Aladdin and The Magical Lamp

Aladdin was the son of a poor tailor. He was a careless, idle boy who did nothing but play all the day long in the streets. This made his father so unhappy that he died. yet Aladdin did not mend his ways.

One day, while he was playing in the streets, a stranger asked him if he was the son of Mustapha, the tailor. "Yes, I am, sir." replied Aladdin. "but he died some years ago."

The stranger who was a famous African magician, then kissed him. saying, "I am your uncle, your father's brother. Go and tell your mother I am coming."

Aladdin was very excited. He ran home and told his mother about his uncle. "Your father did have a brother, but I always thought he was

dead," she said surprised.

However, she made supper and asked her son to fetch his uncle. The magician brought plenty of gifts for them. He knelt and kissed the place where Mustapha used to sit. Then he said to Aladdin's mother. "Don't be surprised for not

seeing me before, as I was out of this country for forty years." Turning to Aladdin, he asked him what he did for a living. The boy hung his head and his mother began to weep. The magician, at once, offered to give him a shop stocked with all kinds of goods. The next day, he bought Aladdin some fine clothes and showed him all the sights of the city. When they returned home at night, Aladdin's mother was delighted to see her son looking so fine. The next morning, the magician took Aladdin to some beautiful gardens, far away from the city. They sat down by a fountain and the magician shared a cake with him. Then they continued to walk till they reached the mountains.

Aladdin was very tired and wished to return home. "We will stop here." said the magician. "I will show you something wonderful; but first gather some sticks and I will light a fire.

The magician threw a powder into the fire and said some magical words. The earth shook a little and opened in front of them. Aladdin saw a square flat stone with a brass ring in the centre. He was very frightened and tried to run away, but the magician caught him and gave him a blow.

"What have I done, uncle ?" he asked unhappily. You have to obey me." said the magician. "Below this stone lies a treasure which will be yours. So don't be afraid and do exactly as I tell you."

Then the magician said. "Go down the stairs and you will see an open door leading into three large halls. Go through them carefully without touching anything, or you will die at once. These halls lead into a garden of fruit trees. You will find a lighted lamp in a hollow in the wall. Pour out the oil it contains and bring it to me." He removed a ring from his finger and gave it to Aladdin. wishing him success. Before he could step out, the magician cried, "Give me the lamp quickly!" and tried to grab it from Aladdin. But the boy refused to give it till he was out of the cave. The magician got terribly angry and threw some powder into the fire. He uttered some magical words and the stone moved back into its place. Poor Aladdin was trapped inside! Aladdin was thrilled to hear about the treasure. He clasped the ring as he was told, and said the names of his father and grandfather. He lifted the stone and saw some steps below.

Aladdin followed the magician's advice and came up the stairs, holding the lamp and some fruit from the trees. The magician then

disappeared. He was no uncle of Aladdin's, but a cunning wizard who had come to know of a magical lamp which would make him the most powerful man in the world. He knew where to find it, but could get it only from another person. So he chose foolish Aladdin to get the lamp, planning to kill him afterwards.

Aladdin remained in the dark cave for two days, crying and waiting. By chance he rubbed the ring on his finger.

Instantly, a huge and terrible genie stood before him, saying, "What do you want, master ? I am the ring's slave and will always obey you." "Take me home !" said Aladdin and the next moment he stood before his mother. He told her what

had happened and showed her the lamp and the fruits.

"These are no fruits son," said his mother surprised. "They are precious stones !"

Aladdin asked for some food but his mother ha nothing in the house. So he decided to sell the lamp. His mother tried to clean it by rubbing it. At once a frightful genie appeared and asked her what she wanted! She was too scared to speak but Aladdin boldly said, "Get us something to eat!"

The genie brought a silver bowl, twelve silver plates containing rich meats, two silver cups and a bottle of wine. Aladdin and his mother had a hearty meal. From the next day, he began selling the silver plates one by one. The genie always brought another set of plates whenever required, and so they lived happily for the next few years..

One day. Aladdin caught a glimpse of the Sultan's daughter. She was so beautiful that he fell in love with her. He went home and told his mother that he wanted to marry the princess as he could not live without her. On hearing this she laughed. but he persuaded her to speak to the Sultan.

