heat of this day. Search the land; perhaps you will find water.’ Everyone aboard went ashore, and I went with them. We began searching for water, each taking a different direction, while I climbed to the mountain’s summit. As I walked, I saw a white snake fleeing, pursued by a black serpent, hideously misshapen and terrible to behold. The serpent overtook her, hemmed her in, seized her by the head, and coiled its tail around hers. She cried out, and I knew that it was assaulting her. Filled with pity, I picked up a flint stone weighing five pounds or more and struck the serpent with it. The stone hit its head and crushed it. All at once the white snake transformed into a young maiden, lovely and beautiful, radiant and flawless, graceful and well proportioned, like the shining full moon. She came towards me, kissed my hand, and said, ‘May God shield you with two protections: from shame in this world and from the Fire in the next, on the day of the great gathering, when neither wealth nor sons shall avail, but only a heart brought pure before God.’ Then she said, ‘Mortal, you have defended my honour and placed me in your debt. I am bound to repay your kindness.’ She gestured towards the ground, which split open, and she descended into it. The earth closed over her, and I knew that she was one of the jinn. As for the serpent, fire blazed up within it and burned it to ashes. I marvelled at this, then returned to my companions and told them what I had seen. We spent the night there, and in the morning the captain weighed anchor, spread the sails, and hauled in the ropes. We sailed until the land vanished from sight. For twenty days we travelled without seeing land or bird, and our water ran out. The captain said, ‘Good people, our fresh water is gone.’ We replied, ‘Let us go ashore; perhaps we shall find water.’ He said, ‘By God, I have lost my way, and I know no course that will bring us to land.’ We were sorely distressed, and wept and prayed to Almighty God to guide us to the right course. We spent that night in the direst misery. How well the poet said:

How many a night have I passed in such anguish that a suckling child might turn grey! Yet no sooner did morning dawn than help came from God, and deliverance was near. When morning came and spread its radiant light, we saw a lofty mountain. At the sight of it we rejoiced and took heart. We reached the mountain, and the captain said, ‘Good people, go ashore and let us search for water.’ We all went ashore to search, but found none, and suffered greatly from the lack of it. Then I climbed to the summit of the mountain and saw beyond it a broad, circular plain, an hour’s journey or more across. I called to my companions, and they came to me. When they arrived, I said, ‘Look at this plain beyond the mountain. I can see a city there, with lofty buildings and mighty foundations, walls and towers, hills and meadows. Surely it cannot lack water and good things. Come, let us go to that city, fetch water, buy whatever provisions, meat, and fruit we need, and return.’ They said, ‘We fear that the people of this city may be unbelievers and idolaters, enemies of the faith. They may seize us and hold us captive, or kill us, and then we shall have brought about our own deaths by casting ourselves into ruin and terrible peril. A reckless man deserves no praise, for he exposes himself to harm. As one poet said:

As long as earth is earth and heaven heaven, the reckless earn no praise, though they escape unharmed. We shall not risk our lives.’ I said to them, ‘Good people, I have no authority over you, but I shall take my two brothers and go to this city.’ My brothers said, ‘We are afraid of this undertaking and will not go with you.’ I replied, ‘As for me, I am resolved to go to this city. I put my trust in God and accept whatever He has decreed for me. Wait here until I go there and return to you.’” But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent, leaving her tale untold.

When it was the nine hundred and eighty-second night,

She said: It has reached me, O fortunate King, that Abd Allah said, “‘Wait here until I go there and return to you.’ Then I left them and walked until I reached the gate of the city. It was a city of marvellous buildings and extraordinary design, with lofty walls, fortified towers, soaring palaces, and gates of Chinese iron, adorned and engraved in a manner that bewildered the mind. When I entered the gate, I saw a stone bench with a man seated upon it. Around his arm was a brass chain bearing fourteen keys. I concluded that he was the gatekeeper and that the city had fourteen gates. I approached him and said, ‘Peace be upon you.’ He did not return my greeting. I greeted him a second and a third time, but still he gave no answer. I put my hand on his shoulder and said, ‘Fellow, why do you not return my greeting? Are you asleep, or deaf, or not a Muslim, that you withhold your answer?’ He neither answered nor moved. I looked closely and saw that he was stone. I said, ‘This is a wonder! This stone is fashioned in the shape of a son of Adam and lacks nothing but speech.’ I left him and entered the city, where I saw a man standing in the road. I approached and examined him, and found that he too was stone. I went on through the streets, and whenever I saw a person, I drew near and examined him, only to find him made of stone. I came upon an old woman with a bundle of clothes on her head, ready for washing. I approached and looked closely at her, and saw that she was stone, and so was the bundle of clothes upon her head. Then I entered the market and saw an oil seller with his scales set up and all kinds of wares before him, cheese and other goods, all of stone. I saw the other tradesmen sitting in their shops, and people standing or sitting about, men, women, and children, all of stone. Then I entered the cloth merchants’ market. Every merchant was seated in his shop, and each shop was filled with merchandise. All were stone, but the fabrics were like cobwebs. I began examining them, and whenever I took hold of a piece of cloth, it crumbled into dust in my hands!

“I saw some chests and opened one, finding bags of gold inside. When I took hold of the bags, they disintegrated in my hands, but the gold remained unchanged. I took as much as I could carry, saying to myself, ‘If only my brothers had come with me! They could have taken all the gold they needed and enjoyed these ownerless treasures.’ After that I entered another shop, where I found even more, but I could carry no more than I already had. I left that market for another, and then another, wandering among creatures of all shapes, every one of them stone—even the dogs and cats were stone! Then I entered the goldsmiths’ market and saw men seated in their shops, their wares either in their hands or in baskets. When I saw this, Commander of the Faithful, I threw away the gold I was carrying and took as much jewellery as I could bear. From the goldsmiths’ market I went to the jewellers’ market. There I saw the jewellers seated in their shops, each with a basket before him filled with precious stones of every kind: rubies, diamonds, emeralds, spinels, and many others. The shopkeepers were stone. I threw away the jewellery I had taken and loaded myself with as many gems as I could carry, regretting all the while that my brothers were not there to take whatever jewels they wished. Then I left the jewellers’ market and came to a great gateway, decorated and adorned with the most exquisite ornaments. Inside were benches upon which sat servants, soldiers, attendants, guards, and officers, all wearing the finest clothes, and all of stone. I touched one of them, and his clothes fell to pieces upon his body like cobwebs. Then I passed through the gateway and saw a palace unequalled in its architecture and the perfection of its workmanship. Within it I found an audience hall filled with dignitaries, viziers, notables, and emirs, seated on chairs, all of them stone. Then I saw a throne of red gold set with pearls and jewels. Upon it sat a man wearing the most sumptuous robes, with a crown like a Persian king’s upon his head, studded with precious gems that shone like daylight. When I drew near, I found that he too was stone. From that hall I made my way to the entrance of the women’s quarters. I went inside and saw a hall of women. There stood a throne of red gold set with pearls and jewels, and upon it sat a queen wearing a crown studded with precious stones. Around her, women lovely as moons sat on chairs, dressed in the finest garments of every colour. Eunuchs stood there with their hands upon their breasts, as though ready to serve. The hall bewildered the beholder with its ornaments, its extraordinary carvings, and its magnificent furnishings. Exquisite pendants of pure crystal hung within it, and in every crystal vessel was a peerless jewel whose price no fortune could equal. I threw away what I was carrying, Commander of the Faithful, and began taking these jewels, loading myself with as much as I could bear, bewildered as to what to take and what to leave, for the place seemed one of the treasure houses of the cities of old. Then I saw a small open doorway with stairs beyond it. I entered and climbed forty steps, where I heard someone reciting the Quran in a melodious voice. I followed the sound until I reached the entrance to a chamber, where I saw a silk curtain overlaid with bands of gold and strung with pearls, coral, rubies, and pieces of emerald, its jewels shining like stars. The voice came from behind that curtain. I approached and lifted it, revealing the entrance to a chamber so richly adorned that it confounded the mind. I entered and found a room that seemed a treasure laid upon the face of the earth. Within it was a maiden like the brilliant sun in the midst of a cloudless sky. She wore the finest garments and was adorned with the most precious jewels. Her beauty was exquisite, her figure graceful and well proportioned, her charm and loveliness complete. She had a slender waist, full hips, lips whose moisture could heal the sick, and eyes of perfect form. She seemed the very one intended by the poet who said:

