15 Arabic Fairy Tales, Folk Tales and Fables

فِي يَوْمٍ مِنَ الْأَيَّامِ، خَرَجَ صَيَّادٌ وَمَعَهُ شَبَكَةٌ كَبِيرَةٌ. وَضَعَ الشَّبَكَةَ تَحْتَ شَجَرَةٍ، وَوَضَعَ فَوْقَهَا حَبًّا كَثِيرًا. ثُمَّ اخْتَبَأَ وَرَاءَ شَجَرَةٍ أُخْرَى وَانْتَظَرَ. فِي السَّمَاءِ، كَانَتْ حَمَامَةٌ تَطِيرُ مَعَ صَدِيقَاتِهَا. رَأَتِ الْحَمَامَاتُ الطَّعَامَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ، وَكَانَتْ جَائِعَةً. نَزَلَتْ كُلُّهَا إِلَى الْحَبِّ، وَلَمْ تَرَ الشَّبَكَةَ تَحْتَهُ. فَجْأَةً أَغْلَقَتِ الشَّبَكَةُ عَلَيْهَا، وَصَارَتِ الْحَمَامَاتُ فِي خَطَرٍ. سَمِعَ الصَّيَّادُ حَرَكَتَهَا، فَخَرَجَ مِنْ مَكَانِهِ.Listen

Fī yawmin mina l-ayyāmi, kharaja ṣayyādun wa-maʿahu shabakatun kabīratun. Waḍaʿa sh-shabakata taḥta shajaratin, wa-waḍaʿa fawqahā ḥabban kathīran. Thumma khtabaʾa warāʾa shajaratin ukhrā wa-ntaẓara. Fī s-samāʾi, kānat ḥamāmatun taṭīru maʿa ṣadīqātihā. Raʾati l-ḥamāmātu ṭ-ṭaʿāma ʿalā l-arḍi, wa-kānat jāʾiʿatan. Nazalat kulluhā ilā l-ḥabbi, wa-lam tara sh-shabakata taḥtahu. Fajʾatan aghlaqati sh-shabakatu ʿalayhā, wa-ṣārati l-ḥamāmātu fī khaṭarin. Samiʿa ṣ-ṣayyādu ḥarakatahā, fa-kharaja min makānihi.

One day a hunter went out with a large net. He placed the net under a tree and scattered plenty of grain over it. Then he hid behind another tree and waited. In the sky, a dove was flying with her friends. The doves saw the food on the ground and were hungry. They all came down to the grain and did not see the net beneath it. Suddenly the net closed over them, and the doves were in danger. The hunter heard their movement and came out of his hiding place.

حَاوَلَتْ كُلُّ حَمَامَةٍ أَنْ تَخْرُجَ وَحْدَهَا. وَاحِدَةٌ تَجْذِبُ إِلَى الْيَمِينِ، وَأُخْرَى تَجْذِبُ إِلَى الْيَسَارِ. لَكِنَّ الشَّبَكَةَ لَمْ تَتَحَرَّكْ. قَالَتْ قَائِدَتُهَا: «لَا تَعْمَلْ كُلُّ وَاحِدَةٍ وَحْدَهَا. نَحْنُ كَثِيرَاتٌ، وَيُمْكِنُنَا أَنْ نَطِيرَ مَعًا. عِنْدَمَا أَقُولُ الْآنَ، اِفْتَحْنَ أَجْنِحَتَكُنَّ وَطِرْنَ إِلَى أَعْلَى». سَمِعَتِ الصَّدِيقَاتُ كَلَامَهَا. وَفِي لَحْظَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ، حَمَلَتِ الْحَمَامَاتُ الشَّبَكَةَ فِي الْهَوَاءِ. تَرَكَتِ الْأَرْضَ وَطَارَتْ عَالِيًا.Listen

Ḥāwalat kullu ḥamāmatin an takhruja waḥdahā. Wāḥidatun tajdhibu ilā l-yamīni, wa-ukhrā tajdhibu ilā l-yasāri. Lākinna sh-shabakata lam tataḥarrak. Qālat qāʾidatuhā: “Lā taʿmal kullu wāḥidatin waḥdahā. Naḥnu kathīrātun, wa-yumkinunā an naṭīra maʿan. ʿIndamā aqūlu l-āna, iftaḥna ajniḥatakunna wa-ṭirna ilā aʿlā.” Samiʿati ṣ-ṣadīqātu kalāmahā. Wa-fī laḥẓatin wāḥidatin, ḥamalati l-ḥamāmātu sh-shabakata fī l-hawāʾi. Tarakati l-arḍa wa-ṭārat ʿāliyan.

Each dove tried to get out alone. One pulled to the right and another to the left. But the net did not move. Their leader said, “Do not each work alone. There are many of us, and we can fly together. When I say now, open your wings and fly upward.” Her friends listened to her words. At the same moment, the doves lifted the net into the air. They left the ground and flew high.

رَكَضَ الصَّيَّادُ خَلْفَهَا، لَكِنَّهُ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يَلْحَقَ بِهَا. قَالَتِ الْقَائِدَةُ: «لِي صَدِيقٌ يَسْكُنُ قَرِيبًا مِنْ هُنَا. إِنَّهُ جُرَذٌ صَغِيرٌ، وَلَهُ أَسْنَانٌ قَوِيَّةٌ. سَوْفَ يُسَاعِدُنَا». طَارَتِ الْحَمَامَاتُ إِلَى مَكَانِهِ، وَنَزَلَتْ أَمَامَ بَيْتِهِ. نَادَتِ الْقَائِدَةُ: «يَا صَدِيقِي، اُخْرُجْ! نَحْنُ بِحَاجَةٍ إِلَيْكَ». خَرَجَ الْجُرَذُ بِحَذَرٍ، وَتَعَجَّبَ مِنَ الشَّبَكَةِ وَمِنْ عَدَدِ الطُّيُورِ. سَأَلَ صَدِيقَتَهُ عَمَّا حَدَثَ.Listen

Rakaḍa ṣ-ṣayyādu khalfahā, lākinnahu lam yastaṭiʿ an yalḥaqa bihā. Qālati l-qāʾidatu: “Lī ṣadīqun yaskunu qarīban min hunā. Innahu juradhun ṣaghīrun, wa-lahu asnānun qawiyyatun. Sawfa yusāʿidunā.” Ṭārati l-ḥamāmātu ilā makānihi, wa-nazalat amāma baytihi. Nādati l-qāʾidatu: “Yā ṣadīqī, ukhruj! Naḥnu bi-ḥājatin ilayka.” Kharaja l-juradhu bi-ḥadharin, wa-taʿajjaba mina sh-shabakati wa-min ʿadadi ṭ-ṭuyūri. Saʾala ṣadīqatahu ʿammā ḥadatha.

