The Adventures of Amir Hamza

by Ghalib Lakhnavi

  Amar accompanied him a short distance, then retraced his steps to the haberdasher’s shop, and said to his apprentice, “Your master has sent for the large box of needles. He has a buyer willing to pay a good price for them. As your master cannot come himself, he sent me in his stead.” The apprentice looked at Amar’s face and, thinking that he looked truthful, handed Amar the box of needles. Amar headed straight for the academy and riddled the mulla’s bed and bedding with the needles, and went home.

  As the mulla and his wife had quarreled that day and come to blows, the whole house was in turmoil, and nothing had been cooked. Estranged from his wife, the mulla headed for the academy and spread out his mattress. The moment he set foot on the mattress, needles pricked the soles of his feet. Screaming with pain, the mulla sank onto the mattress. The needles now bore into his rear, piercing him painfully. As he lay down to allay his anguish, his back and stomach were all run through, and he began rolling about in fits of agony and his whole body swelled up like a crocodile’s. As the children were away on holiday, there was no one in the academy who could remove the needles from the mulla’s body.

  When the pupils arrived on Saturday, they found the mulla groaning and rolling on the floor. They began plucking the needles out, and they had a hard time of it with the mulla screaming loudly every time one was removed and becoming inconsolable with pain. Meanwhile, Amar arrived at the academy late on purpose, and called for a litter, and had the mulla carried on it to the surgeon’s.

  When the litter passed by the haberdasher’s shop, the shopkeeper recognized Amar, and came rushing out, saying, “O vile boy! Indeed you are a wanton seditionist! Duping me and sending me home by claiming my wife to be on her last breath, you cheated my apprentice in my name, and made away with the box of needles! But now I have caught you.” The mulla pricked up his ears when he heard mention of the needles, and asked the peddler, “When did he make away with your box of needles?”

  Realizing that the secret would be out before long, Amar gave them both the slip, and returned to the academy posthaste. Addressing Hamza and Muqbil, he said, “So long, my friends! My time is up as this city has become too small for me!” Hamza could not think of a life separated from his friend. He asked, “What is the matter?” Amar said, “I cannot at present make answer. But I will convey the entire story to your blessed ears when I am a little more composed!”

  Hamza said, “Come, take us where you will, as I shall be miserable without you!” Hamza, Muqbil, and other boys who had become attached to Hamza, followed trembling with fear in Amar’s train. Amar brought them to a pass in the hills of Abu Qubais where they hid for a night and a day.

  After they had gone hungry for a whole day, Hamza said to Amar, “Now we are consumed with hunger and dying of starvation.” Amar replied, “Wait and see what wonderful delicacies I shall provide for you in this wasteland!”

  Thus having spoken, Amar went into the town, and bought a length of clean intestine from the butcher. Then he headed for the dunghill in the backyard of an old woman’s house, where her pullets were pecking. Amar tied a knot on one end of the intestine and threw it on the dunghill. When a pullet swallowed it, Amar blew into the intestine from the other end and it inflated and choked the bird. Then Amar quickly slaughtered it, and wrapped it in a kerchief.

  In this manner Amar had caught some fifteen or sixteen pullets, when he began to think of stealing something else. He showered a hail of stones on the old woman’s roof and then lay in wait. Frightened by that barrage of stones, the terrified crone rushed out shouting and screaming from the front entrance, and Amar sneaked into her house by the back door. He stole some eggs lying there in a pot, then headed out.

  Farther down the road was a kebab shop where Amar had the chickens roasted and a khagina27 made of the eggs. He also bought shir-maals28 and nihari.29 After putting all the food on a tray, Amar asked the kebabist to send a man with him to Khvaja Abdul Muttalib’s house, and told him that he would be paid for the food there.

  After they had gone a little way, Amar said to the man, “Go ahead and wait for me at Khvaja Abdul Muttalib’s guesthouse. I shall be there soon and will pay you for your trouble!” The man headed toward Khvaja Abdul Muttalib’s house, and Amar for the hills of Abu Qubais.

  When Amar returned to his companions, they marveled greatly at the package of food that he put before them. All his companions fell upon the food.

