The Phantom City

Abdullah’s Journey

Abdullah lived in a village near the great desert. One day, his camel, which had been grazing in a field between the village and the desert, did not return home in time. Worried about its absence, Abdullah set out in search of the camel and ventured into the desert.

He climbed one sand dune after another and walked for a long time. Exhausted, he thought, “Let me climb this mound before me and look around. If I do not see my camel, I will return home.”

The Enchantment of the City

As he climbed the mound, Abdullah felt dizzy for a moment and lost all thoughts as he stood atop it. However, he quickly regained his composure and looked down in search of his camel.

What he saw puzzled him. Below lay a city that seemed to be crafted from the very fabric of dreams. Against the calm twilight sky, its dazzling silver towers resembled the castles of paradise. Not a single house in the city appeared ordinary; every structure was a magnificent mansion. At the center stood the most beautiful palace imaginable, adorned with exquisite portals, gates, doors, and windows that were masterpieces of art.

A City Without Inhabitants

Upon closer observation, Abdullah noticed the unsettling absence of life. The city was devoid of any traffic; neither humans nor animals populated the roads. Even as evening approached, not a single light shone through any window, indicating that even the houses were uninhabited.

Almost entranced, Abdullah descended into the city and wandered through its wide, excellently paved streets. Eventually, he came to the main palace, discovering portions of it constructed from bricks of gold and silver.

The Hidden Treasures

Curiosity drove him to enter the palace. In its spacious halls stood statues of exquisite beauty, with female figures holding gold baskets filled with precious jewels.

When Abdullah was certain that no one was watching, he seized a basket and filled it to the brim with jewels before leaving the strange city behind.

A Return Home

He roamed the desert all night, disoriented and unsure of the path back home. However, at dawn, he spotted his village and felt a wave of relief at being among his people once more.

The Tale Spreads

As time passed, the tale of his astonishing discovery spread throughout the village. Many came to hear Abdullah recount his experience, and he never grew tired of sharing the exciting story. Groups of villagers ventured out in search of the city but returned disappointed or were lost in the vast desert.

The Call from the Caliph

Eventually, the story reached the court of the Caliph. Through the province’s governor, the Caliph summoned Abdullah to his presence.

Abdullah appeared before the Caliph and affirmed the truth of what he had shared. “How can you believe that such a city, unknown to us, exists in our land?” the Caliph inquired.
“O mighty Caliph, I have no answer for that. But I am a poor man. How could I have possessed such precious items?” Abdullah replied as he displayed a few jewels he had collected from the city.

The Wise Man’s Revelation

Intrigued, the Caliph asked the scholars and historians in his court if they had ever heard of such a city. None had. He then called upon a very old wise man who lived in retirement to seek his insight.
“O Commander of the Faithful, such a city was indeed built by a great ruler of yore, Emperor Shaddad. He had a vision of creating a city on Earth that could rival Paradise. Under his reign, over three hundred kings were compelled to bring their wealth to the site of the proposed city. Gold and diamond mines worldwide were thoroughly exploited, and thousands of divers scoured the seas for pearls. Every king had to surrender his valuable possessions.

“In twenty years, the city was constructed, and the emperor was informed of its completion. He ordered a grand palace to be built at its center, which was to outshine everything else in the city. It took another twenty years to complete the tower.

“At last, the emperor commanded his family, ministers, courtiers, nobility, and army to migrate to the new city. He led a vividly colorful procession but as he approached the city, a terrible thunderstorm broke out. When it subsided, it was revealed that the emperor, along with many others, lay dead, struck by lightning.

“His sons, who governed distant provinces, hurried to the site upon receiving news of the tragedy. They interred their father in a cave, adorning the tomb with gold and jewels, as he had cherished pomp and splendor.

“However, those who stumbled upon the cave soon pillaged it until nothing remained. The vanity and pride of the emperor lingered in human memory for a time, only to be forgotten later. The city he had built faded into obscurity, and the road leading to it had been destroyed. No one knew where it lay.”

The Caliph’s Amazement

The Caliph listened intently to the tale, filled with great amazement. However, the strange city has never been seen by anyone else since that time.