The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 1 · Richard Francis Burton translation

Note 491
TALE OF NUR AL-DIN AND HIS SON. (continued 2)

Anonymous

A worthy who was Kazi of Kufah (Cufa) in the seventh century. Al-Najaf, generally entitled "Najaf al-Ashraf" (the Venerand) is the place where Ali, the son-in-law of Mohammed, lies or is supposed to lie buried, and has ever been a holy place to the Shi'ahs. I am not certain whether to translate "Sa'alab" by fox or jackal; the Arabs make scant distinction between them. "Abu Hosayn" (Father of the Fortlet) is certainly the fox, and as certainly "Sha'arhar" is the jackal from the Pehlevi Shagál or Shaghál.

ITS PLACE IN THE BOOK

… a friend, asked, "What meaning is there in the saw 'Shurayh is foxier than the fox'?" And he answered, "Know, O King (whom Almighty Allah keep!) that the legist Shurayh [FN#491] was wont, during the days of the plague, to make a visitation to Al-Najaf; and, whenever he stood up to pray, there came a fox which would plant himself facing him and which, by mimicking his movements, distracted him from his devotions. Now when this…

Return to passage

All notes Book contents

Note 491TALE OF NUR AL-DIN AND HIS SON. (continued 2)

Note 491
TALE OF NUR AL-DIN AND HIS SON. (continued 2)