Ramadan Arabian Nights 2025: The Tale of Fatima, Halima and Karima “Back to the Darvish” EP.26

Ramadan Karim

Tonight we will continue our tale, the “Tale of Fatima, Halima and Karima", and know the fate of our Halima after she was found by the daughters of the Kings, but first we will have our little chitchat.

Tonight, you will encounter a prayer — or rather, an invocation — that Taher Abu Fasha borrowed from Islam:
“By the Kāf and the Nūn, by the power of the word Be — and it is.”

Some may call it a mystical formula, but it is, in fact, a core Islamic belief.

Kāf (ك) and Nūn (ن) are simply the Arabic letters that form the word “Kun” — Be.

The phrase كن فيكون (Kun fa-yakūn) comes directly from the Qur’an and appears in several verses, most clearly:

“When He decrees a matter, He only says to it: Be — and it is.”
(Qur’an 2:117)

And again:

“His command, when He wills a thing, is only that He says to it: Be — and it is.”
(Qur’an 36:82)

So when Abu Fasha speaks of “the secret of Kāf and Nūn,” he is referring to this fundamental Islamic belief:
God creates not through effort or process, but through will alone.
When God wills something, it exists.

It is not a mystical, magical or fictional prayer created by Abu Fasha for the nights.

And now, without further delay, here is the 698th episode of our Arabian Nights Egyptian radio show—or the 26th night in this year’s tale, The Tale of Fatima, Halima, and Karima.

Episode 26: Back to the Darvish

And when the six hundred and ninety-eighth night had come, King Shahryar once more took his place in the council of the night. At the appointed hour, Scheherazade entered, sat in her familiar place, and began to speak to him as though she were pouring words into his ear like wine.

She said:

“It has reached me, O fortunate King of sound judgment, that when Halima fell into the grasp of the Queen of the Serpents and her girls, and they were about to inflict upon her a severe punishment, the girl threw herself at the Queen’s feet, pleading and begging until her heart softened.

The Queen then asked her to tell her tale, and so Halima began to recount the story of Rima, the fate of her sister Karima, and all that had happened at the Well of Honey—how Rima betrayed her, committed her crime, and sealed the well upon her, leaving her to face the worst of destinies.”

Halima spoke through sobs, her tears streaming down her cheeks, while the Queen listened intently, filled with wonder and curiosity, sighing as she heard her words.

Halima (weeping): “I never imagined that all this could happen to me…”

Queen of the Serpents: “Your tale is a strange one, mortal.”

Halima: “Do you see what she did to me?” Do you see the cruelty? I am wronged—I am a victim!”

Zamurruda: “Why do humans devour one another like this?”

Another Serpent Maiden: “They are humans, Zamurruda… that is their way.”

Halima: “I did nothing wrong in this world. I am oppressed, my Queen.”

Queen of the Serpents: “After hearing your story, I have excused you. But there is one point I want you to clarify.”

Halima: “Ask me, my Queen.”

Queen of the Serpents: “You said that your sister Karima was the one who uncovered the crime.”

Halima: “Yes—she was the one who discovered the betrayal. She was the one who threw the apple, and it struck the Queen in the eye… but, my Queen, this is what she told us.”

Queen of the Serpents: “So no one believed her?”

Halima: “No one believed her. And so she vanished—my sister Karima.”

Zamurruda: “No one knows where she went?”

Halima: “No one could follow her… no one caught up with her.”

Queen of the Serpents (thoughtfully): “You see, Zamurruda…”

Zamurruda: “I do not see it that way.”

Queen of the Serpents: “But then—how can we be certain that Halima speaks the truth?”

A younger Serpent Maiden: “Karima must appear.”

Halima (crying out):
“My sister… Karima!”

Zamurruda:
“We must question her ourselves and hear her words.”

Another Serpent Maiden:
“But who knows where she is?”

Queen of the Serpents:
“Who indeed?”

A Serpent Maiden, taking human form, said:
“If matters are as I suspect, then there is only one who knows—Abu Faraj.”

Halima:
“Abu Faraj?”

The Serpent Maiden:
“Did you not say he met your sister Fatima and spoke to her of your fate?”

Halima:
“And the fate of my sisters…”

The Serpent Maiden:
“Then it can be no one else, my Queen.”

Queen of the Serpents:
“So be it. Bring the mortal girl and come with us.”

Zamurruda:
“Come, human.”

Halima:
“I am wronged…”

Queen of the Serpents (gently):
“Do not be afraid, Halima. We stand against crime. Your sister Karima must be brought forth.”

Halima (weeping):
“Karima… may God judge you, Rima.”

In the Kingdom of the Jinn – At the Court of King Golan

The Herald:
Prince Zahran, O my lord the Sultan!

King Golan:
Zahran?

