The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1,001 Nights: Volume 2

by Penguin; Robert Irwin; Malcolm Lyons; Ursula Lyons

  So much for him, but as for Buluqiya, on seeing this he fell down in a faint…

  Morning now dawned and Shahrazad broke off from what she had been allowed to say. Then, when it was the four hundred and ninetieth night, SHE CONTINUED:

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that when Buluqiya saw ‘Affan burned and reduced to a pile of ashes, he fell down in a faint, but the Glorious God ordered Gabriel to go down to earth before the snake could blast Buluqiya. Gabriel came down quickly and found Buluqiya unconscious and ‘Affan burned by the snake’s breath. He approached Buluqiya, roused him from his swoon and greeted him, before asking where he had come from. Buluqiya told him the whole story from beginning to end and added: ‘You must know that I only came here because of Muhammad, may God bless him and give him peace, as ‘Affan told me that Muhammad’s mission would come at the end of time and that only those who could live until then would meet him. This would only be possible for those who drank the water of life, which could only be done by someone who held the ring of Solomon, upon whom be peace. So I came here with ‘Affan and then all this happened, leaving him burned but not me. Now I would like you to tell me where Muhammad is.’ Gabriel, however, said: ‘Go on your way, Buluqiya, for Muhammad’s time is still distant,’ and with that he rose up into the air.

  Buluqiya started to weep bitterly, regretting what he had done and remembering that the queen of the snakes had told him that no one could take Solomon’s ring. He was at a loss to know what to do, but after shedding more tears he went down from the mountain and walked on until he was close to the seashore. He sat there for a time, looking with wonder at the mountains, as well as at the seas and the islands, and there he spent the night. The next morning he rubbed his feet with the juice that ‘Affan and he had taken from the herb, and after going down to the sea he began to walk on it.

  He went on for a number of days and nights, during which he looked with wonder at the sea, its perils and its strange marvels, and he continued until he came to an island that seemed like Paradise. He went ashore and was filled with admiration for its beauty. It was, as he found, a large place, whose soil was saffron and its pebbles sapphires and other precious stones. Its hedges were of jasmine and it was planted with the finest of trees and the most splendid and sweetest of scented herbs. There were springs of running water and its wood was qumari and qaqulla aloes. In place of reeds there were sugar-canes, and everywhere there were roses, narcissi, storax, cloves, camomiles, lilies and violets, of all varieties and colours, while on the trees the birds were twittering. It was a wide island, characterized by loveliness and full of good things, encompassing every beauty and all good qualities. The singing of the birds was more graceful than the sound of lute strings, the trees towered high, the birds were vocal, the streams ran strongly and sweet water gushed from the springs. Wild calves passed by as gazelles frolicked and birds sang on the branches, so that even a distracted lover might find consolation.

  Buluqiya was amazed at what he saw there, but he realized that he must have strayed from the route that he had followed on his outward journey with ‘Affan. He wandered through the island, enjoying the sights until evening. Then, at nightfall, he climbed a high tree in order to sleep at the top of it and while he was thinking about the beauty of the island, there was a disturbance in the sea and out came an enormous creature which gave a great cry, frightening away all the animals on the island. From his viewpoint on the tree Buluqiya looked at it with astonishment, and after he had been watching it for some time, out of the sea emerged other creatures of all kinds, each holding a jewel that gleamed like a lantern, until in the radiance of these gems the island became as clear as day. Next from the island itself came wild beasts in quantities known only to Almighty God and, on looking at them, Buluqiya saw that these were land animals: lions, panthers, lynxes and the like. These came forward until they met the sea creatures on the shore, and they stayed talking together until morning came, at which they parted, each going on its own way.