The hunter ran after them, but he could not catch up. The leader said, “I have a friend who lives nearby. He is a little rat, and he has strong teeth. He will help us.” The doves flew to his home and landed in front of it. Their leader called, “My friend, come out! We need you.” The rat came out cautiously and was surprised by the net and the number of birds. He asked his friend what had happened.

شَرَحَتِ الْحَمَامَةُ الْأَمْرَ، فَاقْتَرَبَ الْجُرَذُ مِنْهَا وَبَدَأَ يَقْطَعُ الْخُيُوطَ حَوْلَهَا. لَكِنَّهَا قَالَتْ: «اِبْدَأْ بِصَدِيقَاتِي أَوَّلًا، مِنْ فَضْلِكَ». سَأَلَهَا: «لِمَاذَا؟ أَنْتِ صَدِيقَتِي، وَأُرِيدُ أَنْ أُخْرِجَكِ». قَالَتْ: «إِذَا تَعِبْتَ بَعْدَ خُرُوجِي، فَقَدْ تَبْقَى بَعْضُهُنَّ هُنَا. أَمَّا إِذَا بَقِيتُ أَنَا، فَأَنْتَ لَنْ تَتْرُكَنِي». فَهِمَ الْجُرَذُ أَنَّهَا تُفَكِّرُ فِي الْجَمِيعِ. بَدَأَ بِالْحَمَامَاتِ الْأُخْرَى، ثُمَّ عَادَ إِلَيْهَا.Listen

Sharaḥati l-ḥamāmatu l-amra, fa-qtaraba l-juradhu minhā wa-badaʾa yaqṭaʿu l-khuyūṭa ḥawlahā. Lākinnahā qālat: “Ibdaʾ bi-ṣadīqātī awwalan, min faḍlika.” Saʾalahā: “Limādhā? Anti ṣadīqatī, wa-urīdu an ukhrijaki.” Qālat: “Idhā taʿibta baʿda khurūjī, fa-qad tabqā baʿḍuhunna hunā. Ammā idhā baqītu anā, fa-anta lan tatrukanī.” Fahima l-juradhu annahā tufakkiru fī l-jamīʿi. Badaʾa bi-l-ḥamāmāti l-ukhrā, thumma ʿāda ilayhā.

The dove explained, so the rat approached her and began cutting the threads around her. But she said, “Start with my friends first, please.” He asked, “Why? You are my friend, and I want to free you.” She said, “If you grow tired after I am free, some of them may remain here. But if I am still inside, you will not leave me.” The rat understood that she was thinking of everyone. He began with the other doves and then returned to her.

أَخِيرًا، قَطَعَ الْجُرَذُ آخِرَ خَيْطٍ. صَارَتْ كُلُّ الْحَمَامَاتِ حُرَّةً، وَشَكَرَتْهُ عَلَى مُسَاعَدَتِهِ. قَالَتِ الْقَائِدَةُ لِصَدِيقَاتِهَا: «نَجَوْنَا لِأَنَّنَا طِرْنَا مَعًا، وَلِأَنَّ صَدِيقَنَا لَمْ يَتْرُكْ وَاحِدَةً مِنَّا فِي الشَّبَكَةِ». ثُمَّ طَارَتْ مَعَهُنَّ بَعِيدًا عَنِ الصَّيَّادِ. بَقِيَتِ الشَّبَكَةُ الْمَقْطُوعَةُ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ، وَعَادَ الْجُرَذُ إِلَى بَيْتِهِ. لَمْ يَكُنْ أَكْبَرَ الْحَيَوَانَاتِ، وَلَكِنَّ أَسْنَانَهُ الصَّغِيرَةَ أَنْقَذَتْ صَدِيقَاتٍ كَثِيرَاتٍ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ.Listen

Akhīran, qaṭaʿa l-juradhu ākhira khayṭin. Ṣārat kullu l-ḥamāmāti ḥurratan, wa-shakarat-hu ʿalā musāʿadatihi. Qālati l-qāʾidatu li-ṣadīqātihā: “Najawnā li-annanā ṭirnā maʿan, wa-li-anna ṣadīqanā lam yatruk wāḥidatan minnā fī sh-shabakati.” Thumma ṭārat maʿahunna baʿīdan ʿani ṣ-ṣayyādi. Baqiyati sh-shabakatu l-maqṭūʿatu ʿalā l-arḍi, wa-ʿāda l-juradhu ilā baytihi. Lam yakun akbara l-ḥayawānāti, wa-lākinna asnānahu ṣ-ṣaghīrata anqadhat ṣadīqātin kathīrātin fī dhālika l-yawmi.

Finally, the rat cut the last thread. All the doves were free and thanked him for his help. The leader told her friends, “We escaped because we flew together and because our friend did not leave a single one of us in the net.” Then she flew away from the hunter with them. The cut net remained on the ground, and the rat returned home. He was not the biggest animal, but his little teeth saved many friends that day.

كَانَ قِرْدٌ يَسْكُنُ فَوْقَ شَجَرَةِ تِينٍ قُرْبَ الْمَاءِ. كَانَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْ ثَمَرِهَا وَيَجْلِسُ بَيْنَ أَغْصَانِهَا. وَفِي يَوْمٍ، سَقَطَتْ مِنْهُ تِينَةٌ فِي الْمَاءِ. سَمِعَ صَوْتَهَا فَأَعْجَبَهُ، وَأَلْقَى تِينَةً أُخْرَى. كَانَ هُنَاكَ غَيْلَمٌ، أَيْ ذَكَرُ سُلَحْفَاةٍ، فَأَكَلَ التِّينَ. ظَنَّ أَنَّ الْقِرْدَ يُعْطِيهِ الطَّعَامَ، فَشَكَرَهُ. بَدَأَ الْحَيَوَانَانِ يَتَحَدَّثَانِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ. وَصَارَ الْغَيْلَمُ يَقْضِي وَقْتًا طَوِيلًا عِنْدَ الشَّجَرَةِ. كَانَ الْقِرْدُ سَعِيدًا بِصَدِيقِهِ الْجَدِيدِ، فَلَمْ يَعُدْ وَحْدَهُ. فِي كُلِّ صَبَاحٍ كَانَ يَنْتَظِرُهُ وَيَبْحَثُ عَنْهُ فِي الْمَاءِ. كَانَ مِنَ الْجَمِيلِ أَنْ يَجِدَ مَنْ يُحَدِّثُهُ وَيَسْمَعُهُ.Listen

