Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

A long time ago, in a town in Persia, there lived two brothers named Qasim and Ali Baba. When their father passed away, he left them a small amount of wealth which they divided fairly and soon spent. Qasim, the elder brother, married the daughter of a wealthy merchant. When his father-in-law died, Qasim inherited a large shop filled with rare and expensive goods, a storehouse with precious items, and a hidden stash of gold. This made him known throughout the city as a wealthy man.

Ali Baba, however, married a poor woman and they lived in a humble house. To make a living, Ali Baba collected wood from the forest every day and sold it in the market by transporting it on his three donkeys.

One day, after cutting enough wood and loading it onto his donkeys, Ali Baba noticed a dust cloud rising in the distance. As it came closer, he realized it was a group of horsemen riding quickly toward him.

When Ali Baba saw this, he became frightened—worrying that the men might be bandits who would kill him and steal his donkeys. Panicking, he began to run, but because they were already so close, he couldn’t escape from the forest. Instead, he quickly led his donkeys, loaded with wood, off the main path and into a thick bush. He then climbed a large tree nearby to hide. He perched on a high branch where he could see everything happening below but no one on the ground could see him. The tree stood right next to a tall rock.

The horsemen—who were young, strong, and skilled riders—rode right up to the rock and then dismounted. Watching closely, Ali Baba soon became sure that they were bandits. He guessed that they had attacked a caravan, stolen its goods, and brought their loot to this place to hide it. He counted and saw that there were forty bandits in all.

As they gathered under the tree, each robber removed his horse's bridle and tied it up; each one then removed the saddlebags filled with gold and silver. One man, who looked like their leader, took his heavy bags and walked ahead through the thick bushes until he reached a certain spot. There, he spoke the strange words, "Khul jaa, Simsim!" Instantly, a wide doorway opened in the side of the rock.

The robbers went in, last of them all being their Chief, and then the portal shut itself. For a long while they remained within the cave whilst Ali Baba was constrained to abide, perched upon the tree, reflecting that if he came down too soon: peradventure the band might emerge forth from the cave that very moment and seize and slay him. At last, he had determined to mount one of the horses and drive on his asses to return town-wards when, suddenly, the portal flew open. 

Ali Baba kept himself hidden in the tree as he watched the robbers leave. He didn’t climb down until they were completely out of sight, fearing one might turn back and see him.

Then he thought to himself, “I’ll try using those magic words and see if the door will open for me too.” 

So he called out, "Khul jaa, Simsim!" The doorway instantly opened and he stepped inside. He found himself in a large cave, with a ceiling tall enough to fit a grown man. The cave was carved out of solid rock and lit by small openings in the ceiling, allowing light to stream in. Ali Baba expected it to be dark inside but, instead, he saw a huge room filled with stacks of all kinds of goods—silks, brocades, and richly embroidered fabrics piled from the floor to the ceiling. There were also heaps of colorful carpets and endless piles of gold and silver coins; some scattered on the ground and others packed in leather bags and sacks. Seeing all this wealth, Ali Baba guessed that thieves must have been hiding their loot here for many generations.

As soon as he entered, the door closed behind him, but Ali Baba wasn’t worried because he remembered the magic words. Ignoring the valuable items around him, he focused on the bags of gold coins. He took out as many as he thought his donkeys could carry then loaded the sacks onto them. To keep anyone from noticing the gold, he covered the bags with sticks and firewood, so it looked like he was carrying his usual load.

When he was ready to leave, he called out, “Band ho jaa, Simsim!” and the door in the cave closed. The magic worked such that, whenever anyone entered the cave, the door would close behind them automatically and it wouldn’t open again until they said, “Khul jaa, Simsim!”

After loading up his donkeys, Ali Baba quickly led them back to the city. Once he got home, he brought them into the yard, closed the outer gate, and began unloading. First, he took off the sticks and firewood, then he carried the bags of gold inside to show his wife.

She felt the bags and, realizing they were full of coins, assumed Ali Baba must have stolen them. She began scolding him, thinking he had done something wrong.  Ali Baba quickly reassured her, saying, “I’m no thief! Instead of scolding me, you should celebrate our good luck.”

He then told her the whole story of his discovery and emptied the bags of gold into piles in front of her. She was amazed by the glittering coins and thrilled by his tale. 

She started counting the coins but Ali Baba said, “Oh, foolish woman, how long will you go on counting? Let me dig a hole to hide this treasure so no one finds out about it.” 

She agreed but wanted to weigh the gold first to get an idea of how much they had. He replied, “Do as you like, but remember, tell no one.”

She hurried over to Qasim’s house to borrow some scales for weighing the coins. Not finding Qasim, she asked his wife, “Could you lend me your scales for a moment?” 

Qasim’s wife asked, “Do you need the large scales or the small ones?” 

Ali Baba’s wife replied, “Just the small scales.” 

Qasim’s wife said, “Wait here a moment, and I’ll get them for you.”

