Ramadan Arabian Nights 2025 : The Tale of Fatima, Halima and Karima “ The fate of Fatima , Halima and Karima” EP.13

Ramadan Kareem

Tonight, we will know not only why Fatima did not bring the oil or the remaining money to her evil stepmom but also the future fate of the three girls, but first, a little chitchat.

For decades, many Egyptians and Arabs thought that Taher Abu Fasha chose the names of Fatima, Halima and Karima because of the rhythm. Thus it was a generational surprise when we found out that there could be a real inspiration behind the names of Fatima, Halima and Karima, and she was indeed a royalty, somehow a princess.

Yes, a princess. Princess Karima Halima Fatima of Egyptian Mohamed Ali Royal Family. holds probably the longest woman’s first name in the history of modern Egypt.

Noblewoman Karima Halima Fatima Mohamed Abdel Halim was born on March 15, 1898. She was the daughter of Prince Mohamed Abbas Halim, the son of Mohamed Abdel Halim Pasha, and the grandson of Mohamed Ali Pasha. On her mother's side, she was the granddaughter of Khedive Tawfiq, as her mother was Princess Fakhr Al-Nisa Khadija, the daughter of Khedive Tawfiq.

Karima had five sisters: Wojdan, Amina, Tawfiqa, Naematallah, and Zeinab.

Her first marriage was to Osman Fuad Oğlu (1873–1922), who served as the commander of Ottoman forces in Libya during World War I. The couple did not have any children.

Real noblewoman Karima Halima Fatima Helmy
wearing her Cartier tiara 

She later married Prince Youssef Kamal on January 11, 1937, but their marriage was short-lived. They divorced on October 29 of the same year.

Karima passed away on March 28, 1971.

According to Egypt’s Royal Story Facebook page “Best source of Modern Egyptian Royal History FB page” in 1935, her financial allowance was recorded at LE 600. She was also known for owning a remarkable Cartier tiara, crafted around 1930. The versatile piece could be worn as a necklace, bracelet, or a set of brooches.

Designed in an elaborate lotus motif, the tiara was made of platinum and adorned with small diamonds and round brilliant-cut diamonds, totaling approximately 52.50 carats, with a length of about 420 mm.

In 1980, the tiara was sold by an unknown owner at Christie’s for $75,000. In November 2010, an Italian noble family acquired it from Sotheby’s for $185,650. In 2015, it was resold at Sotheby’s for $287,277. Its current owner remains unknown.

Despite the lack of concrete proof that Karima Halima Fatima of the Mohamed Ali Royal Family inspired the tale of the three sisters, many, including myself, believe that folklorist Taher Abu Fasha may have drawn inspiration for their names from this noblewoman.

Now we will leave the real Karima Halima Fatima, May Allah bless her soul and go to the fictional Fatima, Halima and Karima’s world.

So without further delay, here is the 685th episode of our Arabian Nights Egyptian radio show—or the 13th night in this year’s tale, The Tale of Fatima, Halima, and Karima.

Episode 13^th: The fate of Fatima, Halima and Karima

And when the six hundred and eighty-fifth night had come, and with it the following evening, King Shahryar took his seat as he had the night before. And it was but a moment—or nearly so—before Shahrazad entered, swaying like a slender bough, bearing upon her leaves the fruits of dreams, breathing the fragrance of nights and days gone by. She greeted him with the most gracious of salutations, then began to recount her tale once more:

"It has reached me, O wise and just King, that when misfortune struck Rima, and the tale of the treasure came to naught, she turned against the three orphaned girls. Her heart hardened toward them, and her tongue grew sharp, demanding they labor to earn their food, contenting themselves with dry bread, devoid of relish. So they spun their thread, taking turns to venture forth and sell it to those who would buy, returning home with their meager earnings. And when Fatima’s turn came, she set out at once but tarried long in returning, bringing neither oil nor the full sum of money she had taken. Rima, nearly driven mad with worry, turned upon her with harsh words and bitter reproach, while her sisters pressed her to explain what had befallen her. Fatima, seeing their anxious faces and sensing their mounting curiosity, began her tale, saying:

Fatima: "You ask me now why I was late? Why I did not bring the oil? How we will light the house? Where the rest of the money went? And with whom I was? But I tell you, if I were to recount what I saw and reveal what I heard, you would never believe me!"