Kāna qirdun yaskunu fawqa shajarati tīnin qurba l-māʾi. Kāna yaʾkulu min thamarihā wa-yajlisu bayna aghṣānihā. Wa-fī yawmin, saqaṭat minhu tīnatun fī l-māʾi. Samiʿa ṣawtahā fa-aʿjabahu, wa-alqā tīnatan ukhrā. Kāna hunāka ghaylamun, ay dhakaru sulaḥfātin, fa-akala t-tīna. Ẓanna anna l-qirda yuʿṭīhi ṭ-ṭaʿāma, fa-shakarahu. Badaʾa l-ḥayawānāni yataḥaddathāni kulla yawmin. Wa-ṣāra l-ghaylamu yaqḍī waqtan ṭawīlan ʿinda sh-shajarati. Kāna l-qirdu saʿīdan bi-ṣadīqihi l-jadīdi, fa-lam yaʿud waḥdahu. Fī kulli ṣabāḥin kāna yantaẓiruhu wa-yabḥathu ʿanhu fī l-māʾi. Kāna mina l-jamīli an yajida man yuḥaddithuhu wa-yasmaʿuhu.

A monkey lived in a fig tree near the water. He ate its fruit and sat among its branches. One day a fig fell from him into the water. He liked the sound it made and threw down another. A male turtle was there and ate the figs. He thought the monkey was giving him food, so he thanked him. The two animals began talking every day. The turtle spent a long time beside the tree. The monkey was happy with his new friend and was no longer alone. Every morning he waited for him and looked for him in the water. It was pleasant to find someone to talk to and listen to.

لَمْ تَكُنْ زَوْجَةُ الْغَيْلَمِ سَعِيدَةً. كَانَ زَوْجُهَا يَبْقَى عِنْدَ الْقِرْدِ كَثِيرًا، وَهِيَ تُرِيدُ أَنْ يَبْقَى مَعَهَا. قَالَتْ لَهُ إِنَّهَا مَرِيضَةٌ، وَإِنَّ دَوَاءَهَا هُوَ قَلْبُ قِرْدٍ. حَزِنَ الْغَيْلَمُ وَفَكَّرَ فِي صَدِيقِهِ. ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ إِلَى الشَّجَرَةِ وَقَالَ: «أَنْتَ تُعْطِينِي التِّينَ دَائِمًا. تَعَالَ إِلَى بَيْتِي الْيَوْمَ، فَعِنْدَنَا فَاكِهَةٌ لَذِيذَةٌ أَيْضًا». قَالَ الْقِرْدُ: «وَلَكِنِّي لَا أَسْبَحُ». أَجَابَهُ: «اِجْلِسْ عَلَى ظَهْرِي، وَأَنَا أَحْمِلُكَ».Listen

Lam takun zawjatu l-ghaylami saʿīdatan. Kāna zawjuhā yabqā ʿinda l-qirdi kathīran, wa-hiya turīdu an yabqā maʿahā. Qālat lahu innahā marīḍatun, wa-inna dawāʾahā huwa qalbu qirdin. Ḥazina l-ghaylamu wa-fakkara fī ṣadīqihi. Thumma dhahaba ilā sh-shajarati wa-qāla: “Anta tuʿṭīnī t-tīna dāʾiman. Taʿāla ilā baytī l-yawma, fa-ʿindanā fākihatun ladhīdhatun ayḍan.” Qāla l-qirdu: “Wa-lākinnī lā asbaḥu.” Ajābahu: “Ijlis ʿalā ẓahrī, wa-anā aḥmiluka.”

The turtle’s wife was unhappy. Her husband often stayed with the monkey, and she wanted him to stay with her. She told him she was ill and that her medicine was a monkey’s heart. The turtle was sad and thought of his friend. Then he went to the tree and said, “You always give me figs. Come to my home today; we have delicious fruit too.” The monkey said, “But I cannot swim.” He answered, “Sit on my back, and I will carry you.”

جَلَسَ الْقِرْدُ عَلَى ظَهْرِ الْغَيْلَمِ، وَابْتَعَدَا عَنِ الشَّاطِئِ. كَانَ الْغَيْلَمُ صَامِتًا، فَسَأَلَهُ الْقِرْدُ عَنْ سَبَبِ حُزْنِهِ. أَخِيرًا أَخْبَرَهُ بِمَرَضِ زَوْجَتِهِ وَبِحَاجَتِهَا إِلَى قَلْبِهِ. خَافَ الْقِرْدُ كَثِيرًا، لَكِنَّهُ لَمْ يُظْهِرْ خَوْفَهُ. قَالَ بِهُدُوءٍ: «لِمَاذَا لَمْ تُخْبِرْنِي قَبْلَ أَنْ نَذْهَبَ؟ لَقَدْ تَرَكْتُ قَلْبِي فِي الشَّجَرَةِ. نَحْنُ الْقُرُودَ نَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ عِنْدَمَا نَخْرُجُ. عُدْ بِي إِلَيْهَا، وَسَوْفَ آخُذُهُ مَعِي». صَدَّقَ الْغَيْلَمُ هَذَا الْكَلَامَ الْغَرِيبَ.Listen

Jalasa l-qirdu ʿalā ẓahri l-ghaylami, wa-btaʿadā ʿani sh-shāṭiʾi. Kāna l-ghaylamu ṣāmitan, fa-saʾalahu l-qirdu ʿan sababi ḥuznihi. Akhīran akhbarahu bi-maraḍi zawjatihi wa-bi-ḥājatihā ilā qalbihi. Khāfa l-qirdu kathīran, lākinnahu lam yuẓhir khawfahu. Qāla bi-hudūʾin: “Limādhā lam tukhbirnī qabla an nadhhaba? Laqad taraktu qalbī fī sh-shajarati. Naḥnu l-qurūda nafʿalu dhālika ʿindamā nakhruju. ʿUd bī ilayhā, wa-sawfa ākhudhuhu maʿī.” Ṣaddaqa l-ghaylamu hādhā l-kalāma l-gharība.

The monkey sat on the turtle’s back, and they moved away from shore. The turtle was silent, so the monkey asked why he was sad. At last he told him about his wife’s illness and her need for his heart. The monkey was very frightened but did not show his fear. Calmly he said, “Why did you not tell me before we left? I left my heart in the tree. We monkeys do that when we go out. Take me back, and I will bring it.” The turtle believed this strange claim.

