Ramadan Kareem to all Egyptian Chronicles readers.
Tonight, we will learn how al-Nu’man’s children come to their senses and stop fighting over their father’s throne.
But first, it is time for our little chit-chat.
It won’t be about how history becomes myth, but rather about one of Egypt’s legendary supporting actors who plays a role in our tale. Tonight, I will speak about the late Egyptian actor.
Tonight’s chit-chat will not be about how history turns into myth, but rather about one of Egypt’s legendary supporting actors who plays a role in our tale. Tonight, I will speak about the late Egyptian actress Naima Wasfi.
Naima Wasfi plays the role of the wicked Stormbreaker, the scheming woman who got rid of al-Nu’man and was on the verge of sparking a civil war among his sons.
Wasfi was among the queens of supporting actors in Egypt and the Arab world during the 20th century.
Born in February 1923 to a middle-class family in Upper Egypt’s Assiut, Naima Wasfi’s theatrical talent began to emerge while she was still in primary school. She started her creative journey by writing short stories, poetry, and zajal (colloquial verse). Later, she worked as a teacher before eventually settling in Cairo.
In Cairo, she began frequenting theatres and gradually became acquainted with people in the artistic community. There, she met the actress Nagla Ibrahim, who encouraged her to pursue acting.
As a result, Naima Wasfi enrolled in the Institute of Dramatic Arts founded by Zaki Tulaimat in the mid-1940s, obtaining her diploma in 1947. She was then appointed to the Modern Theatre Troupe, which Tulaimat had established for the institute’s graduates.
Wasfi later moved to the National Theatre Troupe. In 1952, she began her career in cinema, making her first appearances in Egyptian films. Over the course of her career, she appeared in more than 30 films.
In addition to acting, she also wrote several television series and worked on numerous radio shows.
Aside from her artistic work, Naima Wasfi wrote a weekly column in Rose al-Youssef magazine. A longtime socialist, she served as Secretary for Women’s Affairs in the Arab Socialist Union for the Greater Cairo area and contributed to literacy campaigns that helped educate many young women.
She was married to the journalist Abdel Hamid Saraya after what was described as a great love story. The couple had three children.
Out of deep love for her husband, she later wrote a moving elegy after his death—a poem so painful that she rarely wished to speak about it.
Naima Wasfi passed away on 7 August 1983 at the age of 60.
Now, enough chit-chat.
Let us now see what is going to happen in the 107th episode of One Thousand and One Nights, as originally broadcast on Egyptian State Radio.
EP.16 A Storm Brewing
The One Hundred and Sixth Night
When it was the one hundred and seventh night, King Shahryar once again took his seat as he had the night before.
At the appointed hour Shahrazad arrived, greeted him, kissed the ground before him, and continued the tale where it had been left unfinished.
She said:
“I have been told, O fortunate king, wise in judgment…”
When King Sharkan and Prince Daw’ al-Makan, the sons of King Al-Nu’man, rode out to the battlefield and stood ready to fight one another, their sister Nuzhat al-Zaman rushed between them. She threw herself between the two brothers, stopped their swords, and revealed the truth of the deception.
She ordered them to sheath their blades and gather their ranks.
When Sharkan heard his sister’s voice, sorrow returned to his heart and his anger faded. He remembered his daughter Qadr-wa-Kan, and he finally understood the truth.
The old woman who had turned him against his brother…
was the very woman who had murdered their father.
She was Stormbreaker, the mother of King Hardoub — a woman known for calamities and wicked schemes.
Stormbreaker had spies everywhere, carrying news of the brothers’ movements. And when word reached her that the sons of Al-Nu’man were marching toward her lands, determined to avenge their father, she quickly prepared her defenses and gathered her army around the fortress.
Then she summoned her son Hardoub and ordered everyone else from the chamber so they could speak in secret.
Hardoub entered, startled.
“What is it, mother? What happened?”
“Hardoub!” she said sharply.
“What did you expect — and what did you find?” he asked nervously.
“The sons of King Al-Nu’man.”
“Sharkan and Daw’ al-Makan?!”
“Yes — them.”
“So it’s true?”
“I tried to divide them,” Stormbreaker said bitterly. “But somehow they have reunited.”
Hardoub frowned.
“What do they want?”
“I have received word that they are marching here… to avenge their father.”
“They’re coming to fight us?!” Hardoub exclaimed.
“And if they fight us,” Stormbreaker replied grimly, “they may defeat us.”
Hardoub struck his fist against his palm.
“Then I’ll gather the armies and charge at them like a beast!”
Stormbreaker shook her head.
“What will armies do? They will neither stop them nor hold them back. Those two are like spirits of war. Who can stand against Sharkan in battle?”