Prince Zahran:
Good morning, my father.

(He steps forward and kisses his father’s hand.)

King Golan:
Good morning, my son. May God be pleased with you, Zahran, my son.

Prince Zahran:
Thank you, my father.

King Golan:
Come, sit here beside me. Did you go to your brother today? Did you see him?

Prince Zahran:
I am coming from him just now.

King Golan:
And how is his condition?

Prince Zahran:
Still the same, my father — still ill.

King Golan:
Prince Karwan did not deserve this fate.

Prince Zahran:
May God grant him healing.

King Golan:
But, my son, this has gone on for too long. I no longer know what to do.

Prince Zahran:
God alone is our helper.

King Golan:
And what of the physicians who have vanished, one after another?

Prince Zahran:
They are afraid, my father.

King Golan:
Afraid? If any one of them knew how to cure him, the reward would have tempted him and brought him here on his own feet.

Prince Zahran:
They fear that what befell the others may befall them as well.

King Golan:
Why should he fear, if he truly knows the cure?

Prince Zahran:
Because this is a matter of life or death.

King Golan:
I set the reward alongside punishment so that none would step forward unless he truly knew the remedy. And the fact that no one has come until now means there is no cure for Karwan.

Prince Zahran:
Even so, we must not despair of God’s mercy.

King Golan:
I put my faith in God.

Prince Zahran:
God willing, He will complete his healing.

King Golan:
God is generous.

Prince Zahran:
If you permit me, my father—

King Golan:
Where are you going now?

Prince Zahran:
Do you have any orders for me, my father?

King Golan:
No, nothing new. But I have noticed these past days that you do not seem well.

Prince Zahran:
How so?

King Golan:
It seems to me that you wish to speak, yet you hold your words back.

Prince Zahran (hesitantly):
In truth, my father, there is a small matter I intended to speak to you about.

King Golan:
Concerning what?

Prince Zahran:
Concerning the human woman.

King Golan:
The human?

Prince Zahran:
Yes, my father — the human woman who sits there, forgotten.

King Golan:
Ah… what of her?

Prince Zahran:
She has recovered from her madness, my father, and I believe there is no reason to keep her imprisoned any longer.

King Golan:
This is the matter you came with?

Prince Zahran:
I seek your mercy and your justice.

King Golan:
And how did you come to know this? Who told you?
—Was it she herself who told you?

Prince Zahran:
So that her voice might reach you.

(King Golan laughs.)

Prince Zahran:
I appeal to your compassion and your forbearance.

King Golan:
Is there a mad person who says of himself, “I am mad”? Or even knows that he is mad?

Prince Zahran: And if she were truly sane, my father?

King Golan (angrily): Then it is you who are mad!
Come here—how dare you go to her? What connection do you have with her?

Prince Zahran: Nothing more than that. I felt pity for her.

King Golan: The human woman—

Prince Zahran: They are not created like us.

King Golan: Humans?

Prince Zahran: Are they not God’s creation?

King Golan: Then I wish to know now: what is the secret of your interest in her?

Prince Zahran (hesitant): I do not know why I care for her.

King Golan: Could it be that you love her?

Prince Zahran (sadly): I do not know… I truly do not know, my father.
I cannot even describe my own state. I myself do not know my truth.

King Golan:
Ah! That is all I was missing!

Prince Zahran: I have done nothing unworthy of myself—

King Golan (furious): What do you intend to do next, Zahran?
Is it not enough that your second brother lies ill in his bed?!
But the fault is not yours—no. I will show you. I will teach you discipline!
Where is the guard, Matouq?

Prince Zahran: No, please!

King Golan (calling out): Janjan! Janjan!

Janjan: At your command, King of the Jinn.

King Golan:
Where is Matouq, Janjan?

Janjan:
At the gate, O King of the Jinn.
Matouq stands before our lord the Sultan.

Matouq:
At your command, my lord.

King Golan:
Come here, Matouq.

Matouq:
Your command, my lord.

King Golan:
Did I not order that no one approach the Island of Forgetting?

Matouq:
Your command is carried out, my lord the Sultan.

King Golan:
Upon humans and jinn alike?

Matouq:
Upon all, without exception.

King Golan:
Then why did you allow Zahran to enter the Island of Forgetting?

Matouq (fearfully):
I… I… it was the prince, my lord.

King Golan (angrily):
You still say “the prince”?
I will teach you that orders recognize no rank!

Prince Zahran:
Father!

King Golan:
Janjan!

Janjan:
At your command, King of the Jinn.

King Golan:
Seize Matouq at once!

Matouq (shocked):
My lord!

Prince Zahran:
Father!

King Golan:
Bind him in chains and shackles!

Matouq:
Mercy, O King of the Jinn!

