Aladin dan Lampu Ajaib

Dahulu kala, di kota Persia, seorang Ibu tinggal dengan anak laki-lakinya yang bernama Aladin. Suatu hari datanglah seorang laki-laki mendekati Aladin yang sedang bermain. Kemudian laki-laki itu mengakui Aladin sebagai keponakannya. Laki-laki itu mengajak Aladin pergi ke luar kota dengan seizin ibu Aladin untuk membantunya. Jalan yang ditempuh sangat jauh. Aladin mengeluh kecapaian kepada pamannya tetapi ia malah dibentak dan disuruh untuk mencari kayu bakar, kalau tidak mau Aladin akan dibunuhnya. Aladin akhirnya sadar bahwa laki-laki itu bukan pamannya melainkan seorang penyihir. Laki-laki penyihir itu kemudian menyalakan api dengan kayu bakar dan mulai mengucapkan mantera. “Kraak…” tiba-tiba tanah menjadi berlubang seperti gua.


Dalam lubang gua itu terdapat tangga sampai ke dasarnya. “Ayo turun! Ambilkan aku lampu antik di dasar gua itu”, seru si penyihir. “Tidak, aku takut turun ke sana”, jawab Aladin. Penyihir itu kemudian mengeluarkan sebuah cincin dan memberikannya kepada Aladin. “Ini adalah cincin ajaib, cincin ini akan melindungimu”, kata si penyihir. Akhirnya Aladin menuruni tangga itu dengan perasaan takut. Setelah sampai di dasar ia menemukan pohon-pohon berbuah permata. Setelah buah permata dan lampu yang ada di situ dibawanya, ia segera menaiki tangga kembali. Tetapi, pintu lubang sudah tertutup sebagian. “Cepat berikan lampunya !”, seru penyihir. “Tidak ! Lampu ini akan kuberikan setelah aku keluar”, jawab Aladin. Setelah berdebat, si penyihir menjadi tidak sabar dan akhirnya “Brak!” pintu lubang ditutup oleh si penyihir lalu meninggalkan Aladin terkurung di dalam lubang bawah tanah. Aladin menjadi sedih, dan duduk termenung. “Aku lapar, Aku ingin bertemu ibu, Tuhan, tolonglah aku !”, ucap Aladin.

Aladin merapatkan kedua tangannya dan mengusap jari-jarinya. Tiba-tiba, sekelilingnya menjadi merah dan asap membumbung. Bersamaan dengan itu muncul seorang raksasa. Aladin sangat ketakutan. “Maafkan saya, karena telah mengagetkan Tuan”, saya adalah peri cincin kata raksasa itu. “Oh, kalau begitu bawalah aku pulang kerumah.” “Baik Tuan, naiklah kepunggungku, kita akan segera pergi dari sini”, ujar peri cincin. Dalam waktu singkat, Aladin sudah sampai di depan rumahnya. “Kalau tuan memerlukan saya panggillah dengan menggosok cincin Tuan.”

Aladin menceritakan semua hal yang di alaminya kepada ibunya. “Mengapa penyihir itu menginginkan lampu kotor ini ya ?”, kata Ibu sambil menggosok membersihkan lampu itu. “Syut !” Tiba-tiba asap membumbung dan muncul seorang raksasa peri lampu. “Sebutkanlah perintah Nyonya”, kata si peri lampu. Aladin yang sudah pernah mengalami hal seperti ini memberi perintah,”kami lapar, tolong siapkan makanan untuk kami”. Dalam waktu singkat peri Lampu membawa makanan yang lezat-lezat kemudian menyuguhkannya. “Jika ada yang diinginkan lagi, panggil saja saya dengan menggosok lampu itu”, kata si peri lampu.

Demikian hari, bulan, tahunpun berganti, Aladin hidup bahagia dengan ibunya. Aladin sekarang sudah menjadi seorang pemuda. Suatu hari lewat seorang Putri Raja di depan rumahnya. Ia sangat terpesona dan merasa jatuh cinta kepada Putri Cantik itu. Aladin lalu menceritakan keinginannya kepada ibunya untuk memperistri putri raja. “Tenang Aladin, Ibu akan mengusahakannya”. Ibu pergi ke istana raja dengan membawa permata-permata kepunyaan Aladin. “Baginda, ini adalah hadiah untuk Baginda dari anak laki-lakiku.” Raja amat senang. “Wah…, anakmu pasti seorang pangeran yang tampan, besok aku akan datang ke Istana kalian dengan membawa serta putriku”.

Setelah tiba di rumah Ibu segera menggosok lampu dan meminta peri lampu untuk membawakan sebuah istana. Aladin dan ibunya menunggu di atas bukit. Tak lama kemudian peri lampu datang dengan Istana megah di punggungnya. “Tuan, ini Istananya”. Esok hari sang Raja dan putrinya datang berkunjung ke Istana Aladin yang sangat megah. “Maukah engkau menjadikan anakku sebagai istrimu ?”, Tanya sang Raja. Aladin sangat gembira mendengarnya. Lalu mereka berdua melaksanakan pesta pernikahan.

Nun jauh disana, si penyihir ternyata melihat semua kejadian itu melalui bola kristalnya. Ia lalu pergi ke tempat Aladin dan pura-pura menjadi seorang penjual lampu di depan Istana Aladin. Ia berteriak-teriak, “tukarkan lampu lama anda dengan lampu baru !”. Sang permaisuri yang melihat lampu ajaib Aladin yang usang segera keluar dan menukarkannya dengan lampu baru. Segera si penyihir menggosok lampu itu dan memerintahkan peri lampu memboyong istana beserta isinya dan istri Aladin ke rumahnya.

Ketika Aladin pulang dari berkeliling, ia sangat terkejut. Lalu memanggil peri cincin dan bertanya kepadanya apa yang telah terjadi. “Kalau begitu tolong kembalikan lagi semuanya kepadaku”, seru Aladin. “Maaf Tuan, tenaga saya tidaklah sebesar peri lampu,” ujar peri cincin. “Baik kalau begitu aku yang akan mengambilnya. Tolong Antarkan kau kesana”, seru Aladin. Sesampainya di Istana, Aladin menyelinap masuk mencari kamar tempat sang Putri dikurung. “Penyihir itu sedang tidur karena kebanyakan minum bir”, ujar sang Putri. “Baik, jangan kuatir aku akan mengambil kembali lampu ajaib itu, kita nanti akan menang”, jawab Aladin.

Aladin mengendap mendekati penyihir yang sedang tidur. Ternyata lampu ajaib menyembul dari kantungnya. Aladin kemudian mengambilnya dan segera menggosoknya. “Singkirkan penjahat ini”, seru Aladin kepada peri lampu. Penyihir terbangun, lalu menyerang Aladin. Tetapi peri lampu langsung membanting penyihir itu hingga tewas. “Terima kasih peri lampu, bawalah kami dan Istana ini kembali ke Persia”. Sesampainya di Persia Aladin hidup bahagia. Ia mempergunakan sihir dari peri lampu untuk membantu orang-orang miskin dan kesusahan.

(SELESAI)

Lolos Dari Maut

Karena dianggap hampir membunuh Baginda maka Abu Nawas mendapat
celaka. Dengan kekuasaan yang absolut Baginda memerintahkan prajuritprajuritnya
langsung menangkap dan menyeret Abu Nawas untuk dijebloskan ke
penjara.
Waktu itu Abu Nawas sedang bekerja di ladang karena musim tanam kentang
akan tiba. Ketika para prajurit kerajaan tiba, ia sedang mencangkul. Dan tanpa
alasan yang jelas mereka langsung menyeret Abu Nawas sesuai dengan titah
Baginda. Abu Nawas tidak berkutik. Kini ia mendekam di dalam penjara.
Beberapa hari lagi kentang-kentang itu harus ditanam. Sedangkan istrinya tidak
cukup kuat untuk melakukan pencangkulan. Abu Nawas tahu bahwa tetanggatetangganya
tidak akan bersedia membantu istrinya sebab mereka juga sibuk
dengan pekerjaan mereka masing-masing. Tidak ada yang bisa dilakukan di
dalam 'penjara kecuali mencari jalan keluar.
Seperti biasa Abu Nawas tidak bisa tidur dan tidak enak makan. la hanya makan
sedikit. Sudah dua hari ia meringkuk di dalam penjara. Wajahnya murung.
Hari ketiga Abu Nawas memanggil seorang pengawal. "Bisakah aku minta tolong
kepadamu?" kata Abu Nawas membuka pembicaraan.
"Apa itu?" kata pengawal itu tanpa gairah.



"Aku ingin pinjam pensil dan selembar kertas. Aku ingin menulis surat untuk
istriku. Aku harus menyampaikan sebuah rahasia penting yang hanya boleh
diketahui oleh istriku saja."
Pengawal itu berpikir sejenak lalu pergi meninggalkan Abu Nawas.
Ternyata pengawal itu merighadap Baginda Raja untuk melapor.
Mendengar laporan dari pengawal, Baginda segera menyediakan apa yang
diminta Abu Nawas. Dalam hati, Baginda bergumam mungkin kali ini ia bisa
mengalahkan Abu Nawas:
Abu Nawas menulis surat yang berbunyi: "Wahai istriku, janganlah engkau
sekali-kali menggali ladang kita karena aku menyembunyikan harta karun dan
senjata di situ. Dan tolong jangan bercerita kepada siapa pun."
Tentu saja surat itu dibaca oleh Baginda karena beliau ingin tahu apa
sebenarnya rahasia Abu Nawas. Setelah membaca surat itu Baginda merasa
puas dan langsung memerintahkan beberapa pekerja istana untuk menggali
ladang Abu Nawas. Dengan peralatan yarig dibutuhkan mereka berangkat dan
langsung menggali ladang Abu Nawas. Istri Abu Nawas merasa heran.
Mungkinkah suaminya minta tolong pada mereka?


Pertanyaan itu tidak terjawab karena mereka kembali ke istana tanpa pamit.
Mereka hanya menyerahkan surat Abu Nawas kepadanya.
Lima hari kemudian Abu Nawas menerima surat dari istrinya. Surat itu
berbunyi: "Mungkin suratmu dibaca sebelum diserahkan kepadaku. Karena
beberapa pekerja istana datang ke sini dua hari yang lalu, mereka menggali
seluruh ladang kita. Lalu apa yang harus kukerjakan sekarang?"
Rupanya istrinya Abu Nawas belum mengerti muslihat suaminya. Tetapi dengan
bijaksana Abu Nawas membalas: "Sekarang engkau bisa menanam kentang di ladang
tanpa harus menggali, wahai istriku."
Kali ini Baginda tidak bersedia membaca surat Abu Nawas lagi. Bagi.nda makin
mengakui keluarbiasaan akal Abu Nawas. Bahkan di dalam penjara pun Abu
Nawas masih bisa melakukan pencangkulan.
********
Abu Nawas masih mengeram di penjara. Namun begitu Abu Nawas masih bisa
menyelesaikan pekerjaannya dengan memakai tangan orang lain.


