81-3 - Joodar and His Brethren (3 of 7) :
Joodar Goes to Morocco

Thus the Moor and Joodar rode on the mule till afternoon prayer. Joodar was feeling hungry, but he did not see any eatables with the Moor, so he said to him - "You have forgotten to bring us something to eat on the way." The Moor asked - "Are you feeling hungry?" "Yes." So both dismounted the mule and took off the saddle bags and the Moor asked him - "What will you like to eat?" "Anything." "No, Just tell me what do you want to eat?" "Bread and cheese." The Moor said - "O poor fellow, Bread and cheese are for not for you, wish for something good." "Do you like nice fried chicken, rice and honey?"  "Yes." And the Moor went on asking him till he named at least two dozen types of meat dishes.

Joodar thought, "He must be stupid, where from he will bring all this, there is no kitchen, no cook." So after telling him all he cried - "That is all for now." "OK." The Moor took out a golden dish from his saddle bag - it contained two brown chickens; then he put his hand again in his saddle bag and took out another golden dish containing Kabaabs; and he continued to take out golden dishes containing 40 types of meat dishes, some of which Joodar had named for. Joodar exclaimed - "So you keep the whole kitchen and cooks in your saddle bag?" The Moor said - "These are magical saddle bags and have a servant who can bring us thousands of dishes if we call for them."

On the 613th Night

They both ate food till they were satisfied. Then the Moor replaced the emptied dishes into the saddle bag and took out the drinking things. Then they drank and prayed the afternoon prayer, and set off for their journey again. He asked Joodar - "Can you tell how far we have come from Cairo?" "Not I, by Allaah." The Moor said - "We have come a whole month's journey." "And how is that?" "This mule is a Mareed of the Jinn who everyday performs a year's journey, but for your sake she is going at an easy pace." They traveled till nightfall and then the Moor brought out the supper for both of them. Next morning they broke their fast and again started their journey. Thus they traveled for four days. Whatever Joodar wanted, he could take from the Moor.

On the fifth day they arrived at Faiz and Maiquinaiz and entered the city and came to a door where the Moor knocked and out came a girl to whom he said - "O my daughter Rahamaa, Open the upper room for us." Joodar said to himself seeing her - "Oh, She is like a King's daughter." The Moor took off the saddle bags and thanked the mule. Then the earth opened up, swallowed the mule and closed again. Seeing Joodar surprised at this, the Moor said - "Don't be so surprised to see this, I told you that this mule was an Ifrit. Come with us in the upper room." 

So they went in the upper room and Joodar was again surprised to see the decoration of that room. The Moor asked his daughter to bring a bundle from which he took out a dress worth 1,000 Deenaars and gave to Joodar - "You put on this dress and look like a King of the west. Then he took out many dishes of meat from his saddle bags and said to Joodar - "Come and have this food. I do  not know what food you like, but you tell us without hesitation whatever you want to eat; we will set it before you." Joodar appreciated his behavior and said - "I love everything so you may give me anything whichever dish you have in mind."

He stayed there for 20 days and Moor gave him everyday new clothes and all these days they ate food from the saddle bags. He did not buy anything from the market even the fruits. On the 21st day he said to Joodar - "Today is the day to open the treasure of al-Shamardal." So they went on foot out of the city where they found two slaves each holding a she-mule. The Moor mounted on one mule and Joodar mounted on the other one and went forth till noon when they came to a stream of running water. There they got down from the mules, the slaves took away the mules and brought tents and carpets etc. They pitched the tents and prepared them with carpets and beds etc.

Then one of them went and brought the caskets containing the two fishes and another one brought the saddle bags. They both ate the food from the saddle bags. Then the Moor invoked the fishes and a voice came from within those caskets - "Adsumus, At your service. Have mercy upon us." He kept repeating his invocations till both the caskets flew away in pieces and two men appeared joining their hands. They said - "O Diviner of the World, What will you do with us?" The Moor said - "I want to burn you both in fire if you do not open the treasure of Al-Shamardal." They said - "We promise to open the treasure, you give us Joodar bin Umar, the fisherman, because only he can open it." The Moor said - "I have brought him with me. He is here." Then they promised to open the treasure and the Moor released them.

