Abstract
Set against the background of a typical Arabian society, the story is purely fictitious and makes no direct reference whatsoever to anybody, group of persons or an entity. The characters herein are the sole creation of the author.
In the kingdom of Shadnahuk a scholar who had wondered in quest for knowledge and wisdom gathered much of it and decided to settle in his home province of Shifa.
This wise man became so popular among the inhabitants of Shifa for his wisdom. He was held in reverence for the unfathomable epithets his speeches contained. In some cases, his writings and utterances were given further interpretations. He wrote extensively on a wide range of issues bothering humanity.
Whenever an issue became so complex for the ruler of the kingdom, it was referred to the “The man with the black turban” as he was rightly called due to the black turban he wore in recognition of his knowledge and wisdom.
Others referred to him as the ‘Wali’ (an Arabic word meaning friend of God) because of his good virtues, patience, his constant meditation and submission to the ways of Almighty God.
The Wali’s tent was sited a few meters away from Shifa on the road to a neighbouring community. Wali’s tent was only a temporal domicile. He was the architect of an arch residence he was raising behind the tent with the support of his family and other members of the community.
When the house was completed, the wise one thought of marriage. His only problem was that, it would have been difficult living with an unlearned wife. Already, people in the community saw his utterances as complex and incomprehensible.
One day, Wali made up his mind to go in search of a wife in Albarka, a neighbouring province. When he got on the road, he met an old merchant on camel to the same place. After a few salutations, they decided to go together keeping each other company.
“Who among us will carry the other as we go?” Wali enquired. Surprised by the nature of the question, the merchant remained silent for he did not understand exactly what his new found companion was driving at.
The journey was eventful with conversation and smiles though intermittently, the Wali’s statements were inexplicable. The road to Albarka went through a large barley farm belonging to a native of the place.
For a second time again the weary old rich merchant began to doubt the mental capability Wali after the former made a remark on the progress of the barley field to the later. The merchant said to Wali, “This barley farm belongs to my neighbour and as you can see, it is doing well and he will make significant gains after harvest”. Wali replied with divergent but complicated view. “Yes, your neighbour will make significant gains from the harvest only if he had not consumed the produce of the harvest as you see it standing”. This statement baffled the kind old merchant and he thought he was in deed traveling with a lunatic
As they approached the threshold of the province, a man came their way and informed the merchant that Abu, a native of the community had passed away and the interment process was ongoing. Hearing this, the merchant turned and passed the information to Wali “May his soul rest in perfect peace” Wali prayed and asked the merchant whether the deceased was completely dead or he died partially.
By this time, the merchant was convinced that Wali was not in his senses and in an undertone he remarked, how can a man die and live at the same time. He furtively left Wali and went home.
The merchant got home and his family was excited to see him back safely. Ummu Salma, the youngest of his three daughters was an intelligent young lady. She asked to know what her father had brought for them. “You are not lucky, I met a very handsome Youngman at Shifa province; I came with him to this town. He was here to find a wife for himself but unfortunately he is insane.” The merchant bemoaned. “How do you know he is insane when you’ve just met him for the first time? Ummu Salma asked.
The merchant narrated all what transpired between him and Wali to justify his conclusion. The girl told his father that Wali is not a mad man but a wise man who spoke in parables. She went on and gave a step by step explanation of all what he said to her father. The first question he posed; who among us will carry the other as we travel along? This means, who among you would be on the vanguard and lead the way as you travel.
The second statement about the barley farms means that if so much money has been expended with the hope of paying back with the harvest, the owner of the farm will make insignificant gains.
Finally, the question on the death of Abu implies leaving behind children. A man who is completely dead has left no child behind – partial death means leaving a child behind before death.
The merchant was overwhelmed by his daughter’s responses to those seemingly baffling questions. He went out search of the wise man until he met him in a mosque where he was preaching to a group of men who knew him well.
Finally, an arrangement was made and the old merchant gave out his daughter Ummu Salma to the Wali. The marriage was endorsed by the fact that the young lady was able to interpret all that Wali told the old merchant.
The end.
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