A MERSMERIZING BED TIME STORY Isaac and the beanstalk -Zeneefa Zaneer Once upon a time, over the mountain in a beautiful village there was a little house, nothing much to show. The poorer they were the empty the house was. But there lived one young boy who was very brave and loyal. One day his mother fell sick and weak failing to work in the fields, so she asked her son, Isaac to sell their cow for they had no other choice. On that fine morning Isaac walked to the market. He walked to the rich and wise, fat and thin but none was ready to buy the cow or afford him anything. Isaac returned home as dusk approached with a heavy heart. As he walked home alone with the weak old cow his one sandal tore. Being a small boy he walked with one sandal forgetting that prophet Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam had told “None of you should walk with just one sandal. Shaytan walks with one sandal.’(Muslim, Abu Da ud, at-Tirmidi and ibn Majah all mention it.) Isaac heard someone talking to him. He turned around and saw none. He shook his head thinking his mind tricked. But once again he heard someone. He stopped for a moment and waited for a while so that he could hear or see the one who was talking to him. A smoke like figure appeared in front of Isaac. First Isaac felt scared but he was a brave boy. He muttered ta-awuz (auzu billah). The magical being smiled with him. “Who are you? Isaac asked with a shaky voice. The woman with magical wings smiled again. “I’m an angel” she said. Isaac shook his head not believing her. “Angels are made of light, you look blue and different” Isaac said boldly. The woman fluttered her wings as she laughed. “I’m a friendly fairy…I’m here to help you child” “Angels are not male or female… “You are very smart Isaac, let me help you. Your mother is sick and hungry, don’t you wish to see her healthy?” Isaac thought for a while and shook his head. The fairy gave a broad smile. “Let me have your cow and you may have these magical seeds” The fairy showed him some seeds. Isaac frowned. Knowing how smart the little boy was the fairy gave a very bright smile once again. “These are magical seeds, plant them and you will be nourished as you have been once long ago.” “Seeds of jealousy Seeds of greediness Seeds of victory Seeds of every sin” The flying jinn muttered as Isaac traded the cow over the seeds. The little boy was fancied with the magical tales the fairy had promised. Isaac knowing less about the intention of the fairy jinn ran back to home being happy. He wanted to be rich by one night and help his mother to overcome the poverty they were sinking in day by day. But his mother became furious seeing Isaac with the worthless seeds; she threw the seeds out the window. That night they had to go to the bed with empty stomachs and worried hearts. Isaac snuggled in his torn quilt and fell asleep with crying heart. At midnight, when folks fast asleep the haunting spirits haunted the village, Isaac suddenly woke up hearing a strange noise. He peeped out the window to see a huge beanstalk, taller than he could imagine. His tiny mind was fascinated by what he saw. He without another thought began to climb on the beanstalk. The creepers were thick and strong. And they were slippery too. The night wind was cold and slashing his bare skin. Isaac was brave though. He climbed and climbed, taller over the mountains and passing the clouds he climbed up and up. But then suddenly he saw the very same fairy who gave him the magical beans. She greeted warmly and welcomed him. “I’m so happy you came here, Isaac the brave…come…come…I’ve got a tiny story to tell you” She wrapped her arm around his tiny shoulders. Isaac turned around to see the beauty he was experiencing. The garden was misty yet beautiful. He felt cold. Walking on the clouds gave him a strange feeling. They were soft and fluffy. He walked smoothly as the fairy directed him. Then he saw a beautiful rich palace. He shook his head trying to remember where he had seen it before. “Can you remember this palace?” “I can’t but it looks familiar” He said staring at the palace. “It’s …its Isaac…for that palace is your father’s. the giant killed your father and stole everything he belonged…go…fight back, steal everything he has, cheat him and kill him…that is all yours!” The fairy whispered kindly. Isaac felt angry and he wanted to run in, find the giant and kill him forgetting how tiny he was. “Revenge him…go…revenge him” The fairy whispered once again. Isaac nodded as he walked towards the castle. He could hear his heart pounding rapidly. Yet he was brave enough to walk further and knock on the door. His legs wobbled when he heard someone open the door. He saw a huge woman, her face was bigger than little Isaac. “What do you want?” She grunted. “I’m cold and lost…take me in…and give me something to eat…I’ll work for you!” Isaac said. “Nawh! He will come…and he will swallow you…you are human!” She said waving her hand in air. “I’ll hide or go by then…please…I’m starving for days” The giant woman felt sad. She let him in. Isaac ate a piece of bread and a piece of cheese. “You are so kind…thank you” Isaac thanked her. “Why don’t you swallow