Using the wait as an excuse, Qasim’s wife secretly smeared wax and grease on the scale’s pan, hoping that whatever Ali Baba’s wife weighed would stick to it so she could find out what it was. Ali Baba’s wife didn’t notice this trick and took the scales home, where she began weighing the gold while Ali Baba dug a hole. After weighing the coins, they hid the treasure in the hole and covered it carefully with dirt.

Ali Baba’s wife returned the scales to her sister-in-law, not realizing that a gold coin had stuck to the pan. When Qasim’s wife saw the coin, she grew envious and upset, thinking, “So, they borrowed my scales to weigh gold?” She couldn’t believe that Ali Baba, who was so poor, had come into such a fortune that he needed to weigh it.

When her husband returned home that evening, she said to him, “You may think you’re wealthy, but your brother Ali Baba is far richer. He has so much gold he has to weigh it, while you simply count yours.” 

Qasim asked, “How do you know this?” His wife then told him about the coin that had stuck to the scales, showing him the gold piece, which bore an old king’s mark. Qasim couldn’t sleep all night, consumed by envy and greed. Early the next morning, he went to Ali Baba and said, “Brother, you may look poor, but in reality, you’re very wealthy. You have so much gold that you have to weigh it with scales.”

Ali Baba replied, “What are you talking about? I don’t understand.” 

Qasim, growing angry, said, “Don’t pretend you don’t know what I speak of. Don’t try to fool me.” Then Qasim showed Ali Baba the gold coin and added, “You have thousands of coins like this while my wife found this one stuck to our scales.”

Ali Baba then told his brother the truth. Upon hearing the tale, Qasim demanded, “Tell me exactly where you found this treasure, and the magic words that open and close the door. And be warned—if you don’t tell me everything, I’ll report these Ashrafis to the Wali. You’ll lose all you have and be thrown into prison.” 

Ali Baba, fearing trouble, revealed everything, including the magical words.

The next day, Qasim, driven by greed, hired ten mules and set off to the place Ali Baba described. He found the rock and tree where Ali Baba had hidden, then called out, "Khul jaa, Simsim!" 

The door opened and Qasim eagerly stepped inside, amazed at the piles of jewels and treasures. Lost in admiration, he gathered bags of gold coins, enough for his ten mules, and placed them by the entrance, ready to load outside. But, just as he was about to leave, he realized he had forgotten the magic words to open the door again. 

In his panic, he cried, “Khul jaa, jo!”—but nothing happened. He grew frantic, trying every grain name he could think of—all except for sesame—which he could not recall. Overwhelmed with confusion and fear, he paced back and forth in the cave; the sight of the treasure that once filled him with joy now causing him deep sorrow.

As noon approached, the robbers returned and spotted the mules wandering near the entrance. Surprised, they wondered how the animals had ended up there as Qasim had left them untied and they had strayed to graze nearby. However, the robbers, unbothered by the stray mules, wondered only who had found their hidden treasure trove.

Upon reaching the cave, the Captain and his band dismounted, reciting the magical phrase. The door swung open and Qasim, upon hearing the robbers approaching, was gripped by fear. Knowing they would show him no mercy, he tried to escape as soon as the door opened. Instead, he collided with the Captain, knocking him down. A nearby robber, seeing Qasim, swiftly drew his sword and cut him in two.

The robbers all entered the cave, gathering the bags of gold Qasim had piled near the entrance. In their confusion and anger over the intrusion, they did not notice that some gold was still missing. Realizing that an outsider had discovered the cave, they quartered Qasim’s body, hanging the parts on either side of the door as a warning to deter future intruders. After securing the entrance, they mounted their horses and rode off.

That evening, when Qasim failed to return, his wife grew anxious and went to Ali Baba. 

“O my brother, Qasim has not come back. I fear some misfortune has befallen him,” she said. 

Ali Baba, sensing that something might have gone wrong, tried to comfort her. “Do not worry, wife of my brother. Qasim may have taken a longer route to avoid detection and will likely be here soon,” he assured her.

Comforted for the moment, she returned home but, as the night wore on, her worry deepened. She wept quietly, regretful that she had revealed the secret of the scales to her husband fearing this had led him to disaster.

Ali Baba, meanwhile, returned to the cave, searching for his brother. Upon saying "Khul jaa, Simsim!" he entered the cave and saw his brother Qasim’s body, quartered and hung at the entrance. 

Though deeply afraid, he carefully wrapped Qasim's remains in two cloths, laying them on one of his donkeys and covered them with sticks and firewood to avoid detection. He loaded his other two donkeys with bags of gold, concealed these as well, then shut the cave door using the magical words. He set off homeward with utmost caution.

At his house, he handed over the loaded donkeys to his wife, instructing her to bury the gold without revealing Qasim's fate. He then took the donkey carrying Qasim’s body to his late brother’s home, where he was quietly let in by Morgiana, Qasim's clever and loyal slave-girl. 

Ali Baba gently lowered Qasim's body and said to Morgiana, "Quickly prepare the body for burial; I must speak with your mistress but will soon return to assist you."

