The Ghost’s Hospitality

The Generous Nobleman

In days gone by, there was a nobleman named Hatim, belonging to the tribe of Tay. His generosity had become legendary, as he refused nothing to his guests. When he died, his relatives buried him on a hilltop, where a huge rock stood behind his tomb.

The Mourning Statues

His admirers carved exquisite sculptures of a few maidens out of that rock. The statues appeared to stand with disheveled hair, as if mourning Hatim’s death. As days passed, travelers who spent their nights at the foot of the hill reported a strange experience; they heard the lament of the stone girls at the dead of night, though no sound was heard during the day.

The King’s Encounter

One day, a certain king happened to camp below the hill. As night fell and all was quiet, he was about to retire into his tent when he heard the eerie lamentations coming from the hilltop. Surprised, he asked his bodyguards, “What is this noise? Who dwells on the hill?”

“No living being resides on the hill,” replied a member of the king’s retinue. “But there lies the tomb of the generous Hatim, guarded by a few female statues. The figures come to life at night and lament Hatim’s death!”

The Spirit’s Hospitality

“Very well,” said the king, and he entered his tent. Before falling asleep, he addressed the spirit of Hatim: ‘I have heard much about your charity and generosity. Well, here we are, your guests. Shouldn’t you entertain us?”

After he fell asleep, he dreamed that Hatim’s spirit advanced towards him. The spirit said, “You invoked my sense of hospitality. But I have nothing with me now. However, I shall kill your own camel so that you can cook its flesh for your food.”

Realization and Reward

The king woke up, just as he heard the cries of his camel. The animal was writhing in pain. Understanding what was happening, the king ordered his men to stab it to death, knowing it would die regardless.

The next morning, the king and his party set out on their journey, still pondering the strange way Hatim had shown his hospitality. Suddenly, a young man approached, dragging a beautiful camel with him.

“Who are you?” asked the king.

“I am Hatim’s son, my lord. My father appeared to me last night and said that he had been obliged to kill your camel to show you his hospitality. He directed me to compensate for your loss. Here is a camel for you. Please take it to replace the one that was killed,” said the young man, as he handed over the animal to the king’s man.

Astonishment at Generosity

The king, having heard so much about Hatim’s generosity in life, was utterly amazed by his generosity even after death!