me…? I’m human” Isaac asked being puzzled. The woman laughed. Her laughter echoed the palace. “I’m vegetarian…I don’t eat human…they are filthy. They cheat, steal, lie and betray…they are unfaithful…they forget their Lord Allah…” “But your husband st…” Before Isaac could finish his talk they heard a banging on the door. The woman frowned. “Hide…hide…he’s here hide …hide…hurry up boy” The woman hid him inside a cupboard. Isaac silently hid inside the cupboard and watched through the keyhole. He heard the giant growl. His foot steps thundered. Deep shiver ran across Isaac’s spine. But he patiently waited. “I smell human…the filthy human…cheating human…the liars…I’m hungry…and thirsty…” The giant roared. Isaac held his breath fearing the giant might sense his being here. But before the giant could search for his prey, the kind wife of his brought the broth and called him for supper. The giant had his supper while watching his precious hen lay golden eggs. Isaac gasped seeing the size of the golden egg. Then the giant began to count his golden coins. Isaac remembered the fairy’s words. ‘Everything is yours; he killed your father and stole your fortune. Revenge him, he deserves it’. As soon as the giant fell asleep Isaac walked out of the cupboard. The giant snored. Isaac shrunk his nose as he walked close to the giant fearlessly. He grabbed the entire coin bag and the hen and ran away. But before he could run out of the castle the hen clucked and the giant woke up. Seeing all his valuable possessions being stolen by Isaac he chased after the little boy. Isaac ran as fast as he could and climbed down the beanstalk. He screamed as he climbed down asking for an axe from his mother. "What is it Isaac? She asked. "Giant, bring the axe" "Isaac! Isaac! Wake up!" Isaac heard. His mother shook him from the shoulder. He fluttered his eyes open and realized it was all a dream. He tried to smile but it faded. He then related the dream to his mother. “Spit thrice to your left, it is a nightmare caused by shaytan” His mother advised. "You see, you forgot to recite Allahumma bismika amoothu wahiya, and the Ayat Al Kursi 'Allahu laaa 'ilaaha 'illaa Huu. 'Al-Hayyul-Qayyuum. Laa ta'-khuzuhuu sinatunw-wa laa nawm. Lahuu maa fissamaawaati wa ma fil-'arz. Man-zallazii yashfa-'u'indahuuu 'illaa bi-'iznih? Ya'-lamu maa bayna 'aydiihim wa maa khalfahum. Wa laa yuhiituuna bi-shay-'im-min 'ilmihiii 'illaa bimaa shaaa'. Wasi-'a Kursiyyu-hus-Samaawaati wal-'arz; wa laa ya-'uuduhuu hifzu-humaa wa Huwal-'Aliyyul-'Aziim.’ (Allah! There is no God save Him, the Alive, the Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him. Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that intercedeth with Him save by His leave? He knoweth that which is in front of them and that which is behind them, while they encompass nothing of His knowledge save what He will. His throne includeth the heavens and the earth, and He is never weary of preserving them. He is the Sublime, the Tremendous.) And his mother recited the ayat al kursi and blew on his face. But Isaac still looked worried. He remembered the strange woman with wings he met on that day. He told his mother about how he got the magical seeds. His mother looked shocked, but then cleared her throat. "It is a portion of iman to believe the unseen, and prophet sallallahu alaihiwasallam had said about the Jinns. You have seen none but flying jinn. You know Isaac that is their duty to deceive us and drive us towards the hell? Isaac nodded as he understood. But then he remembered the beautiful castle he saw in his dream. He remembered that it was the castle of the rude aamir of the state. "because you forgot to recite the dua the bad Jinn had come in your dream and disturbed you "The palace of the giant looked like aamir's palace mother and even the giant looked like aamir...the fairy, I mean the jinn said everything the giant belonged is mine...in dream of course...but..." His mother chuckled as she heard Isaac. "You know my son, it wasn't wrong. Once we were rich and prosperous...your father had a bad habit...he wasted his money with his friends in betting which is unlawful. Little by little he began to lose everything he had and finally he had to sell our palace like house to the aamir, he bought for a cheap amount...poverty wrapped us and your father died carrying guilt in his heart...but it is bad to steal, cheat and deceive others even if the property is yours you can't steal it from the one who is possessing it. You must fight for your rights lawfully. Did you see how the shaitan the evil spirit tried to spoil your tender heart? He made you feel that stealing, cheating, feeling jealous and even killing is alright. Isaac realized the harm. He hugged his mother. The next day he walked out to see the magical beans his mother had thrown out the window. He saw them, become black as they were been burnt. Isaac whispered the dua "aoodu billah!" And promised him not to feel greedy for things others do have. He realized that it makes him feel jealous and then arouse him to cheat and then leads him to commit the bigger sins. He learned to work hard and earn to keep his mother happily forever. —via IiWords