Qasim's widow, noticing Ali Baba's somber expression, anxiously asked for news of her husband. Ali Baba recounted Qasim’s tragic encounter with the robbers and his grisly fate. He urged her to keep the matter secret as revealing it could endanger their lives. 

The widow, though devastated, agreed to remain silent for the sake of safety, accepting the fate that had befallen her husband. Ali Baba, in turn, assured her of future protection, promising to marry her when her period of mourning was over and pledged to ensure her well-being.

The widow, resigned to the outcome, agreed to his plan. Ali Baba, after comforting her, met Morgiana and conferred with her on handling Qasim’s burial. After giving her careful instructions, he took his leave, returning home with his donkey while Morgiana began to make the necessary preparations in silence.

As soon as Ali Baba had left, Morgiana quickly went to the shop of a druggist. She acted with caution to avoid raising suspicion and asked for a medicine typically given to those suffering from a severe illness. 

The druggist, curious, asked, "Who in your household is so gravely ill?" 

Morgiana replied, "My master, Qasim, is very close to death. He has not spoken or eaten for days and we are losing hope for his life."

The next day, Morgiana returned for more medicine and other remedies meant for those nearing death. 

Sighing and shedding tears, she told the druggist, "I fear he may not have the strength to take even this dose; he may already be gone by the time I return."

Meanwhile, Ali Baba waited anxiously for the sounds of mourning from Qasim’s home, a signal to publicly join the funeral rites. 

Early on the second day, Morgiana with her face veiled, went to Baba Mustafa, an elderly tailor known for making shrouds. Seeing him open his shop, she offered him a gold coin and said, "Cover your eyes with a cloth and come with me." When he hesitated, she placed another gold coin in his hand, persuading him to follow.

The tailor, tempted by the money, tied a kerchief over his eyes and Morgiana led him by the hand to Qasim’s house. Once inside the dimly lit room, she removed his blindfold and instructed him to stitch together Qasim’s quartered body. When he finished, she asked him to sew a shroud around the body, promising him another coin for his work. Baba Mustafa completed the task quickly, and Morgiana paid him the promised coin. She blindfolded him again and led him back to his shop.

With the tailor’s work complete, Morgiana returned home and, with Ali Baba’s help, washed the body with warm water, wrapped it in the shroud, and prepared it for burial. She then went to the mosque to inform the Imam of a funeral in the household and requested him to perform the funeral prayers.

The Imam accompanied her back and four neighbors carried the bier, leading the funeral procession, with the Imam and others following. Morgiana walked in front, bareheaded, striking her chest, and wailing loudly. Ali Baba and the other mourners walked behind, completing the rites for Qasim’s secretive and solemn burial.

In this manner, they entered the cemetery and buried Qasim. After leaving him to the care of Munkar and Nakir—the Questioners of the Dead—they all made their way home.

Soon the women of the village, in accordance with the local custom, gathered in the house of mourning to sit with Qasim's widow, offering her comfort and consolation. They remained for an hour, leaving her somewhat resigned yet heartened. 

Ali Baba, meanwhile, stayed at home in ceremonial mourning for forty days, ensuring that no one in the town knew the secret except himself, his soon to be wife (Qasim's widow), and Morgiana.

Once the forty days of mourning had passed, Ali Baba moved all of the deceased’s property to his own quarters and married the widow. He then appointed his nephew, Qasim's eldest son—who was knowledgeable in trade and business—to take charge of his late father's shop and continue the work.

One day, as the robbers came to their treasure cave, they were astonished to find no trace of Qasim’s body while noticing that a significant amount of gold had been taken. The Captain, perplexed, said, “We must investigate this matter; otherwise, we will suffer great losses. Our treasure, which we have accumulated over many years, will be depleted little by little.”

All the robbers agreed and the Captain added that the man they had slain must have known the magical words to open the cave door and that someone else must also have knowledge of the spell. That person must have taken the body along with much of the gold. They agreed to search diligently to uncover the person responsible.

The robbers then decided that one among them, skilled and clever, should disguise himself as a merchant from foreign lands and go into the city. He would inquire about any recent deaths, seeking to find out where the deceased had lived, which could lead them to the person who had taken the body and the gold.

One of the bandits volunteered to go, saying, “Grant me permission to gather this information. If I fail, I will forfeit my life.”

The thief, after donning a disguise, entered the town at night. The next morning, he went to the market square, where he found that no shops were open except that of Baba Mustafa the tailor, who was already seated at his stool, threading a needle.

The thief greeted him and asked, “It is still early; how can you see to sew?”

The tailor replied, “You must be a stranger. Despite my age, my eyesight is keen enough to sew. Only yesterday, I sewed up a dead body together in a dark room.”

The bandit thought to himself, “I may learn something useful from this man,” and inquired further, “Are you saying that you stitched a shroud for a corpse and that you specialize in making burial cloths?”

The tailor answered curtly, “It is no business of yours. Do not ask me any more questions.”

