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73-3-1 - Three
Qalandar and Five Women of Bagadaad
The
Story of the Eldest Woman: The Sisters Who were Changed to Dogs
The
eldest woman said - "My story is very strange. These two black
bitches are my eldest sisters by one mother and father; and these two
others - she whose body is striped and the third one are my sisters by an
other mother. When my father died, each took her share of the heritage.
After a while, my mother died leaving me and my sister 3,000 Deenaars, so
each sister had 1,000 Deenaars. I was the youngest.
In due
course, my sisters married and lived with their husbands who were
merchants and traveled with them. My brothers-in-law were absent with
their wives for five years, during which they spent all the money they
had, became bankrupt, deserted my sisters in foreign lands. After five
years my eldest sister returned to me in beggar's guise. First I could not
recognize her, but later when I recognized her, I asked her what had happened.
She told me everything. I sent her to bath, gave her my own clothes, fed
her and gave a drink. I said to her - "Being the eldest one you are
like my father. I am in good condition. I have made good money by spinning
and cleaning silk, so you and I will share my wealth." I treated her
with all kindness and she stayed with me for the whole year. We always
thought about our other sister.
Shortly
after, my second sister also came to me, in a sorrier condition. I
treated her more honorably. Thus each of them had my share of wealth.
After a while they said that they wanted to marry again. I said to them -
"You have already seen some married days, and as you yourself have
seen good boys are not very common today. I do not reject your projects,
but at the same time I do not approve also, because you have already seen that you
have failed." But they wouldn't listen to my advice. They married
without my consent, and I gave them dowry and clothes etc from my money.
Their husbands played with them, took away whatever they could, and then left
them. They came back again to me asking excuse - "Pardon us for our
folly. Although you are younger in age but are older in
intelligence." So I took them in and treated them more kindly than
before.
Thus
one year passed. Then I decided to sell my things abroad and hired a
conveyance for Basaraa. I loaded a large ship with merchandise and all
things necessary for voyage and asked my sisters whether they would like
to stay behind, or would they like to accompany me? They said - "We
will go with you, because we cannot live without you." So I divided
my money in two parts - one to take with me and the other one to be left
in charge of a trustee person. If any accident happens, and we remain
alive, we can come back safely and start our lives again.
So we
set off our voyage. After a few days we came to know that we have missed
our course. We had reached some other sea instead of our destination sea.
For 10 days we went astray in the sea, but then we saw a city. We got
happy and asked our Captain the name of the city, he said - "By
Allaah, I don't know, because I have never been here. But since we have
seen the land, we will try to sell your things here; and if we will not be able to
any trade here, we will rest here for a couple of days, store provisions
here and will proceed further."
So we
entered the city. The Captain went away and remained absent for a while.
Then he came back and said to me - "Come and trade your things
here." We landed there and saw men carrying sticks in their hands But
as we went near them they became stone. Then we entered the city and found
all people turned into black stones. There was no house which was habited.
We were awestruck at the sight and went through the market streets where
the goods, gold, silver were lying. We concluded that there was some
mystery there. We dispersed and collected materials from there.
I went
up to the castle and found the King seated among his people, but as I went
near to him all became black stones. I became confounded at this. Then I
walked in Haram and I saw the queen lying there in beautiful costly robes,
but as I went in she also turned into black stone, although her clothes
and ornaments were still in natural state. I went forward, a flight of
seven steps, a room of marble and well furnished. Above there was a small
room from which a light was coming in. I saw that it was coming from a
pearl which was as big as an ostrich egg. I continued to explore the
palace and appreciated it.
The
night fell. I thought to leave the place, but I forgot the way, so I
returned to the small room and sat there on a couch and wrapped myself in
a coverlet. I wanted to sleep but I could not sleep as I was feeling
restless. When the midnight came, I heard a voice chanting Quraan in sweet
accents. I rose and followed the voice and came to a closet. It was an
oratory. Two candles were burning there. There was a copy of Quraan kept
on its stand and he was reading from it. I was surprised to see him alone
alive in this stone city.
I
saluted him and asked him - "What do you read from Quraan?" He
replied - "First you tell me, how did you come here? And then I will
tell you what has befallen me and the people of this city, and what was
the reason of escaping their doom." So I told him my story and asked
his own. He said - "Just be patient." He closed the book, kept
it in satin bag and made me sit by him. He was looking like a Moon. I just
got his captive. I asked him - "O My Love, Tell me what I asked
you?"