Baginda berpikir. Sejenak kemudian beliau segera memerintahkan sipir penjara
untuk membebaskan Abu Nawas. Baginda Raja tidak ingin menanggung resiko
yang lebih buruk. Karena akal Abu Nawas tidak bisa ditebak. Bahkan di dalam
penjara pun Abu Nawas masih sanggup menyusahkan prang. Keputusan yang
dibuat Baginda Raja untuk melepaskan Abu Nawas memang sangat tepat.
Karena bila sampai Abu Nawas bertambah sakit hati maka tidak mustahil
kesusahan yang akan ditimbulkan akan semakin gawat.
Kini hidung Abu Nawas sudah bisa menghisap udara kebebasan di luar. Istri Abu
Nawas menyambut gembira kedatangan suami yang selama ini sangat
dirindukan. Abu Nawas juga riang. Apalagi melihat tanaman kentangnya akan
membuahkan hasil yang bisa dipetik dalam waktu dekat.
Abu Nawas memang girang bukan kepalang tetapi ia juga merasa gundah.
Bagaimana Abu Nawas tidak merasa gundah gulana sebab Baginda sudah tidak
lagi memakai perangkap untuk memenjarakan dirinya. Tetapi Baginda Raja
langsung memenjarakannya. Maka tidak mustahil bila suatu ketika nanti
Baginda langsung menjatuhkan hukuman pancung. Abu Nawas yakin bahwa saat
ini Baginda pasti sedang merencanakan sesuatu. Abu Nawas menyiapkan payung
untuk menyambut hujan yang akan diciptakan Baginda Raja. Pada hari itu Abu
Nawas mengumumkan dirinya sebagai ahli nujum atau tukang ramal nasib.
Sejak membuka praktek ramal-meramal nasib, Abu Nawas sering mendapat
panggilan dari orang-orang terkenal. Kini Abu Nawas tidak saja dikenal sebagai
orang yang hartdal daiam menciptakan gelak tawa tetapi juga sebagai ahli
ramal yang jitu.


Mendengar Abu Nawas mendadak menjadi ahli ramal maka Baginda Raja Harun
Al Rasyid merasa khawatir. Baginda curiga jangan-jangan Abu Nawas bisa membahayakan
kerajaan. Maka tanpa pikir panjang Abu Nawas ditangkap.
Abu Nawas sejak semula yakin Baginda Raja kali ini berniat akan menghabisi
riwayatnya. Tetapi Abu Nawas tidak begitu merasa gentar. Mungkin Abu Nawas
sudah mempersiapkan tameng.
Setelah beberapa hari meringkuk di dalam penjara, Abu Nawas digiring menuju
tempat kematian. Tukang penggal kepala sudah menunggu dengan pedang yang
baru diasah. Abu Nawas menghampiri tempat penjagalan dengan amat tenang.
Baginda merasa kagum terhadap ketegaran Abu Nawas. Tetapi Baginda juga
bertanya-tanya dalam hati mengapa Abu Nawas begitu tabah menghadapi
detik-detik terakhir hidupnya. Ketika algojo sudah siap mengayunkan pedang,
Abu Nawas tertawa-tawa sehingga Baginda menangguhkan pemancungan.
Beliau bertanya, "Hai Abu Nawas, apakah engkau tidak merasa ngeri
menghadapi pedang algojo?"
"Ngeri Tuanku yang mulia, tetapi hamba juga merasa gembira." jawab Abu
Nawas sambil tersenyum.
"Engkau merasa gembira?" tanya Baginda kaget.


"Betul Baginda yang mulia, karena tepat tiga hari setelah kematian hamba,
maka Baginda pun akan mangkat menyusul hamba ke Hang lahat, karena hamba
tidak bersalah sedikit pun." kata Abu Nawas tetap tenang.
Baginda gemetar mendengar ucapan Abu Nawas. dan tentu saja hukuman
pancung dibatalkan.
Abu Nawas digiring kembali ke penjara. Baginda memerintahkan agar Abu
Nawas diperlakukan istimewa. Malah Baginda memerintahkan supaya Abu
Nawas disuguhi hidangan yang enak-enak. Tetapi Abu Nawas tetap tidak kerasa
tinggal di penjara. Abu Nawas berpesan dan setengah mengancam kepada
penjaga penjara bahwa bila ia terus-menerus mendekam dalam penjara ia bisa
jatuh sakit atau meninggal Baginda Raja terpaksa membebaskan Abu Nawas
setelah mendengar penuturan penjaga penjara.
*****
Cita-cita atau obsesi menghukum Abu Nawas sebenarnya masih bergolak,
namun Baginda merasa kehabisan akal untuk menjebak Abu Nawas.
Seorang penasihat kerajaan kepercayaan Baginda Raja menyarankan agar
Baginda memanggil seorang ilmuwan-ulama yang berilmu tinggi untuk
menandingi Abu Nawas. Pasti masih ada peluang untuk mencari kelemahan Abu
Nawas. Menjebak pencuri harus dengan pencuri.Dan ulama dengan ulama.
Baginda menerima usul yang cemerlang itu dengan hati bulat.


Setelah ulama yang berilmu tinggi berhasil ditemukan, Baginda Raja
menanyakan cara terbaik menjerat Abu Nawas. Ulama itu memberi tahu caracara
yang paling jitu kepada Baginda Raja. Baginda Raja manggut-manggut
setuju. Wajah Baginda tidak lagi murung. Apalagi ulama itu menegaskan bahwa
ramalan Abu Nawas tentang takdir kematian Baginda Raja sama sekali tidak
mempunyai dasar yang kuat. Tiada seorang pun manusia yang tahu kapan dan
di bumi mana ia akan mati apalagi tentang ajal orang lain.
Ulama andalan Baginda Raja mulai mengadakan persiapan seperlunya untuk
memberikan pukulan fatal bagi Abu Nawas. Siasat pun dijalankan sesuai
rencana. Abu Nawas terjerembab ke lubang siasat sang ulama. Abu Nawas
melakukan kesalahan yang bisa menghantarnya ke tiang gantungan atau tempat
pemancungan.
Benarlah peribahasa yang berbunyi sepandai-pandai tupai melompat pasti suatu
saat akan terpeleset. Kini, Abu Nawas benar-benar mati kutu. Sebentar lagi ia
akan dihukum mati karena jebakan sang ilmuwan-ulama.
Benarkah Abu Nawas sudah keok?
Kita lihat saja nanti.


Banyak orang yang merasa simpati atas nasib Abu Nawas, terutama orang-orang
miskin dan tertindas yang pernah ditolongnya. Namun derai air mata para
pecinta dan pengagum Abu Nawas tak akan mampu menghentikan hukuman
mati yang akan dijatuhkan.
Baginda Raja Harun Al Rasyid benar-benar menikmati kernenangannya. Belum
pernah Baginda terlihat seriang sekarang.
Keyakinan orang banyak bertambah mantap. Hanya sat orang yang tetap tidak
yakin bahwa hidup Abu Nawas aka berakhir setragis itu, yaitu istri Abu Nawas.
Bukankah Alia Azza Wa Jalla lebih dekat daripada urat leher. Tidak ada yang
tidak mungkin bagi Allah Yang Maha Gagah. Dan kematian adalah mutlak
urusan-Nya. Semakin dekat hukuman mati bagi Abu Nawas. Orang banyak
semakin resah. Tetapi bagi Abu Nawas malah sebaliknya. Semakin dekat
hukuman bagi dirinya, semakin tegar hatinya.
Baginda Raja tahu bahwa ketenangan yang ditampilkan Abu Nawas hanyalah
merupakan bagian dari tipu dayanya. Tetapi Baginda Raja telah bersumpah
pada diri sendiri bahwa beliau tidak akan terkecoh untuk kedua kalinya.
Sebaliknya Abu Nawas juga yakin, selama nyawa masih melekat maka harapan
akan terus menyertainya. Tuhan tidak mungkin menciptakan alam semesta ini
tanpa ditaburi harapan-harapan yang menjanjikan. Bahkan dalam keadaan yang
bagaimanapun gawatnya.
Keyakinan seperti inilah yang tidak dimiliki oleh Baginda Raja dan ulama itu.
Seketika suasana menjadi hening, sewaktu Bagin Raja memberi sambutan
singkattentang akan dilaksanakan hukuman mati atas diri terpidana mati Abu


Nawas. Kemudian tanpa memperpanjang waktu lagi Baginda Raja menanyakan
permintaan terakhir Abu Nawas. Dan pertanyaan inilah yang paling dinantinantikan
Abu Nawas.
"Adakah permintaan yang terakhir"
"Ada Paduka yang mulia." jawab Abu Nawas singkat.
"Sebutkan." kata Baginda.
"Sudilah kiranya hamba diperkenankan memilih hukuman mati yang hamba
anggap cocok wahai Baginda yang mulia." pinta Abu Nawas.
"Baiklah." kata Baginda menyetujui permintaan Abu Nawas..
"Paduka yang mulia, yang hamba pinta adalah bila pilihan hamba benar hamba
bersedia dihukum pancung, tetapi jika pilihan hamba dianggap salah maka
hamba dihukum gantung saja." kata Abu Nawas memohon.
"Engkau memang orang yang aneh. Dalam saat-saat yang amat genting pun
engkau masih sempat bersenda gurau. Tetapi ketahuilah bagiku segala tipu


muslihatmu hari ini tak akan bisa membawamu kemana-mana." kata Baginda
sambil tertawa.
"Hamba tidak bersenda gurau Paduka yang mulia." kata Abu Nawas bersungguhsungguh.
Baginda makin terpingkal-pingkal. Belum selesai Baginda Raja tertawa-tawa,
Abu Nawas berteriak dengan nyaring.
"Hamba minta dihukum pancung!"
Semua yang hadir kaget. Orang banyak belum mengerti mengapa Abu Nawas
membuat keputusan begitu. Tetapi kecerdasan otak Baginda Raja menangkap
sesuatu yang lain. Sehingga tawa Baginda yang semula berderai-derai
mendadak terhenti. Kening Baginda berkenyit mendengar ucapan Abu Nawas.
Baginda Raja tidak berani menarik kata-katanya karena disaksikan oleh ribuan
rakyatnya.
Beliau sudah terlanjur mengabulkan Abu Nawas menentukan hukuman mati
yang paling cocok untuk dirinya.


Kini kesempatan Abu Nawas membela diri.
"Baginda yang mulia, hamba tadi mengatakan bahwa hamba akan dihukum
pancung. Kalau pilihan hamba benar maka hamba dihukum gantung. Tetapi di
manakah letak kesalahan pilihan hamba sehingga hamba hams dihukum
gantung. Padahal hamba telah memilih hukuman pancung?"
Olah kata Abu Nawas memaksa Baginda Raja dan ulama itu tercengang. Benarbenar
luar biasa otak Abu Nawas ini. Rasanya tidak ada lagi manusia pintar
selain Abu Nawas di negeri Baghdad ini.
"Abu Nawas aku mengampunimu, tapi sekarang jawablah pertanyaanku ini.
Berapa banyakkah bintang di langit?"
"Oh, gampang sekali Tuanku."
"Iya, tapi berapa, seratus juta, seratus milyar?" tanya Baginda.
"Bukan Tuanku, cuma sebanyak pasir di pantai."


"Kau ini.... bagaimana bisa orang menghitung pasir di pantai?"
"Bagaimana pula orang bisa menghitung bintang di langit?"
"Ha ha ha ha ha...! Kau memang penggeli hati.
Kau adalah pelipur laraku. Abu Nawas mulai sekarang jangan segan-segan,
sering-seringlah datang ke istanaku. Aku ingin selalu mendengar leluconleluconmu
yang baru!"
"Siap Baginda !"

Tugas Yang Mustahil

Abu Nawas belum kembali. Kata istrinya ia bersarna seorang Pendeta dan
seorang Ahli Yoga sedang melakukan pengembaraan suci. Padahal saat ini
Baginda amat membutuhkan bantuan Abu Nawas. Beberapa hari terakhir ini
Baginda merencanakan membangun istana di awang-awang. Karena sebagian

dari raja-raja negeri sahabat telah membangun bangunan-bangunan yang luar
biasa.
Baginda tidak ingin menunggu Abu Nawas iebih lama lagi. Beliau mengutus
beberapa orang kepercayaannya untuk mencari Abu Nawas. Mereka tidak
berhasil menemukan Abu Nawas kerena Abu Nawas ternyata sudah berada di
rumah ketika mereka baru berangkat.