She took the sparkling fruits for the Sultan and presently stood before him. But he took no notice of her. She went every day and stood in the same place.

Finally, after a week, the Sultan asked her what she wanted. Bowing low, she told him of her son's deep love for the princess and his desire to marry her. The Sultan then asked her what she had in her hand. She presented the beautiful jewels to him. Amazed,

the Sultan said to the vazir, "Look at these jewels! Should I not give the princess to a man who values her so highly ?" But the vazir wanted her for his own son. He requested the Sultan to wait for three months, after which his son would give him a richer

gift. The Sultan accepted this and told Aladdin's mother that though he agreed to the marriage, she could see him again only after three months.

One day, after two months had passed, Aladdin came to know that the vazir's son was to marry the Sultan's daughter that night. Deeply unhappy, he took the lamp and rubbed it. The genie appeared saying, "What do you want, master ?" Aladdin replied. "The Sultan has broken his promise and the vazir's son will marry the princess. My command is that you bring the bride and bridegroom here tonight." "I will obey you, master," said the genie and vanished.

At midnight, the genie brought the princess

and the vazir's son to Aladdin's room. "Take this man, genie," said Aladdin. "and put him outside in the cold. Return at daybreak."

The genie took the man out, leaving Aladdin with the princess.

"Don't be afraid," said Aladdin to her, "No harm I will come to you, as you are my wife. Your father had promised you to me but he failed to keep his word."

The princess said nothing. She was very frightened and lay awake the whole night, while Aladdin fell fast asleep. The next morning the genie fetched the shivering bridegroom and took the newlyweds back to the palace. The following night the same thing happened. The next morning. the Sultan persuaded the princess to tell him why she looked so unhappy. She then told him all, and the vazir's son, too, said that though he loved her dearly, he would rather die than suffer another such terrible night. He also wished to be separated from her. The sultan granted his wish and the vazir's son went away. At the end of three months, Aladdin's mother reminded the Sultan of his promise once again. But the Sultan did not want his daughter to marry Aladdin, so he asked for the impossible, saying. "Your son may marry the princess. But first he must send me forty basins of gold, filled with jewels, carried by forty slaves all splendidly dressed."

Aladdin's mother returned home to give him the message. "I will do anything for the princess," he said, calling the genie.

The next moment forty beautifully dressed slaves, carrying gold basins on their heads, marched towards the palace, followed by Aladdin's mother. The

people stared for they had never seen anything like this before. They entered the palace and bowed low efore the Sultan, who, at once, agreed to accept Aladdin as his son-in-law.

When Aladdin's mother told him this, he called the genie and said, "I want a scented bath, rich clothes, a horse finer than the Sultan's and twenty slaves for myself. I also want six slaves for my mother and ten thousand gold coins."

Aladdin went through the streets on his horse, his slaves throwing about the gold coins. He looked very handsome and nobody recognised him as the boy who once played in the streets.

The Sultan welcomed him with open arms. embraced him and led him into a hall where a feast was spread. "I would like you to marry my daughter today, he said. But Aladdin shook his head, saying. "I will first build a palace fit for her."

At home he said to the genie, "Build me a palace of the best marble, set with precious stones. There should be a large hall with a dome in the centre, its four walls of solid gold and silver, each side having six windows, all of which except one, must be set with diamonds and rubies. There should also be stables with horses. grooms and slaves."

The genie finished the palace soon and even laid out a velvet carpet right up to the Sultan's palace ! Aladdin's mother then went to the Sultan's palace with her slaves, and was greeted by musicians with trumpets and cymbals. She was treated with great honour and respect by the Sultan. The princess said good-bye to her father and left for Aladdin's palace. with his mother and a hundred slaves. She was very happy to marry the charming Aladdin. There was a grand feast after wedding and much rejoicing.

When the Sultan saw twenty-four windows studded with jewels in the hall, he was amazed. He also asked why one of the windows was left unfinished.

"So that your Majesty could have the glory of finishing this palace." replied Aladdin smiling. The Sultan felt honoured and asked his best jewellers to decorate the window like the rest. But they could not find enough jewels. So the Sultan got his own, but even those were used up and the work was only half done after a month..

