The Magical Donkey and the Stolen Necklace

The Tale of the Lost Necklace and the Wise Stranger

BY:Ubaid

Centuries ago, in the ancient land of Yemen, there lived a king whose rule was remembered for justice, wisdom, and compassion. Unlike many monarchs of his era, this king avoided wars and unnecessary bloodshed. Instead, he built bridges of friendship with neighboring kingdoms and governed with a gentle but firm hand. His people loved him dearly, and the royal family, too, followed his example. The princes were kind, the queen was generous, and the palace was a place of harmony.

But one day, this peace was disturbed. The queen’s most precious necklace—made of dazzling diamonds, rare gems, and exquisite pearls—vanished. The entire palace was thrown into chaos. The chief caretaker, or the palace warden, searched every corner of the royal chambers. Servants were questioned, guards were interrogated, and even the gardens were combed through. Yet, the necklace was nowhere to be found.

The warden, desperate, announced a grand reward for anyone who could return the missing treasure. But days passed, and no one stepped forward. The necklace had simply disappeared into thin air. Finally, the matter reached the king himself.

Summoning his courtiers and advisors, the king made an announcement in the royal court:
“Though I trust my servants and attendants, it grieves me to say that someone among them has betrayed us. Someone has committed this act of disloyalty. If there is a wise man in this kingdom who can solve this mystery and recover the queen’s necklace, he shall be rewarded beyond measure.”

The challenge was spread across the land. Many tried their luck. Some questioned the servants fiercely, some tried clever tricks, and some attempted to frighten the guilty party into confessing. But all failed. Not a single soul admitted guilt, and the necklace remained hidden.

Then, one afternoon, while the court was in session, a man entered, leading a donkey by a rope. He bowed before the king and said confidently, “Your Majesty, I have brought with me a magical donkey. This donkey will reveal to you the thief of the necklace.”

The court erupted in laughter. “A donkey? A magical donkey?” whispered the courtiers.
The king, however, raised his eyebrows in curiosity. “And how, stranger, can a donkey possibly help us find the thief?”

The man, who introduced himself as Abu Dhar, replied calmly, “It is very simple, my king. Each servant and attendant of the palace will enter a tent where the donkey is kept. They will touch its tail one by one. The moment the guilty man lays his hand on the donkey’s tail, the animal will bray loudly and reveal him.”

Gasps of wonder spread through the court. The courtiers murmured among themselves. Some scoffed, but others, desperate for a solution, nodded eagerly.

The king thought for a moment and then ordered, “So be it. Prepare two tents as he requests.”

One tent was set up with the donkey tied inside. The other was arranged as a chamber where the king and Abu Dhar sat together, ready to observe. The servants, guards, and attendants of the palace—every single one—were summoned.

The process began. Each servant entered the first tent, touched the donkey’s tail, and then came to the second tent, where Abu Dhar would politely take their hands as if in greeting, sniff them subtly, and then let them pass. This went on one after another. Servants looked nervous, guards appeared uneasy, but all obeyed. The donkey remained silent throughout.

Finally, when one particular servant entered, he hesitated. Fear crept into his eyes. Instead of touching the donkey’s tail, he merely brushed past, pretending he had done as ordered. Then he entered the second tent. Abu Dhar, as usual, greeted him, but instead of letting him go, he gripped the servant’s wrist tightly.

He turned to the king and declared boldly, “Here is your thief, O Majesty. This man stole the queen’s necklace.”

The entire court fell silent. The accused servant trembled, his knees buckled, and he collapsed at the king’s feet, sobbing.
“Forgive me, my king! I was blinded by greed. I could not resist the beauty of the jewels. But I cannot bear this shame any longer—I will return the necklace at once!”

The king ordered him to fetch it immediately. Within moments, the servant brought forth the stolen treasure, still gleaming as if it had never been lost.

The court was stunned. The king, astonished, turned to Abu Dhar. “You must tell us,” he said. “How did you uncover the thief with such ease? Did your donkey truly possess magical powers?”

Abu Dhar smiled. “No, Your Majesty. A donkey is only a donkey. There was no magic at all. Before bringing the animal here, I rubbed a strong fragrance on its tail. I then spread the tale that the donkey would bray if touched by the thief. Most of the servants, though fearful, obeyed and touched the tail—their hands carried the fragrance, which I could easily smell. But the guilty man, afraid of being exposed, dared not touch the tail. When he entered your chamber, I noticed his hands carried no scent. That was how I recognized him.”

The king laughed heartily, as did the court. “Truly, wisdom is greater than magic,” he declared. He then rewarded Abu Dhar with gold, jewels, and honors, keeping his promise to enrich the man who solved the mystery.

From that day forward, the tale of the lost necklace and the clever stranger spread across Yemen and beyond. It became a story told for generations—a story of how wit and intelligence triumphed where force and fear had failed.