عَادَ الْغَيْلَمُ إِلَى الشَّاطِئِ. وَمَا إِنْ وَصَلَا حَتَّى قَفَزَ الْقِرْدُ إِلَى الشَّجَرَةِ وَصَعِدَ سَرِيعًا. اِنْتَظَرَ الْغَيْلَمُ تَحْتَهَا وَقَالَ: «أَيْنَ قَلْبُكَ؟ هَيَّا بِنَا». أَجَابَ الْقِرْدُ: «قَلْبِي مَعِي. هَلْ يَعِيشُ حَيَوَانٌ بِلَا قَلْبٍ؟ قُلْتُ ذَلِكَ لِأَنْجُوَ مِنَ الْخَطَرِ. لَقَدْ كُنْتُ صَدِيقَكَ، وَأَنْتَ أَرَدْتَ قَتْلِي». حَاوَلَ الْغَيْلَمُ أَنْ يَدْعُوَهُ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى، لَكِنَّ الْقِرْدَ لَمْ يَنْزِلْ. بَقِيَ فَوْقَ شَجَرَتِهِ، حَيْثُ الطَّعَامُ وَالْأَمَانُ، وَلَمْ يَعُدْ يَثِقُ بِكَلَامِ الْغَيْلَمِ.Listen

ʿĀda l-ghaylamu ilā sh-shāṭiʾi. Wa-mā in waṣalā ḥattā qafaza l-qirdu ilā sh-shajarati wa-ṣaʿida sarīʿan. Intaẓara l-ghaylamu taḥtahā wa-qāla: “Ayna qalbuka? Hayyā binā.” Ajāba l-qirdu: “Qalbī maʿī. Hal yaʿīshu ḥayawānun bi-lā qalbin? Qultu dhālika li-anjūwa mina l-khaṭari. Laqad kuntu ṣadīqaka, wa-anta aradta qatlī.” Ḥāwala l-ghaylamu an yadʿuwahu marratan ukhrā, lākinna l-qirda lam yanzil. Baqiya fawqa shajaratihi, ḥaythu ṭ-ṭaʿāmu wa-l-amānu, wa-lam yaʿud yathiqu bi-kalāmi l-ghaylami.

The turtle returned to shore. As soon as they arrived, the monkey jumped into the tree and quickly climbed up. The turtle waited below and said, “Where is your heart? Let us go.” The monkey replied, “My heart is with me. Can an animal live without a heart? I said that to escape danger. I was your friend, and you wanted to kill me.” The turtle tried inviting him again, but the monkey did not come down. He stayed in his tree, where there was food and safety, and no longer trusted the turtle’s words.

قُرْبَ شَجَرَةٍ كَبِيرَةٍ كَانَ يَعِيشُ جُرَذٌ صَغِيرٌ وَقِطٌّ. كَانَ الْجُرَذُ يَخَافُ الْقِطَّ، وَلِذَلِكَ كَانَ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ بِحَذَرٍ. ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ، وَضَعَ صَيَّادٌ شَبَكَةً قُرْبَ الشَّجَرَةِ. خَرَجَ الْقِطُّ يَبْحَثُ عَنْ طَعَامٍ، فَوَقَعَ فِيهَا. بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ خَرَجَ الْجُرَذُ. رَأَى الْقِطَّ فِي الشَّبَكَةِ، فَشَعَرَ بِالْفَرَحِ. قَالَ فِي نَفْسِهِ: «الْآنَ أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَبْحَثَ عَنْ طَعَامِي دُونَ خَوْفٍ. الْقِطُّ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَلْحَقَ بِي». تَوَقَّفَ لَحْظَةً لِيَنْظُرَ حَوْلَهُ. لَمْ يَكُنِ الْقِطُّ وَحْدَهُ يَعِيشُ فِي هَذَا الْمَكَانِ، وَالْجُرَذُ طَعَامٌ لِحَيَوَانَاتٍ أُخْرَى أَيْضًا.Listen

Qurba shajaratin kabīratin kāna yaʿīshu juradhun ṣaghīrun wa-qiṭṭun. Kāna l-juradhu yakhāfu l-qiṭṭa, wa-li-dhālika kāna yakhruju min baytihi bi-ḥadharin. Dhāta laylatin, waḍaʿa ṣayyādun shabakatan qurba sh-shajarati. Kharaja l-qiṭṭu yabḥathu ʿan ṭaʿāmin, fa-waqaʿa fīhā. Baʿda dhālika kharaja l-juradhu. Raʾā l-qiṭṭa fī sh-shabakati, fa-shaʿara bi-l-faraḥi. Qāla fī nafsihi: “Al-āna astaṭīʿu an abḥatha ʿan ṭaʿāmī dūna khawfin. Al-qiṭṭu lā yastaṭīʿu an yalḥaqa bī.” Tawaqqafa laḥẓatan li-yanẓura ḥawlahu. Lam yakuni l-qiṭṭu waḥdahu yaʿīshu fī hādhā l-makāni, wa-l-juradhu ṭaʿāmun li-ḥayawānātin ukhrā ayḍan.

A little rat and a cat lived near a large tree. The rat feared the cat, so he left his home cautiously. One night a hunter set a net near the tree. The cat went out to look for food and fell into it. Afterward, the rat came out. He saw the cat in the net and felt happy. He thought, “Now I can look for my food without fear. The cat cannot catch me.” He stopped for a moment to look around. The cat was not the only creature living there, and the rat was food for other animals too.

لَكِنَّ فَرَحَهُ لَمْ يَدُمْ طَوِيلًا. نَظَرَ خَلْفَهُ، فَرَأَى ابْنَ عِرْسٍ يَنْتَظِرُهُ. وَنَظَرَ إِلَى أَعْلَى، فَرَأَى بُومَةً عَلَى غُصْنٍ. كِلَاهُمَا يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَأْكُلَهُ. فَكَّرَ الْجُرَذُ بِسُرْعَةٍ، ثُمَّ اقْتَرَبَ مِنَ الْقِطِّ. قَالَ: «أَنْتَ فِي خَطَرٍ، وَأَنَا أَيْضًا. أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَقْطَعَ الشَّبَكَةَ بِأَسْنَانِي. اِحْمِنِي مِنَ الْحَيَوَانَيْنِ، وَسَأُخْرِجُكَ مِنْ هُنَا». وَافَقَ الْقِطُّ، وَوَعَدَهُ أَلَّا يُؤْذِيَهُ. اِقْتَرَبَ الْجُرَذُ أَكْثَرَ وَجَلَسَ بِجَانِبِهِ.Listen

Lākinna faraḥahu lam yadum ṭawīlan. Naẓara khalfahu, fa-raʾā bna ʿirsin yantaẓiruhu. Wa-naẓara ilā aʿlā, fa-raʾā būmatan ʿalā ghuṣnin. Kilāhumā yurīdu an yaʾkulahu. Fakkara l-juradhu bi-surʿatin, thumma qtaraba mina l-qiṭṭi. Qāla: “Anta fī khaṭarin, wa-anā ayḍan. Astaṭīʿu an aqṭaʿa sh-shabakata bi-asnānī. Iḥminī mina l-ḥayawānayni, wa-sa-ukhrijuka min hunā.” Wāfaqa l-qiṭṭu, wa-waʿadahu allā yuʾdhiyahu. Iqtaraba l-juradhu akthara wa-jalasa bi-jānibihi.

