Description For 

WASIKAR JINI

In the empire of the Arab lands, there once ruled a famous king named Aiyuba Ibn Silhar. Historians and researchers of this era confirmed that there was no king in the world who equaled King Aiyuba in the wealth he amassed and the power of his magical sorcery. Yet, alas, he was by no means a warrior or a brave man skilled in combat. However, because of the immense wealth he gathered and his sorcerous powers, he became a terror to all the kings of the continent. All of them feared him. No matter how many soldiers a king had or how courageous they were, if they dared to wage war against Aiyuba, defeat was certain.

King Aiyuba had only one wife, named Hufaira, whom he had married in their youth, long before he inherited the throne from his father and before he accumulated his astonishing fortune. God did not bless King Aiyuba with children until after he had spent a year on the throne. It was then that his eyes were opened to expand his business ventures throughout the world. It came to be that wherever one traveled in the world—whether among the Arabs, the Europeans, the Africans, or even in India and China—one would find farms, houses, and trading stalls belonging to King Aiyuba Ibn Silhar.

All his merchants used a single seal: the image of a camel and a sword, imprinted on all his goods. His agents, spread across the world, feared him greatly and guarded his wealth with utmost loyalty. For whoever betrayed him would suffer dire consequences—falling ill with painful plagues and being cursed with calamities—until they repented and returned what they had stolen before him.

One remarkable trait of King Aiyuba was that he never played with the rights of his servants. He paid them their wages in full. Whoever served him faithfully for a year would cease to be poor and be elevated among the wealthy.

In the first year of his reign, his wife Hufaira gave birth to a beautiful daughter named Nuwaira. Though the king had desired a son to inherit his throne, he was nonetheless filled with great joy. For seventy days, banquets were held to celebrate the princess’ birth. Wealthy kings and sorcerers came from every corner of the world to attend the feast.

As for poets and singers, whoever entered the royal palace of King Aiyuba left poverty behind forever. Many went mad with joy at the riches they received, riches so vast that even their grandchildren would enjoy them. Others wept, unable to believe how they could carry away so much treasure. Highway robbers along the roads to Lailatul Harus, King Aiyuba’s city, never found loot as abundant as in the year of Princess Nuwaira’s birth. Many even abandoned banditry thereafter.

When the seventy days of celebration ended, the guests returned to their lands. News of Princess Nuwaira and her father spread across the world, their names celebrated everywhere. Yet one great mystery remained: no one knew where King Aiyuba stored his immense treasures. Whenever he needed gold, diamonds, or pearls, he would simply say, “Go to such-and-such place and fetch them,” and they would be found in abundance, even if the place was desolate. Often the locations he named were filthy, neglected places, such as swamps or garbage heaps.

His wealth grew beyond imagination, and his city became the most beautiful in the world, filled with majestic buildings. His palace was called “the Paradise on Earth,” for everything within it was made of precious stones and pearls.

When Princess Nuwaira turned seven, her beauty multiplied, and her parents loved her even more. Influential nobles began seeking her hand in marriage because of her beauty and her father’s power. But King Aiyuba rejected their requests, no matter his relationship with them. This was the first thing that stirred envy and hatred in the hearts of the other kings against Aiyuba.

To the west of Lailatul Harus lay the kingdom of Hirama, ruled by a mighty warrior king named Marwatu, a renowned fighter who had defeated countless men on the battlefield. He was also a powerful sorcerer, yet he could not rival King Aiyuba. Once, he tried to test his magic against Aiyuba’s and was humbled, forced to kneel before Aiyuba and beg forgiveness to spare his life.

One year, a severe famine struck Hirama. Hunger and poverty consumed the people, and children and the weak began to die. King Marwatu sent a letter to King Aiyuba requesting abundant food and a loan of great wealth to revive agriculture in his land, for their soil was poor and they lacked water. He promised to repay within a year, with one-third interest.

The letter reached King Aiyuba while he sat on his throne, with Princess Nuwaira on his lap, surrounded by nobles and townspeople. Seven maidens were dancing in the middle of the palace to cheer him. The king was in high spirits, overflowing with joy. When the royal scribe finished reading the letter, Aiyuba laughed arrogantly and turned to his daughter, saying:

> “My daughter, you’ve heard the request of King Marwatu. Should I help him or turn him away? Know that all this wealth I’ve gathered is not for anyone else but for you alone. You alone have the power to decide how it is used.”

Everyone in the palace was astonished. They thought the king had gone mad, for how could he consult a seven-year-old girl on such matters? But Princess Nuwaira only smiled and replied:

> “Father, you have enough wealth to feed all the nations of this continent. Yet I would prefer that you only help where it is deserved. King Marwatu is among those who once disdained you. He never comes to greet you or rejoice with you, except now when he is in need. Therefore, we shall not grant him free gifts. Provide him with abundant food and wealth, but as a loan. Let him repay it with interest as he himself promised. If he breaks the agreement, he will have no one to blame but himself. And make it clear to him that if he had come in loyalty, you might have given freely. But since he was arrogant, he shall receive it only as a loan.”

All in the court were struck with amazement at the sharp wisdom of the young princess. King Aiyuba was overjoyed. He told his council:

> “You see this child—she must be among you, for even without me, she can guide you with her counsel. From this day, I appoint Princess Nuwaira as Galadima (chief financial minister), for that is the office that oversees all our commerce and wealth.”

The current Galadima was shocked, troubled, and angry. He fell at the king’s feet in tears:

> “My brother, how can you replace me with a mere child of seven? What place will I now hold in this council? Do you wish me to be cast into the dust?”

The king descended from his throne, raised him up, and reassured him warmly:

> “Never will I humiliate you. You are my only brother by blood. You shall inherit this throne when I die, for by our laws, a woman cannot rule. Do not envy the wealth that passes through your office, for when you are king, all will be yours. From this day, I appoint you my Wazir (chief minister). The princess will manage the finances, but you will always share in the glory.”

Hearing this, the Galadima rejoiced outwardly, though his heart darkened when his eyes met Princess Nuwaira’s.

At once, King Aiyuba ordered that the letter to King Marwatu be answered according to Princess Nuwaira’s command. Three million sacks of food, loaded on ox-carts and camels, along with forty sacks of gold, were prepared and sent with an escort of one hundred thousand soldiers to Hirama.