Ramadan Arabian Nights 2025 : The Tale of Fatima, Halima and Karima “ Becoming Mrs Ka’b al-Ghazal ” EP.8

Ramadan Kareem

Before Scheherazade continues her tale and we discover what happened to Fatima, Halima, and Karima’s Ka’b al-Ghazal as he falls into Reema’s trap—" no spoiler”—it’s time for a little chitchat and some trivia about this season of One Thousand and One Nights, Egypt’s legendary radio and TV show.

Now it is the turn of Ka’b al-Ghazal, the three sisters’ father.

The actor who narrated the role of Ka’b al-Ghazal in the radio version, which we listen to throughout Ramadan, is the same actor who presented it on the TV screen in 1987: the late Egyptian comedian Mohamed Ahmed El-Masry.

Late Egyptian comedy icon Mohamed Ahmed El-Masry

El-Masry is known in Egypt and Arabs for generations as Abu Lam’a El-Masry, the big bluffer who exaggerates everything with everyone till he falls in trouble to the level that they did not know that his name was Mohamed Ahmed El-Masry, who had a very high ranking position in the Ministry of Education and was the Principal one of Egypt’s oldest and most famous high school.

Born in February 1924, in Zagazig, Egypt, El-Masry earned a bachelor’s degree in applied arts, followed by a Diploma from the Teacher Training Institute in 1949.

He initially worked as a teacher before becoming the principal of Al-Sa'idiyya High school, and you do not become a principal for the school that graduated Egypt’s top icons except if you truly deserve that position.

The Civilian High School turned into a military high school in 1973. Till this day, Mohamed Ahmed El-Masry is remembered among the top principals back in its civilian days. 

El-Masry, he held a high-ranking position at the Ministry of Education, where he served as the Director of Public Relations.

Now it comes to acting, El-Masry was among the original cast to join the Egyptian Radio show Sa'a Le Qalbak (An Hour for Your Heart) troupe in 1953. Sa’a Le Qalbak was our radio Saturday Night Live and was recorded live.

El-Masry portrayed the character of Abu Lam’a, originally played by Amin El-Heneidi. He later formed a comedic duo with Fouad Rateb, known for his role as Greek El-Khawaga Bijo (The Foreigner Bijo) who always falls for the lies and tales of Abu Lam’a

The show ran till the early 1960s when its stars, including actors and writers, moved to TV and Cinema.

El-Masry passed away in January 2003.

Thanks to social media and the Egyptian Radio uploading those episodes of Sa’a Le Qalbak, new generations of Egypt continue to know Abu Lam’a El-Masry.

Anyhow, we will leave Abu Lam’a and go to Abu Fatima, Halima, and Karima, Ka’b al Ghazal in the Arabian Nights universe. First, here is last night's episode to refresh your memory.

Here is the 680th episode of our Arabian Nights Egyptian radio show—or the eighth night in this year’s tale, The Tale of Fatima, Halima, and Karima.

Episode Eight: Becoming Mrs Ka’b al-Ghazal

And when the night had reached its six hundred and eighty, King Shahryar took his seat as on the night before, eager for the tale to unfold. And when Scheherazade beheld his longing, she spoke, saying:

“It hath reached me, O wise and noble King, that Reema, having returned to her former ways, hearkened to the whispers of fortune and laid her designs upon the house of Ka‘b al-Ghazal. For it was rumored among the folk that beneath its aged foundations lay a treasure buried in times of old. Thus, did greed take root in her heart, and she set forth her cunning stratagems.

Now, when the wife of Ka‘b al-Ghazal had passed to the mercy of her Lord, Reema made pretense of sorrow and kinship, frequenting the house and bestowing her affections upon the daughters of the bereaved man. She spoke to them sweet words, feigning love for their departed mother and compassion for their orphaned state. With guile and patience, she won their trust, till at last, they held her dear as a second mother. And in time, she took up residence among them, her presence in the house growing as the roots of a tree grow deep into the earth.