Peace upon the figure those garments enfold, and the roses blooming in the gardens of her cheeks! It is as though the Pleiades were hung upon her brow, and all the other stars of night lay like a necklace on her breast. Were she to wear a gown of pure rose petals, those petals would draw blood from her tender limbs. Were she to spit into the salt sea, its waters would grow sweeter than honey. And were she to grant her love to an old man leaning on a staff, he would rise a hunter of lions. Then he said, “Commander of the Faithful, when I saw that maiden, I was consumed with love for her. I approached and found her seated upon a lofty couch, reciting the Book of God Almighty by heart. Her voice was like the creaking of the gates of Paradise when Ridwan opens them; words scattered like jewels from between her lips, and her face shone and blossomed with wondrous beauty. As the poet said of one like her:

“‘You who enchant with your words and your charms, my longing and yearning for you have only grown. Two things in you melt the hearts of lovers: the melodies of David and the beauty of Joseph.’ When I heard her melodious recitation of the glorious Quran, while my heart read in her deadly glances, ‘Peace—a word from a merciful Lord,’ my tongue faltered and I could scarcely frame a greeting. My wits and sight were bewildered, and I became as the poet said:

“‘Longing shook me till I lost command of speech; I entered the guarded precinct only to shed my blood. I listened to the words of those who blamed us only that I might call my beloved to witness what they said.’ Then I steeled myself against the terrors of love and said to her, ‘Peace be upon you, O sheltered lady and hidden jewel! May God sustain the pillars of your happiness and raise the foundations of your glory.’ She replied, ‘And upon you be peace from me, with greetings and honor, O Abdallah ibn Fadil! Welcome, a thousand welcomes, my beloved and delight of my eyes!’ I said, ‘My lady, how did you know my name? Who are you? And what befell the people of this city, that they have turned to stone? I beg you to tell me the truth of the matter, for I am astonished by this city and its people, and by finding no one in it but you. By God, tell me truly what happened.’ She replied, ‘Sit down, Abdallah, and, God Almighty willing, I shall tell you my story and explain in detail what befell this city and its people. There is no power and no strength save in God, the Most High, the Almighty.’ I sat beside her, and she said, ‘Know, Abdallah—may God have mercy on you—that I am the daughter of the king of this city. My father is the man you saw seated on the lofty throne in the audience hall, and those around him are the grandees of his court and the foremost men of his kingdom. My father was a ruler of terrible might. He commanded a million and a hundred and twenty thousand soldiers, and the emirs of his realm numbered twenty-four thousand, all governors and men of high office. A thousand cities obeyed him, besides towns, estates, fortresses, castles, and villages. Under his authority were a thousand chieftains of the desert Arabs, each commanding twenty thousand horsemen. He possessed such wealth, treasures, precious metals, and jewels as no eye had seen nor ear had heard of.’” And morning overtook Shahrazad, and she ceased her permitted tale.

When it was the nine hundred and eighty-third night

She said, “It has reached me, O fortunate King, that the daughter of the king of the City of Stone said, ‘Abdallah, my father possessed such wealth and treasures as no eye had seen nor ear had heard of. He subdued kings and destroyed heroes and brave warriors in battle and on the field of war. Tyrants feared him and mighty monarchs bowed before him. Yet for all this he was an unbeliever who set up partners beside God, worshipping an idol instead of his Lord; and all his soldiers were unbelievers who worshipped idols rather than the all-knowing King. One day, as he sat upon his royal throne with the grandees of his court around him, a man suddenly entered, and the radiance of his face lit up the audience hall. My father looked at him and saw that he wore a green robe. He was tall, with hands reaching below his knees, and his bearing was majestic and grave, while light shone from his face. He said to my father, “O tyrant! O impostor! How long will you persist in the delusion of worshipping idols and forsaking the worship of the all-knowing King? Say, ‘I bear witness that there is no god but God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.’ Embrace Islam, you and your people, and abandon the worship of idols, for they can neither help nor intercede. None is rightly worshipped but God, who raised the heavens without pillars and spread out the earth as a mercy to His servants.” My father replied, “Who are you, fellow, to reject the worship of idols and speak in this fashion? Do you not fear that the idols will be angry with you?” He answered, “The idols are stones. Their anger cannot harm me, nor can their favor benefit me. Bring me the idol you worship, and command each of your people to bring his own. When all your idols are assembled, call upon them to be angry with me, while I call upon my Lord to be angry with them. Then you shall see the difference between the wrath of the Creator and that of the created. You made your idols yourselves, and devils have possessed them: it is they who speak to you from within the idols’ bellies. Your idols are fashioned things, but my God is the Maker, and nothing is beyond His power. If the truth is revealed to you, follow it; if falsehood is revealed to you, forsake it.” They said, “Show us a proof of your Lord, that we may see it!” He replied, “Bring me the proofs of your own lords.” So the king commanded everyone who worshipped an idol to bring it, and all the soldiers brought their idols into the audience hall.

