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As for tales of the generous, they are very many. Among them is the story told of Hatim al-Ta’i: when he died, he was buried on a mountaintop, and over his grave they set two stone basins and stone figures of maidens with their hair unbound. Beneath that mountain ran a river, and whenever companies of travelers camped there, they would hear cries from nightfall until morning; but when day broke, they would find no one but the maidens carved in stone. Now Dhu al-Kura, King of Himyar, came down into that valley while traveling away from his tribe and spent the night there. And dawn overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent, leaving her tale untold.

When it was the two hundred and seventieth night

She said: It has reached me, O fortunate King, that when Dhu al-Kura came down into that valley, he spent the night there. He drew near the place and heard the cries, so he asked, “What is this wailing on top of the mountain?” They told him, “That is the grave of Hatim al-Ta’i. Over it stand two stone basins and stone figures of maidens with their hair unbound. Every night, those who camp here hear this wailing and crying.” Then Dhu al-Kura, King of Himyar, said in mockery of Hatim al-Ta’i, “O Hatim, tonight we are your guests, and our bellies are empty.” Sleep overcame him, but he awoke in terror, crying, “O Arabs, come to my aid! Save my riding-camel!” When they came to him, they found the she-camel thrashing about, so they slaughtered her, roasted her flesh, and ate. Then they asked him what had happened, and he said, “I fell asleep and saw Hatim al-Ta’i in a dream. He came to me with a sword and said, ‘You have come to us, and we have nothing to offer you.’ Then he struck my she-camel with his sword. Had you not slaughtered her, she would have died.” When morning came, Dhu al-Kura mounted one of his companions’ camels and seated its owner behind him. At midday they saw a man riding a camel and leading another. “Who are you?” they asked. “I am Adi ibn Hatim al-Ta’i,” he replied. Then he asked, “Where is Dhu al-Kura, ruler of Himyar?” “Here he is,” they told him. Adi said to him, “Mount this she-camel in place of your own, for my father slaughtered yours to feed you.” “Who told you?” he asked. Adi replied, “He came to me in a dream last night and said, ‘O Adi, Dhu al-Kura, King of Himyar, asked for my hospitality, so I slaughtered his she-camel for him. Catch up with him and bring him a camel to ride, for I had nothing of my own.’” Dhu al-Kura accepted her, marveling at Hatim’s generosity both in life and in death.

Another tale of the generous is told of Ma‘n ibn Za’ida. One day he was out hunting when he grew thirsty, but neither he nor his servants had any water. While he was in this plight, three young women came toward him, each carrying a waterskin. And dawn overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent, leaving her tale untold.