But his happiness did not last long. He looked behind him and saw a weasel waiting. He looked up and saw an owl on a branch. Both wanted to eat him. The rat thought quickly and then approached the cat. He said, “You are in danger, and so am I. I can cut the net with my teeth. Protect me from those two animals, and I will get you out.” The cat agreed and promised not to hurt him. The rat moved closer and sat beside him.

رَأَتِ الْبُومَةُ وَابْنُ عِرْسٍ الْجُرَذَ قُرْبَ الْقِطِّ، فَابْتَعَدَا. بَدَأَ الْجُرَذُ يَقْطَعُ خُيُوطَ الشَّبَكَةِ، لَكِنَّهُ عَمِلَ بِبُطْءٍ. قَالَ الْقِطُّ: «أَسْرِعْ! سَيَأْتِي الصَّيَّادُ قَرِيبًا». أَجَابَ الْجُرَذُ: «لَا تَخَفْ. سَأَفِي بِوَعْدِي». تَرَكَ خَيْطًا أَخِيرًا، وَانْتَظَرَ. كَانَ يَعْرِفُ أَنَّ الْقِطَّ قَدْ يَأْكُلُهُ إِذَا خَرَجَ قَبْلَ وُصُولِ الصَّيَّادِ. وَعِنْدَ الصَّبَاحِ، رَأَى الرَّجُلَ يَقْتَرِبُ. قَطَعَ الْخَيْطَ الْأَخِيرَ فَوْرًا. صَعِدَ الْقِطُّ إِلَى الشَّجَرَةِ، وَدَخَلَ الْجُرَذُ بَيْتَهُ.Listen

Raʾati l-būmatu wa-bnu ʿirsin al-juradha qurba l-qiṭṭi, fa-btaʿadā. Badaʾa l-juradhu yaqṭaʿu khuyūṭa sh-shabakati, lākinnahu ʿamila bi-buṭʾin. Qāla l-qiṭṭu: “Asriʿ! Sa-yaʾtī ṣ-ṣayyādu qarīban.” Ajāba l-juradhu: “Lā takhaf. Sa-afī bi-waʿdī.” Taraka khayṭan akhīran, wa-ntaẓara. Kāna yaʿrifu anna l-qiṭṭa qad yaʾkuluhu idhā kharaja qabla wuṣūli ṣ-ṣayyādi. Wa-ʿinda ṣ-ṣabāḥi, raʾā r-rajula yaqtaribu. Qaṭaʿa l-khayṭa l-akhīra fawran. Ṣaʿida l-qiṭṭu ilā sh-shajarati, wa-dakhala l-juradhu baytahu.

The owl and the weasel saw the rat beside the cat and moved away. The rat began cutting the net’s threads, but worked slowly. The cat said, “Hurry! The hunter will come soon.” The rat answered, “Do not worry. I will keep my promise.” He left one final thread and waited. He knew the cat might eat him if it got out before the hunter arrived. In the morning he saw the man approaching. He cut the final thread at once. The cat climbed the tree, and the rat entered his home.

بَعْدَ أَنْ رَحَلَ الصَّيَّادُ، نَادَى الْقِطُّ جَارَهُ وَقَالَ: «اُخْرُجْ يَا صَدِيقِي. لَقَدْ أَنْقَذْتَ حَيَاتِي، وَأُرِيدُ أَنْ أَشْكُرَكَ». لَكِنَّ الْجُرَذَ بَقِيَ فِي بَيْتِهِ. قَالَ: «أَنَا سَعِيدٌ لِأَنَّنَا نَجَوْنَا. كُنْتَ تَحْتَاجُ إِلَيَّ، وَكُنْتُ أَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْكَ. لَكِنَّ الْخَطَرَ انْتَهَى الْآنَ، وَأَنْتَ قِطٌّ وَأَنَا جُرَذٌ. سَأَبْقَى فِي مَكَانِي الْآمِنِ». لَمْ يَخْرُجْ إِلَيْهِ. فِي تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةِ تَعَاوَنَ الْحَيَوَانَانِ، لَكِنَّ الْجُرَذَ لَمْ يَنْسَ أَنْ يَحْمِيَ نَفْسَهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ.Listen

Baʿda an raḥala ṣ-ṣayyādu, nādā l-qiṭṭu jārahu wa-qāla: “Ukhruj yā ṣadīqī. Laqad anqadhta ḥayātī, wa-urīdu an ashkuraka.” Lākinna l-juradha baqiya fī baytihi. Qāla: “Anā saʿīdun li-annanā najawnā. Kunta taḥtāju ilayya, wa-kuntu aḥtāju ilayka. Lākinna l-khaṭara ntahā l-āna, wa-anta qiṭṭun wa-anā juradhun. Sa-abqā fī makānī l-āmini.” Lam yakhruj ilayhi. Fī tilka l-laylati taʿāwana l-ḥayawānāni, lākinna l-juradha lam yansa an yaḥmiya nafsahu baʿda dhālika.

After the hunter left, the cat called to his neighbor, “Come out, my friend. You saved my life, and I want to thank you.” But the rat stayed in his home. He said, “I am happy that we escaped. You needed me, and I needed you. But the danger is over now, and you are a cat and I am a rat. I will stay in my safe place.” He did not come out. That night the two animals had cooperated, but the rat did not forget to protect himself afterward.

