In the ancient, golden era of the East, where stories were woven into the very fabric of the desert winds, there lived two neighbors in a bustling city. One was a man of immense virtue and kindness, while the other was consumed by a dark, rotting core of jealousy. This narrative, a cornerstone of the Alif Laila collection, delves deep into the human psyche, exploring how envy can lead to a man’s downfall while goodness serves as a shield against the darkest magic.
The Roots of Malice
The virtuous man was well-liked by everyone. His business flourished, his home was filled with laughter, and his reputation for charity was known far and wide. However, his neighbor, the envious man, could not bear to see such prosperity. Every smile from the virtuous man felt like a dagger in the envious man’s heart. He didn’t want wealth for himself; he simply wanted his neighbor to have nothing. This level of psychological torment is often seen in the complex narratives of The Seven Viziers, where human nature is tested against the backdrop of power and betrayal.
Unable to contain his hatred, the envious man decided to abandon his home and move to another city, hoping that by distancing himself, his envy would subside. But the virtuous man, missing his old neighbor and unaware of the malice, eventually followed him to maintain their friendship. He built a small monastery and dedicated his life to prayer and helping the poor. His fame grew even larger, drawing people from all over the land.
The Treacherous Journey to the Well
The envious man, seeing his neighbor thrive even in a new land, reached a breaking point. He devised a plan to eliminate the source of his misery once and for all. He visited the virtuous man under the guise of friendship and requested a private walk. As they wandered through the outskirts of the city, passing through desolate landscapes that reminded one of the eerie silence found in The City of Brass, they reached an old, abandoned well.
As the virtuous man leaned over to inspect the water, the envious man lunged forward and pushed him into the dark abyss. Believing his rival to be dead, the envious man returned to the city with a wicked heart full of relief. However, the well was not empty; it was the dwelling place of spirits and jinns. Just as a traveler might face unexpected supernatural forces in The Merchant and the Genie, the virtuous man found himself caught in the arms of the invisible inhabitants of the well.
Divine Intervention and the Secret of the Jinn
The spirits, recognizing the man’s purity, cushioned his fall. While he sat at the bottom of the well, trembling, he overheard two jinns talking. They spoke of the Sultan’s daughter, who was possessed by a spirit that no physician could cast out. They revealed the secret cure: a specific ritual involving a white cat and certain verses.
Armed with this forbidden knowledge, the virtuous man managed to climb out of the well after the jinns departed. His escape was as miraculous as the survival of a sailor in Sindbad The 4th Voyage, where wit and fate often collide to save the protagonist from certain death.
He immediately went to the Sultan’s palace. He performed the ritual, and the princess was cured instantly. In gratitude, the Sultan offered him the princess’s hand in marriage and half of his kingdom. The once-betrayed neighbor was now a powerful prince, his life transforming into a reality as magical and grand as the adventures of Prince Ahmed and Paribanou.
The Final Reckoning
Years later, the envious man, now old and destitute, heard of the new Prince who was famous for his wisdom and mercy. He traveled to the palace to seek alms, not realizing that the Prince was the man he had tried to murder. When he stood before the throne, the virtuous man recognized him instantly. Instead of seeking revenge, the Prince showed him the ultimate kindness.
He gave the envious man a thousand pieces of gold and sent him on his way, proving that while envy consumes the vessel it is in, virtue elevates the soul to heights unimaginable. The tale of the envious serves as a timeless reminder that malice is its own punishment, while goodness is its own reward.
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