Maruf - no words are mine

This Dervish tale that has appeared in Arabian Nights stories:

Maruf the Cobbler

Maruf lived in Cairo with his wife Fatima. This hag treated him so badly, repaying every good action of his with a very bad one plus loads of abuse. Maruf looked upon her as an example of inexplicable contrariness of the world.

Bowed down with sense of real injustice, driven to extremity of despair, he fled to ruined monastery near the city where he plunged himself to prayer and supplication, calling out incessantly: ”Lord, I beg thee for a means of release, send me at immense distance so that I can find release and hope.”

He continued to plead for several hours when an apparition came through the wall – it has huge height and strange appearance. This is Abdaal – human beings who have attained power inconceivable for ordinary human beings.

“I am Abdel-Makan, servant of this place, what do you ask of me?”

Maruf told him his problems. Abdel took him in his back instantly flew to a far city on the borders of China, a rich and beautiful place.

At the sudden appearance of Maruf in the market place dressed strangely, people gathered around Maruf asking him question. They started jeering and throwing sticks and stone at him. When he was still heckled, a merchant rode by and dispersed the crowed saying: “Have shame! A stranger is guest, bound to us by sacred bonds of hospitality and worthy of protection.” He was Ali.

He explained to Maruf, how he has progressed from rags to riches in this strange city of Ikhtiyar where merchants tend to believe and not skeptic; if you tell them story of riches they would believe you and lend you more; but if you tell them you are poor, you would not receive any alms. So Maruf told them stories of his wealth on its way to this very town and borrowed money, Judiciously investing that he made more money and returned the borrowed money – and that is how he became successful.

Ali took Maruf to number of wealthy merchants who bought Maruf story of caravan with priceless riches on their way and favored Maruf with substantial loans. Maruf however unlike Ali was not business minded and gifted away to poor and needy. Months passed but no caravan of Maruf arrived, all merchants worried complained to King about Maruf.

King called Maruf and decided to find out the truth. He set a trap, he placed a priceless jewel in the hands of Maruf and asked him to take it if that be worthy of him. Maruf returned the jewel saying his caravan loads are far worthier and valuable wealth; he did not need this. King got much moved with greed. He decided to marry his only daughter to Maruf and asked the merchants to hold the peace still Maruf’s caravan arrives. However his Wazir advised king that Maruf is bluffer. King ignored this since he knew Wazir wanted to marry his daughter.

Maruf when told about this he told Wazir to tell king that until his caravan arrives he can’t provide for his princess-wife, marriage must be postponed. Hearing this King opened his treasury to Maruf asking him to take away whatever needed, to make worthy of him of a suitable way of life consonant of a royal-son-in-law.

Never any one had witnessed such an extravagant marriage. Riches doled out to any even who just heard about this wedding. At the wedding night Maruf was troubled, ‘I am troubled that I have to account for this to your father, I have taken so much from him’, he said to princess. Princess replied, “Think nothing of it, when your caravan arrives all shall be well.’

Wazir renewed again his agitation asked king to find out about mystery of caravan through the princess at an opportune moment. When they lay in one another’s arm, princess asked Maruf about missing caravan. Maruf decided to speak the truth: “Wazir is right but his words due to his greed. Your father too gave way yourself to me out of greed. But why did you consent to marry me?”

Princess said: “you are my wedded husband and I shall not disgrace you. Take this 50000 gold pieces and flee this country, when settled you send message for me and I shall join you wherever you are.”

Maruf fled the country dressed as slave at dead of night. Princess Dunia was called by king and Wazir for her report. She said:

“When I was about to ask Maruf, a strange thing happened, Ten Mamelukes, dressed most magnificently, arrived beneath the palace window carrying a letter from chief of Maruf’s caravan. The letter said that they have been delayed by numerous attacks by Bedouins, fifty of guards of 500 have been killed, and a quantity of merchandise – two hundred camel loads have been carried off.”

“What did Maruf say?” king and Wazir asked.

“He said very little this loss is nothing however he at once rode off to meet the caravan and bring it back to us.” Thus she bought time.

Maruf did not know where he was going, he arrived in a place where a peasant was ploughing, he said “Be my guest King’s slave” and he left for home to fetch some food for Maruf.

Maruf touched by his kindness thought of helping the peasant with bit of ploughing. He had not done many furrows when his plough hit a stone. He pulled it away and saw a flight of stairs that lead to a chamber filled with treasures.

Maruf discovered a crystal box with a ring, he rubbed the ring and strange apparition appeared, “I am Father of happiness and what can I do for you?”

Maruf the cobbler ordered the treasure to be brought above the ground and loaded into a huge caravan. Peasant presently returned with barley and pulse. Maruf ate some and gave him gold and claim a greater reward later. Maruf sent messenger to city of his father-in-law to announce his arrival in advance.

The princess did not know what truth is. She suspected Maruf lied to her. King attacked the Wazir for ever suggesting Maruf is pauper. Ali thought caravan is the work of princess in order to save Maruf. All the merchants were happy, so is all poor and needy getting so much gifts from Maruf. Wazir did not believe all this since never any rich ever gives away the manner Maruf is giving away. He caught Maruf in the garden plied him with music and wine, got the secret of magic ring from him, rubbed and got jinn to transfer Maruf to desert, and presented himself to king and overthrew him, and even tried to seduce the princess.

The princess however, when Wazir came to her, got the ring from his finger and got the Father of happiness and deposed him to dungeon, and fetched back Maruf. She freed King, and Maruf became the Wazir. They lived happy thereafter. The king died; Maruf succeeded him. He had a son. But Princess became sick, she left both ring and child to Maruf to take care of them and died.

One night Maruf woke up with a start and found Fatima his first wife is lying beside him. She told her after Maruf left her she got reduced to begging and unending grief. One day she was crying out loud when a jinn appeared and told her the adventures of Maruf. She asked him to take her to Ikhtiyar and she brought there in speed of light.

Maruf explained his position but warned her to behalf herself to be a queen. She did likewise but hated the little prince. One day when Maruf went to sleep she took the magical ring, but little prince saw that and he threw his tiny sword and killed her.

Maruf sent for peasant who was responsible for Father of Happiness Jinn. Maruf made him Wazir and married his daughter. There after they all lived happily and success.

…..

If You have been following and reading this story to the end, and then you would observe that this story unlike any story from west has no Moral. This only depicts series of cause and effect relationship and that is feature of some Sufi literature. This is markedly different kind of teaching Sufi masters wish the listener or reader to have – there is no lesson to learn from life.