King Golan:
And replace all the guards of the Island of Forgetting with others from among the knights.
And now—dismiss the court.

In a distant corner of the world of the jinn,
the Queen of the Serpents arrived, accompanied by her serpents and Halima, until they reached the dwelling of Abu Farrag.

The Queen knocked upon the door and called out:

Queen of the Serpents:
“Abu Farrag! O Abu Farrag!
And yet the world gives no ease to the needy!”

A voice answered from behind the door:

Abu Farrag:
“And yet the world gives no ease to the needy!”

The door opened.

Abu Farrag (astonished):
“Who is it—my lady… Queen Yasmin?”

Queen Yasmin:
“Come in, come in, O human girl.”

Abu Farrag:
“And even a human woman with you?”

Queen Yasmin:
“You know why I have come, do you not?”

Abu Farrag:

“Your coming is an honor upon my eyes.
I have been waiting for the human girl—
I was searching for her, while you were searching for me.”

Queen Yasmin:
“You know what happened?”

Abu Farrag:
“Rima left her in the Honey Well.”

Halima (shocked):
“Who told you this, uncle?”

Abu Farrag:
“It is written here with me, my child.
And what is decreed must come to pass.”

Halima:
“Can you lead us to my sister?”

Abu Farrag:
“Did I not meet your sister Fatima?”

Halima:
“Yes.”

Abu Farrag:
“And did I not tell her of your fortunes?”

Halima:
“Yes.”

Abu Farrag (studying her):
“Which one are you, then, O beautiful one?”

Halima:
“I am Halima.”

Abu Farrag:
“Yes… yes… yes.
Your fortune lies beneath the earth, lengthwise and crosswise—
and here you are, you have descended beneath the earth.
The promise must be fulfilled.
And your elder sister—what is her name?”

Halima:
“Karima.”

Abu Farrag:
“Time shall do her justice,
and her fortune shall come to her from behind walls.”

Halima (anxiously):
“But where is Karima?”

Abu Farrag:
“You do not know where Karima is?”

Queen Yasmin:
“We want to know her whereabouts.”

Abu Farrag:
“At once… at once I shall find her.”

He began to chant, invoking a spirit to inhabit him and guide him to Karima’s location:

“O Sovereign of the unseen realms,
by the spike of wheat and the sign of Pisces,
the fish shall perish and death is appointed.
Pass, pass—
O Shamraqil, O Hamraqil,
son of Hawqal, son of Maymun,
by the secret of Kaf and Nun,
by the word Be, and it is—
descend into my body and bear it.
Amen… ha ha ha ha!”

A female voice spoke through Abu Farrag:

The Spirit:
“Now listen well, my daughter.”

Halima (alarmed):
“What is wrong with your voice, uncle?”

The Spirit:
“This is the voice of the spirit that has possessed me.”

Halima:
“Yes… Fatima told me.”

The Spirit:
“Then do not forget,
and do not let your human nature overcome you.”

Queen Yasmin:
“Where is Karima, Abu Farrag?”

The Spirit:
“And yet the world gives no ease to the needy.
Karima has been imprisoned by King Golan
on the Island of Forgetting.”

Halima:
“Why would King Golan imprison my sister?”

The Spirit:
“Karima saw the ghoul Bahloul with the sultana
and exposed the betrayal.
She went to Rima—
and Rima claimed she was the one who uncovered the crime.”

Zomoroda:
“And how did Rima know?”

Halima:
“Karima told her.”

Zomoroda:
“So she merely heard it
and pretended she was the witness?”

The Spirit (laughing):
“King Golan rewarded her—ha ha ha ha!
Do you know what he gave her?”

All together:
“What did he give her?”

The Spirit:
“The Jewel of the Crown.”

All together:
“The Jewel of the Crown!”

The Spirit:
“And yet the world gives no ease to the needy.”

Halima:
“But I still do not understand—
why did King Golan imprison my sister?”

The Spirit:
“So Rima could rid herself of Karima.
She performed her cursed scheme
and claimed Karima was mad.”

Halima (stunned):
“Mad?!”

The Spirit:
“And the King of the Jinn believed her
and imprisoned Karima on the Island of Forgetting.
But I can make you see her.”

Halima:
“Where?”

The Spirit:
“On the Island of Oblivion.”

Queen Yasmin:
“What are you waiting for, Abu Farrag?”

The Spirit:
“And yet the world gives no ease to the needy.
Come, my lady.
Come, my daughter.
Come closer to me.”

Abu Farrag surged forward in a fierce trance, leading them to a remote and desolate place.
And with his woman’s voice, he began to cry out and call—
At this moment, Shahrazad realized that the morning had arrived, so she fell silent, leaving the story unfinished.

Here is the 26th episode of our tale, televised

You can check the 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