The Cunning Monkey

Once upon a time, oh fortunate one, in a very large forest filled with different animals and plants, there was a monkey who lived on a tall tree. He was extremely naughty, constantly mischievous, and loved pranks and fun greatly. The monkey was accustomed to deceiving all his friends and often stealing bananas from them. One day, there was a monkey named Maimouna who found much bananas in the forest’s areas. She gathered them together. ...

The Thief and the Guide

Once upon a time, there was a thief named Saif. A young man who lived in a house not far from the main road that passers-by passed in their way to the city. But he wasn’t a normal thief, so he was always standing on passers-by until he saw their treasures during their passing. He took pleasure in their treasures in his house and took out beautiful things. And whenever his number of miseries increased, he took their beautiful treasures he took pleasure in them. ...

The Wise Judge

The judge said the wise one to the ministers until he opened the court of the judges to look at a case, so all were silent. He ordered the guard to call upon the plaintiff of the first case, so the guard called: The honest man and the rooster. The judge said: Wait until I leave so I can distinguish between you two which one is the man and which one is the rooster. ...

The Farmer's Axe

On a day of the days, there lived a farmer under the shade of a fig tree. The owner was cunning and would make him work days without anything in return. The farmer was accustomed to the owner leaving from the house in the evening, depressed, and he thought much about leaving his work, but he was afraid he wouldn’t find another job, and he passed by a market and didn’t earn any money. ...

The Water Seller Muhammad and the King

There was a water seller named Muhammad who sold water to people while wandering with his jar in the markets. Everyone loved him for his good character and cleanliness. One day, the king heard about this water seller and said to his minister: Go and bring me Muhammad the water seller. The minister went to search for him in the markets until he found him and brought him to the king. The king said to Muhammad: From today onward, you have no work outside this palace. You will work here in my palace, serving water to my guests and sitting beside me telling me people’s amusing stories. ...

The Old Lion

It is told that in ancient times, in days of old, in one of Africa’s thickets, a lion lived the happy life of lions. He was distinguished by his exceptional speed and skill in hunting, and all animals feared him and took him into serious account. The change in the lion’s condition and the new title: But nothing lasts forever. He grew old, his speed decreased, and his hunting became rare. Soon the forest animals discovered his weakness, so they began calling him the Failed Lion. ...

The One-Eyed Horse

It is told that in ancient times, in days of old, one of the farmers had a purebred horse, and he owned nothing else. He used it in everything—for riding and transportation and for carrying heavy loads. Beside this farmer was a cunning thief! The farmer and the cunning thief: The cunning thief was impressed by the farmer’s good horse and tried to steal it, but he failed to get it. One day, the thief came to the farmer, having decided on a trick that would enable him to get the horse. ...

A King Unworthy

Once there was a rich king who enjoyed strength and intelligence, but what attracted attention most was his extreme arrogance. Due to his great pride, he thought there was no worthy competitor to share his favorite hobby, which was chess. Therefore, this king sent a message across the land announcing that he would give a tenth of his wealth to anyone who proved worthy of playing against him, and in return, if the king considered that person unworthy of trust, he would cut off his head! ...

Mind is Stronger than Strength

The lion was living in a forest and was very proud of his strength, and thus he killed many animals in the forest without reason. One day, all the animals of the forest went to the lion and requested from him, saying: Oh lion, oh king of the forest, we came here to ask you a favor. There is no doubt you are our king, you are the king of the forest, but why do you kill so many of us every day without reason? And if the matter continues this way, a day will come when no animal remains alive in the forest, and then you will starve. ...

The Two Cats and Long Live Justice

Qatuta is a beautiful white cat, and Fatuta is a beautiful black cat. Each of Fatuta and Qatuta lives in a wide farm with the mouse Farfour. Farfour is a naughty mouse who loves wheat; he pierces the wheat bags of the farmer Qasim. Qatuta and Fatuta expelled the mouse Farfour from the farm because of his bad behavior. Farmer Qasim brought the two cats eight apples—four red apples and four yellow apples. Qatuta said: I want the red apples, and Fatuta said: I want the red apples. The two cats went to the cow to judge between them. ...