“‘Such was their case. As for me, I was sitting behind a curtain overlooking my father’s audience hall. I had an idol of green emerald, the size of a human being. My father sent for it, and I had it brought down to the hall, where they placed it beside his own. My father’s idol was of ruby, the vizier’s of diamond. As for the leading soldiers and subjects, some of their idols were of balas ruby, some of agate, some of coral, some of Qamari aloeswood, some of ebony, some of silver, and some of gold. Each man had an idol according to what he was willing to spend. As for the common soldiers and the lower orders, some of their idols were of flint, some of wood, some of earthenware, and some of clay. The idols were of every color: yellow, red, green, black, and white. Then the stranger said to my father, “Call upon your idol and these others to be angry with me.” They arranged the idols like an assembly at court, setting my father’s on a golden throne and mine beside it in the place of honor. Then they placed the others in order, each according to the rank of the man who worshipped it. My father rose, prostrated himself before his idol, and said, “O my god, you are the gracious lord, and no idol is greater than you. You know that this man has come to me denying your divinity and mocking you. He claims to have a god stronger than you and commands us to abandon your worship and worship his god. Be angry with him, O my god!” He continued to beseech the idol, but it gave him no answer and spoke not a word. He said, “O my god, this is not your custom! You used to speak to me when I spoke to you. Why do I find you silent and speechless? Are you heedless, or asleep? Awake, come to my aid, and speak to me!” Then he shook it with his hand, but it neither spoke nor stirred. The stranger said to my father, “Why does your idol not speak?” He replied, “I think it is heedless, or asleep.” The stranger said, “O enemy of God, how can you worship a god that cannot speak and has no power over anything, instead of worshipping my God, who is near and answers prayers, who is present and never absent, who neither grows heedless nor sleeps, whom imagination cannot encompass, who sees but is not seen, and who has power over all things? Your god is helpless and cannot ward off harm even from itself. An accursed devil possessed it and led you astray, beguiling you, but now its devil has departed. Worship God, then, and bear witness that there is no god but He, that none is worshipped save Him, that none but He deserves worship, and that no goodness exists save His. As for this god of yours, it cannot ward off evil from itself; how then can it ward it off from you? See its helplessness with your own eyes.” He stepped forward and struck it on the neck until it fell to the floor. The king grew angry and said to those present, “This unbeliever has struck my god! Kill him!” They tried to rise and attack him, but not one could move from his place. He called upon them to embrace Islam, but they refused. “Shall I show you my Lord’s wrath?” he asked. “Show us,” they replied. He stretched out his hands and said, “My God and my Master, You are my trust and my hope. Answer my prayer against these wicked people, who eat of Your bounty yet worship another! O Truth, O Almighty, O Creator of night and day, I ask You to turn these people to stone. You are able, nothing is beyond You, and You have power over all things.” And God transformed the people of this city into stone. As for me, when I saw his proof, I submitted myself to God and was spared what befell them. The stranger then approached me and said, “Happiness has been ordained for you by God, and in this God has a purpose.” He began to teach me, and I pledged myself to him with a solemn covenant. I was seven years old at that time, and now I am thirty.

“‘Then I said to him, “My lord, everything in this city and all its people have turned to stone through your righteous prayer, while I was saved when I embraced Islam at your hands. You are my spiritual master: tell me your name, grant me your aid, and provide me with something on which I may live.” He replied, “My name is Abu al-Abbas al-Khidr.” Then with his own hand he planted a pomegranate tree for me. At once it grew, put forth leaves and blossoms, and bore a single pomegranate. He said, “Eat of what God Almighty has provided you, and worship Him as He deserves.” Then he taught me the requirements of Islam and of prayer, the way of worship, and the recitation of the Quran. For twenty-three years now I have worshipped God in this place. Each day this tree bears me a pomegranate, which I eat to sustain me until the next. Al-Khidr, peace be upon him, visits me every Friday. It was he who told me your name and gave me the glad tidings that you would come to me here. He said, “When he comes, honor him, obey his commands, and do not oppose him. Be his wife, and he shall be your husband, and go with him wherever he wishes.” So when I saw you, I knew you. This is the story of this city and its people, and peace be with you.’

“Then she showed me the pomegranate tree, on which hung a single fruit. She ate half of it and gave me the other half. Never had I tasted anything sweeter, more fragrant, or more delicious than that pomegranate. Then I said to her, ‘Do you consent to what your master al-Khidr, peace be upon him, commanded—that you should be my wife and I your husband, and that you should accompany me to my own country, where I shall live with you in the city of Basra?’ She replied, ‘Yes, God Almighty willing. I shall heed your words and obey your commands without dispute.’ I took a solemn pledge from her, and she led me into her father’s treasury. We took as much as we could carry, left the city, and walked until we reached my two brothers, whom I found searching for me. They said, ‘Where have you been? You have kept us waiting so long, and we have been anxious about you.’ The captain of the ship said, ‘Merchant Abdallah, the wind has been favorable for some time, and you have delayed our departure.’ I replied, ‘No harm has been done. Perhaps the delay was a blessing, for my absence has brought nothing but good, and through it I have attained my hopes. How well the poet said:

“‘When I set out for a land in search of good, I know not which of the two will be my lot: the good that I am seeking, or the evil that is seeking me.’ Then I said to them, ‘Look what I gained during my absence!’ I showed them the treasures I had brought and told them what I had seen in the City of Stone. ‘Had you listened to me and come along,’ I said, ‘you would have obtained a great deal of this yourselves.’” And morning overtook Shahrazad, and she ceased her permitted tale.

When it was the nine hundred and eighty-fourth night

She said, “It has reached me, O fortunate King, that Abdallah ibn Fadil said to the company and his two brothers, ‘Had you come with me, you would have gained great riches.’ They replied, ‘By God, even had we gone, we would not have dared approach the king of the city.’ I said to my brothers, ‘Do not be troubled. What I have is enough for us all, and this is our allotted share.’ Then I divided what I had into equal portions for us all, giving shares to my two brothers and the captain and keeping one equal share for myself. I also gave what I could to the servants and sailors. They rejoiced, prayed for me, and were content with what I had given them—all except my brothers, whose manner changed and whose eyes darted restlessly. Seeing that greed had taken hold of them, I said, ‘My brothers, I think you are not satisfied with what I have given you. But I am your brother and you are mine; there is no difference between us. My wealth and yours are one, and if I die, none but you will inherit from me.’ I continued to soothe them. Then I brought the maiden aboard the ship, settled her in a cabin, and sent her something to eat. I sat talking with my brothers, and they said, ‘Brother, what do you intend to do with this maiden of such wondrous beauty?’ I answered, ‘When I reach Basra, I intend to have our marriage contract drawn up, hold a splendid wedding feast, and consummate our marriage there.’ One of them said, ‘Brother, know that this girl is marvelously beautiful, and love for her has entered my heart. I want you to give her to me, so that I may marry her.’ The other said, ‘I feel the same: give her to me, that I may marry her.’ I replied, ‘My brothers, she has bound me by a solemn pledge to marry her. If I give her to either of you, I shall be breaking the covenant between us, and perhaps breaking her heart as well, for she came with me only on condition that I marry her. How, then, can I marry her to someone else? As for your loving her, I love her more than either of you. Besides, it was I who found her. Giving her to one of you is something that can never be. But when we reach Basra safely, I shall find you two maidens from among the finest in the city, ask for their hands on your behalf, and pay their dowries from my own wealth. I shall hold one wedding feast, and the three of us shall consummate our marriages on the same night. Give up all thought of this maiden, for she is my allotted portion.’ They fell silent, and I thought they were satisfied with what I had said. We set sail for Basra. I sent the maiden her food and drink, and she never left the ship’s cabin, while I slept between my brothers on deck. We sailed in this fashion for forty days, until the city of Basra came into view. We rejoiced at our approach. I trusted my brothers and felt secure with them—but none knows the unseen save God Almighty. That night I went to sleep.

