The Price of a Promise

The story begins with Ibn Arayyar sending a representative to buy a horse on his behalf. The representative was captivated by a particular horse owned by a man. After negotiating, the seller imposed an unusual condition: if the horse gave birth, the foal would belong to the seller. The representative agreed to this condition, and they made Shaya’ Bin Mardas Al-Ramali the guarantor of the agreement.

Time passed, and the horse indeed gave birth to a foal. The seller, adhering to the agreement, went to Ibn Arayyar to claim his right. However, Ibn Arayyar refused, saying, “Go away; we do not buy horses that have a second claim on them.” The seller, disheartened, went to Shaya’ Bin Mardas to complain, saying, “Ibn Arayyar has refused to honor the deal.” Shaya’ replied, “I know Ibn Arayyar is a ruler, but I will try to convince him with wisdom.”

For three years, Shaya’ tried to reason with Ibn Arayyar, but he stood firm in his refusal. Frustrated, the seller began blaming Shaya’. Shaya’ reassured him, saying, “Don’t lose hope. I promise to return to you a horse that has no equal in the region.”

This declaration reached Ibn Arayyar through someone who overheard Shaya’s words. Ibn Arayyar, sensing trouble, said, “Shaya’ is a man of his word, but place guards near the horse as a precaution.” One night, Shaya’ approached the horse and attempted to untie it, but the guards caught him. They took him to Hammad, Ibn Arayyar’s son.

Hammad confronted Shaya’ and asked, “What’s your grievance with the horse?” Shaya’ responded, “I was made a guarantor, and now my honor is at stake because of this.” Ibn Arayyar interjected, “Imprison him.”

In prison, Shaya’ passed his nights singing, while others slept. But one day, he abruptly stopped singing. Ibn Arayyar visited him and asked, “I see you’ve stopped singing, Shaya’. Have you lost hope?” Shaya’ replied, “No, but I long for my son. When he was a child, I missed his sweet chatter. Now that he has grown, if he is a man of worth, he will lead his people. If not, he is not worth my longing.”

Ibn Arayyar, intrigued, said, “Ransom yourself. Name your price for freedom.” Shaya’ offered a number of camels, but Ibn Arayyar rejected it, demanding all of Shaya’s camels and horses. Shaya’ retorted, “If I give you all my wealth, what will I have left to live on?” Ibn Arayyar coldly replied, “Then remain in prison.”

Seven years passed. Shaya’s son, Umairah, now grown, visited his father in prison and wept upon seeing him. Umairah vowed to free his father, but Shaya’ refused, saying, “I don’t want your help to free me. Instead, I want you to do to Ibn Arayyar what he did to me. Ibn Arayyar has many daughters but only one beloved son.” Shaya’ then revealed to Umairah the whereabouts of Ibn Arayyar’s son.

Umairah followed the instructions, finding Ibn Arayyar’s son asleep beside his mother. Gently, he took the child and brought him to his father in prison. Shaya’ instructed his son, “They will come pleading for the boy’s return. But remember, Ibn Arayyar will pay any price to get his son back. Demand 100 camels, specific prized horses, including the horse I guaranteed, and your father’s release.”

The next morning, the boy’s mother awoke to find him missing. She initially thought he was with his father, but by midday, panic spread as the child was nowhere to be found. Ibn Arayyar was devastated, and his tears began to fall. Meanwhile, Shaya’ observed this from his cell and laughed.

Ibn Arayyar, confused, asked, “What’s so funny, Shaya’?” Shaya’ replied, “I laugh at your tears. You laughed while I sang for my son, and now I laugh at your tears for your own.” Ibn Arayyar, stunned, said, “So it has come to this.” Shaya’ nodded, “Indeed, my son has taken your son and delivered him to my kin in the deserts north of Hail.”

In desperation, Ibn Arayyar freed Shaya’ and pleaded with him to return his son. Shaya’ declined, saying, “It’s not up to me. You must negotiate with the one who took him.” Ibn Arayyar sent messengers to Umairah, who repeated the demands his father had outlined. The messengers, shocked by the steep demands, objected, but Umairah firmly replied, “Tell Ibn Arayyar I swear by God, if he doesn’t comply, I will behead his son.”

The messengers returned to Ibn Arayyar with the ultimatum. Though heartbroken, Ibn Arayyar ultimately met the demands, granting Shaya’ the camels, the prized horses, and his freedom. Shaya’, now triumphant, rode back to his son on the best horses, accompanied by wealth and livestock. In return, Umairah safely returned Ibn Arayyar’s son, bringing the saga to an end.