Abu Nawas menghadap Baginda Raja Harun Al Rasyid. Baginda amat riang.
Saking gembiranya beliau mengajak Abu Nawas bergurau. Setelah saling tukar
menukar cerita-cerita lucu, lalu Baginda mulai mengutarakan rencananya.
"Aku sangat ingin membangun istana di awang-awang agar aku Iebih terkenal di
antara raja-raja yang lain. Adakah kemungkinan keinginanku itu terwujud,
wahai Abu Nawas?"
"Tidak ada yang tidak mungkin dilakukan di dunia ini Paduka yang mulia." kata
Abu Nawas berusaha mengikuti arah pembicaraan Baginda.
"Kalau menurut pendapatmu hal itu tidak mustahil diwujudkan maka aku
serahkan sepenuhnya tugas ini kepadamu." kata Baginda puas.

Abu Nawas terperanjat. la menyesal telah mengatakan kemungkinan
mewujudkan istana di awang-awang. Tetapi nasi telah menjadi bubur. Katakata
yang telah terlanjur didengar oleh Baginda tidak mungkin ditarik kembali.
Baginda memberi waktu Abu Nawas beberapa minggu. Rasanya tak ada yang
lebih berat bagi Abu Nawas kecuali tugas yang diembannya sekarang.
Jangankan membangun istana di langit, membangun sebuah gubuk kecil pun
sudah merupakan hal yang mustahil dikerjakan. Hanya Tuhan saja yang mampu
melakukannya. Begitu gumam Abu Nawas.
Hari-hari berlalu seperti biasa. Tak ada yang dikerjakan Abu Nawas kecuali
memikirkan bagaimana membuat Baginda merasa yakin kalau yang dibangun itu
benar-benar istana di langit. Seluruh ingatannya dikerahkan dan dihubunghubungkan.
Abu Nawas bahkan berusaha menjangkau masa kanak-kanaknya.
Sampai ia ingat bahwa dulu ia pernah bermain layang-layang.
Dan inilah yang membuat Abu Nawas girang. Abu Nawas tidak menyia-nyiakan
waktu lagi. la bersama beberapa kawannya merancang layang-layang raksasa
berbentuk persegi empat. Setelah rampung baru Abu Nawas melukis pintu-pintu
serta jendela-jendela dan ornamen-ornamen lainnya.
Ketika semuanya selesai Abu Nawas dan kawan-kawannya menerbangkan
layang-layang raksasa itu dari suatu tempat yang dirahasiakan.

Begitu layang-layang raksasa berbentuk istana itu mengapung di angkasa,
penduduk negeri gempar.
Baginda Raja girang bukan kepalang. Benarkah Abu Nawas berhasil membangun
istana di langit? Dengan tidak sabar beliau didampingi beberapa orang
pengawal bergegas menemui Abu Nawas.
Abu Nawas berkata dengan bangga.
"Paduka yang mulia, istana pesanan Paduka telah rampung."
"Engkau benar-benar hebat wahai Abu Nawas." kata Baginda memuji Abu
Nawas.
"Terima kasih Baginda yang mulia." kata Abu Nawas "Lalu bagaimana caranya
aku ke sana?" tanya Baginda. "Dengan tambang, Paduka yang mulia." kata Abu
Nawas.
"Kalau begitu siapkan tambang itu sekarang. Aku ingin segera melihat istanaku
dari dekat." kata Baginda tidak sabar.

"Maafkan hamba Paduka yang mulia. Hamba kemarin lupa memasang tambang
itu. Sehingga seorang kawan hamba tertinggal di sana dan tidak bisa turun."
kata Abu Nawas. .
"Bagaimana dengan engkau sendiri Abu Nawas? Dengan apa engkau turun ke
bumi?" tanya Baginda.
"Dengan menggunakan sayap Paduka yang mulia." kata Abu Nawas dengan
bangga.
"Kalau begitu buatkan aku sayap supaya aku bisa terbang ke sana." kata
Baginda.
"Paduka yang mulia, sayap itu hanya bisa diciptakan dalam mimpi." kata Abu
Nawas menjelaskan.
"Engkau berani mengatakan aku gila sepertimu?" tanya Baginda sambil melotot.
"Ya, Baginda. Kurang lebih seperti itu." jawab Abu Nawas tangkas.

"Apa maksudmu?" tanya Baginda lagi.
"Baginda tahu bahwa membangun istana di awang-awang adalah pekerjaan
yang mustahil dilaksanakan. Tetapi Baginda tetap menyuruh hamba
mengerjakannya. Sedangkan hamba juga tahu bahwa pekerjaan itu mustahil
dikerjakan, Tetapi hamba tetap menyanggupi titah Baginda yang tidak masuk
akal itu." kata Abu Nawas berusaha meyakinkan Baginda.
Tanpa menoleh Baginda Raja kembali ke istana diiring para pengawalnya. Abu
Nawas berdiri sendirian sambi memandang ke atas melihat istana terapung di
awang-awang.
"Sebenarnya siapa diantara kita yang gila?" tanya Baginda mulai jengkel.
"Hamba kira kita berdua sama-sama tidak waras Tuanku." jawab Abu Nawas
tanpa ragu.

The Tale of the Second Sheikh

KNOW, Lord of the Kings of the Jinn, that these two hounds
are my brothers, and I am the third. When our father died, he
left us an inheritance of three thousand dinars and with my share I
opened a shop and began to trade in it. My brothers did the same,
but soon one of them set out on a commercial venture and was away
with the caravans for over a year. When he returned, he had lost all
his money and I was moved to say to him: ‘Brother, did I not counsel
you against this journey?’ Then he wept and said: ‘AllAh, the All-
powerful, allowed this loss of mine, and your words cannot help me
now that I have nothing left.’ Then I brought him up into my shop
and afterwards conducted him to the baths and gave him a fine robe
of rare workmanship. When at last we were sitting down to eat together,
I told my brother that I was about to compute the yearly gains from
my shop and that, leaving the capital untouched, I would divide
whatever profit there might be equally between us. When, on making
my accounts, I found that I had a profit of a thousand d(n&rs for the
year, I gave thanks to the power and greatness of All&h and rejoiced
exceedingly. Then I divided the sum equally between my brother
and myself, and we dwelt together for many days.
But at length both my brothers made up their minds to go on a
second journey and wished me to set out with them. When I declined
this invitation, pointing out that the result of the first journey did not
tempt me to imitate them, they began to reproach me. But their
words were of no avail and we stayed buying and selling, each in our
respective shops, for a whole year. At the end of the year they again
proposed a journey, and again I refused, and this went on for six
whole years. But at last I acceded to their request to set out with
them and suggested that we should count up what money we had.
We did so and found that it came in all to six thousand d(n&rs. Then
said I: ‘Let us hide the half of this in the earth to be a help if we
encounter ill fortune and let us each take with us a thousand d(n&rs
to trade with.’ ‘May Allah favour your advice,’ they answered. So,
taking the money and dividing it, I hid three thousand d(n&rs and
divided the other three thousand between us three. Then we bought
merchandise of many kinds, hired a ship and, placing all we had on
board her, set sail.
After a month’s voyage we dropped anchor at a certain city,
where we sold our goods at a profit of ten d(n&rs for one. Then we
left the city.
When we came down to the sea side, we found there a woman
dressed in old and tattered garments who approached me and kissed
my hand, saying: ‘Master, can you help me and save me? Well I know
how to repay your goodness!’ I answered: ‘Certainly I will help and save
you, but you must not think it necessary to repay me.’ ‘Marry me then,
Master,’ she said, ‘carry me with you to your country and I will pledge
my soul to you. Do this for me, for I am of those who know the value
of an obligation. Also, I pray, do not be ashamed of my poor condition.’
When I heard her speak, I pitied her from the bottom of my heart, for
nothing comes to pass but All&h wills it. I carried her with me, clothed
her in rich garments and stretched fine carpets for her on the ship. Then,
when I had given her a full and cordial welcome, we set sail.
As time went on I grew to love her and would not be parted
from her day or night, preferring her company to that of my
brothers. So they grew jealous of me, envying me my riches and the
beauty of my possessions. They cast greedy eyes on all that I had, and
plotted my death and the theft of my money. Satan made this plan
seem good to them.
One day, as I lay sleeping by my wife’s side, they stole up to us and
cast us both into the sea. My wife woke in the water and suddenly,
changing her shape, became an Ifr(tah. Then she took me upon her
shoulders and, carrying me to an island, left me and disappeared for the
whole night. In the morning she returned and said: ‘Do you not know
me? I am your wife. It was I who held you up and saved you from death
by AllAh’s grace. Know now that I am a Jinn(yah and that when first I
saw you my heart loved you, for All&h willed it so, and I am a believer
in Him and in His prophet, whom may He bless and keep. Even when
I came to you in poor estate you were willing to marry me, and now,
in my turn, I have saved you from death in the water. As for your
brothers, I am enraged against them and must kill them.’
Astonished by her words, I thanked her heartily. ‘But as for killing
my brothers, this thing must not be,’ I said, and told her all that had
happened between us from beginning to end. When she had heard
me out, she said: ‘To-night I will fly to them and sink their ship so
that they die.’ Then said I: ‘All&h be with you! do not do this thing.
The Master of Proverbs has said: “You who have helped the unworthy,
know that the wicked man has in his wickedness punishment
enough!” And whatever they have done, they are still my brothers.’
‘No! I must kill them,’ she said, and I begged her clemency in vain;
she took me on her shoulders and, flying through the air, set me
down upon the terrace of my house at home.
I opened the door of my house and lifted the three thousand
d(n&rs from their hiding place. Then, after making the customary
visits of greeting, I opened my shop and stocked it anew with goods.
When night came, I shut my shop and, entering my own house,
found these two hounds tied up in a corner. When they saw me, they
rose weeping and caught hold of my garments. At that moment my
wife ran up to me, saying: ‘These are your brothers.’ And when I
asked her who had done this thing to them, she answered: ‘I did! I
asked my sister, who is far more deeply learned in enchantments
than I am, and she changed them into these forms, out of which they
cannot come again until ten years have passed.’
That is why, O powerful Jinn(, I happen to be in this place, because
I am on my way to my sister-in-law to beg her to deliver these poor
creatures now that ten years have passed. When I came here, I saw
this good merchant and, after hearing his tale, wished to remain and
witness what would happen between him and you. This is my story.
‘Truly a remarkable tale!’ the Jinn( said. ‘For it I grant you mercy
on a third of this blood which is forfeit to me.’
Then the third sheikh, master of the mule, came forward and said
to the Jinn(: ‘I will tell you a tale more marvellous than either of
these, if you will grant me mercy for the rest of the blood which is
forfeit to you.’ ‘Let it be so!’ answered the Jinn(.

The Tale of the First Sheikh

THE FIRST SHEIKH SAID:
O GREAT Ifrit, know that this gazelle was my uncle’s daughter
and my own flesh and blood. I married her when she was quite
young and lived with her for nearly thirty years; but All&h granted me
no child by her. So I took a concubine who, by All&h’s favour, gave me
a man-child as beautiful as the rising moon, with fine eyes, meeting
brows, and perfect limbs. When he had grown to be a boy of fifteen, I
was obliged to journey to a far city on an important matter of business.
You must know that my uncle’s daughter, this gazelle, had been
initiated since childhood into sorcery and the lore of enchantment.
By the art of magic she changed my son into a calf and the slave his
mother into a cow, and put both of them under the care of our herd.
A long time afterwards I came back from my journey and asked
for my son and his mother. Then my wife said: ‘Your slave is dead and
your son has fled I know not whither!’
For a year I remained broken by my heart’s grief, with the tears
ever in my eyes.
Then, when the yearly feast of the Day of Sacrifice came round, I
sent to bid my herd choose a well-fattened cow for me, and he brought
me one, but she was my concubine bewitched by this gazelle. Then I
pulled up the sleeves and skirts of my garments and, knife in hand,
prepared to sacrifice the cow; but suddenly she began to moan and
weep abundant tears. So I stopped and ordered the herd to sacrifice
her. He did so; but when he had flayed her, we found neither fat nor
flesh on her but only skin and bone. Then I repented that I had
sacrificed her—though my repentance was of no avail—and gave her
to the herd, saying: ‘Bring me a well-fatted calf.’ So he brought me
my son in the likeness of a calf.
When the calf saw me, he broke the cord that held him and running
to me rolled at my feet with groans and tears. Then I had pity on him
and said to the herd: ‘Bring me another cow and let this be.’
At this point in her tale, Shahraz&d saw the approach of
morning and discreetly fell silent. Then her sister Dunyaz&d said:
‘Sister, your words are sweet and gentle and pleasant to the taste.’
And Shahraz&d answered: ‘Indeed they are nothing to that which
I would tell both of you tomorrow night if I were still alive and
the King thought good to spare me.’ On this, the King said to
himself: ‘By All&h, I will not kill her until I have heard the rest of
her tale!’
Then the King and Shahraz&d passed the rest of the night in each
other’s arms, till the King departed to sit in judgment. When he saw
the Waz(r approach, carrying under his arm the winding-sheet destined
for his daughter Shahraz&d whom he believed already dead, the King
said nothing to him but continued to administer justice, raising some
to office and debasing others, until the fall of day. So that the Waz(r
was plunged into perplexity and the extreme of astonishment.
When the d(w&n was over, King Shahry&r returned to his palace.