“While I was deep in sleep, I suddenly found myself being carried by these two brothers of mine, one holding my legs and the other my hands. They had agreed to drown me in the sea on account of the maiden. Finding myself in their grasp, I said, ‘My brothers, why are you doing this to me?’ They replied, ‘You shameless fellow! How could you set a girl above our wishes? For that we are throwing you into the sea.’ And they threw me in.” Then he turned to the two dogs and said, “Is what I have said true, my brothers, or not?” They bowed their heads and began to howl, as though confirming his words, and the caliph marveled.

Then he continued, “Commander of the Faithful, when they threw me into the sea, I sank to the bottom, then the water cast me up to the surface. Suddenly a great bird, as large as a human being, swooped down, seized me, and flew with me high into the air. I opened my eyes and found myself in a palace of lofty construction and mighty foundations, adorned with magnificent designs. Jewels of every shape and color hung there, and maidservants stood with their hands folded upon their breasts. Among them sat a woman on a throne of red gold studded with pearls and gems. Her garments were so brilliant with jewels that one could scarcely bear to look at them. Around her waist was a girdle of gems beyond all price, and on her head a three-tiered crown that bewildered the mind and dazzled heart and eye. Then the bird that had carried me shook itself and became a maiden as radiant as the sun. I looked closely and recognized her as the one who had been on the mountain in the shape of a snake, fighting the serpent that had wound its tail around hers. When I had seen the serpent overpowering her, I had killed it with a stone. The woman seated on the throne asked her, ‘Why have you brought this human here?’ She replied, ‘Mother, this is the man who saved my honor among the daughters of the jinn.’ Then she asked me, ‘Do you know who I am?’ ‘No,’ I said. She replied, ‘I am the one who was on that mountain, fighting the black serpent that sought to violate me, and you killed him.’ I said, ‘But I saw only a white snake with the serpent.’ She answered, ‘I was that white snake. I am the daughter of the Red King, king of the jinn, and my name is Saida. This lady seated here is my mother, Mubaraka, wife of the Red King. The serpent who was fighting me and seeking to violate me was Darfil, vizier to the Black King, a creature hideous to behold. When he saw me, he fell in love with me and asked my father for my hand. My father sent him this reply: “What standing have you, you scum of viziers, that you should marry kings’ daughters?” He was enraged and swore that he would dishonor me to spite my father. He began to track me and follow me wherever I went, intent on violating me. Great wars and bitter struggles arose between him and my father, but my father could not overcome him, for he was both mighty and cunning. Whenever my father pressed him hard and was about to seize him, he escaped. My father was powerless against him. Each day I changed into different forms, but whatever shape I assumed, he took one opposed to it. Wherever I fled, he caught my scent and followed me there, until I suffered terribly at his hands. At last I took the shape of a snake and went to that mountain. He became a serpent and pursued me there. I fell into his clutches, and we struggled until he exhausted me and mounted me, intending to do with me as he pleased. Then you came and struck him with the stone and killed him. I changed into a maiden, showed myself to you, and said, “You have done me a kindness that none but the baseborn would forget.” When I saw your brothers play this treacherous trick on you and throw you into the sea, I hastened to you and saved you from death. Now you deserve to be honored by my mother and father.’ Then she said, ‘Mother, honor him in return for saving my honor.’ Her mother said, ‘Welcome, human! You have done us a kindness, and for it you deserve honor.’ She ordered a sumptuous suit of clothes to be given me, worth a great sum, and gave me many jewels and precious metals. Then she said, ‘Take him into the king’s presence.’ They brought me before the king in his audience hall. I saw him seated upon a throne with mighty jinn and attendants standing before him, and my eyes were dazzled by the jewels he wore. When he saw me, he rose to his feet, and his troops rose in reverence to him. He greeted me, welcomed me, honored me exceedingly, and gave me of his treasures. Afterward he said to some of his followers, ‘Take him to my daughter, so that she may return him to the place from which she brought him.’ They took me to his daughter Saida, who lifted me up and flew away with me and the riches I had received.

“Such was my adventure with Saida. As for the captain, he awoke at the sound of the splash when they threw me into the sea, and asked, ‘What has fallen into the water?’ My brothers wept and beat their breasts, crying, ‘Alas for our brother! He went to relieve himself over the side of the ship and fell into the sea!’ Then they laid hands on my wealth and began quarreling over the maiden, each saying, ‘No one shall have her but me!’ They continued their dispute, forgetting their brother and his drowning, and all their grief for him vanished. While they were thus engaged, Saida suddenly set me down in the middle of the ship.” And morning overtook Shahrazad, and she ceased her permitted tale.

When it was the nine hundred and eighty-fifth night

She said, “It has reached me, O fortunate King, that Abdallah ibn Fadil said, ‘While they were thus engaged, Saida suddenly set me down in the middle of the ship. When my brothers saw me, they embraced me and rejoiced, saying, “Brother, how have you fared after what happened? We have been so anxious about you!” Saida said, “Had you been anxious about him, or loved him, you would not have thrown him into the sea while he slept. Now choose what death you wish to die.” She seized them and was about to kill them, but they cried, “Brother, we place ourselves under your protection!” I began pleading with her, saying, “I beg your protection: do not kill my brothers!” But she said, “They must be killed. They are traitors.” I continued coaxing her and appealing to her compassion until she said, “For your sake I shall not kill them, but I shall enchant them.” Then she took out a bowl, poured some seawater into it, and spoke words over it that could not be understood. “Leave your human shape,” she said, “and take the shape of dogs.” She sprinkled them with the water, and they became two dogs, as you see them now, O Caliph of God.’ Then he turned to them and said, ‘Is what I have said true, my brothers?’ They bowed their heads as though saying, ‘You have spoken truly.’ He continued, ‘Commander of the Faithful, after she had turned them into dogs, she said to everyone aboard, “Know that this Abdallah ibn Fadil has become my brother. I shall look in on him once or twice each day, and if any of you opposes him, disobeys his orders, or harms him by hand or tongue, I shall do to him what I have done to these two traitors. I shall turn him into a dog for the rest of his life, with no hope of release.” They all replied, “Our lady, we are all his slaves and servants, and we shall not disobey him.” Then she said to me, “When you enter Basra, inspect all your property. If anything is missing, tell me, and I shall bring it to you, whoever has it and wherever it may be. Whoever took it I shall turn into a dog. Once you have stored away your wealth, put a collar around the neck of each of these traitors, tether them to the bedstead, and keep them confined alone. Every night at midnight, go down to them and give each a flogging until he loses consciousness. If a night passes without your beating them, I shall come and flog you, then beat them myself.” I replied, “I hear and obey.” Then she said, “Tie them with ropes until you reach Basra.” I put a rope around each one’s neck and tied them to the mast, and she went her way. The next day we entered Basra. The merchants came out to meet me and greeted me, but no one asked about my brothers. They merely looked at the dogs and said, “What are you going to do with these two dogs you have brought with you?” I told them, “I raised them during this voyage and brought them home with me.” They laughed at them, not knowing they were my brothers.