كَانَ رَجُلٌ فَقِيرٌ يَعِيشُ فِي بَيْتٍ صَغِيرٍ. وَكَانَ تَاجِرٌ كَرِيمٌ يُعْطِيهِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ قَلِيلًا مِنَ السَّمْنِ وَالْعَسَلِ. يَأْكُلُ الرَّجُلُ بَعْضَهُ، وَيَضَعُ الْبَاقِيَ فِي جَرَّةٍ. وَبَعْدَ أَيَّامٍ كَثِيرَةٍ، امْتَلَأَتِ الْجَرَّةُ. عَلَّقَهَا فَوْقَ مَكَانِ نَوْمِهِ، وَصَارَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهَا بِسَعَادَةٍ. لَمْ يَكُنْ يَمْلِكُ مَالًا كَثِيرًا، لَكِنَّ هَذِهِ الْجَرَّةَ كَانَتْ لَهُ. وَفِي مَسَاءٍ هَادِئٍ، جَلَسَ تَحْتَهَا وَفِي يَدِهِ عَصًا طَوِيلَةٌ. بَدَأَ يُفَكِّرُ فِي الْمُسْتَقْبَلِ. تَخَيَّلَ أَيَّامًا سَهْلَةً لَا يَحْتَاجُ فِيهَا إِلَى مُسَاعَدَةِ التَّاجِرِ. سَيَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ طَعَامٌ كَثِيرٌ، وَسَيَشْتَرِي كُلَّ مَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ.Listen

Kāna rajulun faqīrun yaʿīshu fī baytin ṣaghīrin. Wa-kāna tājirun karīmun yuʿṭīhi kulla yawmin qalīlan mina s-samni wa-l-ʿasali. Yaʾkulu r-rajulu baʿḍahu, wa-yaḍaʿu l-bāqiya fī jarratin. Wa-baʿda ayyāmin kathīratin, imtalaʾati l-jarratu. ʿAllaqahā fawqa makāni nawmihi, wa-ṣāra yanẓuru ilayhā bi-saʿādatin. Lam yakun yamliku mālan kathīran, lākinna hādhihi l-jarrata kānat lahu. Wa-fī masāʾin hādiʾin, jalasa taḥtahā wa-fī yadihi ʿaṣan ṭawīlatun. Badaʾa yufakkiru fī l-mustaqbali. Takhayyala ayyāman sahlatan lā yaḥtāju fīhā ilā musāʿadati t-tājiri. Sa-yakūnu ʿindahu ṭaʿāmun kathīrun, wa-sa-yashtarī kulla mā yaḥtāju ilayhi.

A poor man lived in a small house. A generous merchant gave him a little clarified butter and honey every day. The man ate some and put the rest in a jar. After many days, the jar was full. He hung it above his sleeping place and looked at it happily. He did not have much money, but this jar belonged to him. One quiet evening he sat below it with a long stick in his hand. He began thinking about the future. He imagined easy days when he would no longer need the merchant’s help. He would have plenty of food and buy everything he needed.

قَالَ فِي نَفْسِهِ: «سَأَبِيعُ هَذَا السَّمْنَ وَالْعَسَلَ بِدِينَارٍ. ثُمَّ أَشْتَرِي عَشْرَةَ أَعْنُزٍ. سَتَلِدُ الْأَعْنُزُ صِغَارًا، وَيَكْبَرُ الصِّغَارُ، وَيَصِيرُ عِنْدِي قَطِيعٌ كَبِيرٌ. بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ، أَبِيعُ بَعْضَ الْمَاعِزِ وَأَشْتَرِي أَبْقَارًا وَأَرْضًا. أَزْرَعُ الْأَرْضَ، وَأَبِيعُ مَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا. كُلَّ سَنَةٍ سَأَكْسَبُ مَالًا أَكْثَرَ». كَانَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى الْجَرَّةِ، لَكِنَّهُ يَرَى فِي خَيَالِهِ حَيَوَانَاتٍ كَثِيرَةً وَحُقُولًا وَاسِعَةً. لَمْ يَتْرُكْ مَكَانَهُ، وَمَعَ ذَلِكَ شَعَرَ أَنَّهُ صَارَ غَنِيًّا.Listen

Qāla fī nafsihi: “Sa-abīʿu hādhā s-samna wa-l-ʿasala bi-dīnārin. Thumma ashtarī ʿashrata aʿnuzin. Sa-talidu l-aʿnuzu ṣighāran, wa-yakbaru ṣ-ṣighāru, wa-yaṣīru ʿindī qaṭīʿun kabīrun. Baʿda dhālika, abīʿu baʿḍa l-māʿizi wa-ashtarī abqāran wa-arḍan. Azraʿu l-arḍa, wa-abīʿu mā yakhruju minhā. Kulla sanatin sa-aksabu mālan akthara.” Kāna yanẓuru ilā l-jarrati, lākinnahu yarā fī khayālihi ḥayawānātin kathīratan wa-ḥuqūlan wāsiʿatan. Lam yatruk makānahu, wa-maʿa dhālika shaʿara annahu ṣāra ghaniyyan.

He thought, “I will sell this butter and honey for a dinar. Then I will buy ten goats. The goats will have young, the young will grow, and I will have a large herd. Afterward I will sell some goats and buy cattle and land. I will farm the land and sell what grows on it. Every year I will earn more money.” He looked at the jar, but in his imagination he saw many animals and broad fields. He had not left his seat, yet he felt he had become rich.

وَاصَلَ الرَّجُلُ حُلْمَهُ وَقَالَ: «سَأَبْنِي بَيْتًا كَبِيرًا، وَأَتَزَوَّجُ، وَيَكُونُ لِي ابْنٌ. أُعَلِّمُهُ الْقِرَاءَةَ وَالْكِتَابَةَ، وَأُحْسِنُ تَرْبِيَتَهُ». ثُمَّ تَخَيَّلَ أَنَّ ابْنَهُ لَا يَسْمَعُ كَلَامَهُ. غَضِبَ فِي خَيَالِهِ، وَقَالَ: «إِذَا لَمْ يَسْمَعْنِي، سَأُخِيفُهُ بِهَذِهِ الْعَصَا». وَرَفَعَ يَدَهُ لِيُرِيَ ذَلِكَ الِابْنَ الْخَيَالِيَّ الْعَصَا. لَكِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ هُنَاكَ ابْنٌ وَلَا بَيْتٌ كَبِيرٌ. كَانَتْ هُنَاكَ جَرَّةٌ حَقِيقِيَّةٌ فَوْقَ رَأْسِهِ، وَالْعَصَا تَتَحَرَّكُ نَحْوَهَا.Listen

Wāṣala r-rajulu ḥulmahu wa-qāla: “Sa-abnī baytan kabīran, wa-atazawwaju, wa-yakūnu lī bnun. Uʿallimuhu l-qirāʾata wa-l-kitābata, wa-uḥsinu tarbiyatahu.” Thumma takhayyala anna bnahu lā yasmaʿu kalāmahu. Ghaḍiba fī khayālihi, wa-qāla: “Idhā lam yasmaʿnī, sa-ukhīfuhu bi-hādhihi l-ʿaṣā.” Wa-rafaʿa yadahu li-yuriya dhālika l-ibna l-khayāliyya l-ʿaṣā. Lākin lam yakun hunāka bnun wa-lā baytun kabīrun. Kānat hunāka jarratun ḥaqīqiyyatun fawqa raʾsihi, wa-l-ʿaṣā tataḥarraku naḥwahā.

