Sindbad and His Seven Voyages

Long-long ago during the reign of Caliph Harun-Al-Rashid, there lived a poor porter in the city of Baghdad. The porter’s name was Hindbad. Despite his hard life, he was happy and satisfied.

One day, Hindbad was going with a big load on his head. Suddenly the rain lashed and Hindbad rushed to a nearby house to take shelter. It was a sprawling beautiful house. Hindbad sat in a shed and waited for the rain to stop. While sitting there, he was enchanted by the soft melodious music and the rich soothing fragrance of perfume coming from inside.

The beautiful house and its visible luxury caused a tinge of sadness in the heart of the poor porter. He exclaimed loudly, “Why am I poor and why do I lead such a hard life? Whereas, a few others are rolling in the wealth. Why is this discrepancy? Am I not a good person?”

The owner of the house, whose name was Sindbad, overheard the poor porter’s disappointed utterances. He at once sent his servant to call Hindbad inside. When the porter came in, Sindbad offered him a seat with a kind smile.

The house was much more luxurious from inside. Sindbad offered rich meal to the poor porter. After the meal, Sindbad asked pointedly, “Now tell me, why were you expressing resentment at your fate?”

“Sir, when I saw your splendid life, I felt dejected. My poor fate annoyed me and so I expressed my resentment,” said Hindbad.

Sindbad said, “You have every right to think like this at this moment. However, I would like to tell you the story of my adventurous life. The dangers I faced during my bold and dreaded acts. The gravest risk I undertook to earn so much of wealth.”

Sindbad then narrated to Hindbad his various adventurous trips through which he could heap up enormous wealth.

Source:

Sindbad and His Seven Voyages

The Fisherman and The Jinni

There was a poor fisherman, who had a wife and three children in his family. He used to cast his net in seawater to catch fish for his livelihood. He had made a rule to cast his net only four times a day and never exceeded the set limit.

One day the fisherman went on his day’s work. He threw his net in the seawater. After sometime when he tried to pull it out, he could not do so. He was overjoyed thinking that some big fish fallen in his net and its heavy weight had made it difficult to pull the net. The rejoiced fisherman removed his shirt, dived in the sea and pulled out the net with much effort. However, the fisherman was disappointed to find a dead jackass in his net, which had torn the net. The fisherman exclaimed in grief, “It seems, there is no justice left in the world of Allah!”

After a while, he overcame his grief and disappointment and cast his net again in the name of Allah. When he tried to fetch it out, the net appeared heavier than before and it refused to move up. The fisherman was again hopeful of getting a big fish in his net., He at once dived down and fetched the net out. However, the fisherman was shattered to see the sight. There was a big mud filled pitcher trapped inside the net. The fisherman pleaded with the Almighty his bad luck and plight. He then prayed to the God and cast his net for the third time. This time, when the fisherman pulled out his net, he found it filled with potsherds and broken glass pieces.

The fisherman’s sorrow knew no hound. With eyes fixed up towards the heaven, he complained, “O Almighty, you know that I cast my net only four times a day. I have already thrown it thrice and you did not give me anything. 0 Allah the great, kindly provide me at least something for my daily bread this time.”

Saying like this, the morose fisherman cast his net for the fourth time. The net sank and the fisherman allowed it to settle. After waiting for sometime, the fisherman tried to pull it up. However, even after applying all his might, he could not bring it out. The annoyed fisherman cried aloud and said, “In the court of Allah there is no justice and power remained!”

With all his disappointment and vexation, he dived to bring his net up. Finally, he brought it out and found a cucumber shaped jar of brass. The jar seemed filled with something. Its mouth was shut with a leaden cap, which was stamped with a seal ring of Lord Sulayman, the son of David.

The fisherman rejoiced to find it. He thought, “If I sell this wonderful jar in the brass-market, it will certainly fetch me ten golden dinars.” He further thought, “Before selling the jar in the market, I must open it and see the content inside.”

The fisherman then took a knife and put his effort to loose the lid from the jar. He worked on it till he could remove the lid from the jar. However, he was greatly surprised to find nothing inside. As he was wondering over the empty jar, a conspicuous sight jolted him. A thick vapour started coming out of the jar and it spiralled towards the high sky. The thick vapour condensed and took the shape of a huge ifrit. So huge was he that his head was touching the cloud while his feet were on the ground. He looked horrifying. His head was like a dome, hands looked similar to pitchforks, legs resembled very tall poles, mouth was enormous as a cave, teeth were like big boulders and two eyes appeared like burning lamps. The poor fisherman trembled with fear. For a few moments, he could not understand what to do and what to say. The ifrit looked at the fisherman and cried, “Sulayman, you arc not God but only the prophet of God. O prophet, please do not slay me. I will not say or do anything against you.”