The robber then placed an Ashrafi in Baba Mustafa's hand and said, "I do not wish to uncover any secrets you might be hiding, for like every honest man, my heart is a grave for such things. I only wish to ask you this: in what house did you perform the task? Can you guide me there or lead me to the place?"

The tailor greedily took the gold and replied, "I did not see the house with my own eyes. A certain bondswoman led me to a place I know well and there she bandaged my eyes. She guided me to a house, took me into a darkened room, and showed me a dismembered corpse. Then, she unbound my eyes and asked me to sew the body back together. Afterward, she blindfolded me again and led me back to where she had found me. Therefore, I cannot tell you the location of the house."

The robber, thinking for a moment, said, "Although you do not know the house, you can still take me to the place where you were blindfolded. I will blindfold you again and lead you as you were led. Perhaps this will help you find the location. If you do this for me, I offer you another golden ducat."

The bandit slipped another Ashrafi into Baba Mustafa’s hand, who quickly pocketed both coins. Without further delay, the tailor left his shop, and the robber accompanied him, binding a kerchief over his eyes as they walked. Baba Mustafa, keen-witted, started counting the steps as he retraced his journey. After some time, he paused and said, “I came this far with her.”

They stopped in front of the house where Qasim’s body had been prepared for burial, now the home of Ali Baba. The robber, marking the door with white chalk, said, "Thank you, Baba Mustafa, for your kindness. May Allah reward you. Tell me now, who lives in that house?"

The tailor answered, "I do not know, for I have little knowledge of this neighborhood." Realizing he could learn no more from the tailor, the bandit thanked him again and sent him back to his shop. The robber then rushed back to the meeting place in the jungle where the rest of the band awaited his return.

Some time later, Morgiana, running an errand, noticed the chalk marks on the door and was puzzled. After some thought, she concluded that an enemy had made these marks to identify the house and perhaps plot something against her master. To prevent this, she chalked all of her neighbors' doors in the same way, keeping the matter to herself, not revealing it to either Ali Baba or Qasim's widow.

Meanwhile, the robber relayed his findings to the band. The Captain and the rest of the robbers entered the city from various directions. The robber who had marked the door led the Captain to Ali Baba's house, where he proudly pointed out the chalk marks. "This is the house of the man we seek!" he said.

However, when the Captain surveyed the area, he saw that all the houses had chalk marks and he grew confused. He asked, "How can you be sure which house is the one we are looking for, when all of them bear similar signs?"

The robber-guide, utterly baffled, could find no answer. With a curse, he exclaimed, "I surely marked a door, but I cannot explain how all the other houses came to bear similar marks; nor can I say for certain which one I marked."

The Captain, frustrated, returned to the market-place and told his men, "Our efforts have been in vain; we have not found the house we sought. Let us return to the forest at our rendezvous. I, too, shall go there."

The robbers all left and gathered back in the treasure cave. The Captain, feeling the need for discipline, decided to punish the man who had misled them. He imprisoned him in front of the group and then declared, "I will show special favor to whoever among you can go to the town and bring back information that will lead us to the thief who stole from us."

At that, another robber stepped forward and said, "I will go and find what you seek. I shall bring you the news you desire."

The Captain, impressed, gave him gifts and promises of reward before sending him on his mission. By the will of fate, this robber went first to Baba Mustafa the tailor’s house, just as his predecessor had done. Persuading the tailor with gold, he too was led blindfolded to Ali Baba's house. Upon arriving, he saw the work of the previous robber and added his own mark, using red chalk this time to distinguish it from the others marked with white.

The robber then returned to his band, proudly declaring, "I have found the house and marked it clearly with a red sign so that it can be distinguished from all the others."

But Morgiana, ever watchful, also saw the red mark and, with her usual cunning, marked all the other doors with red chalk as well. She told no one what she had done.

The Captain sent another man to verify the robber's finding. As before, when the robbers went to the house, they found every house marked with red chalk. Disappointed once again, they returned empty-handed and the Captain, furious, had this second spy locked up as well.

The Captain, now deeply vexed, thought to himself, "Two men have failed, and their punishment is just. I suspect no one else will attempt this task, so I will go myself to find the house."

He went to the city, and, with Baba Mustafa’s help, finally located the house of Ali Baba. This time, he kept his discovery to himself, making no outward sign but committing the location to memory.

Returning to the jungle, he said to his men, "I now know exactly where the house is and I have it clearly in my mind. There will be no more difficulty in finding it. Now, go at once and purchase nineteen mules, along with one large jar of mustard oil and thirty-seven empty oil jars. We are thirty-seven men, so each will hide inside one of the jars. We will load two men into each mule’s jars, and on the nineteenth mule, there will be one man in an empty jar and the jar filled with oil. I will disguise myself as an oil merchant, driving the mules into the town. When we arrive at the house at night, I will ask the master for permission to stay the night. In the dark hours, we will rise up, attack, and kill him."

Furthermore, the Captain spoke, saying, "When we have finished, we shall recover the gold and treasure that he took from us and return it upon the mules."