And it came to pass that one day, she sat in discourse with Ka‘b al-Ghazal, and the two spoke of matters both trivial and grave. And she, in the guise of innocence, said:

‘O Ka‘b al-Ghazal, much have I heard of the woes of the innocent, for oftentimes do tongues wag falsely, and men suffer for what they have not done. I knew not the truth of such things until I saw with my own eyes the goodness in thee and thy daughters. Verily, the world is quick to judge but slow to understand.’

And Ka‘b al-Ghazal, being a man of simple heart, was moved by her words, and he replied, ‘By Allah, O Reema, my daughters love thee, and I find in thee a kindness most rare. Would that all folk knew thy true nature, for truly thou art not as the rumors paint thee.’

Hearing this, Reema smiled, and in her cunning, she planted yet another seed, saying, ‘But there is one thing that troubles me, O Ka‘b al-Ghazal, and it is the whisperings of the people. Dost thou not hear their talk? For they speak of my presence in thy house and cast doubt upon my intentions. And though I swear by all that is holy that I seek naught but the care of these maidens, the tongues of the envious will not be stilled.’

Ka‘b al-Ghazal furrowed his brow and replied, ‘Men are ever prone to idle chatter, O Reema. But if thy heart is pure, why trouble thyself with their words?’

Then Reema, seeing the moment ripe, spoke thus, ‘O Ka‘b al-Ghazal, there is but one way to silence them, and that is if thou takest me as thy wife. Not for love nor desire, but so that I may remain in this house and tend to thy daughters without the stain of suspicion.’

At this, Ka‘b al-Ghazal started and said, ‘Nay, O Reema, for I cannot wed again! My daughters are my life, and I would not place a stepmother over them.’

‘Step-mother?’ cried Reema, feigning hurt. ‘By Allah, I would be to them as their true mother! But if my presence shall bring them sorrow, then I shall depart at once and never return!’

Hearing this, Ka‘b al-Ghazal was sorely troubled, for his daughters had grown fond of Reema, and he feared that her departure would bring them grief. So, he said, ‘Give me leave to speak with them, and if it be their wish, then so be it.’

Meanwhile, in another place Reema and Mishkah once again met.

But Reema, with a glance sharp as a dagger’s edge, retorted:
“Enough prattle! I seek to know but one thing—how many of them remain in our way? And how far have we come with Ka‘b al-Ghazal?”

At this, Mishkah let out a bitter laugh and said:
“We? We both? Ha! O grave-robber, O accursed one, thou who wouldst plunder the dead! And yet, tell me this—why are we not partners in the treasure of which thou so oft dost speak?”

Reema, her voice a serpent’s hiss, answered:
“Speak only of thyself, O wretched one, for thou art naught but ill luck and misfortune! Dost thou not see? Thou understandest not thine own plight! Wouldst thou have me remind thee?”

Mishkah, his face darkened with fury, said:
“Even after thou hast cast me aside, still dost thou threaten me?”

And Reema, with a smirk, replied:
“Threaten thee? Nay! I shall do far worse if thou dost not heed my words! Dost thou think I have forgotten thy crime? Repent all thou wilt, but thou art bound to this deed, and in my grasp thou shalt remain! Obey, or I shall call forth the hand of justice, and into the abyss thou shalt be cast with all who aid thee!”

Mishkah, trembling yet defiant, muttered:
“Wouldst thou so easily betray old ties?”

And Reema, her eyes gleaming with malice, whispered:
“None may stand in the path of Reema and remain unscathed.”

Mishkah, seeking to delay his doom, asked:
“And what binds thee still? What chains hold thee to this cause?”

Reema, growing impatient, snapped:
“Naught remains but a day or two, and all shall be settled.”

Mishkah, wary, inquired:
“Dost thou yet speak with his daughters?”

And Reema, with a knowing smile, replied:
“Nay, it is done. The man adores his late wife still, yet what shall he do? I shall turn matters as I see fit and unravel the mystery of this buried treasure.”

Mishkah, eyes narrowing, asked:
“And once thou dost learn the truth, then what?”

Reema, laughing softly, said:
“Then, my foolish friend, the matter shall be sealed.”

