The Caliph and Ahmed

Muthsitbilla was one of the great Caliphs who ruled over Baghdad. One day, as was his wont, he disguised himself and, with his dear friend Amdus, began to roam the streets of the city. The two of them got tired of roaming and rested on a raised platform facing a handsome mansion and a beautiful garden.

As they sat admiring the palatial mansion, two liveried servants, deep in conversation, came out. One said, “Today, our master will not touch his dinner because there is no guest to share his food with him.” The other replied, “If we notice any visitors to this garden, we can request them to join our master for dinner.” When the Caliph heard these words, he turned to Amdus and said, “We must meet this hospitable gentleman who seeks out guests to share his dinner.”

A Meeting with the Hospitable Gentleman

Whereupon Amdus accosted the servants and said, “Hello there, go and tell your master that we are merchants lately come to this city from a distant land.” The servants ran in great haste to acquaint their master with the glad tidings. He came out and graciously welcomed the Caliph and his friend. But as they sat down to dinner, the Caliph became morose and severe. Suddenly, he shouted at the host, “Who are you?” thundered the Caliph. Even Amdus was surprised that the normally genial Caliph was highly irritable today. He wondered at the cause of it. As for the host, he smiled gently and replied, “Sir, I am Ahmed. May I know to whom I have the pleasure of talking? What is the cause for which you have suddenly become angry?”

Then Amdus revealed the identity of the Caliph, and Ahmed got up and bowed low before the sovereign. Ahmed kneels before the Caliph.

The Revelation of the Silk Dress

“How fortunate I am, Oh! Commander of the Faithful, that you should step into this humble dwelling. But if there is something wrong with the dinner, I pray, tell me so that I may remedy it.”

Then the Caliph said, “Know, Oh, Ahmed, your dinner was excellent, but whence did you get that silk dress which bears the crest of my late father? How is it that silks which should stay in the palace adorn your home?”

Ahmed smiled and began, “Oh! Commander of the Faithful, I was born into a noble family. My father was a famous merchant in Baghdad with several shops to his credit. I was brought up in the lap of luxury and lacked for nothing.

The Encounter with the Lovely Maiden

One day, a lovely maiden came up to me where I was sitting in the shop and asked me whether I was Ahmed. I nearly swooned at her beauty but, recovering myself, affirmed that it was indeed I who was known as Ahmed. Whereupon she sat down in front of me and said, ‘Sir, I want three hundred gold mohurs, ask your clerk to count them out.’

I looked at my clerk and nodded my head, and without a word, he counted out the money to the maiden. She took the money and went away without a word. My clerk wanted to know to whom the money should be debited. I replied rather sourly that, as I did not know her name, the entry in the books should be in the name of our angel. But my clerk ran after the maiden and a little later came back with his clothes torn and bruises all over his body. I was shocked at this sight but did not say anything.

The next day, she returned again with a poker face and demanded five hundred mohurs. I said, ‘Certainly, you shall have it, my lady. I am your slave from this moment. In fact, this shop is yours. Take what you will.’ As on the previous day, she took the money and vanished silently. So it happened the next day also. But this time, unknown to her, I began to trail her and saw her go into the royal palace. How could I aspire to the love of a royal lady?

Confession and Subsequent Actions

I confessed to my mother my true feelings about the lovely maiden. But she rebuked me and said, ‘Son, don’t be foolish. You are longing for the moon, and that is impossible to get. If you wish, I shall arrange your marriage with a good girl of this city.’

But I was adamant, and the next day sat in the shop, lost in my thoughts. Just then, a friend of my father entered the shop, and seeing my downcast appearance, blurted out all that had transpired. He thought for a minute, then said, ‘Son, I know a tailor in the royal palace. I shall introduce you to him. Give him a lot of money and achieve your heart’s objective.’

So in the morning, I went with him to the old tailor and ordered a dress for which I paid ten gold mohurs. The tailor was surprised to receive such a large sum for an ordinary dress and looked at me questioningly. Then I recounted all that had happened. He said, ‘Methinks the maiden you describe must be Modi. She is a slave girl who charms the Caliph with her sweet music.’ As he was speaking, in walked a lad who said he was a servant in Modi’s household.

The Quest for Love and its Unexpected Turn

The boy pointed to one of the dresses hanging from a hook and asked for the price of it. I interposed and said, ‘Take it; I shall pay for it.’ Whereupon the lad laughed and said, ‘I presume you are Ibn Ahmed.’ I nodded my head and asked him how he knew who I was. Mischievously, he replied, ‘How can I help not knowing who you are! My mistress is always remembering you. I can tell you how you can meet her.’

I felt new life coursing through my veins at these words and implored him to take me to my lady love. The lad heard me, then abruptly went away. I was in despair. Suddenly he came back with a dress covered by the royal insignia. He said I should wear it as only those wearing such a dress could enter the palace. Then he told me that I should enter through a marble door which opened into the room inhabited by his mistress.

Now, I am normally very cautious, but having gone this far, I did not want to back out. So I followed the boy and went into the palace through the marble door. As I entered the long corridor, I heard footsteps and saw in the distance the Caliph himself, accompanied by his mamelukes. Quickly, I hid myself in the first room in front of me and came face to face with a lady of dignified appearance. Fortunately, she did not cry out but welcomed me sweetly and said, ‘Ah! Ibn Ahmed, by the grace of God! My sister loves you dearly. She wanted to test your steadfastness and integrity. You have done well to come into my room. But let me ask you, what are your intentions towards Modi?’

A Surprise Ending

I said, ‘I wish to marry her. That is why I dared so much.’ Then she sent for Modi, who came running as soon as the message was delivered. At that moment, the Caliph’s entry was announced, and quick as thought, the sisters hid me in a large chest. Then the Caliph entered the apartment, and seeing the two sisters together, said, ‘Good. I see both of you are here, Modi, I have not heard you sing for some time. Come, sing a song.’

Modi began to sing a song of love because her heart was full. Her song was so exquisite that the Caliph was overjoyed and grandly announced that he would grant her any boon she asked. Modi bowed low before him and said she did not need anything, as to serve him was her pleasure. However, the Caliph pressed her so that finally, she said, ‘Oh! my Lord, free me from my bondage and let everything in this room belong to me truly.’

The Caliph granted her request, and the next day everything in that room was sent to my house, including the chest in which I was locked. Then I married Modi, and the dress you saw has remained with me ever since.” Thus Ibn Ahmed ended his tale.

A New Friendship

Muthsitbilla was overjoyed at Ibn Ahmed’s account and embraced him warmly. From that day on, Ibn Ahmed enjoyed the close confidence of the mighty Caliph.