The robbers were pleased with this plan and immediately went out to purchase mules and large leather jars, following the Captain's instructions. After three days, just before nightfall, they began their preparations. They smeared all the jars with mustard oil and each robber hid inside an empty jar. The Captain, disguised as a trader, placed the jars on the nineteen mules, making sure there were thirty-seven jars in total, each containing a robber armed and ready, except for one, which was full of oil.

With everything in place, the Captain drove the mules to Ali Baba’s house, arriving just as night fell. It so happened that Ali Baba was strolling outside after supper when the Captain approached him. 

The Captain greeted him with a friendly salutation and said, "I come from such and such a village, bringing oil. I have often sold oil here but I have arrived too late today. I am troubled, not knowing where to spend the night. If you would be so kind, allow me to rest here in your courtyard. I will unload the jars and give the mules some fodder."

Although Ali Baba had heard the Captain’s voice from the tree and had seen him enter the cave, he did not recognize him due to the Captain's disguise. He welcomed the Captain’s request and invited him in. He instructed his servant to fetch grain and water for the mules and told Morgiana, the slave-girl, "A guest has come and will stay here tonight. See to it that he is well served and that his needs are met."

As the Captain let down the jars and fed the mules, Ali Baba treated him with kindness and courtesy. He then called for Morgiana and repeated, in the Captain's presence, "See that this guest is well cared for. Tomorrow, I will go to the Hammam to bathe, so make sure to give my servant Abdullah a clean white outfit to wear afterward. Also, prepare some broth for me overnight, so I may drink it when I return."

Morgiana replied, "I will have everything ready as you have instructed."

With that, Ali Baba retired for the night. The Captain, after supper, went to the shed and ensured the mules had their food and drink. After checking on the mules and the jars, which Ali Baba and his family believed to be full of oil, the Captain found a private moment. He whispered to his men, who were hiding in ambush, "Tonight, at midnight, when you hear my voice, open the jars with your knives and come out quickly."

Then, passing through the kitchen, the Captain made his way to the room where a bed had been prepared for him, with Morgiana guiding him, holding a lamp.

She said, "If you need anything else, please tell your servant. I’m always ready to help!"

He replied, "I don’t need anything else," and then, putting out the light, lay down to rest while awaiting the right time to wake his men and finish their work.

Meanwhile, Morgiana did as her master had asked. She first took a clean suit of clothes and gave it to Abdullah, who had not yet gone to bed. Then she put the pot on the fire to heat the broth and stoked the flames to make the fire burn brightly. After a short while, she went to check if the broth was boiling but, by then, all the lamps had gone out. She found that the oil had run out and there was no way to light the lamps again.

Abdullah noticed that she seemed troubled and asked, "Why are you so upset? There are plenty of jars of oil in the shed. Go and take as much as you need."

Morgiana thanked him for the suggestion. Abdullah—who was comfortably resting in the hall—went to sleep, planning to wake up early to help Ali Baba with the bath.

So, Morgiana got up with an oil-can in hand and walked to the shed where the leather jars were lined up. As she got close to one of the jars, the thief inside, thinking it was his Captain calling him, whispered, "Is it time for us to come out?"

Morgiana jumped back, startled by the sound of someone speaking. But she was quick-witted and brave, so she replied, "The time hasn’t come yet," and thought to herself, "These jars are not full of oil, there’s something strange going on here. Maybe the oil merchant is planning something bad against my master. May Allah protect us from this danger!"

So she replied in a voice like the Captain’s, "Not yet, the time is not here."

She moved to the next jar and gave the same answer, and continued to do the same for each jar one by one. Then she thought to herself, "Thank God! My master thought this man was an oil merchant, but he has brought a group of robbers who are just waiting for the signal to attack and steal everything."

She went to the last jar, found it full of oil, and filled her oil-can. Then she returned to the kitchen, trimmed the lamp, and lit it. She took a large pot, put it on the fire, and filled it with oil from the jar. She added wood to the fire, making it burn hot to help the oil boil faster. Once it was boiling, she ladled it out in large amounts and poured it, still hot, into the leather jars one by one. The thieves, unable to escape, were burned to death, each jar containing now only a dead body.

With her cleverness, Morgiana quietly and secretly took care of everything without anyone in the house noticing. Once she was sure that all the thieves were dead, she returned to the kitchen, closed the door, and began to prepare Ali Baba’s broth.

Hardly an hour had passed when the Captain woke up from his sleep. He opened the window and saw that everything was dark and silent. He clapped his hands as a signal for his men to come out, but there was no answer. After a little while, he clapped again and called out loudly but still received no reply. He called a third time with no response, which puzzled him. He then went to the shed where the jars were.

He thought to himself, "Perhaps they have all fallen asleep but the time to act is now. I must wake them quickly."

Approaching the first jar, he was hit by the smell of hot oil and cooking flesh. He touched the jar and found it was burning hot. Going to the other jars one by one, he found the same thing. At that moment, he realized what had happened to his men. Terrified for his own life, he climbed the wall, jumped down into the garden, and fled in anger and disappointment.