The fisherman said. ‘O Ifrit! Sulayman, the prophet of Allah whom you arc calling had died one thousand and eight hundred years ago. Our world is in its last stage. Tell me your story and apprise me of the reason for which von entered into this jar.”

When the Satan heard the fisherman, he said, “There is only one God in this world. O Fisherman, cheer up for a while and be prepared to die.”

The fisherman replied, “What harm have I done to you for which you want to kill me? I rescued you from the deep sea and freed you from this jar.”

But the evil spirit said, “Tell me only how do you want to die?”

The fisherman begged, “Please tell me what my fault is.”

The ifrit said, “O Fisherman! I will tell you my story.” The jinni then began his tale – Once I spoke and worked against Sulayman, David’s son. The prophet sent his Wazir Asaf to arrest me. When he brought me before Sulayman, he asked me to abide by his order, which I refused. So he took a jar, closed me inside and sealed it with the mark of his name. He then ordered the jar to be thrown in the middle of the sea. In the deep ocean, I remained there for hundred years. During this period of time, I said to myself that whoever rescued me from the sea and freed me from the jar, I would make him rich forever. However, no one came to free me. When the next century, began, I vowed, “I shall present the whole world’s riches to the person who frees me.” Still no one rescued me and I remained lying in this deep ocean for the next four hundred years. After that, I decided, “I shall fulfil any one wish of the person, who comes to set me free.” Yet, no one came and I remained there in the deep ocean.

My fury knew no bound when no one came to rescue me for such a long period of time. In the state of extreme rage, I said, “Now onwards whoever frees me from this jail, will be killed by me. But he will have the death of his choice.” Now you have freed me after one thousand eight years. So as per my vow, be prepared for getting slain by me. However, O Fisherman, you can avail of your choicest death.”

Hearing the story of ifrit, the fisherman said, “O Jinni, I did not come to free you. Do not slay me. Please allow me to live my life. If you kill me, God will send some one else to slay you.”

The ifrit replied, “There is no use talking on this issue. In any case, you have to die. Just tell me which way you would prefer to die.”

The poor fisherman tried many ways to persuade the jinni and begged for his life several times but the ifrit was not ready to bestow any kindness. He was adamant on slaying the fisherman. Seeing it futile to expect any sympathy from the jinni, the fisherman thought, “He is a jinni, whereas I am a human being. Allah has bestowed us the power to outwit any other creature with our shrewdness. I must use my intelligence and get rid of him.”

The fisherman said. “Are you all set to slay me?” The jinni answered in affirmation. The fisherman again asked, on the name of God. I ask you a question and expect an honest answer from you.” The ifrit asked the fisherman to be quick in his question. The fisherman said, “O Jinni, I’ve a serious doubt that you were ever inside this small jar, which cannot even accommodate your hand or foot or any part of your body. How could a huge jinni like you remained inside this small jar?” The ifrit replied, “Don’t you believe that I was inside this small jar?” The fisherman said, “No, I can’t! I can believe only when I see you inside with my own eyes.”

When jinni heard this, he at once transformed himself into vapour and entered into the jar gradually. The moment, the fisherman saw the ifrit fully inside, he hastily picked up the leaden cap and closed the mouth of the jar, thus seizing the jinni inside. The trapped jinni tried to escape from there but Solomon’s ring did not allow him.

After realising that he was outwitted by the fisherman, the ifrit begged, “0 fisherman allow me to go!” The fisherman replied, “No, Never! You are a devil. I’ll throw you back into the sea so that you can live there till the judgement day.”

Ifrit said, “O fisherman, please open the jar. I’ll make you affluent.” The fisherman replied, “You liar, I can’t believe you. My position with you is similar to that of the Wazir of King Yuman, who was with the sage Duban.” The ifrit asked, “Who were they and what was their story?” The fisherman began his tale.

Source:

The Fisherman and The Jinni

The Story of The Bull & The Donkey

Once there lived a rich farm owner. In his farm, there were many cattle. The merchant happily lived with his wife and children. The merchant had a unique capacity to understand the language of different animals. The unique talent was the blessing of a sage. However, the sage had warned the merchant against revealing the secret to anyone. He had cautioned him that the disclosure would bring death for him.