And when the second night had come
DUNYAZ-D SAID TO SHAHRAZ-D: ‘Sister, I pray you finish for us the tale of
the merchant and the Jinn(.’ To this Shahraz&d answered: ‘With all
my heart and as my duty is, if the King permits.’ Then the King said:
‘You may speak.’
AND SHE SAID:
It is related, O favoured King and lover of justice, that, when the
merchant saw the calf weeping, his heart was softened and he said to
the herd: ‘Leave this calf to graze among the cows.’
The Jinn( was mightily astonished at this strange tale and the
sheikh, master of the gazelle, continued:
O master of the Kings of the Jinn, my uncle’s daughter, this gazelle,
was looking on and said to me: ‘Certainly we must sacrifice this calf;
he is fattened to perfection.’ But for very pity I could not make up
my mind to sacrifice him and at my order the herd took him again
and went away with him.
On the next day, as I was sitting in my house, the herd came to
me, saying: ‘Master, I have a joyful thing to tell you, good news worthy
of recompense.’ ‘Surely,’ I answered. Then he said: ‘Great merchant,
my daughter is a sorceress and has learnt magic from an old woman
who lodges with us. Yesterday, when you gave me that calf, I brought
him with me into the presence of my daughter, and scarcely had she
set eyes on him when she covered her face with her veil, first weeping
and then laughing. Finally she said to me: “Has my worth so fallen in
your eyes that you let strange men like this come into my presence?”
“Where are these strange men?” I answered. “And why have you
wept and then laughed?” Then she said: “This calf with you is the
son of our master, the merchant, but he is bewitched; yes, both he
and his mother, bewitched by his step-mother; and it was the calf
expression of his face at which I laughed. And if I wept it was for the
mother of this poor calf, slain by his father.” I was greatly astonished
by these words of my daughter and waited with impatience for the
dawn that I might come to tell you.’
Then, mighty Jinn(, continued the sheikh, hearing the herd’s words,
I went out with him, drunken without wine for joy of seeing my son
again. When I came to the herd’s house, his young daughter welcomed
me, kissing my hand, and the calf came and rolled at my feet. Then I
asked the herd’s daughter: ‘Is what you say of this calf true?’ And she
answered: ‘Yes, master, indeed! He is your son, your heart’s delight.’
Then said I: ‘My gentle, helpful child, if you deliver my son I will
give you all the cattle and the goods your father holds for me.’ She
smiled at my words and said: ‘Master, I would only be willing to take
these riches on two conditions; the first that I marry your son, and
the second that I have your leave to bewitch and confine whomsoever
I wish. Without these things I cannot answer for the good of my
interference against the evil arts of your wife.’
Mighty Jinn(, when I heard the words of the herd’s daughter, I
answered: ‘Be it so! And further you shall have the riches which your
father holds for me. As for my uncle’s daughter, you may dispose of
her life as you wish.’
When she heard me say this, she took a small copper basin and
filled it with water, speaking magic incantations over it. Then she
sprinkled the calf with the water and conjured him in these words:
‘If All&h made thee a calf, remain a calf; but if thou art bewitched,
return to thy former shape, by the grace of All&h the Most High!’
Even as she spoke, the calf, beginning to tremble and dislimn,
returned to human form. I threw myself upon him in a long
embrace and then I asked him in the name of All&h to tell me
what my uncle’s daughter had done to him and to his mother. So
he told me all that had happened, and I said: ‘My son, All&h,
Master of Destinies, has raised up one to save you and restore your
rights.’
After this, good Jinn(, I married my son to the herd’s daughter;
and she by magic arts bewitched my wife, turning her into this gazelle
which you now see. Passing by here I saw this excellent merchant
and, asking him what he did and hearing what had happened, sat
down to watch the event. Such is my story.
Then the Jinn( cried: ‘Your tale is marvellous enough and I grant
you mercy for a third of this blood.’
After this the second sheikh, master of the two greyhounds, came
forward and said: ‘O mighty Ifr(t, if I tell you the adventure which
befell me from these two hounds, which are my brothers, and if you
find it more marvellous than the tale you have just heard, will you
grant me mercy for another third of this man’s blood?’ ‘Assuredly,
venerable sheikh,’ answered the Jinn(, ‘if your adventure be indeed
more marvellous.’

The Tale of the Merchant and the Ifrit

HERE BEGIN THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND ONE NIGHT

SHAHRAZ-D SAID:
IT has come to me, O auspicious King, that there was once a
merchant of the merchants, master of many riches and of affairs of
commerce in all lands.
One day he mounted on horseback and left for certain places
whither his business called him. As the heat became too vexing, he
sat down under a tree and, putting his hand into his food-bag, took
from it a snack and also some dates. When he had finished eating the
dates, he threw the stones to a distance; but suddenly an enormous
Ifr(t appeared who approached him, brandishing a sword and crying:
‘Rise up, that I may slay you as you have slain my child!’ On this the
merchant asked: ‘How have I slain your child?’ The other said: ‘When
you threw the stones of the dates you had eaten, they struck my boy
in the breast and he died forthwith.’ Then said the merchant to the
Ifr(t: ‘Know, O great Ifr(t, that I am a Believer and know not how to
lie. Now I have many riches and children and a wife, also I have at
my home deposits which have been trusted to me. Give me leave to
go to my house that I may render each his due and, when I have
done this, I will return to you. Indeed, indeed, you have my promise
and my oath that I will return to you forthwith. Then you shall do to
me as you wish. And All&h is a witness of my words.’ So the Jinn( had
trust in the merchant and let him depart.
The merchant returned to his own land, rid himself of his
obligations, rendered each his due, and lastly revealed to his wife and
his children the fate that had overtaken him. So they all, relations,
women and children, began to weep. Then the merchant made his
will and rested with his folk until the year’s end; after which, taking
his winding-sheet beneath his arm, he bade farewell to his nearest, to
his neighbours, and to the folk of his house, and went forth, as it
were, in spite of his nose. Then indeed was lamentation made and
grief cried over him.
As for the merchant, he continued to journey until he came to
the garden where he was due on the first day of the new year. Now,
while he sat down to weep over his fate, behold a venerable sheikh
came towards him leading a gazelle by a chain. He saluted the
merchant, wishing him a life of prosperity and saying to him: ‘What
is the reason of your staying alone upon this Jinn-haunted spot?’
Then the merchant told him of his adventure with the Ifr(t. And the
sheikh, master of the gazelle, being greatly astonished, said: ‘By All&h,
your faith, my brother, is indeed a rare faith! And your story is so
prodigious that, were it only written with a needle on the inner
corner of an eye, it would yet be a matter of reflection to the
circumspect.’ Then he sat down by the merchant’s side, saying: ‘By
All&h! I shall certainly stay here with you, my brother, until I have
seen what happens between you and the Ifr(t.’ So he stayed, conversing
with the merchant, and beheld him swooning with fear and horror, a
prey to deep sorrow and to stormy thoughts. Suddenly, as the master
of the gazelle waited, there came a second sheikh, who advanced
towards them leading two dogs of greyhound breed which were
both black. He came up to them, wishing them peace and asking the
reason of their stay upon that Jinn-haunted spot. So they told him
the story from beginning to end. But hardly had he seated himself,
when a third sheikh came towards them, leading a bay-coloured she-
mule, and he also wished them peace and asked them the reason of
their stay. Again they told the story from beginning to end; but nothing
is to be gained by repeating it in this place.
In a little while a sand-devil lifted and a great wind blew heavily,
coming towards the middle of the grassland. Then, the dust dispersing,
the self-same Jinn( appeared, a fine-sharpened blade in his hand and
sparks of fire storming from his eyes. He came to them and, seizing
the merchant from among them, said: ‘Come, that I may kill you as
you killed my child, who was the breath of my life and the fire of my
heart.’ Then the merchant began to weep and lament, and the three
sheikhs also set themselves most conspicuously to weep and groan
and sob.
But the first sheikh, master of the gazelle, at last plucked up his
courage and kissed the hand of the Jinn(, saying: ‘O Jinn(, O chief
among the Kings of the Jinn and their crown also, if I relate to you
the tale of myself and this gazelle and it is such that you marvel at it,
oh grant me in return mercy for a third of the blood of this merchant!’
The Jinn( answered: ‘Assuredly, O venerable sheikh. If you tell me
the story and I find it indeed extraordinary, I will grant you mercy
for a third of this blood!’