Morgiana waited a while, expecting the Captain to return from the shed. When he didn’t, she understood that he had climbed the wall and escaped. The street door was locked, and knowing that the thieves were all dealt with, Morgiana went to bed feeling completely at ease and peaceful.

Two hours later, Ali Baba woke up and went to the bathhouse, unaware of the events of the night. Morgiana hadn’t woken him because she knew it would have been risky to tell him her plan. She might have lost her chance to carry it out if she had tried.

The sun was high when Ali Baba returned from the baths and he was surprised to see the jars still standing in the shed. He said, "Why hasn’t the oil merchant, my guest, taken his mules and jars to market?"

Ali Baba then asked Morgiana what had happened to the oil merchant he had entrusted to her care. She replied, "May Allah grant you many years of safety! Let me tell you in private about this merchant."

Ali Baba followed her as she led him outside the house, locking the court door behind them. She showed him one of the jars and asked, "Please look inside and see if there is oil or something else inside."

Peering inside, Ali Baba saw a man and screamed, ready to run in fear. Morgiana said, "Don’t be afraid, this man can no longer harm you. He is dead, stone dead."

Hearing such comforting words, Ali Baba asked, "O Morgiana, what dangers have we escaped and how did this villain meet his end?"

She replied, "Praise be to Almighty Allah! I will explain everything to you but be quiet and speak softly, lest the neighbors learn our secret and it causes us trouble. Look into all the jars, one by one, from first to last."

So Ali Baba examined each jar and found a man in each one, fully armed, all of them scalded to death. Stunned and speechless with disbelief, he stared at the jars. After a moment, he regained his composure and asked, "And where is the oil merchant?"

Morgiana answered, "I will tell you about him. The villain was no merchant, but a traitorous assassin whose sweet words would have led you to your doom. Now, let me explain everything that happened. But first, you’ve just returned from the bath, so you should drink some broth for your health."

Ali Baba went inside, and Morgiana served him the broth. After he drank, he said, "I want to hear this incredible story. Please tell me and ease my mind."

Morgiana then began to explain everything that had happened: "O my master, when you instructed me to boil the broth and went to bed, I, your servant, obeyed your orders. I gave Abdullah a suit of clean white clothes, then started the fire and set the broth to boil. When it was ready, I needed to light a lamp so I could skim the broth but all the oil was gone. I told Abdullah about this and he suggested I get some from the jars in the shed. 

So I took a can and went to the first jar when, suddenly, I heard a voice inside whisper cautiously, 'Is it time for us to come out?' I was astonished by this and believed that the supposed merchant had set a trap to kill you, so I answered, "The time has not yet come."Then I went to the second jar and heard another voice to which I gave the same answer. I did this with each jar and soon I was sure that these men were just waiting for a signal from their leader, whom you had taken in as a guest, thinking him to be an oil merchant. After you had welcomed him, the villain had brought these men to murder you, steal your belongings, and plunder your house. But I made sure he had no chance to succeed.The last jar was filled with oil, so I took some, lit the lamp, and set a large pot on the fire. I filled it with oil from the jar and made the fire burn fiercely under it. When the oil was hot, I poured it into the jars, one by one, scalding the men to death. Afterwards, I went back to the kitchen, put out the lamps, and stood by the window, watching to see what the false merchant would do next.Not long after, the robber captain woke up and called for his men but, when he received no answer, he went downstairs and into the shed. When he saw that all his men were dead, he fled into the night, though I do not know where he went. When he disappeared, I knew for sure that he had scaled the wall and escaped into the garden because the door was double-locked. With my heart at ease, I went to sleep.

After finishing her story, Morgiana added, "That is the whole truth I have told you. For some time, I had suspected something like this but I didn’t want to tell you earlier in case the neighbors overheard. However, now I must tell you everything. One day, I noticed a white chalk mark on the door, and the next day there was a red mark next to it. I didn’t know what they meant, but I made similar marks on the doors of our neighbors, thinking that someone might be trying to set us up for destruction. I made sure my marks were identical to the ones I found, so it would be hard to tell them apart."Morgiana continued, "Now, judge for yourself if these marks and all this villainy aren’t the work of the bandits in the forest. They were probably marking our house so they could find it again. There are still two of the forty thieves left, though I know nothing about them, so be cautious. But most importantly, be wary of their captain, the one who escaped alive. If you fall into his hands, he will surely kill you. I will do everything in my power to protect you and your property, and you will not find your slave lacking in service to you, my lord."

Hearing this, Ali Baba was overjoyed and said to her, "I am very pleased with you and your actions. Tell me, what can I do for you? I will remember your brave deed for as long as I live."

She replied, "First, we must bury these bodies so that the secret is not discovered by anyone."

Ali Baba took his slave-boy Abdullah with him into the garden, and there, beneath a tree, they dug a deep pit large enough to fit the bodies of the thieves. After carrying off their weapons, they dragged the corpses to the pit and threw them in, covering the remains of the thirty-seven robbers. They made the ground appear as if nothing had happened, leveling and cleaning it as before. The leathern jars, the weapons, and the thieves' gear were hidden away, and soon after, Ali Baba sent the mules to the market, selling them one by one with the help of Abdullah.