“‘I put them in a storeroom, and that night I was busy sorting out the bales of cloth and precious metals. The merchants were visiting to greet me, and I was so occupied with them that I neither beat my brothers nor chained them nor did them any harm. Then I went to sleep. Suddenly Saida, daughter of the Red King, appeared and said, “Did I not tell you to put chains around their necks and give each a flogging?” She seized me, took out a whip, and flogged me until I lost consciousness. Afterward she went to where my brothers were and whipped each of them until he was near death. Then she said, “Every night, give each of them a beating like this. If a night passes without your beating them, I shall beat you.” I said, “My lady, tomorrow I shall put chains around their necks, and tomorrow night I shall beat them. I shall not spare them for a single night.” She charged me most emphatically to beat them.

“‘When morning came, I could not bear to put chains around their necks, so I went to a goldsmith and ordered him to make two golden collars. He made them, and I brought them home, put them around their necks, and tethered them as she had commanded. The following night I beat them against my will. This happened during the reign of al-Mahdi, the fifth Abbasid caliph. By sending him gifts I had gained his friendship, and he appointed me his deputy and governor in Basra. I remained in this condition for some time. Then I said to myself, “Perhaps her anger has cooled.” I let a night pass without beating them, but she came and gave me a flogging whose sting I shall never forget as long as I live. From that time on I did not once spare them throughout al-Mahdi’s reign. When he died, you succeeded him and sent me confirmation of my governorship of Basra. For twelve years now I have beaten them every night against my will. Afterward I soothe them, beg their forgiveness, and give them food and drink, while keeping them confined. Not one of God’s creatures knew of them until you sent me Abu Ishaq the boon companion concerning the tribute. He discovered my secret, returned, and told you. You sent him a second time to summon me and the dogs. I heard and obeyed, and brought them before you. When you asked me the truth of the matter, I told you the story. Such is my tale.’

At this, Caliph Harun al-Rashid marveled at the plight of the two dogs. Then he asked, “In all this, have you forgiven your brothers for what they did to you and pardoned them, or not?” He replied, “My lord, may God forgive them and absolve them in this world and the next. It is I who need their forgiveness, for I have been flogging them every night for twelve years.” The caliph said, “Abdallah, God Almighty willing, I shall endeavor to release them and restore them to human form as they were before. I shall reconcile you, so that you may live out your lives as loving brothers. Just as you have forgiven them, so shall they forgive you. Take them home, and do not beat them tonight. Tomorrow will bring nothing but good.” He answered, “My lord, by your life, if I leave them unbeaten for a single night, Saida will come and beat me, and my body cannot endure another flogging!” The caliph said, “Do not fear. I shall give you a letter in my own hand. When Saida comes, give it to her. If she reads it and spares you, the credit will be hers. If she will not obey my command, then your affair rests with God. Let her flog you, and consider it as though you had forgotten to beat them for one night and she had punished you for that. If this happens and she defies me, then, as surely as I am Commander of the Faithful, I shall settle the matter with her.” Then the caliph wrote on a scrap of paper two fingers wide. He sealed it and said, “Abdallah, when Saida comes, tell her, ‘The caliph, king of humankind, commanded me not to beat them, wrote me this letter, and sends you his greetings.’ Give her the decree and fear no harm.” Then he bound him by a solemn pledge not to beat them. Abdallah took them home, saying to himself, “I wonder what the caliph can do about the daughter of the sultan of the jinn if she defies him and beats me tonight. Still, I shall endure a flogging and give my brothers one night’s rest, even if I must suffer for their sake.” Then he reflected, and his reason told him, “Were the caliph not relying upon some mighty support, he would not have forbidden you to beat them.” He entered his house, removed the collars from his brothers’ necks, and said, “I put my trust in God.” He soothed them, saying, “Do not be troubled. The sixth Abbasid caliph has undertaken to release you. I have forgiven you, and, God Almighty willing, perhaps the hour has come and you will be freed on this blessed night. Rejoice in happiness and gladness!” When they heard these words, they began to howl like dogs. And morning overtook Shahrazad, and she ceased her permitted tale.

When it was the nine hundred and eighty-sixth night

She said, “It has reached me, O fortunate King, that Abdallah ibn Fadil said to his brothers, ‘Rejoice in happiness and gladness!’ When they heard these words, they began to howl like dogs, rubbing their cheeks against his feet as though praying for him and humbling themselves before him. His heart ached for them, and he stroked their backs until supper time. When the meal was laid, he said to them, ‘Sit down.’ They sat and ate with him at the spread. His attendants stared in astonishment at his eating with dogs, saying, ‘Is he mad, or out of his mind? How can the governor of Basra, a man greater than a vizier, eat with dogs? Does he not know that dogs are unclean?’ They watched the two dogs eating with him in a decorous manner, never knowing that they were his brothers. They continued watching Abdallah and the dogs until the meal was finished. Then Abdallah washed his hands, and the dogs stretched out their paws and washed them too. Everyone standing there laughed in amazement, saying to one another, ‘Never in our lives have we seen dogs eat and then wash their hands afterward!’ Then the dogs sat on the cushions beside Abdallah ibn Fadil, but no one dared ask him about them. They remained thus until midnight. Then he dismissed the servants and they went to sleep, each dog lying on a bed. The servants said to one another, ‘He has gone to sleep, and the two dogs are sleeping with him!’ Some said, ‘Since he ate with the dogs at the same spread, there is no harm in their sleeping with him. This is nothing but madness!’ They would eat none of the food left over from the meal. ‘How can we eat the leavings of dogs?’ they said. They took the spread and everything on it and threw it away, saying, ‘It is unclean.’

