Ramadan Arabian Nights 2025: The Tale of Fatima, Halima and Karima “A honey well” EP.22

Ramadan Karim

Tonight, we will know what happened to Halima when she returned from the market.

But first, it is our time for a little chit-chat.

Tonight, there will be a mention about honey in our radio night tonight as you can guess from the headline, so our talk is about honey.

I believe that honey — and beekeeping in particular — represents one of the major civilizational leaps in the story of humanity. It’s a practice that took years, if not decades, of discovery, experimentation, and understanding. It involves not only the domestication of animals — or rather, insects like bees—but also the cultivation of crops, or in this case, honey itself. Without doubt, it’s a significant milestone in human development.

You may be surprised to learn that the oldest confirmed use of honey by humans comes from Mesolithic Spain, around 8,000 BCE, thanks to the Cuevas de la Araña, or the Spider Caves, in Valencia.
There, prehistoric cave art depicts a figure — known as the “Man of Bicorp” — climbing with the help of ropes and a basket to collect honey from a wild beehive.

This isn’t beekeeping yet — it's wild honey hunting — but this ancient art proves that early humans valued and actively sought out honey more than 10,000 years ago.

Now, the oldest known civilization to practice actual beekeeping is none other than ancient Egypt.
According to archaeologists, beekeeping appears in Egyptian hieroglyphs as early as 2450 BCE, during the Old Kingdom period.

The most remarkable record of this practice can be found in the Sun Temple of Nyuserre, a 5th Dynasty complex in what is now modern-day Giza.

There, temple walls bear detailed scenes of a sophisticated honey industry: clay hives, workers smoking bees, and the careful collection and storage of honey.

Reaching this level of complexity by the 5th Dynasty suggests that beekeeping was already a well-established industry in ancient Egypt.

And without further delay, here is the 694th episode of our Arabian Nights Egyptian radio show—or the 22nd night in this year’s tale, The Tale of Fatima, Halima, and Karima.

Episode 22nd: A honey well

            And when it was the nine hundred and ninety-fourth night,King Shahryar took his seat as he had the night before, and scarcely had he settled himself upon the cushion of kingship when Scheherazade entered, greeted him with reverence, and set before him the banquet of tale and talk. She conversed with him as though she poured wine in cups of speech, and thus began:

"It hath reached me, O auspicious King, wise of heart and keen of sight, that when Reema committed her grievous crime and rid herself of Karima, seizing the precious jewel for herself, she returned to her old ways. She hid the gem in a place none knew save she, and all things seemed as though naught had happened.

And as the days passed and the moons waxed and waned, Fatima and Halima lost all hope of their sister Karima’s return. So they resumed their former life, spinning yarn and dividing the tasks between them. Each day, one would go forth to sell their thread and purchase what they needed — wool, bread, and oil — then return home.

Thus the days passed in quiet rhythm, until one day, as fate would have it, it was Halima’s turn to venture out. She took the yarn, left her sister Fatima behind, along with Mishkah and Reema, and went on her way. Yet when she returned, something in her face was altered, and a strange excitement danced in her eyes.

Seeing this, they all turned toward her, curiosity gnawing at their hearts.

Halima cried out, 'Aunt Reema! Fatima!'

Reema replied, 'What is it now?'

Halima exclaimed, 'Aunt Reema, you’ll not believe me if I tell you what these eyes have seen!'

Reema said, 'What is it you saw?'

Mishkah added, 'What did you see?'

Fatima asked, 'What’s the matter?'

Halima said, 'Sit you down, all of you, for what I am about to tell is beyond your wildest imagining!'

All three said in unison, 'We’re listening.'

Halima said, 'Say the oneness of God!'

They replied, 'There is no god but God!'

But Reema, growing impatient, said, 'Are you going to spin us a tale and make a whole drama of it?'

Halima pleaded, 'Just bear with me.'

Reema demanded, 'And where’s the rest of the change, and where’s the bread and the oil?'

Halima said, 'Here, my lady, are five copper coins — and here’s the bread and here’s the oil — but tonight, we shall not dip our bread in oil!'

Mishkah asked, 'And why not?'

Halima declared, 'Tonight, we shall light the house with it!'

Fatima asked, 'What happened?'

Halima replied, 'Tonight, we shall dip our bread in honey!'

Reema, in disbelief, echoed, 'Honey?'

Mishkah burst into laughter: 'Hahahahahahahaha!'

Halima cried, 'You don’t yet know what happened!'

Fatima asked, 'What happened?'

Reema pressed, 'Why won’t you speak?'

Halima said, 'I will, I will!'

Reema urged, 'Then speak already!'

Then Halima, remembering what had befallen her, spoke and said:

"O my companions, after I sold the yarn and bought the wool and the provisions, I took to the road, making my way home with calm heart and steady step. But lo! As I walked through the open field, where no creature stirred and no voice was heard, a single copper coin slipped from my grasp. I saw it roll before my eyes—rolling, rolling—until it fell!

