Long ago, there lived a poor old fisherman who eked out a living from the sea. Each day, he cast his net exactly four times, hoping for a lucky catch. The first three casts brought only mud, debris, and the occasional dead donkey, leaving him weary and disheartened. On his fourth and final throw, his net grew impossibly heavy. With great effort, he pulled it up and discovered a massive bronze jar, sealed with lead and engraved with the mark of King Solomon himself.
Overjoyed at the thought of selling it for grain, the fisherman carefully pried open the lead seal. Suddenly, a thick black smoke exploded from the jar, coalescing into a colossal, fearsome Jinni. Its head touched the clouds, and its feet crushed the ground beneath it. The Jinni’s first words were not gratitude but a terrifying threat. He declared that he would kill the fisherman, recounting his centuries of imprisonment: for the first hundred years, he swore to make the rescuer the richest person alive, yet no one came. For the next hundred, he promised endless treasures, and still no one arrived. After four hundred years trapped in darkness, his fury and despair had twisted his vow into a curse: anyone who freed him now would die, but they could choose the manner of their death.
The fisherman trembled with fear but quickly regained his composure. He realized that brute force could not overcome such a being, but cunning just might. He challenged the Jinni’s pride, pretending doubt. “I cannot believe a mighty Jinni like you could fit inside such a tiny jar,” he said. “Unless I see you enter it myself, I will never believe it.” The Jinni, inflamed by his wounded pride, laughed and transformed into a smoky swirl, slowly creeping back into the jar to prove his power.
As the last wisp of smoke disappeared into the jar, the fisherman acted swiftly, slamming the lead lid shut and sealing the Jinni once more. The giant being screamed, pledging promises and threats alike, but the fisherman remained calm. He recounted the story of King Yunan and the healer Duban, using it to illustrate the dangers of betrayal and the wisdom of mercy. Finally, the Jinni swore an oath before God that he would serve the fisherman without harm. Trusting the vow, the fisherman released him. True to his word, the Jinni led the man to a magical lake teeming with five-colored fish, providing him with great wealth and a life of happiness alongside his family.
This story carries powerful lessons for all who hear it. Wisdom can triumph over strength because a clever mind will always outmaneuver sheer power or magic. Karma is inevitable, teaching that betrayal and arrogance will ultimately be punished by one’s own hubris. Perseverance is invaluable, reminding us that even in the direst circumstances, those who refuse to give up will find a path to safety and prosperity.