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

Note 132
The Tale of the Ensorcelled Prince.

The ancient "Mustaphá" = the Chosen (prophet, i. e. Mohammed), also titled Al-Mujtaba, the Accepted (Pilgrimage, ii., 309). "Murtaza"=the Elect, i.e. the Caliph Ali is the older "Mortada" or "Mortadi" of Ockley and his day, meaning "one pleasing to (or acceptable to) Allah." Still older writers corrupted it to "Mortis Ali" and readers supposed this to be the Caliph's name.

ITS PLACE IN THE BOOK

In patience, O my God, I endure my lot and fate; * I will bear at will of Thee whatsoever be my state: They oppress me; they torture me; they make my life a woe * Yet haply Heaven's happiness shall compensate my strait: Yea, straitened is my life by the bane and hate o' foes * But Mustafa and Murtaza[FN#132] shall ope me Heaven's gate.

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