84-2 - The
Caliph's Night Adventure
The Story of the Blind Man - Baabaa Abdullaa
Once
the caliph Haaroon al-Rasheed was wakeful and could not sleep the whole
night so when he rose in the morning he was restless. Now the people
around him were also restless seeing him restless. The Caliph asked his
eunuch Masaroor to call his Vazeer Zaafar. Masaroor immediately went and
came back with the Vazeer Zaafar. Zaafar found the Caliph in melancholy.
He asked the reason of his state of mind. The Caliph said - "It is very
lately, but it will not go until I hear some strange tales or verses. An
if you do not have any pressing affair, you may gladden my heart." The
Vazeer said - "Since I am your Vazeer, I will have to obey you, but I
would like to remind you that today you will be going to see your
environs. That might divert your mind." The caliph said - "It is good that
you have reminded me for this, I had completely forgotten this. Go and
change your guise and I also change my guise." So they both took the guise
of merchants and came out from a secret door of the palace garden.
They
came to the Euphrates River, crossed it by the first ferry they found, and
passed over the bridge which divided the city of Bagadaad in two. At the
foot of the bridge they found a blind man who was asking for alms. The
caliph put a Deenaar on his palm, whereupon the beggar caught hold his arm
fast and said - "Whoever you are, please hit me on my ear because I
deserve such a punishment or take back your alms." And after saying this
he quitted his hand so that he can hit him, but the Caliph could not do
this lest the passer by people hold him by his robe.
On
the 606th Night
Shahrzaad continued her story - "The Caliph expressed his helplessness in
granting his request, neither he could hit him nor he could take back his
Deenaar; but the beggar had held him tight repeating his request. So
the caliph gave him light beating on his ear. The beggar thanked him. Both
proceeded forward, but then the Caliph said to the Vazeer - "It seems that
the beggar should have some genuine reason to behave like this which I
failed to know. You go back to him and tell him who I am and tell him to
appear at my palace at about mid-afternoon prayer time, so that I can talk
to him." The Vazeer immediately went back, gave one Deenaar more to him
and a beating on his ear, delivered the message of the Caliph and came
back.
After
this they came to town and saw a handsome young man riding a mare at her
fullest speed round the open space whipping her so cruelly that she was
covered with sweat and blood. The Caliph asked the people standing around
about it but they told him that he used to behave in this manner daily at
the same time. At this he asked his Vazeer to tell the young man to come
to his palace at the same time when the beggar was supposed to come.
Now
the Caliph proceeded towards his palace that passing from a street he had
not passed for a long time, he saw a palace, which he had not seen before.
He asked Zaafar about it, but he told that he did not know and he would
ask about it. As he asked, he told that that palace belonged to Khwaajaa
Hasan surnamed al-Habbaal. He had built it through his handicraft of rope
making. In fact he himself had seen him in the days of his poverty. So he
called that man also to his palace at the same time when the previous two
persons were to come to him.
Next
day Zafaar introduced all the three men to the Caliph - the blind man as
Baabaa Abdullaa. The Caliph said to him - "You were asking the alms in
such a strange manner that I could not have granted your request. Tell me
how these thoughts entered your mind. Tell me the truth and the truth
only."
On
the 607th Night
Baabaa
Abdullaa fell on the feet of the Caliph and said - "I acknowledge my
offense. In fact I have committed an offense for which I am guilty, that
is why I ask everybody to beat me on my ear, although it is not sufficient
punishment for it. I tell you the story of my offense."
Baabaa Abdullaa's Story
So Baabaa
Abdullaa started his story - "I, your slave, was born in Bagadaad
where my father and mother presently dying within a few days of each
other, left me a fortune enough last me throughout my life time. But I did
not know its value and I started living in luxury. Soon I had to repent
for my thrift and started working hard to increase my remaining money.
"After waste comes the knowledge of worth." So little by little
I gathered 80 camels which I gave on hire to merchants and thus made a
good money. I journeyed over many places.
On
the 608th Night
Once I
carried merchants' stuff to Basaraa for shipping towards India, and was
returning to Bagadaad with empty camels that I had to pass a plain of pasturage, far from
any village, so I unsaddled the camels so that they can eat. Presently a
Darvesh who was traveling to Basaraa on foot, came to me and sat down
beside me. We talked for a while then ate together. During our talks, the
Darvesh said to me - "I know a spot which holds a hoard and its
wealth is so great that even if you load your 80 camels at their heaviest
burden of gold coins and gems etc from that treasure, it will not
decrease." Hearing this I got very happy and asked him that spot. I
said to him - "I know that you are not greedy for the wealth of this
world, but still take one of my these camels as compensation and reward
for this favor." Although I spoke to him like this, but in my heart I
was very sad that I had to part with my one camel-load of coins and gems
in exchange of the 49 camels..
The
Darvesh had noted my greed, he replied - "Not so, O my brother, one
camel does not suffice me to tell you about that hoard. I can tell you
about it on a single condition. We both will lead the animals and load
them with the treasure, and you will give me one half from it. With 40
camels' load of costly ores and minerals, I am sure that you can buy
thousands of camels." Seeing that refusal was impossible, I agreed
his terms. I
thought even 40 camels' load coins and gems will also be enough for me and
my children and for generations to come. So giving full consent, I collected my
camels, and we set out for our journey.
After
traveling for a while we came to a gorge between two mountains. The pass
was very narrow, so the animals were passing in a single file, but after
that they came out in a broad valley. There was nobody there so we were
moving undisturbed. The Darvesh asked me to leave the animals there only
and follow him.
On
the 609th Night
So I left the animals there and followed the Darvesh.
After going for a while he stopped, burned some wooden sticks and threw a
handful of strong incense in its fire muttering some words. At once a
cloud arose from the fire and as it got cleared we saw a huge rock with
pathway.
