Ramadan Arabian Nights 2026: The Tale of King al-Nu’man “The Caravan”

Ramadan Kareem to all Egyptian Chronicles readers.

Tonight, as we await whether Daw’ al-Makan will find his twin sister, it is time for our little chitchat.

Unlike the original tale of the One Thousand and One Nights, Taher Abu Fasha chose to place the events of King Nu’man’s story in pre-Islamic times in his radio adaptation.

In the original Umar al-Nu’man saga from One Thousand and One Nights, the story is loosely set during the era of the Umayyad Caliphate (661–750 CE), particularly during the long series of wars between the Islamic Empire and the Byzantine Empire.

The narrative even mentions the famous general Hassan ibn al-Nu'man, a real historical figure who served as the Umayyad governor of North Africa under Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan and his son Al-Walid I.

In the radio show, however, Abu Fasha preferred to keep the setting deliberately vague, placing the events in a more distant pre-Islamic past.

Enough of our short chit-chat.

Let us see what our lost prince will do in the 99th episode of One Thousand and One Nights, as broadcast on Egyptian State Radio.

Ep.8 “The Caravan”

The Ninety-Ninth Night

When it was the Ninety-Ninth Night, and the following evening had come, King Shahryar took his seat as on the previous night. Then Scheherazade entered at the appointed hour and began to recount what had happened, joining the thread of the tale to what had come before.

And she said:

“O happy King, wise in judgment, it has reached me that Prince Daw’ al-Makan, when he heard from the garbage collector that he knew the place where the Bedouins had settled—the very Bedouins who had carried off his sister, Princess Nuzhat al-Zaman—his heart leapt with joy, and his breast opened with relief, until he was near to flying from the excess of his happiness.

Yet the garbage collector refused to reveal the name of the tribe unless the prince agreed that he should accompany him and serve as his guide. Finding no other choice, the prince consented. The garbage collector made ready for the journey, and with him went his wife Karkouba, after he had purchased a mount for the road.

Thus the three of them set out together, riding upon the beast and traveling day after day and night after night. They crossed barren plains and desolate wildernesses, passed through valleys and over deserts, until two months had gone by and Prince Daw’ al-Makan grew restless with longing.

Then suddenly Karkouba cried out, for she had sighted tents pitched in the distance. The three hastened toward them and soon arrived among them. It was a tribe dwelling upon the highlands. When they asked for the chief of the tribe, they were told it was the Bedouin Fahd—the very man who had carried off Nuzhat al-Zaman and cast Prince Daw’ al-Makan aside upon the road.

At once the prince hurried to him and entered his tent.

The Bedouin chief welcomed them warmly, saying:

‘Welcome, welcome indeed! Blessed be those who come to us and blessed be those who settle among our people.’

But the prince said to him:

‘It seems, O Sheikh of the Arabs, that you do not recognize me.’

The chief looked upon him yet did not recall him, and he called to his men to prepare hospitality for the guest, ordering that a camel be slaughtered in his honor.

Ramadan Arabian Nights 2026: The Tale of King al-Nu’man “ The Garbage collector Ep.7”

Ramadan Kareem to all Egyptian Chronicles readers.

Tonight, as we await what King Nu’man’s twin will do after turning from being royals to Slaves, it is time for our little chitchat.

As we may have guessed, tonight we will be introduced to a character that works as a garbage collector.

Historically, the garbage collector as a profession appeared in Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt and Ancient Persia but not as we know now.

In Ancient Mesopotamia, while there wasn't a specific job title for "Garbage Man" in 3000 BCE, texts mention "Sweepers" and "Porters."

Sweepers were typically employed by temples and palaces to keep sacred grounds clean, while Porters might be hired by wealthy families to haul heavy waste to "middens" (city-edge dumps).

In Ancient Egypt, as early as 2100 BCE in the city of Heracleopolis Magna, records suggest that elite and religious districts had designated laborers who swept the streets and collected refuse in baskets.

In Ancient Rome, street cleaners and slaves removed refuse, while the Cloaca Maxima helped carry waste away from the city.

We will stop here. We return back to the history of garbage collection professions again.

Let us see what the siblings will do in the 98th episode of One Thousand and One Nights, as broadcast on Egyptian State Radio.

Ramadan Arabian Nights 2026: The Tale of King al-Nu’man “ Karma Vol.1 Ep.6”

Ramadan Kareem to all Egyptian Chronicles readers.

Tonight, as we await what King Hardoub will do after what happened to his daughter Abriza, it is time for our little chitchat.

The main theme of tonight’s episode is simple: karma is not fooling around—what goes around truly comes around.

King Hardoub is paying the price for what he once did to Atrashan, and King Nu’man, in turn, will also pay the price for what he has done to Abriza.

But enough chitchat.

Let us see how the two kings will face the consequences of their deeds in the 97th episode of One Thousand and One Nights, as broadcast on Egyptian State Radio.

Ep. 6 “Karma Vol. 1 ”
The Ninety-Seventh Night

And when it was the Seven and Ninetieth Night, being the night that followed, King Shahryar took his seat as on the previous evening. Scheherazade came at her appointed hour, and the king rose to receive her, took her by the hand, and seated her in the place of highest honor. Then she began to recount what had passed.

She said:

“It has reached me, O fortunate king, wise in judgment, that when the slave Al-Ghadban saw the dust rising and spreading across the horizon, he left the princess lying upon the ground and fled for his life, spurring his horse deep into the desert waste.

And when the dust that had filled the wilderness cleared away, it revealed King Hardoub the Mighty at the head of his dread host. When he beheld his daughter slain before him, he lowered his banners, proclaimed his grief and anguish, lifted her body, and bore her back to his city. And when her burial was complete, he sent for her grandmother, Storm-Breaker.”