'Ah!' said I, 'the coin has fallen into that hollow, into that very hollow yonder! I must reach down and fetch it—shall I leave it behind? By no means!'

"So I bent myself low and saw that the hollow was deep, and above it lay a great slab of stone. A slab heavy and firm! I said within myself: 'Up, Halima! Lift the stone!' And though it weighed much, I raised it, and peered beneath.

'Where is the coin?' said I. 'Ah, here it is, praise be to God!'

"But when I reached in to retrieve it, I found it clung to the stone, stuck as if with honey! I sniffed it—what scent is this? I touched it—what feel is this? I tasted it—ah! By the Lord of the Kaaba, it is honey! Honey pure and sweet! Never before have I known such a taste.

"So I looked closer and saw the hollow was not dry nor empty, but filled to the brim with golden honey, thick as amber and fragrant as springtime bloom.

'Whose honey is this?' I asked myself. 'Who would hide such treasure in such a place? Or perhaps it has no master, and was left by fate itself?'

"And my heart whispered to me: 'Halima, this is a prize, a gift, a blessing from the Most High. Take from it what you can!'

"So I took the loaf I had bought and dipped it in the honey, and filled the hollow of my hand with its sweetness, and ate and rejoiced. Then I said: 'Enough for now, but I must return. I must cover this place so no one shall know.'

"And I laid the slab back in its place, smoothed the earth above it, and hid all trace. Then I gathered my bread and honey and oil, and made my way home.

'Here ends my tale,' said she. 'Now look upon the honey, O Aunt Reema!’

And Mishkah said: ‘Let me see it!’

And Fatima said: ‘Let me taste it!’

But Reema raised her hand and said: ‘Wait, both of you! Let us think what must be done! Why this haste, this rush?’

Halima said: ‘Yes, what shall we do now?’

Reema said: ‘That is what I am pondering.’

Halima replied: ‘For truly, it is a tempting thing!’

Reema nodded and said: ‘I have heard that wild bees, like wild pigeons, have no keepers. They live in swarms and build their hives in hidden places. Then time passes, and the bees die, and the honey remains, until a stranger chances upon it and gathers its treasure.’

Mishkah said: ‘And does he not take it?’

Reema replied: ‘And would he leave it?’

Fatima asked: ‘Then to whom does this honey belong?’

Reema smiled and said: ‘To us it seems, a gift from Providence! Rise, Mishkah, and bring us a jar, that we may draw from the well of honey bit by bit.’

Fatima asked: ‘But how shall we do that?’

Reema said: ‘Each night, Halima shall guide me to the place. She shall help me descend into the hollow, fill the jar, and pass it up to me. When the jar is full, we shall replace the stone and hide the spot, and return to it on the morrow.’

Then she turned to Mishkah and said: ‘Go now, fetch me a jar.’

Mishkah said: ‘And where shall I find a jar at this hour?’

Reema scolded him: ‘Move, O slow one!’

Halima interjected: ‘There is no jar save the water jug.’

Reema turned to Halima and said: ‘Then go, empty it, and come with me swiftly, for you shall be my guide.’

But Fatima hesitated and said: ‘What if it belongs to someone, Aunt?’

Reema snapped: ‘And what is that to you?’

Then Mishkah returned and said: ‘Here is the jar, O Reema.’

Reema said: ‘This is a marvelous thing indeed!’

Mishkah handed her the vessel, saying: ‘Here it is.’

Reema said: ‘Give it to Halima.’

Mishkah said: ‘Take it.’

Halima replied: ‘I have it.’

And Reema said to her: ‘Come now, walk before me, and I shall follow in thy footsteps.’

And so, they made ready to return to the place of honey, the secret well of sweetness hidden beneath the stone.

And in the Realm of the Jinn, in the Palace of Oblivion, Karima still wept.

Matouq said:
"Still crying, Karima? You’re still sitting here with tears on your cheeks?"

Karima replied:
"I mourn my sisters..."

Matouq said:
"Come now, fix yourself up—wipe those tears away. The prince is coming to see you."

Karima asked:
"The prince?"

Matouq nodded:
"If you manage to persuade him, he might be the one to help you."

Karima said:
"May God reward you, Uncle Matouq."

Moments later, the prince arrived.

Matouq bowed and said:
"My lord Prince Zahran, enter, my liege, enter!"

Prince Zahran greeted her:
"Good morning, daughter of mankind."

Karima replied:
"A morning of light and liberty to you."

Prince Zahran asked:
"And how are you now, O human girl?"

Karima said:
"By your grace and your father’s, my lord, I live in safety and shelter."

Prince Zahran said:
"Then you are content, O daughter of Eve?"