  This sight had alarmed Buluqiya, and when he came down from his tree, he went to the coast. Then, after having smeared his feet with the ointment that he had with him, he went into the Second Sea and walked over its surface for some nights and days until he came to an enormous mountain. Under the mountain was a seemingly endless valley, whose stones were magnetic and whose animals comprised lions, hares and panthers. Buluqiya climbed up to the mountain and wandered there from place to place until, when evening fell, he sat down beneath one of its peaks on the seaward side. He started to eat dried fish washed up from the sea, and while he was doing this a huge panther advanced on him with the intention of seizing him. He turned and saw the panther about to pounce, but using the liquid to anoint his feet he escaped into the Third Sea. It was a dark night with a stormy wind, and he walked on over the sea to another island. When he went on shore he discovered trees, some full of sap and others dry. From these he collected fruit, which he ate, giving praise to Almighty God, and then he wandered around inspecting the island until evening.

  Morning now dawned and Shahrazad broke off from what she had been allowed to say. Then, when it was the four hundred and ninety-first night, SHE CONTINUED:

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that Buluqiya wandered around inspecting the island until evening. He slept there, and in the morning he continued his tour. Ten days later he went to the shore, anointed his feet and stepped out on to the Fourth Sea. After walking night and day he came to an island of soft white sand where there were no trees or crops. He walked there for a time and discovered that by way of wildlife it had falcons that nested in the sand. When he had seen that, he again anointed his feet and stepped on to the Fifth Sea, over which he walked night and day to a small island whose soil and whose hills were like glass. In it were veins of gold, as well as strange trees, the like of which he had not seen on his travels, together with gold-coloured flowers. He explored the island until evening, and when it became dark, the flowers started to glow throughout it like stars. Buluqiya said to himself: ‘The flowers here must be those that, when dried out by the sun, fall to the ground and are blown by the winds until they are collected under the rocks and form an elixir which people take in order to make gold.’

  He slept on this island until morning, and when the sun rose, he anointed his feet and went down on to the Sixth Sea. After he had walked over this for some nights and days, he came to another island, where he went on shore. He walked for a time until he came in sight of two peaks covered by quantities of trees whose fruits looked like human heads hanging by their hair. There were other trees to be seen whose fruits were like green birds suspended by their legs, others that burned like fire, with fruits like aloes, a single drop from which would consume anyone on whom it fell, and others that wept or laughed.

  After having seen many marvels on that island, he walked down to the shore, where he saw a great tree, under which he sat until evening. When it grew dark, he climbed to the top of this tree and began to think about God’s works. While he was doing this, the sea became disturbed and out from it came mermaids, the sea’s daughters, each carrying in her hand a jewel gleaming like a lamp. They came to sit beneath the tree and started to play, to dance and to enjoy themselves, as Buluqiya watched. They kept up their games until morning, when they went back into the sea.

  Buluqiya, who had looked at them with astonishment, then climbed down from his tree and, after having anointed his feet, he walked on to the Seventh Sea. For two months he carried on without seeing any mountain, island, land, valley or coast. Before he had crossed the sea, he had endured such violent hunger that he had started to snatch fish out of the water and eat them raw. On he went like this, until he reached an island full of trees and streams. He went ashore, this being in the forenoon, and began to walk, looking left and right until eventually he came to an apple tree. He stretched out his hand for an apple to eat, but at that someone shouted to him from the tree: ‘If you come to this tree and eat any of its fruits, I shall cut you in h
alf!’ Buluqiya looked and saw a giant, forty cubits tall by the measurement of that period. He shrank back from the tree in terror but then asked the giant why he was keeping him from eating the tree’s fruit. ‘Because you are a son of Adam,’ the giant answered, ‘and Adam, your father, forgot his covenant with God, disobeyed Him and ate this fruit.’ ‘What are you?’ Buluqiya asked him. ‘Whose is this island and these trees, and what is your name?’ ‘My name is Sharahiya,’ said the giant. ‘The island and the trees belong to King Sakhr, one of whose servants I am, and he has entrusted the place to my care.’