Here
it showed an open door, where I saw a splendid palace below the
mountains, certainly the work of a Jinn, for no man had power to build it. We
went in and found an endless treasure, ranged in mounds. Seeing the heaps of Asharfees, I pounced upon
them like a vulture and fell to filling the sacks
to my heart's content. Although the bags were big, but I had to see my
camel's strength also to carry them. The Darvesh was also collecting wealth but he
collected only gems and jewels advising me to do as he did. I heard his
advice and filled my bags only with gem and jewels. After we had filled
our bags, we got ready to leave; but before we left, there were thousands
of golden vessels exquisite in shape and workmanship. The Darvesh went
into a hidden chamber and brought a golden box full of some ointment which
he showed to me, out of a silver casket, from there and put it in his
pocket. He again threw some incense n that fire muttering some
incantations and the door got closed and the rock came to its place as before.
We
then divided our camels and came back from the same route. After passing
the gorge we departed, he went to Basaraa and I came to Bagadaad. When
parting I showered many thanks to the Darvesh and bade him farewell
with deep gratitude. But hardly he went a little distance, that Sataan
took over me with greed. I thought, "This Darvesh is alone in this
world, no friends, no relations, what will he do of these riches? So I
should take at least some of my beasts back from him."
Thinking
thus I halted my camels, and I ran back crying out his name. He heard my
loud shouts, so he waited for me. When I reached near him, I said -
"When I had bidden you farewell, I thought what will you do of these
riches? And moreover these camels will trouble you. So it is better if you
give them back to me." The Darvesh said - "O my son, You are
right. I cannot tend these animals so you take as many as you like. I did
not think of the burden till you told me so, but now I can foresee
it." So I took 10 camels from him and was about to leave that
suddenly it struck my mind, "This Faqeer was unconcerned at giving me
these 10 animals, so why shouldn't I take more from him?"
So I
again said to him - "You can't manage even 30 animals, do give me
other 10." He said - "Whatever you wish. Take 10 animals, even
20 will be all right for me." So I drove 20 camels adding to my 40
camels. Thus I took all the camels from him and as I was about to depart,
still greed took over me. I thought that the box contained some very
valuable material than these jewels and gems.
On
the 610th Night
So I asked him - "What will you do with
the little box you have taken, I pray you, give me that also." But
the Faqeer would by no means part with it. I was forcing him to give me
that box, so he took out the box and handed over to me saying - "If
you want to have this box, first you should know the virtue of the
ointment it contains."
Hearing
this I said to him - "I pray you, since you have done so much favor
to me, teach me that also." He said - "The wonders of this
ointment are rare. If you will close your left eye and rub upon the lid of
that eye the smallest bit of that, then all the treasures of the world
concealed from your gaze will come to your sight; but if you rub it on the
lid of your right eye, you shall be stone blind from your both eyes."
Then I thought to put that ointment to test, so I placed it in his hand
and asked him to put some on my left eye. The Darvesh then closed my left
eye and rubbed a little of it on its lid. I opened my eyes and looked
around and I saw the hidden treasures of the earth in countless
quantities. Then I asked him to put some on the lid of my right eye. He
said - "I have already warned you not to put this on the lid of your
right eye as you will be stone blind. Why do you want to bring this evil
on yourself"
But my
ill-fate will not allow me to agree with this. I thought "when I can see so
much with one eye, I can see much more with my both eyes. This fellow is
playing me false." So I blamed him for not to take its full advantage, but
he wouldn't rub it. The more he refused it, the more I persisted. When he
had made sure that I am not going to agree with him, he rubbed some on my
right eyelid also. As I opened my eyes I could not see anything. Since
that day I am blind.
I
cursed him a lot - "Why did you show me that treasure? What I will do
of this gold now? Take back your 40 camels and make me whole." He said -
"What evil have I done to you? You would not listen to me. Your lust
for money was too much. Your case is beyond hope. You can never regain
your sight." I cried aloud and asked him to put me on the path of
some caravan but he did not listen to me. He left me there and took all
the camels away.
On
the 611th Night
I
should have died after losing my money and my sight and from hunger and
thirst. The next day, by good luck to me, a caravan came that side and
brought me to Bagadaad. I don't do anything except begging for bread to
keep myself alive. This is the punishment Allaah gave me for my excessive
greed. I need a slap on my ear who takes pity on me and gives me alms.
That is why I asked you to do that yesterday.
When
Baabaa Abdullaa had finished his story, the Caliph said - "Your
offence is grievous, may Allaah have mercy on you. You should tell your
case to devotees so that they can pray for you. Do not worry about your
daily bread, you will get four Dirhams from my treasury every day as long
as you live." Baabaa Abdullaa thanked the Caliph saying that he would
as the Caliph had asked him to do.
Now
the Caliph turned to the young man who was riding the mare at her fullest
speed savagely lashing and ill-treating her. "What is your
name?" "My name is Siddee Noomaan." The Caliph said -
"I have seen many people riding horses but I have never seen anybody
riding the horse like you. I asked the bystanders also but nobody
could tell me its cause. I wish to ask you the cause of this
brutality." The young man thought that now he cannot escape from
telling the reason so he got terrified and stood speechless. The Caliph
said - "Do not fear, but tell me your story without any hesitation.
And if you are still afraid, I give you immunity and a free
pardon."
The
young man said - "I will willingly tell you my story, and if I have
offended you in any way, then I am worthy for punishment. It is true that
I daily treated that mare like that, and you had compassion on the mare and
thought me cruel, but when you will hear my story, you will say that it
was only a trivial punishment for her offence. And I, not she, deserves
your pity. So with your permission I begin my story ....
End
of the 611th Night
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