“Then what should we do?” Hardoub asked anxiously.
“I’ll tell you.”
“What do you mean?”
“The man who uses his mind does not tire his feet.”
Hardoub looked confused.
“What does that mean?”
“A lion may devour a man if it meets him in the wild,” she said. “Yet a man defeats the lion with his mind.”
Hardoub leaned closer.
“So what is your plan?”
“Listen carefully,” she said.
“Divide your army into two.”
Hardoub blinked.
“Divide them? I thought you wanted me to gather them!”
“It’s a trick,” she said with a sly smile. “And if it works, we will destroy them.”
“Place half the soldiers in ships and hide them behind the islands. When the armies of Sharkan and Daw’ al-Makan pass by, those soldiers will attack from behind… while we strike them from the front.”
Hardoub’s face lit up.
“That’s an excellent plan!”
“They will fall between the two lines of swords,” she continued, “and there will be nothing to fear.”
Hardoub laughed.
“You’re teaching me tricks now, mother?”
She answered calmly:
“In war, deception is victory.”
“Very well,” Hardoub said. “I’ll prepare half the army and hide them in ambush behind the islands.”
Stormbreaker’s eyes gleamed coldly.
“I already avenged Abriza when I killed King Al-Nu’man.”
“And now,” she said quietly,
“I will kill Sharkan and Daw’ al-Makan as well.”
Meanwhile In the Camp of Sharkan and Daw’ al-Makan’s armies as the sounds of blacksmiths hammering and swords being sharpened fill the camp.
Daw’ al-Makan: Look at him, look at him, my lord! Is this how you treat the man?
Sharkan (laughing): Uncle Karkoub! Tell me then — what would please you?
Karkoub: Well, just look at what you’ve dressed me in! What is all this iron on my body? This chain mail is heavier than a donkey’s load!
Sharkan: What chain mail and what nonsense?
Karkoub: And what about this sword? What am I supposed to do with a sword?
Sharkan: Use it to strike the enemy!
Karkoub: What?! Spill their blood on the ground?!
Sharkan: This is no joke — it’s deadly serious.
Karkoub: But I’m not enemies with anyone! What am I even doing here with you?
Daw’ al-Makan: The truth is, Uncle Karkoub… you came along with us.
Karkoub: My lord, I repent! I swear I repent! Do I look like a man of war? What do I know of stabbing and fighting? What business do I have with battles and duels? I’m a garbage collector!
Daw’ al-Makan (teasing): Don’t say that too loudly — the soldiers might hear you.
Karkoub: I’ll shout it even louder! I’m a garbage collector! A garbage collector! That’s what I am!
(Both brothers burst into laughter.)
Daw’ al-Makan: What is all this shouting, Daw’ al-Makan? Come here, Sharkan. Help me, O King of the Age! Uncle Karkoub, come here.
Sharkan: Your sword, O knight of the battlefield!
Karkoub: Battlefield? I’m just a poor man! Tell me, why have you dressed me like this and put a sword in my hand?
Sharkan: So you can kill the enemy with it.
Karkoub: I have no quarrel with anyone, and no one has a quarrel with me! I’m the kind of man who says, “O wall, hide me!”
Sharkan: Don’t say that, Uncle Karkoub. You’re a hero among heroes!
Karkoub: I tell you I’m a garbage collector and you say I’m a hero?!
Daw’ al-Makan: Then why did you come with us?
Karkoub: I came to keep you entertained… and to give you advice.
Sharkan: Advice? What advice could you possibly give us? Come on then, Uncle Karkoub — show us the art of war!
Karkoub: We’re marching into lands we don’t know. If we all enter together at once, we might be destroyed for nothing.
Sharkan: What are you saying, Uncle Karkoub?
Karkoub: Divide the army into two halves. One half marches forward, and the other stays here for three days. After three days they follow us. If something happens to us, at least we won’t all fall together — and they can come to rescue us.
Daw’ al-Makan: Sharkan… did you hear that?
That plan is perfectly sound — a hundred percent sound! It’s a strategic method! Where did you learn such a thing, Uncle Karkoub?
Karkoub: Where did I learn it?
Daw’ al-Makan: Yes — who taught you that?
Karkoub: A poultry seller.
Daw’ al-Makan: A poultry seller?!
Karkoub: Yes, a poultry seller! His name was your uncle Abd al-Munji.
Sharkan: And what does a poultry seller know about war?
Karkoub: He used to tell me, “Listen, my son Karkoub — if you have eggs and you fear they might break, don’t put them all in one basket.”
Daw’ al-Makan: Why not?
Karkoub: So that if some break… the rest won’t all break with them.
Sharkan: Did you hear that, Daw’ al-Makan? How did such an idea escape us?