Such was their case. As for Abdallah ibn Fadil, suddenly the earth split open and Saida emerged. ‘Abdallah,’ she said, ‘why have you not beaten them tonight? And why have you taken the collars from their necks? Have you done this to defy me and show contempt for my commands? Now I shall beat you and turn you into a dog like them!’ He replied, ‘My lady, I adjure you by the inscription on the ring of Solomon son of David, peace be upon them both, to be patient with me until I tell you the reason. Afterward, do with me as you please.’ ‘Tell me,’ she said. He replied, ‘The reason I did not beat them is that the king of humankind, the caliph and Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, commanded me not to beat them tonight and bound me to this by solemn pledges. He sends you his greetings and has given me a decree in his own hand, which he commanded me to deliver to you. I have carried out his command and obeyed him, for obedience to the Commander of the Faithful is a duty. Here is the decree. Take it and read it, and afterward do as you wish.’ She said, ‘Give it to me.’ He handed her the decree, and she opened it and read these words: ‘In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. From Harun al-Rashid, king of humankind, to Saida, daughter of the Red King. To proceed: this man has forgiven his two brothers and renounced his claim against them, and I have decreed a reconciliation between them. When reconciliation is established, punishment ceases. If you challenge our judgments, we shall challenge yours and break your law; but if you obey our commands and carry out our judgments, we shall carry out yours. I have decreed that you shall no longer molest these two men. If you believe in God and His Messenger, you must obey the one entrusted with authority. If you pardon them, I shall reward you as my Lord enables me. The sign of your obedience shall be that you lift your spell from these two men, so that they may appear before me tomorrow, released. If you do not free them, I shall free them against your will, with the help of God Almighty.’ When she had read the letter, she said, ‘Abdallah, I shall do nothing until I go to my father and show him the decree of the king of humankind. I shall return swiftly with his answer.’ Then she gestured toward the earth; it split open, and she descended into it. When she had gone, Abdallah’s heart filled with joy, and he said, ‘May God exalt the Commander of the Faithful!’

Then Sa‘ida went in to her father and told him what had happened, showing him the decree of the Commander of the Faithful. He kissed it and laid it upon his head, then read it and understood its contents. “My daughter,” he said, “the command of the king of humankind is binding upon us, and his judgment holds sway over us. We cannot disobey him. Go at once to the two men and release them, and tell them, ‘You are under the protection of the king of humankind.’ For if he grows angry with us, he will destroy us to the last. Do not burden us with more than we can bear.” “Father,” she asked, “if the king of humankind grows angry with us, what can he do to us?” He replied, “My daughter, he has power over us for several reasons. First, he is human, and therefore favored above us. Second, he is God’s caliph. Third, he steadfastly observes the two rak‘ahs of the dawn prayer. Were all the hosts of the jinn from the seven earths to gather against him, they could do him no harm. If he grows angry with us, he need only perform those two rak‘ahs and give a single cry, and we must gather obediently before him, like sheep before a butcher. If he wishes, he may order us to leave our homelands for a desolate country where we cannot endure to dwell. If he wishes to destroy us, he may command us to kill ourselves, and we shall slay one another. We cannot disobey his command. If we do, he will burn us all, and there is no escaping him. The same holds true of every servant of God who faithfully observes the two rak‘ahs of dawn: his command has power over us. Do not bring about our destruction for the sake of two men. Go and release them before the wrath of the Commander of the Faithful descends upon us.” So she returned to Abdullah ibn Fadil and told him what her father had said. “Kiss the hands of the Commander of the Faithful for us,” she added, “and ask him to look kindly upon us.” Then she brought out the bowl, poured water into it, and pronounced spells over it, uttering words that could not be understood. She sprinkled the two with the water and said, “Leave your canine shapes and return to human form!” They became men once more, just as they had been before, and the spell that bound them was broken. “I bear witness that there is no god but God,” they said, “and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God.” Then they fell upon their brother’s hands and feet, kissing them and begging his forgiveness. “It is you who must forgive me,” he told them. They repented sincerely and said, “Accursed Iblis deceived us, and greed led us astray. Our Lord has repaid us as we deserved, but forgiveness is the mark of the noble.” They pleaded with their brother, weeping and lamenting what they had done. Then he asked them, “What did you do with my wife, whom I brought from the City of Stone?” They answered, “When Satan led us astray and we threw you into the sea, we began to quarrel, each saying, ‘I shall marry her.’ When she heard our words, saw our quarrel, and learned that we had thrown you into the sea, she came out of the cabin and said, ‘Do not quarrel over me, for I belong to neither of you. My husband has gone into the sea, and I shall follow him.’ Then she flung herself into the sea and died.” “She died a martyr,” he said. “There is no power and no strength save in God, the Most High, the Almighty.” He wept bitterly for her, then said to them, “It was wrong of you to treat me so and rob me of my wife.” They replied, “We sinned, and our Lord punished us for what we did. This was something God decreed for us before He created us.” He accepted their excuse. Then Sa‘ida said, “They do all this to you, and you forgive them?” “My sister,” he replied, “whoever has the power to punish and yet forgives shall have his reward from God.” “Beware of them,” she said, “for they are treacherous.” Then she bade him farewell and departed. And dawn overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent, leaving her tale untold.

When it was the nine hundred and eighty-seventh night,

She said: It has reached me, O fortunate king, that when Sa‘ida had warned Abdullah against his brothers, she bade him farewell and went her way. Abdullah spent the rest of that night with his brothers, eating and drinking in joy and good spirits. In the morning he took them to the bathhouse, and when they came out, he dressed each of them in a suit worth a great sum of money. Then he called for a meal, and it was set before him, and he and his brothers ate. When the servants saw them and learned that they were his brothers, they greeted them and said to Emir Abdullah, “Our lord, may God grant you joy in your reunion with your dear brothers! Where have they been all this time?” He answered, “These are the two whom you saw in the form of dogs. Praise be to God, who has delivered them from captivity and grievous torment!” Then he took them to the court of the caliph Harun al-Rashid and brought them before him. He kissed the ground in his presence and prayed that his glory and blessings might endure, and that misery and calamity might be kept far from him. The caliph said, “Welcome, Emir Abdullah! Tell me what has happened to you.” He replied, “Commander of the Faithful, may God exalt your station! When I took my brothers home, my mind was at ease about them because you had undertaken to secure their release. I said to myself, ‘Kings cannot fail in a matter to which they devote their efforts, for Providence comes to their aid.’ So I removed the chains from their necks, put my trust in God, and sat down to eat with them. When my followers saw me eating with them while they were still in the shape of dogs, they thought I had lost my wits. They said to one another, ‘He must be mad! How can the governor of Basra eat with dogs, when his rank is higher than the vizier’s?’ They threw away what remained of the meal, saying, ‘We will not eat the leavings of dogs.’ They mocked my judgment, and I heard their words but made no reply, since they did not know that these were my brothers. Then I dismissed them. When bedtime came and I was about to sleep, suddenly the earth split open and Sa‘ida, daughter of the Red King, rose out of it, furious with me, her eyes blazing like fire…” Then he told the caliph everything that had passed between her and her father, and how she had restored the two from canine to human form. “And here they stand before you, Commander of the Faithful,” he concluded. The caliph turned and saw two young men as handsome as twin moons. “May God reward you on my behalf, Abdullah,” he said, “for teaching me something of which I was ignorant. God willing, as long as I live, I shall never omit these two rak‘ahs before the break of dawn.” Then he rebuked Abdullah ibn Fadil’s brothers for their past treatment of him, and they pleaded their excuses before the caliph. “Shake hands and forgive one another,” he told them. “May God pardon what is past.” Then he turned to Abdullah and said, “Abdullah, make your brothers your deputies and treat them kindly.” He charged them in turn to obey their brother, bestowed favors upon them, and ordered them to return to Basra, after granting them lavish gifts. They left the caliph’s court with their hearts gladdened. The caliph rejoiced in the lesson he had learned from this affair: to persevere in performing two rak‘ahs before dawn. “True indeed,” he said, “is the saying, ‘One people’s misfortunes are another people’s gain.’”