  Sharahiya then asked Buluqiya who he was and where he had come from, after which Buluqiya told him his story from beginning to end. ‘Have no fear,’ said Sharahiya, and he brought food which Buluqiya ate until he had had enough. He then took his leave and walked on for ten more days. While he was making his way through mountains and sands, he caught sight of a dust cloud suspended in the sky. He set off towards it and heard shouting together with the noise of blows and a great commotion. He walked on towards the dust and came to a huge valley, two months’ journey in length. Looking to where the noise was coming from, he saw horsemen fighting one another, with rivers of blood flowing between them. Their voices were like thunder; they were armed with spears, swords and iron maces, as well as with bows and arrows, and they were engaged in a furious battle.

  He was terrified…

  Morning now dawned and Shahrazad broke off from what she had been allowed to say. Then, when it was the four hundred and ninety-second night, SHE CONTINUED:

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that when Buluqiya saw these armed men engaged in a furious battle, he was terrified, not knowing what to do. While he was in this state the horsemen caught sight of him, at which they disengaged and stopped fighting. A group of them approached him and when they drew near, his appearance took them by surprise. One of them came up to him and said: ‘What are you? Where have you come from and where are you going? Who was it who showed you how to get to our country?’ ‘I am one of the sons of Adam,’ answered Buluqiya. ‘I have come because of my passionate love for Muhammad, may God bless him and give him peace, but I have lost my way.’ ‘We have never seen a son of Adam before,’ the rider told him, ‘and none of them has ever come here.’

  All the horsemen were filled with astonishment at Buluqiya and at what he had told them. He himself then asked what they were and was told by the first rider that they were jinn. ‘Why are you fighting among yourselves?’ Buluqiya asked. ‘Where do you live and what is the name of this valley and this land?’ ‘We live in the White Land,’ said the rider, ‘and every year Almighty God orders us to come here to fight against the unbelieving jinn.’ Buluqiya asked where the White Land was to be found, and the rider told him: ‘It is a seventy-five-year journey beyond Mount Qaf. The country here is known as the land of Shaddad ibn ‘Ad and we come to fight here, our only concern being to praise and glorify God. We have a king named Sakhr and you will have to go with us to him so that he may look at you.’

  They then rode off, taking Buluqiya with them to their camp. Here he saw so many enormous tents of green silk that only Almighty God could count them. Among them he was astonished to see a red silk tent, covering a thousand cubits, whose guy ropes were of blue silk and whose pegs were of gold and silver. This was the tent of King Sakhr and Buluqiya’s escort took him there and brought him before the king. Buluqiya looked and saw the king seated on a great throne of red gold studded with pearls and other gems. On his right were the jinn kings and on his left were the wise men, emirs, officers of state and so on.

  When the king caught sight of Buluqiya he ordered him to be brought in, and after this Buluqiya went forward and greeted the king, kissing the ground before him. The king returned his greeting and told him to come nearer. When Buluqiya was standing in front of him, the king ordered a chair to be brought for him, and when this had been placed beside the throne the king ordered him to sit down, which he did. ‘What are you?’ the king then asked him, and Buluqiya told him that he was an Israelite, one of the children of Adam. ‘Tell me your story,’ said the king, ‘and let me know what has happened to you and how it is that you have come here.’ So Buluqiya told him all the details of his wanderings from beginning to end. The king was filled with astonishment…

  Morning now dawned and Shahrazad broke off from what she had been allowed to say. Then, when it was the four hundred and ninety-third night, SHE CONTINUED:

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that when Buluqiya had told King Sakhr the full story of his wanderings from beginning to end, the king was filled with astonishment and ordered his servants to fetch tables, which they spread with cloths. Then they brought plates of red gold, of silver and of copper. On some of them were fifty cooked camels and on others twenty, while some contained fifty sheep. In all there were one thousand, five hundred plates, and when Buluqiya saw that he was amazed.

  The company then ate, as did Buluqiya, who, when he had had enough, gave thanks to Almighty God. After that, the food was removed and was replaced with fruit. When they had all finished eating, they called down praises on Almighty God and blessings on His Prophet, Muhammad, may God bless him and give him peace. Buluqiya was surprised to hear the name of Muhammad and he asked the king if he might put some questions to him. ‘Ask what you want,’ the king told him, and so he said: ‘O king, what are you? What is your origin and how do you come to know of Muhammad, so that you call down blessings on him and love him?’