Thus, the matter was kept secret, and no one learned of what had occurred. However, Ali Baba could not shake off his unease, fearing that the Captain or the remaining two robbers might seek revenge. He remained cautious, ensuring that no word of what had happened or the treasure he had taken from the bandits' cave reached anyone.

Meanwhile, the Captain of the thieves, who had narrowly escaped with his life, fled into the forest, furious and filled with sorrow. His mind was scattered, and the color drained from his face like smoke rising into the air. He thought about the situation over and over and finally resolved that he must kill Ali Baba or risk losing all the treasure, which Ali Baba now knew how to access using the magical words. He also decided that, after killing Ali Baba, he would gather a new band of thieves and continue his life of crime, as his ancestors had done for generations.

That night, he rested, and the next morning he dressed himself in suitable attire and traveled to the city, arriving at a caravanserai. He thought, "Surely the news of so many deaths has reached the Wali, and Ali Baba must have been caught and brought to justice. His house has likely been destroyed, and his wealth confiscated. The townspeople must know what has happened."

So, he asked the keeper of the caravanserai, "What strange events have occurred in the city these past few days?" The keeper told him everything he had seen and heard, but the Captain could not learn what truly mattered to him.

Realizing that Ali Baba had been careful and clever, the Captain understood that not only had Ali Baba taken a great amount of treasure, but he had also killed many men and escaped unharmed. The Captain knew he had to stay alert or he, too, might fall into Ali Baba's hands.

With this resolve, the Captain rented a shop in the bazaar, bringing with him bales of fine goods and merchandise from his hidden forest treasure. He set up shop and began doing business. By chance, his shop was located across from the stall of Qasim's son, Ali Baba's nephew, where the young man was now working. The Captain, who went by the name of Khwajah Hasan, quickly became acquainted with the other shopkeepers, treating them all with great kindness. He was especially friendly and gracious toward Qasim’s son. The Captain often sat and chatted with him for long periods.

A few days later, Ali Baba, as he was accustomed to doing, visited his nephew, whom he found sitting at his shop. The Captain saw Ali Baba and immediately recognized him. One morning, he asked the young man, "Pray tell, who is the person who frequently visits you at your stall?"

The youth answered, "He is my uncle, my father’s brother." 

The Captain, eager to continue his deception, treated the young man even more kindly, giving him gifts, inviting him to meals, and sharing the finest dishes with him.

Ali Baba’s nephew, thinking it only proper to invite the merchant to supper in return for his kindness, realized that his own house was too small and humble to match the lavishness of Khwajah Hasan’s hospitality. Unsure of how to manage, he consulted his uncle.

Ali Baba responded, “You are right to want to return his kindness. On the morrow, which is Friday, close your shop as all good merchants do. After your morning meal, take Khwajah Hasan for a walk to enjoy the fresh air and, on your return, lead him past my house. I will give orders to Morgiana to prepare the best feast for him. Do not worry about anything; I will take care of it.”

The following Friday, Ali Baba’s nephew took Khwajah Hasan for a walk around the garden, and as they returned, he led him down the street where Ali Baba’s house stood. At the door, the youth paused and knocked, saying, “O my lord, this is my second home. My uncle has heard much of your kindness toward me and wishes to meet you. If you would be so kind as to enter and visit him, I would be most grateful.”

Khwajah Hasan, delighted to find a way into his enemy’s home, was at first hesitant to enter, planning to wait for a better opportunity to carry out his treachery. But, when the door was opened by the slave-porter, the nephew grabbed his hand and, with repeated persuasion, led him inside. Khwajah Hasan entered, feigning great joy and gratitude.

The host greeted him warmly, inquiring after his welfare, and said, “My lord, I thank you for your kindness to my nephew. I see that you regard him with affection even beyond my own.”

Khwajah Hasan responded graciously, “Your nephew pleases me greatly. Though young, he is blessed with much wisdom.”

They conversed amiably, and when the time came for Khwajah Hasan to leave, he rose and said, “O my lord, I must now take my leave but, Inshallah, I will visit you again in the future.”

Ali Baba, however, insisted, “Where are you going, my friend? Please stay and dine with us. Though the food may not be as fine as what you are accustomed to, I would be honored if you would share a meal with us.”

Khwajah Hasan replied, “I am truly grateful for your kind invitation, but I must excuse myself for a special reason. I cannot stay longer or accept your generous offer.”

Ali Baba pressed him, asking, “What is the urgent reason? Please tell me.”

Khwajah Hasan explained, “I have recently been treated by a physician, and on his advice I must not eat any food prepared with salt.”

Ali Baba responded, “If that is all, then I will order the kitchen to prepare the food without salt. Please stay, and I will return shortly.”

Ali Baba went to Morgiana and instructed her not to use any salt in the dishes. As she cooked, she wondered greatly at such an unusual request and asked, “Who is this man who refuses to eat food with salt?”

