Ramadan Kareem to all Egyptian Chronicles readers.
Yes, we are back to our Ramadan Arabian Nights this year.
This year, we got a fragile ceasefire in Gaza that Israel violates every day as usual, but the people in Gaza are trying their best to enjoy or rather live, Ramadan as much as they can.
This year, we got the ghost of war looming over the Middle East as the US has been transferring like 1/4 of its military power to the Middle East for a possible military action with Israel against Iran.
On this occasion, I discovered that selecting short tales is a better choice, as well as the tales themselves, which are somehow related to current events or the location in the Middle East.
Tonight, we will start the tale of King Sajur of Persia and his sons.
But first, for the newcomers, this is what we are going to do this Holy Month of Ramadan, like every year in Egyptian Chronicles.
Every Ramadan, we tune in to episodes of Egypt’s One Thousand and One Nights radio show, created in 1955 by the legendary Egyptian broadcaster Mahmoud Shaaban, better known as Papa Sharo.
Originally inspired by the famous book One Thousand and One Nights (also known in the West as The Arabian Nights), it became one of the longest-running programs in the history of Egyptian State Radio.
Shaaban could not have created the show without the ongoing work of Egyptian writer and folklorist Taher Abu Fasha, whose name became forever linked to the Arabian Nights tradition.
Legendary Egyptian actress Zouzou Nabil and theatre icon Abdel Rahim El-Zarakany return once again as Scheherazade and Shahryar.
While other writers contributed to the show over the years, this year’s tale was written by Abu Fasha himself.
The story draws inspiration from the original book — its universe, its enduring themes, and the history of the Middle East, especially Persia, as we will soon hear.
The book Arabian Nights — or rather, One Thousand and One Nights — is often considered to be of Indo-Persian origin, but we will leave that discussion for another night.
For tonight, I will share with you a little historical fact. You will hear about a war between the King of Persia and another King; the King is Bahram Gur.
Actually, Bahram Gur was a real person, and he was the king of Persia. Bahram Gur, or Bahram, the hunter, was the Sasanian King of Kings (shahanshah) from 420 to 438.
Bahram V is a central figure in several of the most famous works in Persian literature. He is mentioned in Ferdowsi's Shahnameh ("Book of Kings"), written between 977 and 1010, and he is the protagonist of Nizami Ganjavi's romantic epic Haft Peykar (also known as the "Bahramnameh"), written in 1197.
He is also the focal point in the Hasht-Behesht ("Eight Paradises"), written by Amir Khusrau circa 1302.
Bahram V is remembered as one of the most famous kings in Iranian history, due to his cancellation of taxes and public debt at celebratory events, his encouragement of musicians, and his enjoyment of hunting.
Now, enough of chitchat.
So, boys and girls, lads and gents, gather around as the fairest of them all, Scheherazade, weaves a new tale for us.
Tonight, we kick off the first night of Ramadan with the 195th episode of One Thousand and One Nights.
Ep.1 “The prophecies”
The One Hundred and Ninety-Fifth Night
And when it was the One Hundred and Ninety-Fifth Night, and the night that followed, King Shahryar hastened to the Chamber of Secrets, his thoughts in rebellion within his head. He began to revisit in his mind the nights of Shahrazad, and his longing for her overflowed and increased. Thus, was he asleep yet wakeful, sober yet intoxicated.
While he was thus immersed in reflection, Shahrazad entered, clad in velvet of silk. And when she beheld his silence and the downward cast of his gaze, she opened a window for discourse with all the grace and tact bestowed upon her. And in a voice sweeter than the nectar of dreams, she unlocked the gate of speech.
Shahrazad: My lord.
Shahryar: Shahrazad!
Shahrazad: Where does your spirit wander now, O my king?
Shahryar: I am with you, Shahrazad — traversing every valley. I dwell in the world you fashion. I ponder the events you weave. I contemplate the figures you bring forth before me. What is it that I see and hear? What of that blind supplicant who refuses alms unless the giver first strikes him? What meaning lies in such conduct?
Shahrazad: That, my lord, is greed — which seldom gathers without scattering.
Shahryar: And the lord of the palace who invites men to his table and bids them eat and drink, only to turn upon them suddenly and drive them away in humiliation?
Shahrazad: And the youth who lost his reason while sane, and regained it while mad?
Shahryar: How so?
Shahrazad: He who comes to know mankind learns also to avoid them. And in God’s creation are mysteries beyond reckoning.
Shahryar: Can a man truly avoid mankind?
Shahrazad: Yes — if he first avoids himself.
Shahryar: And does a man flee from his own soul, O Shahrazad?
Shahrazad: Life abandons him while he imagines that he has abandoned it.
Shahryar: Why is that?
Shahrazad: Because life moves ever forward and cannot be stayed. If you stand still, it will not pause for you.
Shahryar: Alas for the heart!
Shahrazad: And however, many instruments of power are placed in a man’s hand, he remains weak in himself and in need of others. Have you not heard, my lord, of what befell the sons of King Sajur?
Shahryar (laughing): No, Shahrazad, I have not heard of the sons of King Sajur. Who was he, and in what land did he reign?
Shahrazad: Know then, O King of the Age, that Sajur was sovereign over the lands of Persia. He had a brother among the bravest of knights, commander of his armies and guardian of his throne. His name was Prince Azdeshir.
Bordering Sajur’s dominion was the realm of a mighty and renowned king named Bahram Gur. Between the two sovereigns there were wars, calamities, and grievous trials; and each lay in wait for the hour that would deliver the decisive blow.
Thus did King Sajur summon his brother Azdeshir to ignite the battle, secure the kingdom, and bring an end to this affliction.
Azdeshir hastened to his brother and stood before him.
In those days there came yearly to the court a wandering dervish, a man whose words had proven true. It was he who had once foretold the birth of Azdeshir’s heir, Firuz.
And on that day the dervish entered once more and said: “I come bearing glad tidings. After seven months, God will grant you a son. You shall name him Nairuz.”
Azdeshir laughed and said, “Firuz and Nairuz!”
The dervish replied: “When God grants, He also appoints a time. Build not in haste, for every matter has its hour and its bound.”
And as he departed, he turned to Azdeshir and said: “Written upon your brow is a sorrowful victory.”
Azdeshir laughed at the words — yet destiny does not laugh.
A year passed, and again the dervish returned.
“After seven months, another son shall be born — and you shall name him Ma‘zuz.”
And to Sajur he said:
“You too shall receive a child — a daughter of surpassing beauty. She shall be called Amira.”
So it came to pass.
But on the day that tidings arrived, joy and grief were mingled as wine and tears.
A messenger entered crying:
“Rejoice, my lord! Bahram Gur is slain, and his army broken!”
But when Sajur demanded of his brother, the messenger bowed his head.
Azdeshir had slain his enemy — and in that same hour fell from his horse and returned to his Lord.
Thus, was fulfilled the prophecy: the sorrowful victory.
King Sajur wept and said:
“Bring me my brother’s daughter — the young princess. She shall dwell among my sons. She shall remain with me, that I may breathe the scent of my brother through her.”
And they brought the child Amira, and her uncle raised her as one of his own — if not dearer.
Days passed. Years revolved. The small grew tall. Youth blossomed. Time advanced and the young became radiant in their prime.
“And here, O King,” And before her tale was complete, the dawn overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent until another night.
Till next night inshallah
You can check the previous Ramadan Arabian Nights here.
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