Long ago, there was a wealthy and virtuous merchant known for his honesty and kindness. One day, while traveling on business, he stopped beneath the shade of a large tree to rest. He broke bread and ate a few dates, casually tossing the seeds aside. Unbeknownst to him, these simple seeds would soon bring grave danger.
Suddenly, a colossal Jinni appeared, his gleaming sword raised, his voice booming across the clearing. “Stand and die!” he roared. The merchant was paralyzed with fear, but the Jinni explained that one of his invisible sons had been passing by, and a date seed the merchant had tossed had struck and killed him. By the sacred law of blood for blood, the merchant’s life now belonged to the Jinni.
Realizing he could not escape, the merchant pleaded for mercy. He asked for one year to return home, settle his affairs, repay debts, and bid farewell to his family. Swearing before God, he promised to return to the tree after exactly one year to accept his fate. The Jinni, sensing the merchant’s sincerity, agreed. When the year passed, despite his grief, the merchant returned exactly as promised and sat beneath the tree, waiting.
While he waited, three old men passed by, each leading an animal: a deer, two black dogs, and a donkey. Upon hearing the merchant’s story, they were struck by his honesty and decided to stay and witness what would happen. When the Jinni appeared to claim the merchant’s life, the three men stepped forward with a bold proposal. “If we tell you a tale about ourselves and these animals, and it surpasses the merchant’s misfortune, will you reduce his punishment by a third?” Intrigued, the Jinni agreed.
Each old man told a wondrous story of betrayal and mercy. The first recounted how his unfaithful wife had been transformed into a deer. The second told of two treacherous brothers turned into black dogs. The third shared how his deceitful wife had become a donkey. In each tale, justice was served through magical transformation rather than death, and the Jinni was awed by their cleverness and compassion. After hearing all three stories, he forgave the merchant entirely.
Overjoyed, the merchant thanked the Jinni and the three old men before returning home to his family. The tales not only saved his life but also reinforced lessons of honesty, mercy, and the transformative power of storytelling. Keeping promises had preserved his life, compassion and forgiveness had guided the Jinni’s judgment, and the power of words and stories had changed his destiny. This tale reminds us that integrity, empathy, and cleverness can overcome even the gravest of dangers.