The Fable of the Ass, the Bull and the Husbandman

KNOW, my daughter, that there was once a merchant, master of
riches and cattle, married and the father of children; to whom
All&h had also given understanding of the tongues of beasts and birds.
The place of this merchant’s house was in a fertile land on the bank
of a river, and in his farm there were an ass and a bull.
One day the bull came to the stable where the ass was lodged and
found it well swept and watered, with well-winnowed barley in the
manger and on the ground well-sifted straw, and the ass lying there at his
ease. (For when his master mounted him it would only be for some short
ride that chance demanded, and the ass would quickly return to his rest.)
Now on that day the merchant heard the bull say to the ass: ‘Give you
joy of your food, and may you find it healthy, profitable, and of a good
digestion! I myself am weary; but you are rested. You eat well-winnowed
barley and are cared for; and if, on occasion, your master mounts you, he
brings you quickly back. As for me I am but used to labour and to work
the mill.’ And the ass said: ‘When you go out into the field and they put
the yoke upon your neck, throw yourself to the earth and do not rise, even
if they beat you; also, when you do get up, fall down again immediately.
And after, if they let you back to the byre and give you beans to eat, leave
them, as if you were ill. Force yourself in this way not to eat or drink for
a day or two or even three. Thus you will rest from your labour and your
weariness.’
Remember that the merchant was there and heard their words.
When the husbandman came to give forage to the bull, he saw
that he ate very little; and when in the morning he took him out to
work he found him to be ill. Then the merchant said to the
husbandman: ‘Take the ass and make him work in the bull’s place for
the whole day!’ So the man returned and took the ass in place of the
bull and made it labour during the whole day.
When the ass came back to the stable at the end of the day, the
bull thanked him for his goodness of heart and for having let him rest
from his fatigue. But the ass answered nothing and, instead, repented
very bitterly.
Next day the husbandman came and took the ass again and made
him work till the fall of day; so that the ass returned with a galled neck
and broken by fatigue. Then the bull, seeing the state he was in, began
to thank him with effusion and load him with praises. To which the ass
replied: ‘How restful were the days before this, when nothing but luxury
was my lot,’ and added: ‘Meanwhile I will give you a piece of good
advice; I heard our master say: “If the bull does not get up from his place,
we must hand him over to the slaughterer to kill and to make a leather
cloth for the table!” I am much afraid for your safety.’
When the bull heard the ass’s words, he thanked him and said:
‘To-morrow I will go with them freely and attend to my labours.’
With that he began to eat and swallowed all the forage and even
licked the bushel clean with his tongue.
Remember their master saw and heard all this.
When the day came the merchant went out with his wife towards
the byres and both of them sat down. Then the husbandman came
and took out the bull who, at the sight of his master, began to frisk
his tail and loudly break wind and gallop wildly in all directions. The
merchant was seized with such a laughter that he rolled on his back.
His wife asked: ‘What are you laughing at?’ He answered: ‘At a thing
which I have seen and heard, but of which I may not tell you without
dying.’ And she said: ‘You must tell me the reason of your laughter,
even if you have to die for it.’ He said: ‘I cannot tell you, because I
fear to die.’ Then said she: ‘I know, you are laughing at me.’ After this
she did not cease to quarrel and confound him with wilful words
until she drove him into great perplexity. Finally, he made his children
come to him and sent to call the k&d& and witnesses, wishing to
make his will before he should tell the secret to his wife and die. For
he greatly loved his wife, since she was the daughter of his father’s
brother and the mother of his children, and since he had lived with
her for one hundred and twenty years. Further, he invited all his
wife’s relatives and the folk of the district and, relating the story, told
them how he would die on the instant of revealing his secret. Then
all who were present said to the wife: ‘All&h be with you! Leave this
matter on one side lest your husband, the father of your children,
die.’ But she answered: ‘I will never leave him in peace until he tells
me, even if he has to die for it.’ So they stopped reasoning with her;
and the merchant rose from among them and went, by the side of the
stable, towards the garden, in order that he might first make his death
ablution there and then return to tell his secret and to die.
Now the merchant had a valiant cock which could satisfy fifty
hens, and also a dog. And he heard the dog calling to the cock and
scolding it, saying: ‘Are you not ashamed of being so gay when our
master is on the point of death?’ Then the cock asked the dog how
this was so, and, when the dog had told him the story, he exclaimed:
‘By All&h, our master is extraordinarily lacking in intelligence! I myself
have fifty wives, and I succeed very well by contenting one and
scolding another, while he, who has only one wife, does not know
the way of dealing even with her. It is quite simple; he has but to cut
himself some good mulberry twigs, go back in strength to his private
room, and beat her until she either dies or repents. She will not
importune him with any questions on any subject after that, I do
assure you.’ So the cock spoke, and when the merchant heard him,
light returned to his reason and he resolved to beat his wife.
Here the Waz(r paused in his story and said to his daughter
Shahraz&d: ‘It may be I shall do to you as the merchant did to his
wife.’ She asked him: ‘What did he do?’ And the Waz(r continued:
The merchant entered his wife’s chamber, after having cut and
hidden about him certain mulberry twigs, and called to her, saying:
‘Come into my private room that I may tell you my secret, out of the
sight of all, and then die.’ So she entered with him and he shut the
door of the private room and fell upon her with redoubled blows
until she swooned away. Finally, when she could speak, she cried: ‘I
repent! I repent!’ and, beginning to caress her husband’s hands and
feet, did repent in very truth. Afterwards she walked out with him,
and all the relatives and those gathered there rejoiced. Happy and
prosperous were the fortunes of them all until their deaths.
Thus he spoke, and when Shahraz&d, the waz(r’s daughter, heard
her father’s story, she said: ‘Even so, my father, I wish you to do what
I have asked you.’ So the Waz(r, without insisting further, had the
wedding garments of his daughter Shahraz&d made ready, and then
went to tell the matter to King Shahry&r.
Meanwhile, Shahraz&d gave these instructions to her young
sister: ‘When I am with the King I will send to fetch you; then when
you have come and when you see the King finish his act with me,
you must say: “Tell me, my sister, some of your stories of marvel that
the night may pass pleasantly.” Then will I tell you tales which, if
All&h wills, shall be the deliverance of the daughters of the
Mussulm&ns.’
After this the Waz(r, her father, came to take her and went up with
her into the presence of the King. And the King, being overborne
with happiness, said to him: ‘Is the needful thing indeed present?’
And respectfully the Waz(r answered: ‘Yes!’
But when the King wished to take the young girl, she began to
weep, so that he asked: ‘What ails you?’ She answered: ‘O my King, I
have a little sister and I would say my farewells to her.’ So the King
sent for the little sister, who came and threw herself upon the neck of
Shahraz&d, and lastly cowered down beside the bed.
Then the King rose and, taking the maiden Shahraz&d, ravished
her virginity.
Afterwards they spoke together and Dunyaz&d said to Shahraz&d:
‘All&h be with you! Tell us, my sister, some of your tales of marvel,
that the night may pass pleasantly.’ And Shahraz&d answered: ‘Gladly
and as a duty, if the great and courteous King permits.’ When the
King heard these words, and being moreover unable to sleep, he was
in no way averse to listening to the tale of Shahraz&d.
And Shahraz&d, this first night, began the following tale:

The Tale of King Shahryar and of his Brother, King Shahzaman

iT is related—but All&h is all wise and all knowing, all powerful
and all beneficent—that there was, in the tide and show of ancient
time and the passage of the age and of the moment, a king among
the kings of S&s&n, in the isles of India and China. He was master of
armies and auxiliaries, of slaves and of a great following; and he had
two sons, one tall and the other small. Both were heroic horsemen;
but the taller was the greater in this exercise and reigned over lands
and governed with justice among men, so that the peoples of the
land and of the kingdom loved him. His name was King Shahry&r.
The smaller brother was called King Shahzam&n and ruled over
Samarkand al-Ajam.
Both lived in their countries and were just rulers of the people
for a space of twenty years; by the end of which time each was at the
height of his splendour and his growth.
This was the way with them until the tall king was seized by a
violent longing to see his brother. Then he commanded his Waz(r to
depart and return with him: and the Waz(r answered: ‘I hear and I obey.’
The Waz(r set out and, arriving in all security by the grace of
All&h, entered the presence of the brother, wished him peace, and
told him the purpose of his journey.
King Shahzam&n answered: ‘I hear and I obey.’ Then he made
preparations for his departure and for the going out of his tents, his
camels, and mules; his slaves and fighting-men. Lastly he raised his
own Waz(r to the governorship, and departed to seek the lands of his
brother.
But, in the middle of the night, he recalled a thing which he had
left forgotten at the palace. Returning and entering, he found his
wife stretched on her bed and being embraced by a black slave. At
this sight, the world darkened before his face and he said within his
soul: ‘If such a thing has come to pass when I have hardly left the city,
what would the conduct of this wanton be if I were absent for long
at my brother’s house?’ So he drew his sword and with one stroke
killed them upon the carpets of the bed. Then he returned and,
ordering his camp to move forward, journeyed through the night till
he came to his brother’s city.

His brother rejoiced at his approach, went out to meet him and,
greeting him, wished him peace; also he adorned the city for him,
and began to speak with him jovially. But King Shahzam&n
remembered the affair of his wife, and a cloud of grief veiled him; his
cheeks became sallow and his body frail. King Shahry&r, seeing him
in this pass and thinking it was due to his exile from lands and kingdom,
questioned him no further on the subject and let him be. But, on a
later day, he said: ‘My brother, I know not! and yet I see your body
grow frail and your cheeks sallow.’ Shahzam&n answered: ‘My brother,
I am stricken in the heart of my heart.’ But he did not reveal what he
had seen happen to his wife. So King Shahry&r continued: ‘Then
come hunting and coursing with me, for in that pursuit perhaps your
breast may throw off this trouble.’ But King Shahzam&n had no wish
to do so; and his brother went out to hunt alone.
Now there were in the King’s palace certain windows that looked
on to the garden, and, as King Shahzam&n leaned there and looked
out, the door of the palace opened and twenty women slaves with
twenty men slaves came from it; and the wife of the King, his brother,
was among them and walked there in all her bright beauty. When
they came to the pool of a fountain they all undressed and mingled
one with another. Suddenly, on the King’s wife crying: ‘O Masud!
Y& Masud!’, a gigantic negro ran towards her, embraced her, and,
turning her upon her back, enjoyed her. At this signal, all the other
men slaves did the same with the women and they continued thus a
long while, not ceasing their kisses and embraces and goings in and
the like until the approach of dawn.
At this sight the King’s brother said within himself: ‘By All&h,
mine is even a lighter misfortune than his.’ So he let his grief and
discontent slip from him, saying to himself: ‘Truly, this is more terrible
than all which happened to me.’ And from that moment he began to
drink again and to eat without pause.
Meanwhile the King, his brother, came back from hunting, and
the two wished each other peace. Then King Shahry&r, observing his
brother Shahzam&n, saw that colour and life had come back to him
and further that he, who had so long dealt sparingly with his food,
now ate abundantly. So, in his astonishment, he asked him the
explanation of this; and the other answered: ‘Listen and I will tell you
the cause of my former pallor. When you sent your Waz(r to me to
require my presence at your side, I made my preparation for departure

and left my city. But afterwards, remembering the present which I
destined for you and which I gave you at the palace, I went back and
found my wife lying with a black slave, the two sleeping upon the
carpets of my bed. I killed the pair of them and made my way to you,
thrice wretched in my thought for what had happened. That was the
cause of my former paleness and loss of strength. As for the return of
colour to my cheeks, spare me, I pray, from speaking of it.’
When his brother heard these words, he said: ‘By All&h, I conjure
you to tell me the other half of the matter!’ So King Shahzam&n told
him all he had seen. And King Shahry&r exclaimed: ‘First must I see
this with my own eyes!’ To this his brother answered: ‘Make it appear,
then, that you are going out to hunt and course; but hide instead
with me, and you shall be witness of the sight and see the truth of it!’
Immediately the King proclaimed his departure by the public
crier and the soldiers went out beyond the city with their tents. The
King went forth also and, settling himself in his tents, said to his
young slaves: ‘Let no one enter!’ Then he disguised himself and, leaving
secretly, went towards the palace where his brother was. On his arrival
he stationed himself at the window giving on to the garden. Scarcely
had an hour passed when the women slaves, circling about their
mistress, came into the garden with the men slaves; and they did all
that Shahzam&n had told of them and passed the time in these
diversions until asr, the beginning of the sun’s decline.
When King Shahry&r saw these things, reason fled from her seat
in his mind and he said to his brother Shahzam&n: ‘Let us go hence
and fare forth to seek our destiny upon the road of All&h; for we have
no right in royalty, nor shall have, until we have found someone who
has met a fate like ours: without that, in truth, death would be better
than our lives.’ To this his brother made the fitting answer and both
went out by a secret door of the palace. They travelled night and day
until they came to a tree in the middle of a lonely meadow near the
salt sea. In this meadow there was an eyelet of fresh water at which
they drank and afterwards sat down to rest. An hour had hardly passed
when the sea began to be troubled and suddenly a column of black
smoke came up out of it which rose to the sky and moved towards
the meadow. Seeing this, they became afraid and climbed as high as
they were able into the tall tree, and began to consider what this
might mean. Then, behold! the smoke column changed to a Jinn( of
great size, vast-shouldered, gigantically-breasted, and carrying on his
head a box. He put foot to the earth, came towards the tree in which
they were, and stopped below it. Then he lifted the lid of the box and
took from it a large coffer which he also opened; and thereupon
appeared a desirable young girl, bright in her beauty, shining like the
sun. As the poet says:

She comes, a torch in the shadows, and it is day;
Her light more brightly lights the dawn.
Suns leap from out her beauty
And moons are born in the smiling of her eyes.
Ah, that the veils of her mystery might be rent
And the folk of the world lie ravished at her feet.
Forced by the great light of her sweet glancing
Wet tears smart forth from every watching eye.