Karima replied:
"But this poor soul is deprived of the gift of freedom."

Prince Zahran asked:
"And what is your name, O human?"

Karima said:

"My name is Karima—Karima the wronged. I have been wronged! My aunt Rima called me mad, and our master believed her!"

Prince Zahran asked:
"And why would she say such a thing, Karima?"

Karima answered:
"To seize the treasure for herself! I was the one who witnessed the conspiracy—I uncovered the betrayal! I was the one who threw the apple and struck the eye of the Sultana! And when I told Rima what had happened—she ran and told the Sultan, claiming that she was the one who revealed the treason and unmasked the ogre and the Sultana!"

Prince Zahran said:
"You, Karima?"

Karima nodded and continued:
"And when the Sultan investigated the matter, he believed Rima’s tale and decided to reward her. But my presence would have exposed her lies. So to be rid of me, she branded me mad! And His Majesty believed her! And thus I was banished to this Isle of Forgetfulness, by the Sultan’s decree! That is the truth of it, my lord Prince Zahran!"

Prince Zahran said:
"A strange tale, indeed, O human..."

Karima wept and cried:
"I’m not mad! I’m not mad!"

Prince Zahran said:
"Lady Rima—who dazzled us with her noble manners—could she have done this?"

Karima sobbed:
"I don’t know what to do, my lord... How can I prove my words? If you don’t believe me, ask me what day it is in your calendar of God! Why have you locked me away like this? I am not mad! I am not mad!"

Prince Zahran said:
"I don’t know what to do..."

Matouq said quietly:
"I told you, my lord..."

Prince Zahran said:
"Then what now?"

He turned back to Karima:
"Whom shall I believe, and whom shall I doubt?"

Karima cried:
"Believe my tears, my lord... Trust my weeping... Have mercy on my sorrow..."

Prince Zahran said gently:
"Tell me, O daughter of mankind..."

Karima said:
"Shall I remain forgotten here, forever denied the gift of freedom?"

Prince Zahran replied:
"Personally, I am inclined to believe you. But all the evidence condemns you."

Karima said:
"You see, my lord? What am I to do?"

Prince Zahran then asked:
"Can you tell me your story—your origin, your kin, your father and mother, your siblings and your people? What is your connection to Rima? Can you tell me, Karima?"

Karima said:
"I will tell you, my lord..."

Prince Zahran said:
"Wait, Karima. Matouq—close the door behind us."

Matouq bowed and replied:
"As you command, my lord."

And in the world of humans, Reema and Halima were on their way to the Wild Honey Well.

Reema: Is it still far, Halima?

Halima: We're almost there, Auntie Reema.

Reema: Is this the place?

Halima: Everything looks just like it did—the stone slab that seals the mouth of the well is still there.

Reema: You did well. Come on, help me lift it.

Halima (as they lift the slab together): Ready.

Reema: Stop, that’s enough.

Halima: Look at all the honey in the well!

Reema: Wow… That’s a lot.

Halima: Guess I brought good luck with me.

Reema: Alright, you go down.

Halima: Go down… into the well?

Reema: Yes, you’ll climb down. The night covers us, and no one can see us. Fill this jug and pass it up to me—before we’re caught.

Halima: And when we're done, will you help me back up?

Reema: Are you going to waste my time with questions?

Halima: Alright, alright… I’m going down now, Auntie Reema.

Reema: Don’t be scared, Halima. Don’t be scared.

Halima (as she descends into the well): In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful… Auntie Reema?

Reema: What is it? What do you see?

Halima: It’s dark down here, but the honeycombs are right in front of me.

Reema: Fill the jug and hand it up! Hurry up already!

Halima (after filling the jug): Here… Take it, Auntie Reema.

Reema (emptying the jug into a clay jar): Good. Now fill it again.

Halima: Alright, here goes. (She fills it again.) Here you go, Auntie.

Reema: Give it to me. (She sends the jug back down.) Take it again, Halima.

Halima: Got it, Auntie Reema!

Reema: Come on, Halima!

Halima: Coming, Auntie Reema.

Reema: Take it.

Halima: Give it!

(The exchange continues—back and forth—until finally…)

Halima: Is that it, Auntie? Or do we need more?

Reema: That’s enough, my dear.

Halima: Then take my hand and pull me up.

Reema: Come on up.

Halima: So now what, Auntie? What do we do?

Reema: We put everything back the way it was.

Halima: Cover the well with the stone?

Reema: No one saw us. No one will ever know.

Halima: Let’s go.

Reema: Let’s go.

They replace the stone slab together.

Under the cover of night, while the world lay sleeping, Reema returned—with Halima behind her, carrying the...

At this moment, Shahrazad realized that the morning had arrived, so she fell silent, leaving the story unfinished.

Here is the 22nd episode of our tale, televised

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.

Till next night inshallah