Halima: "Why? What happened? Where did you go, and from where did you return? And who were you with?"

Fatima: "I will tell you, I will tell you! But first, say the name of God."

All: "There is no god but God!"

Fatima: "If the cause is known, wonder fades! I took the thread and stepped into the bustling streets, just as our father had once done, selling it at the price he had set."

Rima: "And for how much did you sell the wool?"

Fatima: "For ten sahtoot."

Rima: "And the bread?"

Fatima: "For five sahtoot."

Rima: "That means five sahtoot are missing!"

Fatima: "If only you would let me speak, Aunt Rima!"

Rima: "Then continue, my girl."

Fatima: "After selling the thread and buying the wool and the bread, I had five sahtoot left. I took them and set off toward the oil merchant, intending to buy what we needed before returning home. But as I walked, my eyes fell upon a dervish seated by the wall. The moment he saw me, he greeted me warmly, a smile upon his lips. He beckoned to me and said—"

Dervish: "Mashallah, mashallah! A blossom in the garden! Come closer, O fair one, let me read your fortune—for a mere five sahtoot."

Fatima: "Oh, would that you could, master dervish! Would that you could!"

Dervish: "And why only ‘would that I could’?"

Fatima: "Because I must buy oil for the house."

Dervish: "Do not buy it, O fair one. Do not buy it."

Fatima: "I cannot! Do not tempt me! Do not delay me!"

Dervish: "Ah, but you do not know me."

Fatima: "Forgive me, master dervish. May you be blessed."

Dervish: "No, no, no, O fair one, do not leave! You do not know me—but perhaps if you knew my name..."

Fatima: "And what is your name, uncle?"

Dervish: "I am Abu Farrag."

Fatima: "Abu Farrag? And yet the world gives no ease to the needy!"

Dervish: "Ah! Well spoken, well spoken! A tale of years and days yet to come!"

Fatima: "But the treasure, O master dervish, proved to be nothing but a dream!"

Dervish: "Do not call me a liar! I told you that those who search shall not find. But you—you have not yet told me..."

Fatima: "Told you what?"

Dervish: "You have not told me your name, O fair one. What is it?"

Fatima and the Dervish (Part Two)

Fatima: "My name is Fatima, and my sisters are Karima and Halima."

Dervish Abu Farrag: "A fine name indeed! Come closer now. Now that I know your name, I shall read your star. Place the five sahtoot before me."

Fatima: "And not buy the oil that my family awaits?"

Dervish: "Do not buy it."

Fatima: "And what of my Aunt Rima?"

Dervish: "Do not concern yourself."

Fatima: "Very well, O master dervish. Here, take the five sahtoot. A bargain is a bargain—what is written shall come to pass."

Dervish: "Five sahtoot, O Lord of all dominion! The stalk of grain lies in the House of Pisces, and the fish shall perish. And death, ah, death! The cup of fate stands at seven, and seven follows after. The purse holds five, and five whispers a secret. O Shamargil! O Hamargil! Son of Hujil! O wrath of Ibn Maimun! By the secrets of the unseen, by the truth of my word—let it be! Enter my body and bear my name! Amen, amen!"

(The dervish’s voice changes, for another spirit has taken hold of him.)

Dervish (now possessed): "But listen well, my girl!"

Fatima (startled and frightened): "Why has your voice changed, uncle?"

Dervish: "A spirit has touched me, and now it has taken me. Now I see you! And I see your sisters! Your eldest sister, Karima—time shall favor her, and fortune shall come to her from behind a wall. As for your second sister, Halima—neither length nor breadth shall bring her fortune, for her fate lies beneath the earth. Beneath the earth! And you, my sweet one, you shall see a fateful day. But your beauty shall protect you, and your fortune shall come from your windows. From your windows, your destiny shall enter and pass you by! But you—"

(The dervish’s voice returns to normal.)

Dervish: "Ah! I bear witness that there is no god but God."

Fatima: "Your voice has returned!"

Dervish: "The spirit that possessed me has now left. And now that I have read your star and spoken of your fate, I shall leave you. What is destined shall come to pass."

Fatima: "But, wait, uncle—"

Dervish: "Forgive me, my girl."

(And in the blink of an eye, the dervish vanishes.)

Fatima: "Where have you gone, O master dervish?"

Dervish (his voice lingering in the air): "Fear not, fear not."

Fatima: "I cannot see you!"