When the Jinn( had looked long at the beauty of the girl, he said to
her: ‘O Queen of every silky thing! O you whom I ravished away
upon your bridal night! I would sleep a little.’ And the Jinn(, resting
his head upon the knees of the young girl, went to sleep.
Then the child raised her head and saw the two kings hidden in the
tree-top. At once she lifted the head of the Jinn( from her knees, rested
it upon the ground, and stood up beneath the tree, saying to them by
signs: ‘Come down. Have no fear of this Ifr(t.’ They also answered by
signs: ‘All&h be with you! Pray excuse us from such a dangerous
undertaking!’ She said: ‘I conjure you by All&h! Come down quickly,
or I will warn the Ifr(t and he shall kill you with the worst of deaths!’
Then they were afraid and came down beside her; and she said at once:
‘Come, pierce me violently with your lances; if not, I will wake the
Ifr(t.’ Then Shahry&r said fearfully to Shahzam&n: ‘You, my brother, do
first what she requires!’ To which the other answered: ‘I will do nothing
until you have given me an example, my elder brother!’ And each began
to coax the other, making with their eyes gestures of coupling. Then
she said: ‘Why do I see you working your eyes in this way? If you do
not come forward and do it to me at once, I will wake the Ifr(t.’ So, in
their fear of the Jinn(, they both did to her as she had commanded, and
when they were well wearied, she said: ‘You are indeed experienced
riders!’ Then, drawing from her pocket a little bag, she took from it a
necklace of five hundred and seventy seal-rings, saying: ‘Know you
what these are?’ And they answered: ‘We do not know.’ Then she said:
‘The givers of these seal-rings have all coupled with me on the
unwitting horns of this Ifr(t. So now, O brothers, give me yours!’ Then
they gave her their seal-rings, taking them off their hands. Whereon
she said: ‘Know that this Ifr(t carried me off on the night of my
marriage, prisoned me in a coffer and placed that coffer in a box and
fastened about the box seven chains, yes, and then laid me at the bottom
of the moaning sea that wars and dashes with its waves. But he did not
know that whenever any one of us women desires a thing, nothing can
prevent her from it. And the poet said, besides:

Friend, trust not at all in women, smile at their promising,
For they lower or they love at the caprice of their parts.
Filled to the mouth with deceit, they lavish a lying love
Even while the very floss fringing their silks is faithless.
Respect and remember the words of Y*suf. Forget not
Ibl(s worked all Adam’s woe with one woman.
Rail not, my friend. At this house, at whom you are railing,
Mild love tomorrow will give place to madness.
Say not: “If I love, I’ll escape the follies of loving,”
But rather: “Only a miracle brings a man safe from among them.”

At these words the brothers marvelled even to the limits of marvelling
and said to each other: ‘If this be a Jinn( and in spite of his power
much more terrible things have happened to him than to us, it is an
adventure which ought to console us!’
So at that same hour they left the young woman and returned
each to his own city.
When King Shahry&r entered his palace, he caused his wife’s head
to be cut off at the neck, and in the same way the heads of the slaves,
both men and women. Then he ordered his Waz(r to bring him every
night a young and virgin girl, whom he ravished and, when the night
had passed, caused to be slain. This he did for three long years; so that
the people were all one cry of grief, one tumult of horror. They fled
away with such daughters as remained to them; and in all the city there
remained not one girl who retained the state to serve for this assault.
At last the King, as was his custom, ordered the Waz(r to bring
him a young girl; and the Waz(r went forth and hunted, but found no
girl at all. So he returned to his own home, dejected and wretched,
and with his soul full of his fear of the King.
Now this Waz(r had himself two daughters who in the matters of
beauty, charm, brilliance, perfection, and delicate taste, were each
unrivalled save by the other. The name of the elder was Shahraz&d,
and that of the younger Dunyaz&d. Shahraz&d had read the books,
the annals, and the legends of old kings, together with the histories of
past peoples. Also she was credited with possessing a thousand books
of stories telling of the peoples, the kings, and the poets of bygone
ages and of past time. She was sweetly eloquent of speech and to
listen to her was music.
When she had looked at her father, she said: ‘Why do I see you so
bowed and changed with care and sorrow? Know, my father, that the
poet says: “Thou who art sad, oh be comforted; for nothing endures
and as every joy vanishes away so also vanishes every sorrow!”’
When the Waz(r heard these words, he told his daughter from
beginning to end all that had happened concerning the King. Then
Shahraz&d said: ‘By All&h, father, you must marry me to this king; for
either I shall live or, dying, I shall be a ransom for the daughters of
the Mussulm&ns and the cause of their deliverance out of the hands
of the King.’ Then said he: ‘All&h be with you! You shall never expose
yourself to such a danger.’ And she answered: ‘It is necessary that I do
this.’ So he said to her: ‘Take care that the fate of the ass with the bull
and the husbandman befall not you also. Listen’:

Tipu Dibalas Tipu

Ada seorang Yogis (Ahli Yoga) mengajak seorang Pendeta bersekongkol akan
memperdaya Iman Abu Nawas. Setelah mereka mencapai kata sepakat, mereka
berangkat menemui Abu Nawas di kediamannya.
Ketika mereka datang Abu Nawas sedang melakukan salat Dhuha. Setelah
dipersilahkan masuk oleh istri Abu Nawas mereka masuk dan menunggu sambil
berbincang-bincang santai.
Seusai salat Abu Nawas menyambut mereka. Abu Nawas dan para tamunya
bercakap-cakap sejenak.
"Kami sebenarnya ingin mengajak engkau melakukan pengembaraan suci. Kalau
engkau tidak keberatan bergabunglah bersama kami." kata Ahli Yoga.
"Dengan senang hati. Lalu kapan rencananya?" tanya Abu Nawas polos.
"Besok pagi." kata Pendeta.
"Baiklah kalau begitu kita bertemu di warung teh besok." kata Abu Nawas
menyanggupi.
Hari berikutnya mereka berangkat bersama. Abu Nawas mengenakan jubah
seorang Sufi. Ahli Yoga dan Pendeta memakai seragam keagamaan mereka
masing-masing. Di tengah jalan mereka mulai diserang rasa lapar karena
mereka memang sengaja tidak membawa bekal.
"Hai Abu Nawas, bagaimana kalau engkau saja yang mengumpulkan derma guna
membeli makanan untuk kita bertiga. Karena kami akan mengadakan
kebaktian." kata Pendeta. Tanpa banyak bicara Abu Nawas berangkat mencari
dan mengumpulkan derma dari dusun satu ke dusun lain. Setelah derma
terkumpul, Abu Nawas membeli makanan yang cukup untuk tiga orang. Abu
Nawas kembali ke Pendeta dan Ahli Yoga dengan membawa makanan. Karena
sudah tak sanggup menahan rasa lapar Abu Nawas berkata,


"Mari segera kita bagi makanan ini sekarang juga." "Jangan sekarang. Kami
sedang berpuasa." kata Ahli Yoga.
"Tetapi aku hanya menginginkan bagianku saja sedangkan bagian kalian
terserah pada kalian." kata Abu Nawas menawarkan jalan keluar.
"Aku tidak setuju. Kita harus seiring seirama dalam berbuat apa pun:" kata
Pendeta.
"Betul aku pun tidak setuju karena waktu makanku besok pagi.
Besok pagi aku baru akan berbuka." kata Ahli Yoga.
"Bukankah aku yang engkau jadikan alat pencari derma Dan derma itu sekarang
telah kutukar dengan makanan ini. Sekarang kalian tidak mengijinkan aku
mengambil bagian sendiri. Itu tidak masuk akal." kata Abu Nawas mulai mera
jengkel. Namun begitu Pendeta dan Ahli Yoga tetap bersikeras tidak
mengijinkan Abu Nawas mengambil bagian yang menja haknya.
Abu Nawas penasaran. la mencoba sekali lagi meyakinkan kawan-kawannya
agar mengijinkan ia memakan bagianya. Tetapi mereka tetap saja menolak.


Abu Nawas benar-benar merasa jengkel dan marah. Namun Abu Nawas tid
memperlihatkan sedikit pun kejengkelan dan kemarahannya.
"Bagaimana kalau kita mengadakan perjanjian." kata Pendeta kepada Abu
Nawas.
"Perjanjian apa?" tanya Abu Nawas.
"Kita adakan lomba. Barangsiapa di antara kita bermimpi paling indah maka ia
akan mendapat bagian yang terbanyak yang kedua lebih sedikit dan yang
terburuk akan mendapat paling sedikit." Pendeta itu menjelaskan.
Abu Nawas setuju. la tidak memberi komentar apa-apa.
IVfalam semakin larut. Embun mulai turun ke bumi. Pendeta dan Ahli Yoga
mengantuk dan tidur. Abu Nawas tidak bisa tidur. la hanya berpura-pura tidur.
Setelah merasa yakin kawan-kawannya sudah terlelap Abu Nawas menghampiri
makanan itu. Tanpa berpikir dua kali Abu Nawas memakan habis makanan itu
hinggatidak tersisa sedikit pun. Setelah merasa kekenyangan Abu Nawas baru
bisa tidur.


Keesokan hari mereka bangun hampir bersamaan. Ahli Yoga dengan wajah
berseri-seri bercerita,
"Tadi malam aku bermimpi memasuki sebuah taman yang mirip sekali dengan
Nirvana. Aku merasakan kenikmatan yang belum pernah kurasakan sebelumnya
dalam hidup ini."
Pendeta mengatakan bahwa mimpi Ahli Yoga benar-benar menakjubkan. Betulbetul
luar biasa. Kemudian giliran Pendeta menceritakan mimpinya.
"Aku seolah-olah menembus ruang dan waktu. Dan temyata memang benar. Aku
secara tidak sengaja berhasil menyusup ke masa silam dimana pendiri agamaku
hidup. Aku bertemu dengan beliau dan yang lebih membahagiakan adalah aku
diberkatinya."
Ahli Yoga juga memuji-muji kehebatan mimpi Pendeta, Abu Nawas hanya diam.
la bahkan tidak merasa tertarik sedikitpun.
Karena Abu Nawas belum juga buka mulut, Pendeta dai Ahli Yoga mulai tidak
sabar untuk tidak menanyakan mimpi Abu Nawas.


"Kalian tentu tahu Nabi Daud alaihissalam. Beliau adalah seorang nabi yang ahli
berpuasa. Tadi malam aku bermimpi berbincang-bincang dengan beliau. Beliau
menanyakan apakah aku berpuasa atau tidak. Aku katakan aku berpuasa karena
aku memang tidak makan sejak dini hari Kemudian beliau menyuruhku segera
berbuka karena hari sudah malam. Tentu saja aku tidak berani mengabaikan
perintah beliau. Aku segera bangun dari tidur dan langsung menghabiskan
makanan itu." kata Abu Nawas tanpa perasaa bersalah secuil pun.
Sambil menahan rasa lapar yang menyayat-nyayat Pendeta dan Ahli Yoga saling
berpandangan satu sama lain.
Kejengkelan Abu Nawas terobati.
Kini mereka sadar bahwa tidak ada gunanya coba-coba mempermainkan Abu
Nawas, pasti hanya akan mendapat celaka sendiri.

Strategi Maling

Tanpa pikir panjang Abu Nawas memutuskan untuk menjual keledai
kesayangannya. Keledai itu merupakan kendaraan Abu Nawas satu-satunya.
Sebenarnya ia tidak tega untuk menjualnya. Tetapi keluarga Abu Nawas amat
membutuhkan uang. Dan istrinya setuju.
Keesokan harinya Abu Nawas membawa keledai ke pasar. Abu Nawas tidak tahu
kalau ada sekelompok pencuri yang terdiri dari empat orang telah mengetahui
keadaan dan rencana Abu Nawas. Mereka sepakat akan memperdaya Abu
Nawas. Rencana pun mulai mereka susun.
Ketika Abu Nawas beristirahat di bawah pohon, salah seorang mendekat dan
berkata,
"Apakah engkau akan menjual kambingmu?"
Tentu saja Abu Nawas terperanjat mendengar pertanyaan yang begitu tiba-tiba.