Such was their affair with the caliph. As for Abdullah ibn Fadil, he left Baghdad with his brothers, surrounded by honor, esteem, and high distinction, and journeyed until they entered Basra. The great men and notables came out to meet them, and the city was adorned in their honor. They entered in a procession without equal, while the people called down blessings upon Abdullah and he scattered gold and silver among them. Everyone raised their voices in prayer for him, but no one paid any attention to his brothers. Jealousy and envy entered their hearts. Yet Abdullah tended them as carefully as one tends an inflamed eye, and the more kindly he treated them, the more they hated and envied him. As has been said on this subject:

I have humored all men, yet the man who envies me is beyond my power to appease. How can a man appease one who envies his good fortune, when nothing but its loss will please him? Then he gave each of them a concubine of matchless beauty, and provided them with servants and attendants, slave girls and male slaves, black and white, forty of every kind. To each he gave fifty splendid horses, and each acquired a retinue and followers. He assigned them revenues, fixed their allowances, and made them his deputies. “My brothers,” he told them, “you and I are equals; there is no difference between us.” And dawn overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent, leaving her tale untold.

When it was the nine hundred and eighty-eighth night,

She said: It has reached me, O fortunate king, that Abdullah fixed allowances for his brothers and made them his deputies. “My brothers,” he said, “you and I are equals, and there is no difference between us. After God and the caliph, authority belongs to me and to you alike. Govern Basra in my absence and in my presence; your judgments shall stand. But fear God in your judgments, and beware of injustice, for injustice, if it endures, brings ruin. Hold fast to justice, for justice, if it endures, brings prosperity. Do not oppress God’s servants, lest they pray against you and word of your conduct reach the caliph, bringing disgrace upon both you and me. Never wrong anyone. Whatever wealth of other men you covet, take it from my own, over and above all that you need. You know well what the clear verses of Scripture say of oppression. God bless the man who composed these lines:

Oppression lies hidden in a man’s soul; only lack of power keeps it concealed. The wise man does not rise to pursue a purpose until he sees that the time is ripe. The wise man’s tongue is in his heart; the fool’s heart is in his mouth. He whose judgment does not rule his being is slain by the smallest thing within him. A man’s origins are hidden, yet his deeds reveal what lies concealed. He whose nature is not good brings no good forth from his mouth. Whoever imitates a fool in his actions becomes that ignorant man’s equal. Whoever lays his secrets bare before others alerts his enemies against him. Let a man attend to his own affairs and leave alone what does not concern him. Thus he continued to counsel his brothers, urging them to be just and forbidding them to oppress, until he imagined that his advice had won their love. He put his trust in them and showed them the greatest honor, yet all his kindness only increased their envy and hatred. Then his brothers Nasir and Mansur met together, and Nasir said to Mansur, “Brother, how long must we remain subject to our brother Abdullah, while he enjoys all this power and authority? He was a merchant, and now he is an emir; he was the youngest, and now he is the greatest. Yet we have risen no higher and have neither standing nor worth. He has made fools of us by appointing us his deputies. What does that mean? Are we not merely his servants, subject to his orders? As long as he is alive and well, we shall never rise, and we shall count for nothing. We can achieve our purpose only by killing him and taking his wealth, for we cannot lay hands on it until he is dead. Once we kill him, we shall be masters and seize all the jewels, precious metals, and treasures in his storehouses. We shall divide them between us, then prepare a gift for the caliph and ask him for the governorship of Kufa. You can be governor of Basra and I governor of Kufa, or you can have Kufa and I Basra. Then each of us will have standing and importance. But none of this can happen unless we destroy him.” Mansur answered, “You speak the truth. But how shall we contrive to kill him?” Nasir said, “One of us will give a feast, invite him, and wait on him with the utmost care. Then we shall keep him awake with conversation, telling him stories, jests, and amusing tales until he is utterly exhausted. We shall spread a bed for him to sleep on, and when he is asleep, we shall fall upon him, strangle him, and throw him into the sea. In the morning we shall say, ‘His sister the jinniya came while he was sitting talking with us and said to him, “You wretch of a mortal! Who are you to complain of me to the Commander of the Faithful? Do you think we fear him? He is a king, but we too are kings, and if he does not show us proper respect, we shall kill him in the foulest manner. But first I shall kill you, and then we shall see what the Commander of the Faithful can do!” Then she snatched him up, split the earth open, and descended with him. When we saw this, we fainted, and when we recovered, we did not know what had become of him.’ Then we shall send to the caliph and inform him, and he will appoint us in his place. After a time we shall send the caliph a magnificent gift and ask him for the governorship of Kufa. One of us will live in Basra and the other in Kufa. The lands will be ours to enjoy, the people ours to command, and we shall have all we desire.” “An excellent plan, brother!” said Mansur.