Very well — I will put it into action at once.
I will divide the armies and the men. Half will march onward, and the other half will remain here and pitch their tents… and they will follow us after three days.
As The battle erupt — clashing swords, war drums, and shouting soldiers.
But to the astonishment of King Hardoub and his army, the plan had already been anticipated — and Karkoub’s strategy had turned the trap against them.
King Hardoub (furious):
How did this happen? This wasn’t strategy — this is a disaster!
Stormbreaker:
I myself am bewildered!
Hardoub:
We practically handed them half our army so it would fall between their lines and be crushed — not a single man left alive!
Stormbreaker:
Didn’t I tell you? No one can stand against Sharkan.
Hardoub (angrily):
Even when we plan everything carefully, the outcome turns out exactly the same for them!
Stormbreaker:
The very idea that came to our minds came to theirs as well. When we divided our armies, they divided theirs too. The moment our hidden forces attacked from behind, their second half fell upon them. Our ambush fell straight into another ambush. They descended upon them like madmen, striking and stabbing until they destroyed them completely.
Hardoub (reproachfully):
So your plan has turned against us.
Stormbreaker:
The arrow we shot has come back to strike us.
Hardoub:
And you told me there was nothing to fear! When I hesitated, you said I was afraid!
Daw’ al-Makan:
The plan was—
Sharkan:
You’re still talking about plans? Half the army lost in the very first clash!
A soldier rushes in breathless.
Soldier:
My lord! My lord, King Hardoub!
Hardoub:
What is it, Sanhoub?
Soldier:
I’m losing my mind! Fire! Fire! I’m overcome with shame!
Hardoub and Stormbreaker together:
What? What is it?
Soldier:
The enemy has reached the walls!
Hardoub:
Heavens protect us! What did you do?
Soldier:
We poured the river waters upon them!
Hardoub:
Why didn’t you set the fires?
Soldier:
Set the fires?
Hardoub:
I will go down to the battlefield myself. Send for the blacksmith to arm me! Do you see where we have come to, mother?
Stormbreaker:
May God lift this calamity. Listen to what I say—
Hardoub:
No more talk! I will enter the field myself and challenge Sharkan to single combat. If he kills me, the war ends and he has defeated me. If I kill him, the war ends and victory is ours.
Stormbreaker:
Is that the only solution you see?
Hardoub:
There is no other.
Stormbreaker:
You have heard your own words — now hear mine.
Hardoub:
There is no time.
Stormbreaker:
Then you go your way, and I will go mine. Do as you wish — and I will go myself to Sharkan.
Hardoub:
Go to Sharkan?! Have you forgotten that you killed King Al-Nu’man and stole Abriza from them?
Stormbreaker:
Bring me ten men dressed as traveling merchants. Let them beat me, bind me with chains, and carry me in a chest. They will pass through the enemy lines.
Hardoub:
What nonsense is this? Enough foolishness!
Stormbreaker:
Listen to the end.
After beating and binding me, they will claim to the enemy that they are traders. They will say they rescued a pious man from captivity among unbelievers — that they saved him from torment and brought him away secretly.
At that moment Sharkan will ask, “Where is this holy man?”
They will present me before him.
When he opens the chest and sees the marks of beating and burning upon my body, he will believe their story… and trust me.
After that — leave the rest to me.
Hardoub:
Mother… you’re forgetting something important.
Stormbreaker:
What?
Hardoub:
You’re a woman! Yet you speak of a holy man. How will you become a man? Is this some kind of game?
Stormbreaker:
Is that difficult? Has Sharkan ever seen me before?
Hardoub:
Perhaps not… but what about your voice?
Stormbreaker:
Even my voice will not betray me.
Hardoub:
And what will you do then?
Stormbreaker:
Tomorrow you will hear — and the day after you will see. If he defeats me once, I will return to him again. For he is Sharkan… and I am Stormbreaker.
Shahrazad said:
King Hardoub was counted among the bravest warriors in battle, renowned in war and calamity. He was a raging lion, feared by all, and when he shouted across the battlefield, the very hearts of men trembled.
When morning came, the warriors formed their ranks for combat. Armies faced one another, and seas of men and iron clashed together. Horses charged and riders collided like mountains crashing against mountains.
Then King Hardoub rode forth like a furious lion, followed by one hundred thousand warriors of Banu al-Asfar.
He carved a path through the battlefield and called out for Sharkan, demanding single combat.
He charged and struck—
(The rooster crows, announcing the dawn.)
And before the tale was complete, the dawn overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent until another night.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank You for your comment
Please keep it civilized here, racist and hateful comments are not accepted
The Comments in this blog with exclusion of the blog's owner does not represent the views of the blog's owner.