Ramadan Arabian Nights 2025 : The Tale of Fatima, Halima and Karima “Karima at the Sultan of Jinn’s court” EP.19

Ramadan Karim

Tonight, we will know what happened to Karima when she returned to the realm of Jinn thanks to her auntie Reema.

But first, our little chitchat.

We can’t escape politics, as it seems, because we live in the Middle East. This is what I realised when I heard the name of “Golan”, which Taher Abu Fasha used as the name of the great Sultan of Jinn in our tale for this Ramadan.The 

The Golan Heights of Syria has a very rich history, and it does not start with the Israeli invasion and occupation in 1967 nor even with the migration of the Israelite tribes as mentioned in the Bible, where it acquired the name of Golan. 

The Golan Heights has a long and rich history of human settlement dating back to prehistoric times.

Archaeological evidence shows that the area was inhabited by hunter-gatherers as early as the Palaeolithic period.

The Venus of Berekhat Ram (280,000–250,000 BP) is a figurine found at Berekhat Ram on the northeastern Golan Heights. The pebble has been modified by early humans and is believed to represent a female human figure. It is one of the oldest artefacts ever discovered in the Middle East, with an estimated age of 280,000–250,000 BP. The figurine was found by archaeologists from the Hebrew University and is currently on display at the Israel Museum.

By the Bronze Age, the Golan was part of the broader ancient Near East, home to various Canaanite and Amorite groups. These early inhabitants were followed by Israelite tribes during the conquest of Canaan, as mentioned in biblical texts.

Over the centuries, the region saw the rise of various kingdoms and empires, including the Amorites, the Arameans, and later the Romans, who built several cities in the Golan.

The ancient Egyptians also passed through the Golan, as it lay along key trade and military routes connecting Egypt to the Levant and Mesopotamia.

Egyptian forces, traders, and officials likely traversed the area during military campaigns in the Levant, and their influence can be seen in the Egyptian-style pottery found in ancient Levantine sites.

Unlike other heights and due to its unique plateau region, the Golan was an open battlefield. It is part of the Levant that has witnessed little peace.

It is Syrian, and it will be Syrian

We will leave it for now and escape to the land of fantasy.

So, without further delay, here is the 691st episode of our Arabian Nights Egyptian radio show—or the 19th night in this year’s tale, The Tale of Fatima, Halima, and Karima

Episode 19^th: Karima at the Sultan of Jinn’s court

          And when it was the one hundred and ninety-first night after the six hundredth, and it was the following evening,
King Shahryar took his seat in the royal chamber as he had done the night before, and lo — in but a moment, or little more — Scheherazade entered, swaying like a branch heavy with the fruits of dreams, her presence perfumed by the breath of countless nights and days.

She greeted him with a gentle smile and offered peace in salutation, then seated herself and began to resume her tale:

“It has reached me, O blessed King, shining in justice like Harun al-Rashid, that the three maidens — Fatima, Halima, and Karima — grew anxious when Rima delayed in returning home and spent the night away. They were puzzled by her absence, and suspicion stirred among them.

They questioned Mishkah, Reema’s, who told them: ‘I have not seen her since she walked away with the apple-seller. That was the last I saw of her, and as for where she went or why she tarries, I know not.’

Much talk was spoken and many guesses made. Each of the girls pressed Mishkah for answers, but ere a reply could be given, a knock was heard upon the door.

They rushed to it, hoping it might be Rima herself returned. But lo! At the door stood a stranger — a messenger bearing word from Rima, asking that Karima come at once.

Karima rose, resolved to meet her aunt, and Mishkah insisted he accompany her, and so the two set out. And now, O King, listen to what befell them…”