When she entered upon him, he cried:

King Hardoub (weeping):
“Mother! Have you seen how Abriza’s story has ended?”

Storm-Breaker:
“That my sorrow may grow heavier! Yet I shall not abandon my blood.”

King Hardoub:
“Abriza!”

Storm-Breaker:
“Weeping is for the brow of the dead, Hardoub. Death is written upon every child of Adam.”

King Hardoub:

“Would King Al-Nu‘man do this to my daughter?”

Storm-Breaker:
“My heart burns for her, my son… God knows all. Evil is repaid with evil, and the one who begins injustice is the greater wrongdoer. Hardoub! Enough of tears and lamentation. Shame upon a man who weeps while his blood lies spilled and his vengeance still unclaimed.”

Ramadan Arabian Nights 2026: The Tale of King al-Nu’man “ The Shadow of Medea Ep.5”

Ramadan Kareem to all Egyptian Chronicles readers.

Before we continue and know what will happen to Abriza  — it’s time for our little chit-chat.

*Spoiler and warning*

Tonight’s episode is a bit graphic — in fact, it is one of the most graphic episodes written by Taher Abu Fasha.

It deals with rape. Remember, this was written and broadcast on Egypt’s State Radio in the 1950s — a period often considered the peak of social conservatism in the country.

Because of that warning, I must say that this episode — and its original version in One Thousand and One Nights — particularly the part concerning Abriza, strongly reminds me of the tragedy of Medea, the princess and priestess of Colchis. Medea turned against her own people and left her kingdom out of love for Jason, only to face rejection in his homeland and descend into tragedy.

Abriza’s story offers a similar form of indirect wisdom, echoing the structure and moral weight of Greek tragedy. It serves as a cautionary tale — a warning to women everywhere, across time and place, to think carefully and not follow the heart blindly.

Now enough talking. I hope the episode won't be alarming to anyone.

So without further delay, here is the fourth episode of our story: The Tale of King al-Nu’man, the 96th night of One Thousand and One Nights, as broadcast on Egyptian State Radio.

Watch This : Seasons & Streets “From Egyptian Canal to Ramadan Bazaar”

Ramadan Kareem,

It may be wartime, but before we get busy with everything that comes with it, let’s take a short break and watch this brief video clip from Seasons & Streets about Cairo’s Ramadan bazaar in El-Sayeda Zeinab in 2026.

You have already seen the photos from there, so now it is time for the video. "Choose English subtitles"

I first wrote about this bazaar—or rather the street where it is held annually—mainly El-Sadd El-Barani Street, officially known as Youssef El-Sebai Street, back in 2023. But this year, we take a step further and look at the history of the market itself and how it grew into the largest seasonal makeshift market in Cairo, if not in Egypt.

Historically, the Sayeda Zeinab Ramadan bazaar was not the original center of Ramadan lantern production.

The historic hub of khayamiya (traditional tentmaking appliqué) and lantern craftsmanship was Tah’t Al-Rab‘, near Bab Zuweila, an area associated with these crafts since the Fatimid and Mamluk eras.

Ramadan Arabian Nights 2026: The Tale of King al-Nu’man “ The Rogue Byzantine warrior Maiden Ep.4”

Ramadan Kareem to all Egyptian Chronicles readers.

But before we find out what happens to Sharkan on the battlefield, it’s time for our little chitchat.

Abriza—the name of our warrior princess whom we met last night—is neither Byzantine in origin nor a fabricated invention.

It is, in fact, the feminine Arabic form derived from ibriz, meaning pure gold. Yes, Abriza quite literally means “the Golden One.” Within the world of the One Thousand and One Nights, to name a Byzantine princess Abriza, is no accident. It is a poetic gesture—a way of calling her “pure gold.”

The name reflects the medieval Arabic imagination of Byzantium as a realm of immense wealth: golden palaces, churches adorned with gilded mosaics, and women of radiant beauty. And perhaps, in more ways than one, she has already proven herself worthy of that name.

I will pause here—and I hope you will enjoy what comes next.

So without further delay, here is the fourth episode of our story: The Tale of King al-Nu’man, the 95th night of One Thousand and One Nights, as broadcast on Egyptian State Radio.

Ramadan Arabian Nights 2026: The Tale of King al-Nu’man “ The Byzantine warrior Maidens Ep.3”

Ramadan Kareem to all Egyptian Chronicles readers.

Before we continue our tale and learn what will happen to Prince Sharkan on the battlefield, it is time for our quick chat.

*Spoiler*

Tonight, we will be introduced to a new set of characters — Byzantine figures, or as they were known in our region, the people of El-Rūm, the Roman Byzantines.

The people we call “Byzantines” today never used that term themselves; they called themselves Rhōmaioi — Romans.

As I was reading the original tales, I was reminded of the legendary Amazon warrior women of Greek mythology — that enduring image of the warrior princess.

Historically, however, Byzantium did not have its own Amazonian female military force. After all, we are speaking of a society deeply shaped by the structures and moral authority of the Christian Church.

Yet Byzantium, like Rome before it, inherited and absorbed Greek culture — including Greek mythology and its fascination with warrior women.

That Greek influence even appears in Byzantine epic poetry. In the tale of Digenes Akritas, for example, we encounter the female warrior Maximo, who is described as having Amazonian ancestry.

I will pause here, because this is a long episode — and I hope you will enjoy what comes next.

So without further delay, here is the third episode of our story: The Tale of King al-Nu’man, the 94th night of One Thousand and One Nights, as broadcast on Egyptian State Radio.