The farm owner would often enjoy the conversation between the animals of his farm. One day, he overheard the conversation between the bull and the donkey of his farm. The bull was saying to the donkey, “How lucky you are! You do not have to work hard like me. You get good food and clean space to live. Whereas, I face all the hardship of the life. I have to work in the field tirelessly from dawn to dusk. And, at the end of the day I get dry fodder as my food. I often suffer ill treatment from the field worker at the working time. My shed does not get proper cleaning. Thus, I have to spend my nights in dung filled shed. My life is the tale of misery.” The tears rolled down from the eyes of the bull.

The donkey said, “O bull! Your present condition is the result of your own foolishness. You are always willing to work. Even if you are tired, you stretch yourself to work more. You are not well fed, because you accept and eat whatever leftovers are thrown in front of you. Now I am giving you a piece of advice and you follow it. Tomorrow when the herdsman comes to take you for fieldwork, you pretend to be ill and do not get up. When they bring dry fodder for you, turn your head and refuse to eat. If you follow on it, you will lead a comfortable life like me.” The bull promised the donkey to act according to his advice.

So on the next day, when the herdsman came to take the bull to the field, the bull pretended to be ill. The herdsman returned to the master and informed about the bull’s sickness. The farm owner who had already heard the conversation between the bull and the donkey, asked his man to plough the field with the help of donkey instead of bull. Hence, the herdsman returned to the shed, took the donkey and went to the field. He then put a yoke on donkey’s neck and began the work. Whole day he made the donkey work in the field. The donkey had no habit to work so hard. He often stopped and would get canes on his back as a punishment. Throughout the day,  the donkey worked under scorching sun. By the evening he was numb tired. Anyhow, he dragged himself to the shed. His whole body was paining due to work and punishment. He was angry and regretful for giving the uncalled for advice to the bull.

However, the bull enjoyed the leisure that day. He did not have to work. Complete day he enjoyed his food and kept on lying. When the tired donkey returned to shed, the bull thanked him happily for giving such a wonderful advice. But the donkey was repentant for giving such an advice, which proved dearer for him. He did not utter a single word.

The bull said further, “Dear friend with the grace of your kind advice, today I enjoyed a comfortable day. Tomorrow also I will stick to your advice.”

Hearing this the donkey hurriedly said, “No – No, don’t repeat it again. I have heard our master instructing the herdsman that if your illness continues and you refuse to eat and work, you should be sold to the butcher. So when herdsman comes to take you for work, go forth right with him, else you’ll die in the hands of butcher.”

The bull got scared and agreed to follow the donkey’s advice.

The farm owner and his wife were standing out of the shed. The master who had capacity to understand the animal’s language laughed aloud to hear the donkey’s changed recommendation.

The master’s wife who was unaware of their conversation found her husband’s laugh very strange. She asked her husband, “What made you laugh so loudly?”

The master tried to evade his wife’s query with some excuse. But wife was not satisfied with her husband’s evasive answer. She remained adamant. Seeing no way out, the master said, “Listen, if I disclose the reason for my laugh, I would certainly die. So please do not ask about it. But then, the wife was even more curious to know the reason. She said stubbornly, “Now you must tell me, why did you laugh! It seems you laughed at me, that’s why you are hesitating to reveal it.”

The farm owner unsuccessfully tried to convince her but his vain wife callously refused to understand his problem and believe his words. When the relatives, neighbours and village Kazi heard about it, they too tried to discourage her. But she was not worried for her husband’s life.  She said to her husband pointedly, “You’ll have to reveal the secret. I don’t bother even if it costs your life.”

The farm owner was helpless in front of his aggressively dominating wife. He felt his death sure. He came out of his house sadly and walked up to his farm. Suddenly he heard the dog of his farm saying to the cock, “Today is the dark day for all of us. Our master is going to die.”

The cock asked, “Why is he going to die?”

The dog said, “His wicked wife is insisting to reveal the reason for his laugh. Today he is going to reveal the secret and now his death is sure.” The cock replied, “If this the reason for his death then he should die. He has no right to remain alive, if he cannot control his one wife. Look at me! I have my fifty female mates. They all are well under my strict control. They all obey me. If today our master is going to die, he is dying because of his own foolishness and incapability.”

The dog asked the cock, “What do you think, how our master should bring his ill tempered wife on the right track?”

The cock said, “He should take a solid stick and should thrash her sound. This remedy will certainly make her obedient.”