  In the meanwhile, the man sent by the kebabist arrived at Khvaja Abdul Muttalib’s house and said, “My master has sent this humble servant to request of you the payment for the shir-maals that you had sent for by Amar!” Now, the mulla had already arrived and detailed his woes, and a bewildered Khvaja Abdul Muttalib was listening to the kebabist’s man when suddenly crying and wailing was heard, and the old woman presented herself. She petitioned Khvaja Abdul Muttalib: “Oh, poor me! With what treachery Amar deprived me of my chickens and eggs, and in so foul a manner tricked an invalid old widow like myself!”

  Khvaja Abdul Muttalib now asked the kebabist’s man, “Did you see where Amar went?” He replied, “I saw him heading toward the hills of Abu Qubais.”

  Khvaja Abdul Muttalib paid him, compensated the old widow, too, and said to the mulla, “I ask that you take the trouble to go to the hills of Abu Qubais with your pupils to apprehend Amar and bring him before me!”

  His ill luck drove the mulla to lead his pupils to the hills of Abu Qubais to catch Amar. When they drew near the hilly pass, Amar said to Hamza, “Here comes the mulla with his novices to catch us! They will have Hell to pay for this!” Overhearing this, the mulla stopped in his tracks, but urged Abu Jahal and Abu Sufyan and some others to go forward and capture Amar.

  When Abu Jahal and the other boys closed in upon them, Amar cried out, “Do not call this calamity upon your heads! It would be best for you to return in one piece to your folks!” But Abu Jahal mustered his courage and went forward. When he came close, Amar let fly a barrage of pebbles at him with such violence that his whole face was cut and bruised, and the sharp points of the pebbles lacerated Abu Jahal’s whole body. Rubbing his eyes and screaming with pain, Abu Jahal turned tail. And when they saw Abu Jahal’s state, the other boys dared not take a step forward either.

  The mulla, imagining that Amar would give up in terror if he saw him coming, went boldly ahead. But as soon as he drew close, Amar hurled a stone at the man with such savage fury that it broke open his head and a stream of blood came gushing out from his wound. Finding his business done there, the mulla also beat a retreat and headed back to town drenched in blood. He went straight to Khvaja Abdul Muttalib’s house and recounted the whole episode, and said, “I have had enough of teaching and educating Amar, as he makes me wonderful recompense for all my pains!”

  Upon hearing this, Khvaja Abdul Muttalib himself rode out to the hills of Abu Qubais. Amar recognized Khvaja Abdul Muttalib from far away, and said to Hamza, “I see Khvaja Abdul Muttalib coming. There is no knowing what punishment he will mete out, if he finds me. Now I must go my way!” Arriving at the pass, Khvaja Abdul Muttalib did not find Amar. He sent Muqbil and the other boys to their homes and returned home with Hamza.

  Once they were home, he said to Hamza, “Never must you utter Amar’s name again! Boys from good homes do not mingle with such vicious liars and cheats. He will earn you a bad name, and sully the honor of your forefathers!”

  But when was Hamza ever comforted or consoled without his friend? He began to sob most uncontrollably and did not touch food or drink for seven days. Then Abdul Muttalib panicked. Worried that his son might forfeit his life over a trifle, he was forced to send people to look for Amar and bring him back.

  But at the same time, Khvaja Abdul Muttalib also enjoined Hamza, “Never must you follow Amar’s bidding, my son! And never again lend your ears to what that rascal says. And remember to adhere strictly to my words!”

  OF AMAR LEADING HAMZA INTO THE NEIGHBOR’S GARDEN, AND OF AMAR STEALING DATES AND HAMZA PULLING DOWN THREE
TREES

  One day Amar persuaded Hamza to visit the garden. At Amar’s incitement, Hamza took him and Muqbil to his garden. From there Amar sneaked into a neighbor’s garden. He came back after having his fill of the fruits and said, “My lords! There is such a paradisiacal garden close by, before which the blooming splendor of this garden is reduced to an image of autumn!”

  With Muqbil and Amar alongside him, Hamza headed there. When they reached the garden, they found date palms laden with fruit.

  Hamza sat down while Amar went around, climbing over the trees and stealing fruit. Presently he returned with his hands and mouth full of dates. Hamza said to him, “Let me have some, too, that I may also taste and enjoy these delicious dates!” Amar replied, “Why must I give you a single fruit, after all the trouble I have undergone in picking them? If you are so consumed with greed, help yourself!”