  ‘Buluqiya,’ replied the king, ‘Almighty God created hellfire in seven layers, one on top of the other, each separated by the distance of a thousand years’ journey. The first of these layers is called Jahannam and it has been prepared for those Muslims who disobey God’s commands and die without having repented. The second layer is called Lazan and this is prepared for the unbelievers, while the third is Jahim, prepared for Gog and Magog. The name of the fourth layer is al-Sa‘ir and this is for the people of Iblis; the fifth is called Saqar and is for those who abandon prayer. The sixth is al-Hutama and is for Jews and Christians, while the seventh is al-Hawiya, which has been prepared for the hypocrites. These are the seven layers.’

  ‘I suppose,’ said Buluqiya, ‘that the punishments of Jahannam are easier to bear than all the others as it is the uppermost layer.’ The king agreed with this, but added: ‘In spite of that, Jahannam contains a thousand mountains of fire, in each of which there are seventy thousand valleys, each containing seventy thousand cities of fire. In each of these cities there are seventy thousand fiery castles, with seventy thousand fiery rooms in each, and each room contains seventy thousand couches of fire, with seventy thousand forms of torment in every one of them. None of the other layers, however, have any lighter punishments than these, as this is the first layer, while as for the other layers, only God Almighty knows the number of their torments.’

  When Buluqiya heard what the king had to say he collapsed in a faint, and when he recovered he burst into tears and said: ‘O king, how then will it be with us?’ ‘Have no fear,’ said the king, ‘for you must know that the fire will not burn anyone who loves Muhammad, and for his sake, may God bless him and give him peace, such a man will be freed, while hellfire will flee from all who follow his religion. As for us, Almighty God created us from fire, and the first beings that He created in Jahannam were two of his host, the first called Khalit and the second Malit. Khalit was shaped like a lion and Malit like a wolf. Malit’s tail was feminine, piebald in colour, while Khalit’s was masculine, in the shape of a tortoise, and was a twenty-year journey in length. God then ordered these two tails to join together and copulate, and from them were born snakes and scorpions who live in hellfire and, having reproduced and multiplied, are used by God to torture those who enter it. God then ordered the two tails to copulate a second time, and when they did this, Malit’s tail was impregnated by the tail of Khalit and gave birth to seven males and seven females. These were nurtured until they grew up, and when they had done so, t
he females were married to the males. All but one of them were obedient to their father; the one who disobeyed became a worm and this worm is Iblis, may God Almighty curse him. He had been one of the cherubim, serving God until he was raised to heaven, where he found favour with Him and became the leader of the cherubim.’

  Morning now dawned and Shahrazad broke off from what she had been allowed to say. Then, when it was the four hundred and ninety-fourth night, SHE CONTINUED:

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that Iblis had worshipped God and had become the leader of the cherubim.

  ‘Then,’ King Sakhr went on, ‘when God created Adam, upon whom be peace, He ordered Iblis to prostrate himself to him and when Iblis refused, God drove him out and cursed him and it is from his seed that the devils were born. As for the other six males, his seniors, they were the believing jinn and we are their descendants. This is our origin, Buluqiya.’

  Buluqiya, who was filled with astonishment to hear all this, then asked the king to order one of his servants to take him back to his own country. ‘We cannot do that, Buluqiya,’ said the king, ‘unless God Almighty commands us, but if you want to leave us I can mount you on one of our mares and tell it to carry you to the edge of my dominions. When you get there you will be met by servants of a king named Barakhiya, who will recognize the mare, and after you have dismounted, they will send it back to us. This is all that we can do.’ Buluqiya shed tears when he heard this, but told the king to do what he wanted, and so the king ordered the mare to be fetched. When this had been done, Buluqiya was mounted on its back and told to be careful not to dismount from it, strike it or shout in its face. ‘If you do that,’ they said, ‘it will kill you, so stay quietly on its back until it stops, after which you can dismount and go on your way.’ ‘To hear is to obey,’ said Buluqiya.