The man continued his dream: “I will build a large house, marry, and have a son. I will teach him to read and write and bring him up well.” Then he imagined that his son would not listen to him. He grew angry in his imagination and said, “If he does not listen, I will frighten him with this stick.” He raised his hand to show that imaginary son the stick. But there was no son and no large house. There was a real jar above his head, and the stick was moving toward it.

ضَرَبَتِ الْعَصَا الْجَرَّةَ فَانْكَسَرَتْ. سَقَطَ السَّمْنُ وَالْعَسَلُ عَلَى رَأْسِ الرَّجُلِ وَوَجْهِهِ. نَظَرَ إِلَى أَعْلَى، ثُمَّ نَظَرَ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ. كُلُّ مَا جَمَعَهُ فِي أَيَّامٍ كَثِيرَةٍ ضَاعَ فِي لَحْظَةٍ. لَمْ يَشْتَرِ الْأَعْنُزَ، وَلَمْ يَبْنِ الْبَيْتَ، بَلْ فَقَدَ الْجَرَّةَ أَيْضًا. جَلَسَ حَزِينًا، وَالْعَصَا فِي يَدِهِ. كَانَ يُخَطِّطُ لِأَعْمَالٍ كَبِيرَةٍ فِي الْمُسْتَقْبَلِ، لَكِنَّهُ لَمْ يَنْتَبِهْ إِلَى مَا يَفْعَلُهُ الْآنَ. أَضَاعَ الْحَقِيقَةَ وَهُوَ يُطَارِدُ الْخَيَالَ.Listen

Ḍarabati l-ʿaṣā l-jarrata fa-nkasarat. Saqaṭa s-samnu wa-l-ʿasalu ʿalā raʾsi r-rajuli wa-wajhihi. Naẓara ilā aʿlā, thumma naẓara ilā l-arḍi. Kullu mā jamaʿahu fī ayyāmin kathīratin ḍāʿa fī laḥẓatin. Lam yashtari l-aʿnuza, wa-lam yabni l-bayta, bal faqada l-jarrata ayḍan. Jalasa ḥazīnan, wa-l-ʿaṣā fī yadihi. Kāna yukhaṭṭiṭu li-aʿmālin kabīratin fī l-mustaqbali, lākinnahu lam yantabih ilā mā yafʿaluhu l-āna. Aḍāʿa l-ḥaqīqata wa-huwa yuṭāridu l-khayāla.

The stick struck the jar and broke it. Butter and honey fell onto the man’s head and face. He looked up, then down at the ground. Everything he had collected over many days was lost in a moment. He had not bought the goats or built the house; he had lost his jar as well. He sat sadly with the stick in his hand. He had been planning great things for the future but had not noticed what he was doing now. He lost what was real while chasing his imagination.

كَانَ صَيَّادٌ فَقِيرٌ يَعِيشُ مَعَ زَوْجَتِهِ وَأَوْلَادِهِ الثَّلَاثَةِ. كُلَّ يَوْمٍ يَذْهَبُ إِلَى الْبَحْرِ وَيُلْقِي شَبَكَتَهُ أَرْبَعَ مَرَّاتٍ. فِي يَوْمٍ صَعْبٍ، لَمْ يَجِدْ سَمَكًا فِي الْمَرَّاتِ الثَّلَاثِ الْأُولَى. كَانَ مُتْعَبًا وَقَلِقًا عَلَى أُسْرَتِهِ. أَلْقَى الشَّبَكَةَ لِلْمَرَّةِ الْأَخِيرَةِ، ثُمَّ جَذَبَهَا. وَجَدَ فِيهَا قُمْقُمًا مِنَ النُّحَاسِ، أَيْ إِنَاءً صَغِيرًا مُغْلَقًا. قَالَ: «رُبَّمَا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَبِيعَهُ». لَكِنَّهُ أَرَادَ أَوَّلًا أَنْ يَعْرِفَ مَا فِي دَاخِلِهِ. فَتَحَ الْغِطَاءَ بِحَذَرٍ. لَمْ يَعْرِفْ أَنَّ هَذَا الْإِنَاءَ الْقَدِيمَ سَيُغَيِّرُ يَوْمَهُ كُلَّهُ بَعْدَ لَحَظَاتٍ قَلِيلَةٍ.Listen

Kāna ṣayyādun faqīrun yaʿīshu maʿa zawjatihi wa-awlādihi th-thalāthati. Kulla yawmin yadhhabu ilā l-baḥri wa-yulqī shabakatahu arbaʿa marrātin. Fī yawmin ṣaʿbin, lam yajid samakan fī l-marrāti th-thalāthi l-ūlā. Kāna mutʿaban wa-qaliqan ʿalā usratihi. Alqā sh-shabakata li-l-marrati l-akhīrati, thumma jadhabahā. Wajada fīhā qumquman mina n-nuḥāsi, ay ināʾan ṣaghīran mughlaqan. Qāla: “Rubbamā astaṭīʿu an abīʿahu.” Lākinnahu arāda awwalan an yaʿrifa mā fī dākhilihi. Fataḥa l-ghiṭāʾa bi-ḥadharin. Lam yaʿrif anna hādhā l-ināʾa l-qadīma sa-yughayyiru yawmahu kullahu baʿda laḥẓātin qalīlatin.

A poor fisherman lived with his wife and three children. Every day he went to the sea and cast his net four times. On one difficult day, he found no fish in the first three casts. He was tired and worried about his family. He cast his net for the final time and then pulled it in. Inside he found a brass flask, a small closed vessel. “Perhaps I can sell it,” he said. But first he wanted to know what was inside. He carefully opened the lid. He did not know that this old vessel would change his entire day in just a few moments.

