Ramadan Arabian Nights 2025 : The Tale of Fatima,Halima and Karima “Grapes for sick neighbors” EP.2

Ramadan Kareem

Before I go into our tale, a little chitchat about the televised version. It was not a Fawzeer show like in 1986 and 1985. It was a classical format of the radio show, merged with a musical TV show.

And so, we continue our tale, eager to uncover the mystery of the palace that suddenly appeared before the Sultan’s own. If you do not recall the events of our last episode, you may refresh your memory by listening to last night’s telling.

Now, let us hear it from Scheherazade.

Without further delay, I present the second episode of our story—The Tale of Fatima, Halima, and Karima, or the 674th night of One Thousand and One Nights, as broadcast by the Egyptian State Radio.

Episode 2: Grapes for sick neighbours

When it was the seventy-fourth night after the six hundred and first, Shahryar the King took his seat in the evening’s assembly as he had done the night before. It was not long before Scheherazade entered, like a supple bough adorned with the fruits of dreams, exhaling the fragrance of nights long past and days yet to come. She greeted the king with the finest of salutations and spoke these words:

“It has reached me, O wise and noble king, that the tale of Prince Wardan and his strange encounter with a palace unlike any other continues thus:

When King Safwan grew enraged at his son’s refusal to wed the bride he had chosen, he granted him a short respite to reconsider. In the meantime, Prince Wardan gathered his courage and sought an audience with his father.

Falling to his knees before the king, he confessed his love for a maiden who had captured his heart—a vision glimpsed through the lattice of a palace window. ‘She dwells,’ he said, ‘in a grand palace that stands before ours.’

Hearing this, the king was taken aback and thought his son delusional, for there were no palaces near the royal residence—indeed, construction in that area was strictly forbidden.

Yet even as the king mulled over these strange words, the doors to the royal chamber flew open, and the servant Murjan stumbled in, his face pale with astonishment. He wailed, ‘A palace, O Sultan! A palace has appeared before ours!’

The king rose in alarm, summoning his vizier and guards to follow. Together they approached the prince’s quarters, where Murjan opened the window to reveal the sight that had so astounded him. And lo! There it stood: a magnificent palace gleaming in the moonlight, its grandeur unparalleled.

‘By the grace of the Almighty!’ exclaimed the king. ‘What sorcery is this? How was such a marvel erected without our knowledge? Speak, Wardan, for surely this is no work of mortal hands!’

Prince Wardan, still awestruck, raised his hand and pointed toward the window. "My father, it is no illusion. The maiden of whom I spoke sits there, by that very window. From the moment my eyes beheld her, my thoughts have been ensnared by her beauty."

"She shone with the radiance of the full moon, and beside her stood a handmaiden, attending to her—combing her hair with delicate care," the young prince declared to his father, the Sultan.

Overcome with curiosity, the king turned to Murjan and said, ‘Murjan, I entrust you with uncovering the truth of this matter. Seek out the palace’s servants and gatekeepers. Spare no effort in learning its secrets.’

Murjan bowed low. ‘At once, my lord.’

Disguising himself, Murjan approached the palace. To his astonishment, there were no guards, no doormen, no sign of any human presence. He waited for hours, yet no one entered or exited the gates. Finally, he scaled the walls and slipped inside, finding himself in a garden of unparalleled beauty. There were fruit trees heavy with grapes, figs, and oranges—all ripening out of season.

Overwhelmed by the spectacle, Murjan hid himself behind a grand column to observe further. But fearing the king’s wrath if he delayed, he soon crept out as he had come, unseen and unheard. Returning to the royal court, he recounted his strange findings.

‘My lord,’ said Murjan, ‘the palace appears deserted. Yet its gardens bear fruits of every kind, and the maiden your son described is indeed seated by the window.’

King Safwan frowned, deep in thought. ‘This matter grows stranger still. Minister, what do you propose?’

The vizier replied, ‘My king, let us test the waters.” Send Murjan back to the palace to request fruit from its garden under the guise of aiding a sick neighbor. If there are inhabitants, they will surely respond.’

Murjan departed once more, carrying out the vizier’s instructions. He knocked on the great doors of the palace, calling out, ‘We are your neighbors and seek but a cluster of grapes for ailing kin.” Surely, such a request will not go unanswered.’

To his surprise, the doors swung open of their own accord. From within came a voice like music, bidding him enter. There he was greeted by a veiled figure who handed him a golden basket brimming with grapes. The figure spoke:

‘Grapes for your kin and blessings upon your house. Every gift has its reason, and every cause its purpose.’

Taking the basket, Murjan offered his thanks and departed. Returning to the court, he presented the gilded basket to the king, who marveled at its craftsmanship and its contents. The intrigue deepened, and all awaited the next move in this unfolding mystery.

And here, Scheherazade saw that dawn had arrived, so she fell silent, leaving the tale untold.

Here is the 2nd episode of our tale televised.

Till next night inshallah

You can check previous Ramadan Arabian Nights here.

In the spirit of Ramadan, I invite you to support UNICEF’s relief efforts in Gaza and Sudan as well as other places in the globe. Every pound, dollar, or euro can make a difference.