🌙 Alif Laila – Chapter 1

In the glittering city of Baghdad, under the rule of the noble Caliph Harun al-Rashid, tales of wonder and justice echoed through the streets. Harun al-Rashid wasn’t just any ruler — he was a man of the people, known for disguising himself and walking among his citizens at night to understand their pain, struggles, and joys.

One such night, as the Caliph roamed in disguise through a quiet alley, he stumbled upon a heated argument between two women. Each woman was claiming that the house before them belonged to her husband.

"Let me in!" cried Bushra, the first woman.

"This is my husband’s house!" said Rafiqa, the second.

"No!" Bushra insisted. "This man married me five years ago, and I have four daughters with him!"

"And he married me just recently," replied Rafiqa. "But I am also his wife!"

😠 Their fight grew louder. The neighbors watched as the two women struggled for justice and dignity.

Suddenly, a voice intervened. A man stepped forward and said calmly,

"Stop this at once. I am a humble servant of the Caliph Harun al-Rashid, and he has summoned you both to the palace to resolve this matter."

⚖️ The Caliph's Court: Justice Begins

At the grand court, the Caliph sat in silence, listening to each woman’s story.

Rafiqa said, "He married me without informing his first wife. Is this not injustice?"

Bushra added, "He has turned cold toward me and our daughters. All because he wanted a son."

The Caliph turned to the husband, who now stood trembling before the throne.

"Did you take your first wife’s permission before marrying again?" the Caliph asked.

"N-No, Your Majesty..." the man stuttered.

"Then you have committed a great injustice!" the Caliph thundered.

"You have not only wronged your wife, but you’ve also violated the teachings of Islam, which only permits a second marriage under specific conditions — if the first wife is barren, sick, or gives her consent."

👧 The Value of Daughters

The husband tried to justify himself: "My first wife gave me four daughters but no son. I wanted a boy to carry my name."

The Caliph raised his hand for silence.

"Bearing children is not only the woman’s responsibility," he declared.

"Science and medicine have proven that the man plays an equal role. Daughters are not a burden — they are a blessing from Allah!"

He addressed the court with wisdom:

"Even the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) showed love and respect to his daughters. A man who cannot value his daughters is blinded by ignorance."

Tears streamed down the face of the husband. He turned to his daughters.

"Forgive me… I never understood your worth. I gave you pain when I should have given you love."

The daughters, innocent and pure, forgave their father. The Caliph smiled. Justice had prevailed.

💡 A Ruler With a Heart

Harun al-Rashid was not just a king — he was a teacher, a father, a spiritual guide. He taught his people not just how to live, but how to live with honor.

In his palace, his wife Queen Zubaida missed him often.

"You hardly spend time with me," she once said.

He held her hand gently and replied,

"My love, every moment spent serving our people is also a moment spent honoring you. You are the light of my life, and your support gives me strength."

Zubaida smiled with pride.

"If all wives could share in their husband’s noble mission like I do," she said,

"then the world would be filled with love and purpose."

🍞 The Hungry Beggar and the Noble Gift

Elsewhere in Baghdad, a poor blind beggar sat starving. "Feed me, for the love of Allah!" he cried.

A kind young student heard him and handed him a gold coin (dinar).

The beggar, overwhelmed, said,

"You gave me gold when others wouldn’t give me silver! May Allah bless you."

But he added a strange request,

"Take this whip and strike me three times on my back, only then will I eat."

The student was horrified. "I cannot hurt you!"

"Then I will not eat," the beggar insisted. "This is my way of honoring the one who feeds me."

Eventually, to honor the beggar’s request, the student wept and gently fulfilled the ritual. The beggar finally smiled,

"Now I can eat with dignity. Your act has saved not just my body, but my soul."

He raised his hands to the sky,

"Ya Allah, bless this young man. May his name shine through generations!"

🌟 Moral of the Story

This tale is not just about kings and courts. It is about the value of daughters, the rights of women, the importance of justice, and the dignity of the poor.

In the kingdom of Harun al-Rashid, every soul mattered — whether rich or poor, man or woman, child or elder. He was not only a Caliph on the throne, but a guardian in the hearts of his people.