Mishkah, suspicion growing, asked once more:
“And when it is sealed, wilt thou claim it for thyself?”

At this, Reema’s laughter rang louder, and she mocked:
“And dost thou still wonder? Why dost thou ask, O simple one?”

Mishkah, voice filled with resentment, muttered:
“To know if thou wilt leave him be.”

Reema, feigning innocence, said:
“Leave what be?”

Mishkah, eyes blazing, declared:
“Ka‘b al-Ghazal, whom thou seekest to wed!”

Reema, shaking her head, scoffed:
“We speak of one thing, and thy mind strays to another! Dost thou think I wish to restore what once was? That we may return to olden times, as though the past could be relived?”

Mishkah, in bitter revelation, whispered:
“Then it is true… Reema returns ever to her old ways.”

Meanwhile, back at Ka’b al-Ghazal’s house, the caring father discussed the matter with his girls

“O my father, after all that we have witnessed with our own eyes, it is clear that our aunt Reema has been wronged all her life. But tell me, what is this tale of her being a mere seller of spices? If it is about her trade, is it not the spice trade an honorable one?”

“Nay, the truth is that you simply do not favor her, O Fatima.”

"I do not favor Aunt Reema? By my soul, I do not dislike her, but she is indeed a mere spice-seller, O merciful mother. Do you not recall the day she brought you the fried kishk? Or the day when the boiling oil spilled upon my feet while she was preparing it? Yet I wonder, why do the people shun her? They take ill omens from her for things in which she has no fault. Is it her crime that she sells spices to those who seek them? When they come to her to buy the perfumed powders for the funeral rites, must she bear the blame for their sorrow? Why is she the only one whom they regard as an ill omen? I tell you, she is but an innocent soul, a wronged woman indeed."

"Be that as it may," said the father, "I have spoken these words before you, for there is a matter of great importance that I must reveal."

"What matter is this? Speak, and may it bring good tidings."

"Lady Reema wishes to leave this house."

"Leave us? What have we done to drive her away?"

"It is not what you have done, my daughter, but rather what others say. No one is left in peace, and those who speak will always have their say."

"And what do they say?"

"They claim that it is unseemly for an unmarried woman such as Reema to dwell in our home when there is no lady of the house to govern it."

"Is this talk worthy of your concern, my father? Mere prattle of the idle tongues! And is this what has grieved our aunt so? Must she leave us for such empty words?"

"Against her will, my daughter. Did you not hear her own words? We cannot forget her kindness; we cannot live without her, nor can she remain with us while such gossip is carried behind our backs."

"Then how shall we silence it?"

"When there is no place for such words to be spoken."

"And how shall we ensure that?"

"There is but one way: I shall wed her."

At these words, silence fell upon the room.

"Why do you all hold your tongues? What does she say of this? Go to her, my daughters, and ask if this grieves her or merely touches her heart. If she would suffer from it, then I shall suppress my own feelings and let her go."

"Nay, father, we shall not let Aunt Reema leave. By the grace of the Almighty, she was sent to us as a second mother, and we shall not part with her. Nor does she seek marriage save to remain among us, for the Almighty has placed tenderness in her heart towards us, and we, too, love her dearly."

"Then so be it, in the name of the Most Merciful. But mark my words, my children, I have lived after your departed mother only for your sake. If this marriage comes to pass, it shall be for your sakes alone, and she shall remain in this house to care for you."

"We shall be joyful in her presence among us."

"May the Almighty be with us all. But who knocks at the door?"

"O Fatima! O Halima! Open the door, O Karima!"

And Karima rose to open it, and lo! Reema entered, and the young maidens rushed to greet her with joy, their faces bright with happiness. And Kaa'b al-Ghazal declared that he would wed her that very night, and the marriage rites were performed without delay.

And at that moment, O King of Time, the dawn broke, and Scheherazade fell silent, for the morning had come, and she could speak no more.

Here is the 8th episode of our tale televised

Till next night inshallah

You can check previous Ramadan Arabian Nights here.

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