  As Hamza got up to climb the tree, Amar chided him, and said, “Such labors become thin people like your humble servant! Fat people are well advised not to climb trees! If I had a physique like yours, I would have pulled down this tree from its very roots!” Hamza felt the challenge in Amar’s words, and he dealt a blow to the tree in his rage. It broke from the base, and came crashing down. Amar said, “What is so great about bringing down a sapling of a tree like this one?”

  Upon hearing that, Hamza grew even more furious and pulled out a second tree from its roots. Amar said, “Now, this is what I call a proper tree! However, the real test of strength would be to fell that big, strong, firmly rooted tree over yonder.” In his anger Hamza felled that tree as well. At this point, Amar said, “O Arab! Why are you set upon destroying someone else’s property? Have you no fear of God?”

  Amar then ran to inform the garden’s owner. He also called the gardener over, saying to him, “A while ago such a strong storm blew that it brought down three of your trees.” The gardener said, “There was hardly enough wind here to stir a leaf, let alone bring down trees!” Amar replied, “Go and see for yourself! Once you are in the garden, you can judge for yourself.”

  When the gardener went over to investigate, he did find three trees, the pride of his garden, lying on the ground. He began to cry and lament loudly, as the subsistence of his whole family depended on them. Hamza took pity on the gardener, and comforted and consoled him by promising to give him three camels in lieu of the three trees. Beside himself with joy, the gardener blessed Hamza from his heart.

  But Amar said to the gardener, “Do not for a moment think that you can dupe boys and trick them into parting with camels! Or do you believe that I would allow you to benefit from this arrangement, and let you have a moment’s peace until you have shared the spoils with me.” The gardener was frightened out of his wits by Amar’s dark and ominous threats, and gave one of the camels to Amar.

  OF HAMZA, MUQBIL, AND AMAR BECOMING BLESSED AND ACQUIRING OCCULT GIFTS

  The fingers of ancient scribes straddle the provident dark reed, galloping their mount in the sphere of rhetoric, and in this enchanting wise, speed the fleet gray steed of the pen in the domains of the page. One day Hamza was seated with his friends Muqbil and Amar in the vestibule of his mansion, when Hamza noticed a stream of people heading in one direction. Regarding this activity, Hamza said to Amar, “Find out where these people are going in droves!” Amar brought news that there were horses on display in a merchants’ caravan. And if Hamza so desired they, too, could join them and view the steeds on show. The three friends set out on foot. Upon arriving there they found horses of fine breeds and one stallion, heavily restrained with chains.

  Amar made contact with the horse’s owner and asked, “What is this horse’s crime that you have chained and fettered him thus?” The merchant replied, “This horse is a great biter, and has all five vices30 defined in the sharia.31 Nobody can go near him, let alone mount him. He is fed with the muzzle on, and eats and drinks with much ado!” Amar said, “What senseless talk is this that nobody can mount this horse. Tell me what you wish to wager for someone to ride this horse.” The man answered, “If someone could mount this horse and manage him even a few paces I would present him with this horse worth thousands and never ask for a farthing!” Amar returned to Hamza and repeated the terms of the wager to him, inciting him to ride the horse.

  Hamza went forth to have the horse saddled and brought to the grounds with its fetters and blinders removed. The unchained beast began to display its vile temper the moment Hamza put his hands on its mane with the intention of mounting him. But Hamza closed in and with one leap seated himself upon the animal’s back. Hamza made him amble, then trot, then break into a gallop. As he was a headstrong stallion, no matter how much Hamza tried to rein him in, the beast could not be controlled, and he bolted and ran at a gallop for fifty leagues. Finally, Hamza weighted himself down in the saddle and broke the horse’s back in retribution for his wickedness and malevolence. The horse collapsed to his death, and Hamza turned homeward. As he was not used to traveling on foot, the soles of his feet got blistered and imperiled his safe return home. He tried to lift his feet but they failed him. Exhausted, Hamza sat down to rest under a tree.

  Presently he espied an approaching rider, his face veiled, leading a parti-colored horse adorned with a jewel-encrusted saddle.