Then the Moor brought out a hollow wand and tablets of red carnelian. He kept them on the rod. Then he took out a chaffing dish, set out charcoal on it, blew one breath into it and it kindled. He brought some incense and said to Joodar - "O Joodar, I am about to begin the necessary invocations to open the treasure, and once I have begun this, I may not speak or the charm will be spoiled, so I will teach you what you have to do. Know that when I have recited the spell, and thrown on the incense, the water will dry up from the river's bed and will show you a golden door as big as a city gate. It will have two rings of metal upon it. You go down the door and knock a little knock and wait a while, then knock for a second time, louder than the first, and wait for another while; after which give three knocks in rapid succession.

You will hear a voice ask "Who knocks at the door of the treasure, unknowing how to solve the secrets?" Answer it - "I am Joodar the fisherman, the son of Umar." And the door will open and a figure will come forth with a sword in hand and will say to you - "If you are that man, bring forth your neck," and fear not; for when he lifts his hand and hits with you with the sword, he will fall down before you. And in a little while you will see a body without soul, he will strike you, but the stroke will not hurt you, but if you will contradict him, he will slay you.

When you have undone his enchantment by obedience, enter and go on till you come to another door. Do not knock there, rather a horseman will come to you riding a mare with a spear on his shoulder and will ask to you - "What brings you here where none may enter, nor man nor Jinn?" And he will shake his spear at you. Bare your chest to him, he will hit you and will fall down immediately. You will see his body without soul. Do not cross him otherwise he will kill you. Then you go on to the third door where you will see a man with a bow and arrow in his hand taking aim at you. Bare your chest to him, he will shoot at you and will fall down before you as a body without soul. Do not oppose him otherwise he will kill you.

On the 614th Night

Then you go on to the fourth door and knock and it will be opened to you. A lion of a huge body will come to you opening his mouth, but do not fear him, nor flee from him, rather give him your hand and he will bite at it and fall down straightway. He will not hurt you. Then you enter the fifth door where you will find a black slave who will ask you - "Who are you?" Tell him "I am Joodar." He will say, "If you are that man then open the sixth door. Then you go to the sixth door and say, "O Isaa, Tell Moosaa to open the door." At this the door will fly open and you will see two dragons, one on your left and another one on your right, which will open their mouths and fly at you, both at once. Put forward your both hands to them and they will bite your each hand and will fall down dead; but if you will resist them, they will kill you.

Then go on to the seventh door and knock, there will come your mother and say - "Welcome O my son, Come in." But you reply - "Hold off from me and take off your dress." And she will say - "O son, I am your mother, I have a claim upon you for suckling you how would you strip me naked?" Then you will say - "If you will not take off your dress I will kill you," and look to your right where you will see a sword hanging up. Take it and draw it upon her saying, "Strip." She will try to persuade you but you do not be angry at her, just say to her "Go and take bath." Do not stop threatening her with death till she takes off all that is upon her body. Then she will fall down and will be dissolved. Thus all the charms will be undone and you will be safe for your life.

Now you enter the hall of treasure where you will see the gold laying in heaps, but pay no attention to it, but look to a closet at the upper end of the hall where you will see a curtain drawn. Draw back the curtain and you will faintly see the enchanter - Al-Shamardal, lying upon the golden couch with his head upon a round thing shining as a Moon, which will be the planisphere. He will be having sword, the ring will be on his finger and a chain will be hanging about his neck in which there will be Kohl-phial.

Bring me the four Talismaans and be careful, do not forget what I have told you otherwise you will have to repent." He repeated his directions a second, a third and a fourth time; till Joodar said - "I know them now, but who may face these enchantments that you named against these mighty terrors?" The Moor said - "Do not fear for they are without life." "I put my trust in Allaah."

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