Arabian Nights: Night 1: The Vengeful Jinn and the Wealthy Merchant | A Thousand Nights and a Night

Summary

In this tale, a merchant encounters a vengeful Ifrit who accuses him of killing his son by throwing away a date stone. The merchant pleads for his life, citing his accidental act and his family's reliance on him. He promises to return after settling his affairs, which the Ifrit allows. As the appointed day arrives, the merchant, true to his word, prepares for his fate. Meanwhile, three old men with their own stories join him, each seeking to delay the Ifrit's wrath, leading to a suspenseful and interconnected series of narratives.

Takeaways

• 😶 A wealthy merchant encounters a supernatural being, the Ifrit, who accuses him of killing his son by throwing away a date stone.
• 😲 The Ifrit's demand for retribution is based on the accidental death of his son, highlighting the theme of fate and unintended consequences.
• 🙏 The merchant pleads for mercy, emphasizing the accidental nature of the act and seeking forgiveness, illustrating the human response to dire situations.
• 🕊️ The merchant's recitation of a poem reflects on the unpredictability of life and the wisdom of accepting both its joys and sorrows.
• 🗣️ The Ifrit's insistence on killing the merchant despite his pleas showcases the harshness of supernatural justice compared to human mercy.
• 🤝 The merchant's promise to return to the Ifrit, swearing by God, demonstrates his integrity and willingness to face the consequences of his actions.
• 🏡 The merchant's actions upon returning home, settling his affairs and bidding farewell, underscore the finality and gravity of his situation.
• 👴 The appearance of the old man with the gazelle introduces a new narrative layer, suggesting a potential intervention or twist in the story.
• 🐃 The old man's tale of his wife's sorcery and the transformation of his son and concubine adds a layer of complexity and magic to the story.
• 🔪 The old man's near sacrifice of his transformed loved ones reveals the tragic potential of misunderstandings and the power of compassion.
• 📜 The script's structure, with its nested stories and potential for moral lessons, is reminiscent of classic storytelling techniques used in literature like 'One Thousand and One Nights'.

Q & A

What happened when the wealthy merchant sat down under a tree to eat?

The merchant sat down under a tree to eat a piece of bread and a date. After finishing the date, he threw away its stone, which struck and killed the son of a jinn.

Why did the jinn, Ifrit, want to kill the merchant?

Ifrit wanted to kill the merchant because the stone from the date the merchant threw away struck and killed Ifrit's son.

What did the merchant say when he was confronted by Ifrit?

The merchant asked how he had killed Ifrit's son, and upon hearing the explanation, he invoked the phrase 'We belong to God and to Him do we return,' acknowledging the accident and seeking forgiveness.

What did the merchant recite when Ifrit insisted on killing him?

The merchant recited a poem about the unpredictability of time and fate, comparing life's ups and downs to the changing weather and the selective targeting of great men by fate.

What deal did the merchant propose to Ifrit to spare his life?

The merchant proposed to go home, settle his affairs, pay his debts, and return to Ifrit at the start of the new year to face his fate, with God as the guarantor of his promise.

What did the merchant do before returning to Ifrit at the start of the new year?

The merchant went home, settled all his affairs, paid everyone what was owed, and spent time with his family before performing the ritual ablution, preparing a shroud, and bidding farewell to his loved ones.

Who approached the merchant in the orchard on New Year's Day?

An old man leading a gazelle on a chain approached the merchant, asking why he was there alone, given it was a haunt of jinn.

Why did the first old man want to hear the merchant's story?

The first old man was intrigued by the merchant's presence in a dangerous place and was moved by his story, considering it a lesson for those who take heed.

What was the significance of the gazelle to the first old man?

The gazelle was the first old man's cousin and his wife, who had been turned into a gazelle by sorcery.

How did the first old man's wife use sorcery to cause trouble?

The first old man's wife used sorcery to turn his son into a calf and his concubine into a cow, causing the old man to unknowingly attempt to slaughter them.

What was the outcome of the first old man's attempt to slaughter the cow and calf?

The first old man was unable to slaughter the cow and calf due to their cries and his feelings of pity, leading to the realization of his wife's sorcery.