Dervish: "From the window, your fate shall come. The fortune that awaits you shall find you! May the Lord be with you, may the Lord be with you..."

Fatima could hardly believe her eyes as she looked around and found the dervish gone without a trace.

One of her sisters asked, "How did the dervish disappear?"

"I don't know," Fatima replied. "I caught my breath and hurried home with nothing but my own shadow."

"A strange tale indeed!" one of her sisters remarked.

But their aunt Rima scoffed, "You believe such nonsense? We won’t fall for that! What dervish? What fate? Tell me, where did the money go? And who were you with?"

Fatima frowned. "What do you mean, 'who was I with'? What exactly are you trying to say?"

"A girl like you, staying out this late? And now you come back with this tale of a dervish? Is that something to be telling?"

"Then tell me, Aunt Rima," Fatima retorted, "why did I stay out late? That’s the very question I ask myself!"

"Hush! Just because your father is gone, does that mean the girls should lose their way?" Rima exclaimed.

Fatima gasped. "What are you saying, Aunt Rima?"

Rima threw her hands in the air. "Oh, the disgrace! The disgrace!"

Fatima's voice trembled. "Why are you treating us this way since our father died?"

"Yes, yes, my girl," Rima muttered bitterly.

One of the sisters intervened, "But why, Aunt Rima? Why are you so harsh on her?"

Rima huffed. "They do what they do and then act innocent!"

Fatima sighed. "Aunt Rima…"

"Yes, my girl? And don’t think I’ll stay silent much longer!"

Fatima pleaded, "Enough, Aunt Rima. Tell me, what wrong have I done?"

Karima, the eldest sister, spoke up, "Still, Fatima, you shouldn’t have spent the money. We needed that oil to light our lamps and spin our thread at night. But tonight, the full moon is out, and I love the night. I shall go up to the rooftop and weave under the moonlight."

Halima, the second sister, yawned. "As for me, I shall sleep and rise at dawn."

Fatima turned to her. "And what about me, Halima?"

"Come with me, Fatima," Halima invited.

Karima added, "I’m heading to the rooftop, Aunt Rima."

Fatima looked back at her aunt. "One day, you will see that I am innocent, Aunt Rima."

Rima scoffed, "Go on then, stubborn one. But the truth will come out. Tomorrow, I will find out where the money went and whom you met. The day has eyes."

Fatima turned to Halima. "Did you hear that, Halima?"

Hours passed. At dawn, Fatima looked around. "Where is Karima?"

Halima rubbed her eyes. "Wasn’t she weaving under the moonlight?"

Fatima shook her head. "She is not on the rooftop."

Halima gasped. "By the heavens! Where has she gone? Why has she disappeared?"

Rima’s voice suddenly rose in alarm. "Wake up, wake up! What is this misfortune? Where am I?"

Fatima whispered urgently, "Rima is awake! She will ask questions, and she will bring trouble upon us. Stay quiet."

But Rima had already entered the room. "What are you two doing here?"

Halima replied, "The night ends where it begins."

Rima eyed her suspiciously. "What foolishness have you spun now? But wait—where is Karima? You two are too silent. Where is she?"

Halima stammered, "We don’t know, Aunt Rima. We don’t know."

"She has not come down yet? No one went to check on her?" Rima demanded.

"Fatima went to look, Aunt Rima, but she wasn’t there," Halima answered.

Rima clutched her chest. "She wasn’t there? Oh, my disgrace! My misfortune!"

Fatima tried to calm her. "Be patient, Aunt Rima."

Rima wailed, "What has happened to you all? Will you bring shame upon us?"

Halima reached for her hand. "Aunt Rima…"

"A calamity upon you! What girl spends the night outside her home?" Rima cried.

A sudden knock at the door interrupted them.

Halima whispered, "Could that be Karima? Wait, Aunt Rima, let me check."

Rima snapped, "Who knocks at the door? Open it, Fatima!"

Fatima hesitated. "Could it be Karima? Wait a moment."

Rima threw open the door. Karima entered, clutching a few apples in her hands. Her breath was ragged, her face pale, and she looked at them with wide, unreadable eyes.

Rima studied Karima closely and then, lo and behold—

And here, Scheherazade realized the dawn had come, and she fell silent, leaving the tale untold.

Here is the 13th episode of our tale televised

Till next night inshallah

You can check previous Ramadan Arabian Nights here.

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