The Stranger: "Yes, girl — your aunt Rima asks for you."
Mishkah: "Rima? What’s this now?"
Karima: "And where is she, my aunt?"
Stranger: "I tell you, she’s waiting for you, where we are."
Karima: "Where?"
Stranger: "Back at our place — come along."
Karima: "Very well, I’ll go with you."
Mishkah: "And I shall go too."
Karima: "Come, Uncle Mishkah."
Halima: "Don’t be long, Karima!"
Karima: "As long as it takes to greet my aunt Rima."
Mishkah: "As long as I am with her, have no fear."
Fatima: "We’ll be waiting for you both."
Mishkah: "Shut the door tight behind you, girls. Come this way, Karima. I still don’t understand what Rima’s doing ‘back at their place.’ Strange talk…"
Karima: "Are you sure it was she who sent you?"
Stranger: "Yes, miss — she awaits you and calls for you."
Karima: "Where exactly?"
Stranger: "Where we are, by order of the…"
Karima: "Of the what?"
Stranger: "I almost forgot what she told me to say."
Karima: "What did she say?"
Stranger: "She said: ‘Tell Mishkah to bring the rest of the apples at once.’"
Mishkah: "Bring you apples? I’ll fetch them."
Karima: "We’re counting on you, Uncle Mishkah."
Mishkah: "Mishkah shall outpace the wind!"
Karima: "And what is my aunt Rima doing with you now?"
Stranger (with a strange glint): "You shall see…"

And having spoken thus, the stranger began to whisper words not of this world and prepared, O King, to step into a realm not walked by men.

Karima (with dread): "What are you doing?"
Stranger: "Mishkah is off to fetch the apples, and when he returns — he shan’t find us, nay, he must not see us…"
Karima (terrified): "What are you saying? Why should he not see us?"
Stranger (his voice darker): "The apples were a tale to drive him away. Now he’s gone… and you, O daughter of mankind, are wanted."
Karima: "Wanted? By whom? What do you mean?"
Stranger (stepping closer): "Fear not, O mortal — fear not…"

And then he reached out his hand, to which Karima cried:

Karima: "God forbid! Do not touch me — do not!"

Stranger (grimly): "You are summoned… by the King of the Jinn. You must stand before him — now!

Up, O winds! Up, on the wings of the wind!

In the court of King Golan, ruler of the jinn realm...

King Golan: I never imagined the human world could possess the nobility we’ve witnessed in this woman.

Reema (pretending to be virtuous): My Lord, your words are too kind. I'm unworthy of such praise.

Golan: You, human woman, have truly moved me.

Prince Zahran: The great deed my aunt Reema has done for us—her noble character, and the compassion she’s shown to poor Karima... it's unmatched.

Reema: If only Your Majesty had seen her condition...

Golan: The compassion you’ve shown her, and the love you carry for her—even though she’s not your daughter—speaks volumes of your good heart and noble spirit.

Reema (feigning sorrow): Karima, my dear child… no, she’s not my daughter by blood, but she’s dearer to me than a daughter. When that awful thing happened to her—poor soul—I couldn’t make sense of her tale. She walks at night, holding a knife, threatening her own sisters.

Golan: A girl like that... she must be isolated. Separated from everyone.

Reema: I told the local governor to take her until God brings relief. But what else can I do? Should I take her back?

Golan: In any case, we will spare you the burden.

Reema: I just fear she might trouble you... or worse, escape.

Golan: You worry about us, kind human?

Reema: I worry she might cause you the same chaos she brought upon us.

Golan: She won’t tire us, nor will she escape. We’ll imprison her in the Coral Palace. I’ll place her somewhere no human or jinn could ever flee from.

The Herald: Enter!

Matouq: Glory to you, King of the Jinn!

Golan: Have you brought the human girl, Matouq?

Matouq: At your command, O King of Time.

Golan: Bring her in now, my heart.

Reema (pretending to be sorrowful): My heart aches for what she’s become…

Matouq: Please, come in.

Golan: Step forward, Karima.

Karima enters, frightened—but when she sees Reema, she exclaims:

Karima: Auntie Reema!

Reema: My sweet girl...

Karima: Oh no, what’s wrong, Auntie?

Reema (to the king): Do you see, Your Majesty?

Zahran: Look at her… how she’s acting.

Karima (recognizing Golan): You’re the king I saw in the garden with the queen!

Reema: She remembers everything clearly…

Karima: I saw the queen with the ghoul!

Golan: And you hit her in the eye with an apple and hid, didn't you?

Karima nods.

Zahran: Her case is very serious...

Golan: Look how she moves.

Karima (to Reema, who begins crying): Why are you crying, Auntie?

Reema: May God heal you, my sweet.

Karima: Heal me from what? Why are you doing this to me?

Reema (to Golan): You see, Your Majesty?

Golan: Truly, she is a poor, lost soul...

Karima (shouting): I’m not a lost soul!

Reema: Oh Karima, how you’ve fallen...