خَرَجَ دُخَانٌ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ الْقُمْقُمِ، وَارْتَفَعَ فِي الْهَوَاءِ. ثُمَّ صَارَ الدُّخَانُ جِنِّيًّا ضَخْمًا. خَافَ الصَّيَّادُ، وَازْدَادَ خَوْفُهُ عِنْدَمَا قَالَ الْجِنِّيُّ: «سَأَقْتُلُكَ». سَأَلَهُ: «لِمَاذَا؟ أَنَا أَخْرَجْتُكَ مِنَ الْقُمْقُمِ!» أَخْبَرَهُ الْجِنِّيُّ أَنَّهُ انْتَظَرَ قُرُونًا طَوِيلَةً. فِي الْبِدَايَةِ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُكَافِئَ مَنْ يُخْرِجُهُ، ثُمَّ غَضِبَ وَوَعَدَ أَنْ يَقْتُلَهُ. طَلَبَ الصَّيَّادُ الرَّحْمَةَ، لَكِنَّ الْجِنِّيَّ رَفَضَ. عِنْدَئِذٍ فَهِمَ الرَّجُلُ أَنَّهُ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى حِيلَةٍ، لَا إِلَى قُوَّةٍ.Listen

Kharaja dukhānun kathīrun mina l-qumqumi, wa-rtafaʿa fī l-hawāʾi. Thumma ṣāra d-dukhānu jinniyyan ḍakhman. Khāfa ṣ-ṣayyādu, wa-zdāda khawfuhu ʿindamā qāla l-jinniyyu: “Sa-aqtuluka.” Saʾalahu: “Limādhā? Anā akhrajtuka mina l-qumqumi!” Akhbarahu l-jinniyyu annahu ntaẓara qurūnan ṭawīlatan. Fī l-bidāyati arāda an yukāfiʾa man yukhrijuhu, thumma ghaḍiba wa-waʿada an yaqtulahu. Ṭalaba ṣ-ṣayyādu r-raḥmata, lākinna l-jinniyya rafaḍa. ʿIndaʾidhin fahima r-rajulu annahu yaḥtāju ilā ḥīlatin, lā ilā quwwatin.

A great cloud of smoke came out of the flask and rose into the air. Then the smoke became an enormous jinni. The fisherman was frightened, and more frightened still when the jinni said, “I will kill you.” He asked, “Why? I let you out of the flask!” The jinni told him he had waited for long centuries. At first he had wanted to reward whoever freed him; then he grew angry and vowed to kill that person. The fisherman begged for mercy, but the jinni refused. Then the man understood that he needed a trick, not strength.

قَالَ الصَّيَّادُ: «قَبْلَ أَنْ تَقْتُلَنِي، أَجِبْ عَنْ سُؤَالٍ وَاحِدٍ. كَيْفَ كُنْتَ فِي هَذَا الْإِنَاءِ الصَّغِيرِ؟ أَنْتَ كَبِيرٌ جِدًّا. أَنَا لَا أُصَدِّقُكَ». أَرَادَ الْجِنِّيُّ أَنْ يُثْبِتَ كَلَامَهُ، فَعَادَ دُخَانًا وَدَخَلَ الْقُمْقُمَ. بِسُرْعَةٍ، وَضَعَ الصَّيَّادُ الْغِطَاءَ وَأَغْلَقَهُ. صَارَ الْجِنِّيُّ فِي الدَّاخِلِ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى. قَالَ الرَّجُلُ: «الْآنَ أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أُعِيدَكَ إِلَى الْبَحْرِ. أَنْتَ أَرَدْتَ قَتْلَ مَنْ سَاعَدَكَ». فَطَلَبَ الْجِنِّيُّ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ، وَهَذِهِ الْمَرَّةَ لَمْ يَأْمُرْ وَلَمْ يُهَدِّدْ.Listen

Qāla ṣ-ṣayyādu: “Qabla an taqtulanī, ajib ʿan suʾālin wāḥidin. Kayfa kunta fī hādhā l-ināʾi ṣ-ṣaghīri? Anta kabīrun jiddan. Anā lā uṣaddiquka.” Arāda l-jinniyyu an yuthbita kalāmahu, fa-ʿāda dukhānan wa-dakhala l-qumquma. Bi-surʿatin, waḍaʿa ṣ-ṣayyādu l-ghiṭāʾa wa-aghlaqahu. Ṣāra l-jinniyyu fī d-dākhili marratan ukhrā. Qāla r-rajulu: “Al-āna astaṭīʿu an uʿīdaka ilā l-baḥri. Anta aradta qatla man sāʿadaka.” Fa-ṭalaba l-jinniyyu an yakhruja, wa-hādhihi l-marrata lam yaʾmur wa-lam yuhaddid.

The fisherman said, “Before you kill me, answer one question. How were you inside this little vessel? You are very big. I do not believe you.” The jinni wanted to prove his claim, so he became smoke again and entered the flask. Quickly, the fisherman put on the lid and closed it. The jinni was inside once more. The man said, “Now I can return you to the sea. You wanted to kill the person who helped you.” The jinni asked to come out, and this time he did not command or threaten.

لَمْ يَفْتَحِ الصَّيَّادُ الْقُمْقُمَ فَوْرًا. طَلَبَ وَعْدًا وَاضِحًا بِالْأَمَانِ. وَعَدَهُ الْجِنِّيُّ أَلَّا يُؤْذِيَهُ، وَأَنْ يُسَاعِدَهُ أَيْضًا. عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ فَتَحَ الْقُمْقُمَ. أَخَذَهُ الْجِنِّيُّ إِلَى بِرْكَةٍ فِيهَا سَمَكٌ مِنْ أَرْبَعَةِ أَلْوَانٍ. صَادَ الرَّجُلُ أَرْبَعَ سَمَكَاتٍ، وَذَهَبَ بِهَا إِلَى الْمَلِكِ كَمَا قَالَ لَهُ الْجِنِّيُّ. أَعْطَاهُ الْمَلِكُ أَرْبَعَمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ. عَادَ الصَّيَّادُ إِلَى أُسْرَتِهِ بِفَرَحٍ، بَعْدَ يَوْمٍ بَدَأَ بِالْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ. أَمَّا سِرُّ السَّمَكِ، فَكَانَ بِدَايَةَ حِكَايَةٍ أُخْرَى.Listen

Lam yaftaḥi ṣ-ṣayyādu l-qumquma fawran. Ṭalaba waʿdan wāḍiḥan bi-l-amāni. Waʿadahu l-jinniyyu allā yuʾdhiyahu, wa-an yusāʿidahu ayḍan. ʿInda dhālika fataḥa l-qumquma. Akhadhahu l-jinniyyu ilā birkatin fīhā samakun min arbaʿati alwānin. Ṣāda r-rajulu arbaʿa samakātin, wa-dhahaba bihā ilā l-maliki kamā qāla lahu l-jinniyyu. Aʿṭāhu l-maliku arbaʿamiʾati dīnārin. ʿĀda ṣ-ṣayyādu ilā usratihi bi-faraḥin, baʿda yawmin badaʾa bi-l-khawfi wa-l-jūʿi. Ammā sirru s-samaki, fa-kāna bidāyata ḥikāyatin ukhrā.

The fisherman did not open the flask immediately. He asked for a clear promise of safety. The jinni promised not to hurt him and to help him too. Then he opened the flask. The jinni took him to a pond with fish of four colors. The man caught four fish and brought them to the king, as the jinni instructed. The king gave him four hundred dinars. The fisherman returned happily to his family after a day that had begun with fear and hunger. The mystery of the fish was the beginning of another story.