Ali Baba replied, “What does it matter to you who he is? Just follow my instructions.”

Morgiana nodded and continued with her task but, in her heart, she was curious about the strange guest who made such a peculiar demand.

When all the food was ready, Morgiana and the slave-boy Abdullah set the table for the meal. As she looked at Khwajah Hasan, she immediately recognized him, despite his disguise as a merchant. She noticed a dagger hidden beneath his robe and thought to herself, Ah, this is why he refuses to eat salt—he seeks to kill my master, who is his enemy. I must act swiftly to prevent this villain from succeeding in his treacherous plan.

Morgiana quickly devised a plan and returned to the kitchen to prepare for the next step. After Ali Baba and Khwajah Hasan had finished their meal, Abdullah informed Morgiana that it was time for dessert. Morgiana cleared the table and brought fresh and dried fruits, then placed a small tripod with three cups and a jug of wine by Ali Baba. She left the room with Abdullah as though she were about to leave them for her own meal.

Khwajah Hasan, seeing that the room was clear, felt confident that the moment had arrived to carry out his deadly plot. 

Now, at last, he thought, I will take my vengeance. With one quick thrust of my dagger, I will kill him then slip away through the garden. His nephew won't dare to stop me. If he tries, a second stab will finish him off. But I must wait until the slave-boy and the cook-maid are out of the way and asleep in the kitchen.

However, Morgiana was not blind to his intentions. She sensed his plan and resolved to stop him before he could harm her master. Without delay, she changed into a costume fit for a dancer. She veiled her face with a beautiful kerchief, wrapped a fine turban around her head and tied a waist-cloth worked with gold and silver in which she tucked a jeweled dagger.

She said to Abdullah, “Take your tambourine and we will dance and sing in honor of our guest.”

Abdullah did as instructed and together they entered the room. The boy began to play the tambourine and Morgiana, with grace and skill, began her dance. Khwajah Hasan, who was caught up in the moment, complimented her: “O my lord, this is indeed delightful entertainment.”

Morgiana danced elegantly, showing off her skillful steps and movements. Suddenly, she drew the dagger from her belt and twirled it in her hand. She danced around, performing thrilling feats with the blade, at one point pressing the sharp edge under her armpit, then holding it against her breast. Finally, she took the tambourine from Abdullah and, still holding the dagger in her right hand, went around the room collecting tips, as dancers often do.

Morgiana stood before Ali Baba, who threw a gold coin into a tambourine, and his nephew also put in an Ashrafi (a gold coin). When Khwajah Hasan saw her approaching, he began to pull out his purse but Morgiana quickly gathered her courage and, without hesitation, stabbed him in the heart. He collapsed, dead.

Ali Baba, shocked and angry, shouted, "What have you done? You’ve ruined me!"

But Morgiana replied calmly, "No, my lord, I did this to save you, not harm you. Look, you’ll see the truth if you check his clothes."

Ali Baba searched Hasan’s clothes and found a hidden dagger.

Morgiana then explained, "This man was your enemy. He was the leader of the thieves who wanted to kill you. He refused to eat your salt and didn’t want any of the food you offered. I suspected him right away, and when he wouldn’t eat, I knew he meant to harm you. Thank God I was right."

Ali Baba, grateful, praised her, saying, "Twice you’ve saved me from danger! As a reward, you are free. And to show my gratitude, I will have you marry my nephew."

Turning to his nephew, Ali Baba said, "Listen to me, and you will prosper. I want you to marry Morgiana. She’s loyal and wise. This man, Khwajah Hasan, was pretending to be your friend just to find a chance to kill me. But Morgiana saw through him and saved us."

Ali Baba’s nephew agreed to marry Morgiana. Together they carefully took Hasan’s body and buried it secretly in the garden, keeping it hidden for many years.

Eventually, Ali Baba arranged a grand wedding for Morgiana and his nephew with a lavish feast for friends and family. They celebrated with music, dancing, and joy. Ali Baba’s life improved, and he became more successful.

For a long time, he hadn’t visited the cave with the treasure out of fear of the thieves. But one day, he decided to go back. He cautiously rode there and, seeing no signs of danger, approached the cave.

He dismounted, tied his horse to a tree, and said the magic words, "Open, O Simsim!" The door opened as it always did. Inside, he saw the treasure of gold and silver, just as he had left it, untouched. He was relieved that no one knew the secret of the cave, and that the thieves were all gone.

Ali Baba loaded his horse with as much treasure as it could carry and returned home. Later, he showed the treasure to his sons and grandsons, teaching them how to open and close the door of the cave.

Ali Baba and his family lived happily and in wealth for the rest of their lives, enjoying the blessings from the secret treasure. They rose to high positions in the city where Ali Baba had once been a poor man.

---

Source: Richard Burton’s Translation of the 1001 Nights

Notes:

Khul jaa, Simsim! (Open Seasame!)

Band ho jaa, Simsim! (Close Seasame!)

Band ho jaa, jo! (Jo can mean “Who” and can also mean “Barley” – Burton translated it as Close Barley!)