So they agreed to kill their brother. Nasir prepared a feast and said to Abdullah, “Brother, you know that I am your brother, and I wish you and my brother Mansur to gladden my heart by dining at my house. Then I may take pride in you, and people will say, ‘Emir Abdullah has eaten at his brother Nasir’s table.’ That would bring me great joy.” Abdullah replied, “Certainly, brother. There is no difference between you and me, and your house is my house. Since you have invited me, I shall come, for only a churl refuses hospitality.” Then he turned to Mansur and said, “Will you come with me to your brother Nasir’s house, so that we may eat his feast and gladden his heart?” Mansur answered, “Brother, by your life, I will not go with you unless you swear that after leaving our brother Nasir’s house, you will come to mine and dine with me. Is Nasir your brother and I not your brother? Just as you have gladdened his heart, you must gladden mine.” “Certainly,” he replied, “with love and honor! When I leave your brother’s house, I shall enter yours. You are my brother as much as he is.” Nasir kissed Abdullah’s hand, left the court, and prepared the feast. On the following day Abdullah rode out with a company of soldiers and his brother Mansur, and went to Nasir’s house. He entered and sat down with his company and his brother, and Nasir welcomed them and set the feast before them. They ate and drank, enjoying themselves and making merry. The tablecloth and dishes were removed, their hands were washed, and they spent the day eating, drinking, and amusing themselves until nightfall. After supper they performed the sunset and evening prayers, then sat together in convivial conversation. Mansur would tell a story, then Nasir would tell another, while Abdullah listened. The three were alone in a pavilion, with the rest of the soldiers lodged elsewhere. They continued with jests, stories, anecdotes, and tales until their brother Abdullah was worn out with wakefulness and overcome by sleep. And dawn overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent, leaving her tale untold.

When it was the nine hundred and eighty-ninth night,

She said: It has reached me, O fortunate king, that when Abdullah had stayed awake so long that he wished to sleep, they spread a bed for him. He took off his clothes and lay down, while they lay beside him on another bed. They waited until he was deeply asleep. When they were sure of this, they rose and fell upon him. He awoke to find them kneeling on his chest. “What is this, my brothers?” he asked. “We are not your brothers,” they replied, “nor do we know you, you insolent wretch! Your death is now better than your life.” They gripped his neck and strangled him until he lost consciousness and lay motionless. Thinking him dead, they threw him into the sea, for the pavilion stood beside the water. When he fell into the sea, God sent him a dolphin that was accustomed to coming beneath that pavilion. The kitchen had a window overlooking the sea, and whenever animals were slaughtered, their entrails were thrown through it into the water. The dolphin would come and gather them from the surface, and so had grown accustomed to the place. That day a great deal of offal had been thrown out because of the feast, and the dolphin had eaten more than usual and gained strength. When it heard the splash, it came swiftly, and saw that this was a son of Adam. Then God, the Guide, guided it, and it bore him on its back and cut through the sea with him. It swam on until it reached the opposite shore and cast him onto dry land. The place where it brought him ashore lay beside a highway. A caravan passed and saw him lying by the sea. “Here is a drowned man whom the sea has cast upon the shore,” they said. A number of the travelers gathered around to look at him. The leader of the caravan was a good man, versed in all the sciences, skilled in medicine, and gifted with true discernment. “What is the matter, people?” he asked. “Here is a man who has drowned,” they answered. He approached and examined him, then said, “People, there is still life in this young man. He is one of the finest sons of a noble family, brought up in honor and prosperity. There is hope for him, God willing.” He took him, dressed him in fresh clothes, and warmed him. For three stages of the journey he treated and gently tended him until he regained consciousness. But he had suffered a terrible shock and was overcome by weakness, so the caravan leader continued to treat him with herbs whose virtues he knew. They traveled for thirty days, putting that distance between themselves and Basra, while he continued his treatment. At last they entered a city called Awj, in the lands of the Persians. They lodged at an inn and made a bed for him, and he lay down. All that night he groaned, disturbing the other guests. In the morning the inn’s doorkeeper came to the caravan leader and said, “What is the matter with this sick man you have with you? He has given us no peace!” The leader replied, “I found him on the road by the sea, nearly drowned. I have treated him, but my skill has failed me, and he has not recovered.” “Take him to Shaykha Rajiha,” said the doorkeeper. “Who is Shaykha Rajiha?” he asked. “We have here a maiden who is a holy woman, a beautiful virgin called Shaykha Rajiha. Anyone who is ill is taken to her and spends a single night in her care; in the morning he is well, with nothing left to trouble him.” The caravan leader said, “Show me the way to her.” “Carry your patient,” said the doorkeeper. So he carried him, and the doorkeeper walked ahead until they reached a religious lodge. There they saw crowds entering with votive offerings, and others leaving full of joy. The doorkeeper went in as far as the curtain and said, “By your leave, Shaykha Rajiha! Receive this sick man.” “Bring him behind this curtain,” she replied. “Go in,” the doorkeeper said to him. He entered and looked at her, and there before him was the wife he had brought from the City of Stone. He recognized her, and she recognized him, and they greeted one another. “Who brought you to this place?” he asked. She answered, “When I saw that your brothers had thrown you into the sea and were quarreling over me, I flung myself into the water. My spiritual master, al-Khidr Abu al-Abbas, caught me and brought me to this lodge. He gave me permission to heal the sick and proclaimed throughout the city, ‘Let anyone who suffers from an illness go to Shaykha Rajiha.’ He told me, ‘Remain here until the appointed time comes, when your husband will come to you in this lodge.’ Since then, whenever a sick person comes to me, I massage him, and by morning he is well. My fame has spread among the people, and they flock to me with votive offerings. I have all I need and live in honor and esteem, and all the people of this country ask for my prayers.” Then she massaged him, and he was healed by the power of God Most High. Al-Khidr, peace be upon him, used to visit her every Thursday night, the eve of Friday, and the night of their reunion was just such a night. When darkness fell, she and her husband ate a supper of the finest foods, then sat awaiting al-Khidr’s arrival. While they were sitting there, he appeared before them. He lifted them out of the lodge and set them down in Abdullah ibn Fadil’s palace in Basra, then left them and went away. When morning came, Abdullah looked around the palace and recognized it as his own. He heard a great clamor outside and looked from the window, where he saw his two brothers crucified, each upon a wooden post. This was how it had come about: after throwing him into the sea, they had risen the next morning weeping and saying, “The jinniya has carried off our brother!” Then they prepared a gift and sent it to the caliph, told him this story, and asked him for the governorship of Basra. He summoned them to his presence and questioned them, and they repeated the account we have related. The caliph grew fiercely angry. When night fell, he performed his customary two rak‘ahs before dawn and called upon the hosts of the jinn. They appeared obediently before him, and he questioned them about Abdullah. They swore that none of them had harmed him and said, “We know nothing of him.” Then Sa‘ida, daughter of the Red King, came and told the caliph what had happened to him, and he dismissed them. The next day he had Nasir and Mansur beaten until each confessed against the other. In his wrath the caliph said, “Take them to Basra and crucify them before Abdullah’s palace.”

Such was their fate. As for Abdullah, he ordered his brothers to be buried, then mounted and set out for Baghdad. He told the caliph his story and all that his brothers had done to him, from beginning to end, and the caliph marveled. He summoned the judge and witnesses and had Abdullah’s marriage contract drawn up with the maiden he had brought from the City of Stone. Abdullah consummated his marriage with her and lived with her in Basra until there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and the Sunderer of Companions. Glory be to the Ever-Living One, who never dies.