"Ini bukan kambing." kata Abu Nawas.
"Kalau bukan kambing, lalu apa?" tanya pencuri itu selanjutnya.
"Keledai." kata Abu Nawas.
"Kalau engkau yakin itu keledai, jual saja ke pasar dan dan tanyakan pada
mereka." kata komplotan pencuri itu sambil berlalu. Abu Nawas tidak
terpengaruh. Kemudian ia meneruskan perjalanannya.
Ketika Abu Nawas sedang menunggang keledai, pencuri kedua menghampirinya
dan berkata."Mengapa kau menunggang kambing."
"Ini bukan kambing tapi keledai."
"Kalau itu keledai aku tidak bertanya seperti itu, dasar orang aneh. Kambing
kok dikatakan keledai."


"Kalau ini kambing' aku tidak akan menungganginya." jawab Abu Nawas tanpa
ragu.
"Kalau engkau tidak percaya, pergilah ke pasar dan tanyakan pada orang-orang
di sana." kata pencuri kedua sambil berlalu.
Abu Nawas belum terpengaruh dan ia tetap berjalan menuju pasar.
Pencuri ketiga datang menghampiri Abu Nawas,"Hai Abu Nawas akan kau bawa
ke mana kambing itu?"
Kali ini Abu Nawas tidak segera menjawab.la mulai ragu, sudah tiga orang
mengatakan kalau hewan yang dibawanya adalah kambing.
Pencuri ketiga tidak menyia-nyiakan kesempatan. la makin merecoki otak Abu
Nawas, "Sudahlah, biarpun kau bersikeras hewan itu adalah keledai nyatanya
itu adalah kambing, kambing ....... kambiiiiiing !"
Abu Nawas berhenti sejenak untuk beristirahat di bawah pohon. Pencuri
keempat melaksanakan strategi busuknya. la duduk di samping Abu Nawas dan
mengajak tokoh cerdik ini untuk berbincang-bincang.


"Ahaa, bagus sekali kambingmu ini...!" pencuri keempat membuka percakapan.
"Kau juga yakin ini kambing?" tanya Abu Nawas.
"Lho? ya jelas sekali kalau hewan ini adalah kambing. Kalau boleh aku ingin
membelinya."
"Berapa kau mau membayarnya?"
"Tiga dirham!"
Abu Nawas setuju. Setelah menerima uang dari pencuri keempat kemudian Abu
Nawas langsung pulang. Setiba di rumah Abu Nawas dimarahi istrinya.
"Jadi keledai itu hanya engkau jual tiga dirham lantaran mereka mengatakan
bahwa keledai itu kambing?" Abu Nawas tidak bisa menjawab. la hanya
mendengarkan ocehan istrinya dengan setia sambil menahan rasa dongkol. Kini
ia baru menyadari kalau sudah diperdayai oleh komplotan pencuri yang
menggoyahkan akal sehatnya.


Abu Nawas merencanakan sesuatu. la pergi ke hutan mencari sebatang kayu
untuk dijadikan sebuah tongkat yang nantinya bisa menghasilkan uang..
Rencana Abu Nawas ternyata berjalan lancar. Hampir semua orang
membicarakan keajaiban tongkat Abu Nawas. Berita ini juga terdengar oleh
para pencuri yang telah menipu Abu Nawas. Mereka langsung tertarik. Bahkan
mereka melihat sendiri ketika Abu Nawas membeli barang atau makan tanpa
membayar tetapi hanya dengan mengacungkan tongkatnya. Mereka berpikir
kalau tongkat itu bisa dibeli maka tentu mereka akan kaya karena hanya
dengan mengacungkan tongkat itu mereka akan mendapatkan apa yang mereka
inginkan.
Akhirnya mereka mendekati Abu Nawas dan berkata, "Apakah tongkatmu akan
dijual?"
"Tidak." jawab Abu Nawas dengan cuek.
"Tetapi kami bersedia membeli dengan harga yang amat tinggi." kata mereka.
"Berapa?" kata Abu Nawas pura-pura merasa tertarik.
"Seratus dinar uang emas." kata mereka tanpa ragu-ragu.


"Tetapi tongkat ini adalah tongkat wasiat satu-satunya yang aku miliki." kata
Abu Nawas sambil tetap berpura-pura tidak ingin menjual tongkatnya.
"Dengan uang seratus dinar engkau sudah bisa hidup enak." Kata mereka makin
penasaran.
Abu Nawas diam beberapa saat sepertinya merasa keberatan sekali.
"Baiklah kalau begitu." kata Abu Nawas kemudian sambil menyerahkan
tongkatnya.
Setelah menerima seratus dinar uang emas Abu Nawas segera melesat pulang.
Para pencuri itu segera mencari warung terdekat untuk membuktikan keajaiban
tongkat yang baru mereka beli. Seusai makan mereka mengacungkan tongkat
itu kepada pemilik kedai. Tentu saja pemilik kedai marah.
"Apa maksudmu mengacungkan tongkat itu padaku?" "Bukankah Abu Nawas juga
mengacungkan tongkat ini dan engkau membebaskannya?" tanya para pencuri
itu.


"Benar. Tetapi engkau harus tahu bahwa Abu Nawas menitipkan sejumlah uang
kepadaku sebelum makan di sini!"
"Gila! Temyata kita tidak mendapat keuntungan sama sekali menipu Abu
Nawas. Kita malah rugi besar!" umpat para pencuri dengan rasa dongkol.

Asmara Memang Aneh

Secara tak terduga Pangeran yang menjadi putra marikota jatuh sakit. Sudah
banyak tabib yang didatangkan untuk memeriksa dan mengobati tapi tak
seorang pun mampu menyembuhkannya. Akhirnya Raja mengadakan
sayembara. Sayembara boleh diikuti oleh rakyat dari semua lapisan. Tidak
terkecuali oleh para penduduk negeri tetangga.
Sayembara yang menyediakan hadiah menggiurkan itu dalam waktu beberapa
hari berhasil menyerap ratusan peserta. Namun tak satu pun dari mereka

berhasil mengobati penyakit sang pangeran. Akhirnya sebagai sahabat dekat
Abu Nawas, menawarkan jasa baik untuk menolong sang putra mahkota.

Baginda Harun Al Rasyid menerima usul itu dengan penuh harap. Abu Nawas
sadar bahwa dirinya bukan tabib. Dari itu ia tidak membawa peralatan apa-apa.
Para tabib yang ada di istana tercengang melihat Abu Nawas yang datang tanpa
peralatan yang mungkin diperlukan. Mereka berpikir mungkinkah orang macam
Abu Nawas ini bisa mengobati penyakit sang pangeran? Sedangkan para tabib
terkenal dengan peralatan yang lengkap saja tidak sanggup. Bahkan
penyakitnya tidak terlacak. Abu Nawas merasa bahwa seluruh perhatian tertuju
padanya. Namun Abu Nawas tidak begitu memperdulikannya.
Abu Nawas dipersilahkan memasuki kamar pangeran yang sedang terbaring. la
menghampiri sang pangeran dan duduk di sisinya.
Setelah Abu Nawas dan sang pangeran saling pandang beberapa saat, Abu
Nawas berkata, "Saya membutuhkan seorang tua yang di masa mudanya sering
mengembara ke pelosok negeri."
Orang tua yang diinginkan Abu Nawas didatangkan. "Sebutkan satu persatu
nama-nama desa di daerah selatan." perintah Abu Nawas kepada orang tua itu.
Ketika orang tua itu menyebutkan nama-nama desa bagian selatan, Abu Nawas
menempelkan telinganya ke dada sang pangeran. Kemudian Abu Nawas
memerintahkan agar menyebutkan bagian utara, barat dan timur. Setelah

semua bagian negeri disebutkan, Abu Nawas mohon agar diizinkan mengunjungi
sebuah desa di sebelah utara. Raja merasa heran.
"Engkau kuundang ke sini bukan untuk bertamasya." "Hamba tidak bermaksud
berlibur Yang Mulia." kata Abu Nawas.
"Tetapi aku belum paham." kata Raja.
"Maafkan hamba, Paduka Yang Mulia. Kurang bijaksana rasanya bila hamba
jelaskan sekarang." kata Abu Nawas. Abu Nawas pergi selama dua hari.
Sekembali dari desa itu Abu Nawas menemui sang pangeran dan membisikkan
sesuatu kemudian menempelkan telinganya ke dada sang pangeran. Lalu Abu
Nawas menghadap Raja.
"Apakah Yang Mulia masih menginginkan sang pangeran tetap hidup?" tanya
Abu Nawas.
"Apa maksudmu?" Raja balas bertanya.


"Sang pangeran sedang jatuh cinta pada seorang gadis desa di sebelah utara
negeri ini." kata Abu Nawas menjelaskan.
"Bagaimana kau tahu?"
"Ketika nama-nama desa di seluruh negeri disebutkan tiba-tiba degup
jantungnya bertambah keras ketika mendengarkan nama sebuah desa di bagian
utara negeri ini. Dan sang pangeran tidak berani mengutarakannya kepada
Baginda."
"Lalu apa yang harus aku lakukan?" tanya Raja.
"Mengawinkan pangeran dengan gadis desa itu."
"Kalau tidak?" tawar Raja ragu-ragu.
"Cinta itu buta. Bila kita tidak berusaha mengobati kebutaannya, maka ia akan
mati." Rupanya saran Abu Nawas tidak bisa ditolak. Sang pangeran adalah putra
satu-satunya yang merupakan pewaris tunggal kerajaan.


Abu Nawas benar. Begitu mendengar persetujuan sang Raja, sang pangeran
berangsur-angsur pulih. Sebagai tanda terima kasih Raja memberi Abu Nawas
sebuah cincin permata yang amat indah.

Orang-Orang Kanibal

Saat itu Abu Nawas baru saja pulang dari istana setelah dipanggil Baginda. la
tidak langsung pulang ke rumah melainkan berjalan-jalan lebih dahulu ke
perkampungan orang-orang badui. Ini memang sudah menjadi kebiasaan Abu
Nawas yang suka mempelajari adat istiadat orang-orang badui.
Pada suatu perkampungan, Abu Nawas sempat melihat sebuah rumah besar
yang dari luar terdengar suara hingar bingar seperti suara kerumunan puluhan
orang. Abu tertarik, ingin melihat untuk apa orang-orang badui berkumpul di
sana, ternyata di rumah besar itu adalah tempat orang badui menjual bubur
haris yaitu bubur khas makanan para petani. Tapi Abu Nawas tidak segera
masuk ke rumah besar itu, merasa lelah dan ingin beristirahat maka ia terus
berjalan ke arah pinggiran desa.

Abu Nawas beristirahat di bawah sebatang pohon rindang. la merasa hawa di
situ amat sejuk dan segar sehingga tidak berapa lama kemudian mehgantuk dan
tertidur di bawah pohon.
Abu Nawas tak tahu berapa lama ia tertidur, tahu-tahu ia merasa dilempar ke
atas lantai tanah. Brak! lapun tergagap bangun.
"Kurang ajar! Siapa yang melemparku?" tanyanya heran sembari menengok
kanan kiri.
Ternyata ia berada di sebuah ruangan pengap berjeruji besi. Seperti penjara.

"Hai keluarkan aku! Kenapa aku dipenjara di sini.!"
Tidak berapa lama kemudian muncul seorang badui bertubuh besar. Abu Nawas
memperhatikan dengan seksama, ia ingat orang inilah yang menjua! bubur haris
di rumah besar di tengah desa.
"Jangan teriak-teriak, cepat makan ini !" kata orang sembari menyodorkan
piring ke lubang ruangan. Abu Nawas tidak segera makan. "Mengapa aku
dipenjara?"
"Kau akan kami sembelih dan akan kami jadikan campuran bubur haris."
"Hah? Jadi yang kau jual di tengah desa itu bubur manusia?"
"Tepat.... itulah makanan favorit kesukaan kami."
"Kami...? Jadi kalian sekampung suka makan daging manusia?"