Karima (confused): Auntie Reema?

Reema: Be calm, sweetheart... calm down.

Karima (shouting): Are you saying I’m mad, Auntie?

Reema (to Golan): Did you hear that, Your Majesty?

Golan: Poor girl… she has no idea.

Karima: What? What are you all saying? Why are you treating me like this? What do you think I’ve done?

Golan: We're nothing, human girl.

Karima: Then why have you arrested me? Is this my reward for exposing the betrayal—the ghoul and the queen?

Golan: No, no, human. You performed a noble act, and I will repay you for it.

(Then King Golan turns to the jinn Matouq.)

Golan: Matouq!

Matouq: At your service, my liege.

Golan: Take the human girl and place her in the Island Palace.

Karima: Why? Why are they taking me?

Golan: Guards will rotate shifts to watch over her.

Matouq (to Karima): Come.

Karima (to Reema): Auntie Reema, please say something! Auntie!

Reema (crying): Oh, how you’ve fallen, Karima...

Karima: So you’ve betrayed me, Auntie Reema...

Golan: One day, when you recover, you’ll thank her.

Karima (furious): Recover?

Golan: Take her away, Matouq.

Matouq (to Karima): Come. (He tries to take her by the arm.)

Karima: Let me go!

Matouq (more forcefully): Come on!

Karima: Let me go!

Matouq: Move!

Karima (crying): Reema betrayed me!

Reema: My poor darling...

Karima: Let me go!

Matouq: Come!

Karima (screaming and crying): You criminal, Reema! I’m innocent! Innocent!

Golan: It’s okay…

Zahran: Don’t cry, Lady Reema.

Golan: We stand by you, Reema.

Zahran: Everything will be fine, human woman.

Reema (pretending to be sorrowful): My heart aches for her...

Golan: You’ve done your part. The rest is in God’s hands.

Reema: But what if she escapes?

Golan: Do you know what the Island Palace is, human?

Reema: How would I know, my lord?

Golan: Even a mosquito couldn’t escape from there—it’s heavily guarded.

Reema: Thank you. May God help me repay your kindness.

Golan: Your good deeds speak for you already. Now tell me, is there anything else you wish?

Reema: Yes. I want to go back to my homeland.

Golan: What? So soon?

(Then he turns to his son.)

Golan: Zahran!

Zahran: Yes, King of the Jinn?

Golan: See to it that Lady Reema is escorted safely to her homeland.

Zahran (to Reema): Right this way, human woman.

Reema: Thank you, Your Majesty. Farewell.

Golan: Safe travels.

And in the world of humans at the house of late Ka'b al-Ghazal,
Mishkah, singing: "Mishkah, Mishkah, Mishkah the brawler,
When he comes or when he departs, he dies in the arms of the lovely maidens!"

Halima: "What has befallen you, Mishkah? Where has Karima gone?"

Mishkah, astonished: "After I had been searching for Rima, now I search for Karima as well! I know not where she has gone, nor the man who came to us. As it happened with Rima, so it has happened with Karima. They tell me, 'Go fetch the apples,' and I, Mishkah, go forth and return, only to find everything vanished. And Karima, like Rima, has disappeared."

Halima: "And what then? Who is this man we know not? Where is he from, and whence did he come?"

Fatima: "Oh, my dear sister, where is she now?"

Halima: "Had she not been left by him, Mishkah?"

Mishkah: "Well, they told me that Rima wanted the rest of the apples. Every time they would say, 'Fetch the apples, fetch the apples,' and I would say, 'I shall eat the apples, I shall eat the apples and rest.'"

Fatima: "Uncle Mishkah!"

Mishkah: "By the truth, I will eat the apples!"

Halima: "Wait a moment," and at that moment, a knock was heard upon the door.

Fatima: "It is Karima!"

Halima: "Karima?"

Mishkah: "Open the door, Halima!"

Halima: "Who is it? My aunt Rima?"

Rima entered and inquired about Karima, as though she had not committed any wrong. The two maidens then told her of all that had transpired, of the mysterious man who had come and claimed to be a messenger sent by Rima to fetch her. And how Mishkah had gone to bring her the rest of the apples.

And then, alas, my lord!

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

Here is the 19th 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 elsewhere on the globe. Every pound, dollar, or euro can make a difference.