  As he drew nearer, the veiled rider greeted Hamza and said to him, “O Hamza! This horse here is the mount of Prophet Ishaq (may the blessings of God be upon him!), and answers to the name of Siyah Qitas. He has properties of the zephyr, and at God’s bidding I have brought him to be your mount. I make you my favored one, and pronounce this blessing that no warrior will ever overcome you, and the height of your prestige shall forever remain ascendant over your opponent’s. Remove that stone standing on the heap over yonder, and dig into the earth underneath. It will reveal a chest containing the arms and armor of the prophets. You shall find therein an endless array of choice weapons. Decorate yourself with them, and test their mettle when the occasion presents itself!”

  Hamza directly removed the stone and doing so discovered such power and force in his limbs that he had never suspected himself of possessing even a fourth part of it. He removed the earth, and upon uncovering the reliquary, found within the vest of Ismail, the helmet of Hud, the chain mail of Daud, the arm guard of Yusuf, the ankle guards of Saleh, the cummerbund and dagger of Rustam, the swords Samsam and Qumqam of Barkhia, the shield of Garshasp, the mace of Sam bin Nariman, the scimitar of Sohrab, and the lance of Nuh. Hamza took them out, and dressed and decorated himself with these arms and armor, pronounced the name of the Almighty, and mounted Siyah Qitas.

  The veiled one was gone within the blink of an eye, and had vanished from Hamza’s sight. It is recorded that the veiled ancient was none other than the angel Jibrail (may the blessings of God be upon him!). Then Hamza turned the reins of his mount toward Mecca.

  Now we turn to Amar, who followed Hamza on foot for ten leagues and did not let up but kept him within sight. When the soles of his feet became as porous as a beehive from acacia thorns, he could carry on no longer, and collapsed unconscious under a tree. As per God’s decree, the prophet Khizr reached his side, and offered him words of encouragement and solace. He lifted Amar from where he lay on the ground, and made him his favored one.

  Then Khizr declared: “Rise, O Amar! I bless you by the command of Allah, and declare that no one shall outpace you in this world!” With this proclamation, Prophet Khizr vanished. Amar got to his feet and, in order to test the veracity of what Khizr had pronounced, sprinted a short distance. He learned that he could indeed run swifter than the wind itself. He prostrated himself to say thanks to the Almighty, and set out in search of Hamza.

  He had gone but a few paces when he saw Hamza coming. Amar marveled greatly at the horse and armor, and said to Hamza, “O Arab! Tell me verily, whom did you waylay to come into this horse and armor?”

  Hamza replied, Murdering people is an office best suited to the likes of you! God has ordained that I be blessed by the an
gel Jibrail! This horse named Siyah Qitas was the mount of the prophet Ishaq, and the arms and armor you see are the belongings of the prophets that are a gift from God!” Amar said, “I would believe your word as true, if your horse would outrace me.”

  Hamza thought Amar was speaking like a buffoon as was his wont. He said to Amar, “Here! Come show me how you fare alongside my horse.”

  Hamza spurred on the horse, and Amar, too, set off. They both raced for ten leagues, and remained shoulder to shoulder and head to head. Hamza was amazed at Amar’s speed and marveled greatly. Amar then admitted, “Hear this, O Hamza, that I, too, have been blessed by Prophet Khizr and made his favored one!”

  When Muqbil heard that Hamza and Amar had been blessed and proclaimed favored ones of the angel Jibrail and the prophet Khizr (may God bless their souls), he said in his heart, Now I cannot possibly hope to prevail alongside these favored personages. It would be best to offer myself into Emperor Naushervan’s service and become his courtier. In the emperor’s service, all are equals and coevals!

  Engrossed in these fancies, Muqbil set out toward Ctesiphon. He had barely gone some five leagues when he sat down under a tree from exhaustion, and said to himself, Death is far better a prospect than a life such as mine! It is better to give up my life than to continue in this wretched existence, with neither a farthing for traveling provisions, nor a mount for transport. Giving in to despair, Muqbil climbed up the tree and tied one end of his cummerbund to a branch. Then making a noose of the other end and putting it around his neck, he let himself go, and his limbs began to flail from suffocation.

  The avis of his soul was on the verge of fluttering out of his body and flying heavenward, when there arrived the Lion of God, the Exalted One, Sahib-e Hal Ata,32 the Feller of Khaibar’s fort, the Second of the Five Holies.33 He called out to him, whereupon Muqbil fell to the ground. That holy personage helped him to his feet and, presenting him with a bow and five arrows, proclaimed, “I bless you with the art of archery, and pronounce you peerless and unmatched in this skill.”