He
replied - "This city was the capital of my father who was the King
whom you saw on the throne turned into black tone by Allaah's wrath. The
queen you saw was my mother. They and all the people of this city
worshipped Fire. My father had me only in his last days of life. He
brought up me with great affection. There lived an old Muslim woman with
us who worshipped Allaah. My father had full confidence in her. When I
grew well, my father handed me over to her saying - "Take him,
educate him and teach him the rules of our faith. Let him have the best
instructions." So she taught me the tenets of Islam, often repeating
"Serve none other than Allaah." When I had mastered this much
knowledge, she asked me to hide it even from my father unless he slays me.
After that woman died, I came here .
One
day the people heard a voice of a crier very loud - "O folks, Leave
worshipping Fire, and worship Allaah." The citizens got terrified
hear this. They came to my father (the King) and reported it. My father
answered - "Do not get frightened with any kind of voice, follow your
faith." So they continued to worship Fire for the whole year, when
the same day, next year, they heard the same cry again. And they heard it
again and again the
next year, and the next year... But they continued to worship Fire as before,
until one day the wrath of Heavens descended upon them - they all turned
into black stones. None was saved except myself who was engaged in my
prayers. From that day to this day I am constantly busy in praying,
fasting, and reading Quraan. But I fell very lonely because there is
nobody to talk to me."
I
asked him politely - "Will you come to the city of Bagadaad with me
and see the wise people in divinity and understanding and theology? I will
be your handmaid, the head of the family and mistress over men and
servants. In fact my life was no life until I met you. I have a ship laden
with merchandise. Destiny brought me here to meet you." He got ready
to come with me, so as soon as the morning broke, we went to treasury,
took whatever we could take and came to the city where we met our Captain.
They asked me where I was and I told them the whole story.
But
when my two sisters (these bitches) saw my young lover, they felt jealous
with me and plotted mischief against me. We embarked the ship with joy
because of the goods we got, but they were jealous with me especially as I got the young man. As we
sailed, my sisters asked me - "What will you do of this young
man?" I replied - "I will marry him." Then I said to him -
"I wish to tell you that you should never cross me. When I will reach Bagadaad we will marry." He said, "Fine, Whatever you say."
Then I said to my sisters - "This is my gain, and whatever property
of mine others wish to take, they can take." They had already planned
mischief against me.
We saw
Basaraa city far on the shore in the evening. When we had gone to sleep,
my sisters lifted me up with my bed and threw me in the sea. He did this
to that young prince also. He could not swim, so he drowned. When I awoke
I found myself in the sea. I found a piece of timber which I held and
landed on an island - a high land and uninhabited. I walked through the
island throughout the night, and in the morning, I saw a very narrow path
leading to mainland. I ate some fruits and came to the mainland.
When
only two hours remained to reach the city, a very thick serpent came to
me. A dragon was following her. He was about two lances large. He overtook
her. She was weeping. I took pity on her. Taking the name of Allaah, I
picked a stone and threw on the head of the dragon. He died instantly and
the serpent opened her wings and flew in the sky and got disappeared. I
was very tired so I slept where I was, when I woke up I saw a black girl
washing my feet and two bitches (my two sisters) standing by her side.
I was
ashamed before her, so sitting up I asked her - "O my sister, Who are
you?" She answered - "Have you forgotten me? I am the serpent
for whom you did a good deed, you killed my enemy, the dragon. I am a Geneeyaa and he as a Genie. He hated me and none saved my life except you.
As soon as you freed me, I flew to the ship where your sisters threw you
in the sea.
I moved everything to your house, sank the ship, and changed your sisters
to these black bitches. I am sorry for the youth, I could not save him, he has drowned."
After
saying this she flew with the bitches and me and set us up on the terrace
of my house. I found all my things there intact. The serpent continued -
"I swear, unless you deal to each of these bitches 300 stripes
everyday, I will come and imprison you forever under the earth." And
she flew away saying - "If you did not obey me, I will change you too
to a bitch like your sisters." Since then I have never failed to beat
them. It is not my fault."
Then
the Caliph asked Zafaar to ask the second woman, the Portress, how did she
get the marks of lashes on her body?
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