"lya, termasuk dagingmu, sebab besok pagi kau akan kami sembelih!"
"Sejak kapan kalian makan daging manusia?"
"Oh.., sejak lama .... setidaknya sebulan sekali kami makan daging manusia."
"Dari mana saja kalian dapatkan daging manusia?"
"Kami tidak mencari ke mana-mana, hanya setiap kali ada orang masuk atau
lewat di desa kami pasti kami tangkap dan akhirnya kami sembelih untuk
dijadikan butjur." Abu Nawas diam sejenak. la berpikir keras bagaimana
caranya bisa meloloskan diri dari bahaya maut ini. la merasa heran, kenapa
Baginda tidak mengetahui bahwa di wilayah kekuasaannya ada kanibalisme, ada
manasia makan manusia.
"Barangkali para menteri hanya melaporkan hal yang baik-baik saja. Mereka
tidak mau bekerja keras untuk memeriksa keadaan penduduk." pikir Abu
Nawas. "Baginda harus mengetahui hal seperti ini secara langsung, kalau
perlu....!"

Setelah memberi makan berupa bubur badui itu meninggalkan Abu Nawas. Abu
Nawas tentu saja tak berani makan bubur itu jangan-jangan bubur manusia. la
menahan lapar semalaman tak tidur, tubuhnya yang kurus makin nampak kurus.
Esok harinya badui itu datang lagi.
"Bersiaplah sebentar lagi kau akan mati."
Abu Nawas berkata,"Tubuhku ini kurus, kalaupun kau sembelih kau tidak akan
memperoleh daging yang banyak. Kalau kau setuju nanti sore akan kubawakan
temanku yang bertubuh gemuk. Dagingnya bisa kalian makan selama lima hari."
"Benarkah?"
"Aku tidak pernah bohong!"
Orang badui itu diam sejenak, ia menatap tajam kearah Abu Nawas. Entah
kenapa akhirnya orang badui itu rnempercayai dan melepaskan Abu Nawas.
Abu Nawas langsung pergi ke istana menghadap Bagirida.

Setelah berbasa-basi maka Baginda bertanya kepada Abu Nawas.
"Ada apa Abu Nawas? Kau datang tanpa kupanggil?"
"Ampun Tuanku, hamba barus saja pulang dari suatu desa yang aneh."
"Desa aneh, apa keanehannya?"
"Di desa tersebut ada orang menjual bubur haris yang khas dan sangat lezat. Di
samping itu hawa di desa itu benar-benar sejuk dan segar."
"Aku ingin berkunjung ke desa itu. Pengawal! Siapkan pasukan!"
"Ampun Tuanku, jangan membawa-bawa pengawal. Tuanku harus menyamar
jadi orang biasa."
"Tapi ini demi keselamatanku sebagai seorang raja"

"Ampun Tuanku, jika bawa-bawa tentara maka orang sedesa akan ketakukan
dan Tuanku takkan dapat melihat orang menjual bubur khas itu."
"Baiklah, kapan kita berangkat?"
"Sekarang juga Tuanku, supaya nanti sore kita sudah datang di perkampungan
itu."
Demikianlah, Baginda dengan menyamar sebagai sorang biasa mengikuti Abu
Nawas ke perakmpungan orang-orang badui kanibal.
Abu Nawas mengajak Baginda masuk ke rumah besar tempat orang-orang
makan bubur. Di sana mereka membeli bubur.
Baginda memakan bubur itu dengan lahapnya.
"Betul katamu, bubur ini memang lezat!" kata Baginda setelah makan."Kenapa
buburmu tidak kau makan Abu Nawas."

"Hamba masih kenyang," kata Abu Nawas sambil melirik dan berkedip ke arah
penjual bubur.
Setelah makan, Baginda diajak ke tempat pohon rindang yang hawanya sejuk.
"Betul juga katamu, di sini hawanya memang sejuk dan segar ..... ahhhhh
........ aku kok mengantuk sekali."kata
Baginda.
"Tunggu Tuanku, jangan tidur dulu....hamba pamit mau buang ari kecil di
semar belukar sana."
"Baik, pergilah Abu Nawas!"
Baru saja Abu Nawas melangkah pergi, Baginda sudah tertidur, tapi ia segera
terbangun lagi ketika mendengar suara bentakan keras.
"Hai orang gendut! Cepat bangun ! Atau kau kami sembelih di tempat ini!"
ternyata badui penjual bubur sudah berada di belakang Baginda dan menghunus
pedang di arahkan ke leher Baginda.

"Apa-apaan ini!" protes Baginda.
"Jangan banyak cakap! Cepat jalan !"
Baginda mengikuti perintah orang badui itu dan akhirnya dimasukkan ke dalam
penjara.
"Mengapa aku di penjara?"
"Besok kau akan kami sembelih, dagingmu kami campur dengan tepung gandum
dan jaduilah bubur haris yang terkenal lezat. Hahahahaha !"
"Astaga jadi yang kumakan tadi...?"
"Betul kau telah memakan bubur kami, bubur manusia."
"Hoekkkkk....!" Baginda mau muntah tapi tak bisa.

"Sekarang tidurlah, berdoalah, sebab besok kau akan mati."
"Tunggu...."
"Mau apa lagi?"
"Berapa penghasilanmu sehari dari menjual bubur itu?"
"Lima puluh dirham!"
"Cuma segitu?"
"lya!"
"Aku bisa memberimu lima ratus dirham hanya dengan menjual topi."

"Ah, masak?"
"Sekarang berikan aku bahan kain untuk membuat topi. Besok pagi boleh kail
coba menjual topi buatanku itu ke pasar. Hasilya boleh kau miliki semua !"
Badui itu ragu, ia berbalik melangkah pergi. Tak lama kemudian kembali lagi
dengan bahan-bahan untuk membuat topi.
Esok paginya Baginda menyerahkan sebuah topi yang bagus kepada si badui.
Baginda berpesan,"Juallah topi ini kepada menteri Farhan di istana Bagdad."
Badui itu menuruti saran Baginda.
Menteri Farhan terkejut saat melihat seorang badui datang menemuinya.
"Mau apa kau?" tanya Farhan.
"Menjual topi ini..."

Farhan melirik, topi itu memang bagus. la mencoba memeriksanya dan
alangkah terkejutnya ketika melihat hiasan berupa huruf-huruf yang maknanya
adalah surat dari Baginda yang ditujukan kepada dirinya.
"Berapa harga topi ini?"
"Lima ratus dirham tak boleh kurang!"
"Baik aku beli !"
Badui itu langsunng pulang dengan wajah ceria. Sama sekali ia tak tahu jika
Farhan telah mengutus seorang prajurit untuk mengikuti langkahnya. Siangnya
prajurit itu datang lagi ke istana dengan melaporkan lokasi perkampungan si
penjual bubur.
Farhan cepat bertidak sesuai pesan di surat Baginda. Seribu orang tentara
bersenjata lengkap dibawa ke perkampungan. Semua orang badui di kampung
itu ditangkapi sementara Baginda berhasil diselamatkan.
"Untung kau bertindak cepat, terlambat sedikit saja aku sudah jadi bubur!" kata
Baginda kepada Farhan.

"Semua ini gara-gara Abu Nawas!" kata Farhan.
"Benar! Tapi juga salahmu! Kau tak pernah memeriksa perkampungan ini bahwa
penghuninya adalah orang-orang kanibal!"
"Bagaimanapun Abu Nawas harus dihukum!"
"Ya, itu pasti!"
"Hukuman mati!" sahut Farhan.
"Hukuman mati? Ya, kita coba apakah dia bisa meloloskan diri?" sahut Baginda.

Peringatan Aneh

Suatu hari Abu Nawas dipanggil Baginda.
"Abu Nawas." kata Baginda Raja Harun Al Rasyid memulai pembicaraan.
"Daulat Paduka yang mulia." kata Abu Nawas penuh takzim.
"Aku harus berterus terang kepadamu bahwa kali ini engkau kupanggil bukan
untuk kupermainkan atau kuperangkap. Tetapi aku benar-benar memerlukan
bantuanmu." kata Baginda bersungguh-sungguh.
"Gerangan apakah yang bisa hamba lakukan untuk Paduka yang mulia?" tanya
Abu Nawas.

"Ketahuilah bahwa beberapa hari yang lalu aku mendapat kunjungan
kenegaraan dari negeri sahabat. Kebetulan rajanya beragama Yahudi. Raja itu
adalah sahabat karibku. Begitu dia berjumpa denganku dia langsung
mengucapkan salam secara Islam, yaitu Assalamualaikum (kesejahteraan buat
kalian semua) Aku tak menduga sama sekali. Tanpa pikir panjang aku
menjawab sesuai dengan yang diajarkan oleh agama kita, yaitu kalau mendapat
salam dari orang yang tidak beragama Islam hendaklah engkau jawab dengan
Wassamualaikum (Kecelakaan bagi kamu) Tentu saja dia merasa tersinggung.
Dia menanyakan mengapa aku tega membalas salamnya yang penuh doa
keselamatan dengan jawaban yang mengandung kecelakaan. Saat itu sungguh
aku tak bisa berkata apa-apa selain diam. Pertemuanku dengan dia selanjutnya
tidak berjalan dengan semestinya. Aku berusaha menjelaskan bahwa aku hanya

melaksanakan apa yang dianjurkan oleh ajaran agama Islam. Tetapi dia tidak
bisa menerima penjelasanku. Aku merasakan bahwa pandangannya terhadap
agama Islam tidak semakin baik, tetapi sebaliknya. Dan sebelum kami berpisah
dia berkata: Rupanya hubungan antara. kita mulai sekarang tidak semakin baik,
tetapi sebaliknya. Namun bila engkau mempunyai alasan laih yang bisa aku
terima, kita akan tetap bersahabat." kata Baginda menjelaskan dengan wajah
yang amat murung.
"Kalau hanya itu persoalannya, mungkin, hamba bisa memberikan alasan yang
dikehendaki rajaf sahabat Paduka itu yang mulia." kata Abu Nawas meyakinkan
Baginda.
Mendengar kesanggupan Abu Nawas, Baginda amat riang. Beliau berulang-ulang
menepuk pundak Abu Nawas. Wajah Baginda yang semula gundah gulana
seketika itu berubah cerah secerah matahari di pagi hari.
"Cepat katakan, wahai Abu Nawas. Jangan biarkan aku menunggu." kata
Baginda tak sabar.
"Baginda yang mulia, memang sepantasnyalah kalau raja Yahudi itu
menghaturkan ucapan salam keselamatan dan kesejahteraan kepada Baginda.
Karena ajaran Islam memang menuju keselamatan (dari siksa api neraka) dan
kesejahteraan (surga) Sedangkan Raja Yahudi itu tahu Baginda adalah orang
Islam. Bukankah Islam mengajarkan tauhid (yaitu tidak menyekutukan Allah
dengan yang lain, juga tidak menganggap Allah mempunyai anak. Ajaran tauhid
ini tidak dimiliki oleh agama-agama lain termasuk agama yang dianut Raja
Yahudi sahabat Paduka yang mulia. Ajaran agama Yahudi menganggap Uzair

Allah dari segala sangkaan mereka.Tidak pantas Allah mempunyai anak.
Sedangkan orang Islam membalas salam dengan ucapan Wassamualaikum
(kecelakaan bagi kamu) bukan berarti kami mendoakan kamu agar celaka.
Tetapi semata-mata karena ketulusan dan kejujuran ajaran Islam yang masih
bersedia memperingatkan orang lain atas kecelakaan yang akan menimpa
mereka bila mereka tetap berpegang teguh pada keyakinan yang keliru itu,
yaitu tuduhan mereka bahwa Allah Yang Maha Pengasih mempunyai anak." Abu
Nawas menjelaskan.
Seketika itu kegundahan Baginda Raja Harun Al Rasyid sirna. Kali ini saking
gembiranya Baginda menawarkan Abu Nawas agar memilih sendiri hadiah apa
yang disukai. Abu Nawas tidak memilih apa-apa karena ia berkeyakinan bahwa
tak selayaknya ia menerima upah dari ilmu agama yang ia sampaikan.