Aladdin then asked them to take the jewels back and ordered the genie to finish the window. Later, he showed it to the Sultan, who was most surprised. He embraced Aladdin while the envious vazir muttered. "This must be due to some magic !"

Aladdin was greatly admired and loved by the people. He was made the captain of the Sultan's armies and won many battles. But he remained modest and polite. Far away in Africa, the magician came to know that Aladdin had escaped from the cave, married a princess and was living in great luxury.

"All this must be because of the lamp", he said angrily. "I will destroy Aladdin!"

The magician travelled all the way to the capital of China where he heard about Aladdin's wonderful palace. It was described as the greatest wonder of the world. When the magician saw it. he was very jealous and angry. He thought of a plan to get the lamp back.

He bought a dozen copper lamps, put them in a basket and went to the palace shouting. "Take a new lamp for an old one !" Now Aladdin was away for hunting. The princess heard the magician and decided to exchange an old lamp lying in the corner, with a new one. She did not know that this was Aladdin's magic

lamp.

When her slave showed the lamp to the magician, he quickly grabbed it and gave her a new one. Then off he went to a lonely place and rubbed it.

"Take me and the palace with the princess to Africa," he commanded the genie. The next morning when the Sultan found the palace missing.

he was most surprised and worried. "This is the result of magic, Your Majesty", said the vazir.

"You are right," said the Sultan and sent thirty men on horsebacks to bring Aladdin in chains. But the people loved him and followed him to the Sultan's palace. Aladdin was about to be killed when the crowd rushed in to save him. As a result, the Sultan was forced to pardon him, "What have I done ? asked Aladdin unhappily.

The palace and my daughter are missing." thundered the Sultan, "Bring my daughter back or you shall die Aladdin was most amazed. He begged for forty days time to find her, and the ultan agreed. For three days, he roamed around but could not find the palace. Sadly, he sat down and rubbed

the ring on his finger. "What do you want, aster? asked the genie he had seen in the cave. "Please save my life and bring my palace back," said Aladdin. I cannot do that." replied the genie. "You have to ask the genie of the lamp.

"But can you take me to my palace and place me under my wife's window ? asked Aladdin. The next moment he was in Africa under the princess's window!

When the princess looked down from her window, she saw Aladdin. Great was their joy on seeing each other. When he asked her about the old lamp. she told him all that had happened.

The magician carries it inside his robe," she said. "He always says that you are no more and wants me to marry him."

Aladdin was furious. "Don't worry my princess. I will deal with him," he said and went away. He returned with a powder which he gave her, telling her what to

do. The princess dressed up beautifully and invited the magician for supper. saying, "I shall cry no more for Aladdin as I believe he is dead.

Now I would like to taste the wines of Africa as I am quite tired

of those of China."

The magician ran to his cellar and the princess put the powder in his cup. When he returned, he filled up the two cups and drank quickly from his. The next moment he lay dead.

The princess opened the door to let Aladdin in. He took out the lamp from the dead magician's robe and asked the genie to take them all back to China. The Sultan was overjoyed to see his daughter again. Aladdin

told him everything and also showed him the dead magician as proof. The Sultan believed him and announced a feast for ten days.

Now the African magician had a younger brother, who was even more cunning and wicked. "I'll take revenge on Aladdin !" he cried and went to China to meet a pious woman called Fatima. He threatened her with a dagger, exchanged clothes with her, put on her veil and killed her. Then he went to Aladdin's palace disguised as a holy woman. The princess had always wanted to see Fatima, so she sent for her.

The magician met the princess and prayed for her health and

well-being. She requested him to stay in the palace and led him to

the hall. "It is very beautiful," said the false Fatima, "but if a roc's egg were hung from the middle of the dome, it would look truly marvellous."

Later, the princess asked Aladdin for the huge bird's egg. At once he called the genie, who was furious to hear this demand. "After all I have done for you, you ask me to bring my master and hang him up in the dome !" he screamed. "But I know this request is actually from the dead magician's brother who is living in your palace disguised Fatima, whom he has killed. Be careful. for he will kill you too. So saying, the genie vanished. Aladdin sent for Fatima and killed the magician with one stroke of his dagger!

Then he and his wife began to live in peace. After the Sultan died. Aladdin succeeded him, and ruled well for many years..