The farm owner realised the wisdom of cock’s word. All his gloominess vanished. He took a solid stick, went to his wife, called her in the bedroom and there he gave her a solid, sound beating. Frightened by her husband’s changed behaviour, she begged his pardon. She vowed not to trouble him again and promised that she would never ask the reason for his strange laugh.

Then on the master’s aggressive and stubborn wife turned into an obedient and well-behaved wife.

Shahrazad heard the story but remained adamant on her decision and even threatened to go to the king by herself, if not sent by her father.

The helpless Wazir had no choice but to comply. He apprised the king about his elder daughter’s wish to marry him. The king was very much surprised to know about it. He asked, “Doesn’t she know the fate of my brides?”

The Wazir replied, “Your Majesty, my daughter is well aware of the fact. Even then she insists to marry you.”

The king was amazed to hear this. He discouraged the Wazir from marrying his daughter to him. At last, he also bowed down to Shahrazad’s strong determination and agreed to marry her. The beautiful Shahrazad arrived at the king’s palace in an elegant bridal gown. The precious jewelleries adorned by her were adding to her immense beauty. Strong fragrance was coming out of her body. Her beautiful face looked bright with confidence.

Shahrazad accompanied her younger sister Dinarazad to the palace. Below coming to the royal palace, Simhrazad said to Dinarazad, “O dear- sister, tonight you stay with me . when clock strikes midnight, you’ll insist me to tell a story.”  Dinarazad listened to Shahrazad’s  briefing and nodded her head in affirmation.

When Shahrazad appeared before the king, he was stuck by her extraordinary charm. Despite his hatred for women, he was unable to remove his eyes from her pretty face.In the evening, Shahryar was married to Shahrazad.

As per Shahrazad’s instructions, Dinarazad came to Shahrazad at midnight. She said, “Dear sister! Every night, I sleep after listening a story from you. Tonight is the last night, when I’ll be able to hear a story from you. Please tell me an interesting story, which can help me in sleeping.” Shahrazad sought permission from Shahryar to tell her sister a story. The king readily agreed. Shahrazad began her story. The story was beautiful. As the story proceeded, so it increased in the excitement. Shahryar, who was also listening to the story, was so much bound by the exciting tale that he did not realize when the night had ended and the bright dawn arrived. When the story was on its climax, Shahrazad said, “Dear sister, please forgive me for not be able to complete this story. Night is over and so is my time on this earth. Soon I’ll be killed as per the custom.”

The king was completely engrossed and was very much curious to know the end of the tale. He said, postpone your death till tomorrow. Tonight, you can complete your wonderful tale.” Saying this, the king moved out of the chamber.

When the day ended and darkness spread, the two sisters again sat together.  The king, who was extremely curious to know the remaining story also sat with them. The wise Shahrazad ended the story beautifully. Dinarzad then demanded her sister for another story, as the night was yet to pass. So was the charm of Shahrazad and of her story that the king himself was keen to listen to another story. Shahrazad started another story and again left it incomplete at its climax when the day broke. The king again postponed the killing for the new day in order to hear the remaining story. The clever Shahrazad got the lease of life for one more day. With the fall of the night, she resumed the story and after the end, she started another story and again left it incomplete in the morning when the story was at the point of great interest. Shahryar postponed thekilling for one more day.

It went on for a thousand and one nights. The wonderful stories had the right balance of joy, adventure, wisdom and courage. The king stayed with Shahrazad for thousand and one long nights. He was so much impressed by her extraordinary charm, gentleness and wisdom that at last he accepted that he would no longer live without her. He started loving her from the depth of his heart. Her love and dedication removed all his malice and bitterness towards women. He accepted and announced her as his queen.

He then advised his brother Shah Zaman to many Dinarzad, who was parallel to her sister in beauty and wisdom.

Later on, Shahryar commanded the royal scribes to pen down the wonderful stories told by Shahrazad.The stories were named as ALF (ore thousand) LAILAH (nights) or The Arabian nights. These world-famed stories are full of adventure, strangeness and fiction.

Source:

The Story of The Bull & The Donkey

Arabian Nights (Plot)

The Arabian Nights (The Thousand and One Nights, or The Thousand Nights and One Night) is a collection of Arabic short stories. 

Once upon a time, there was a great king, who had his reign from Persia to Arabia. The king had two sons named Shahryar and Shah Zaman. After the death of the king, Shahryar the elder son ascended on the throne of Baghdad. Whereas the younger son, Shah Zaman ruled over Samarkand.

Both the brothers ruled their respective kingdoms with wisdom and justice. They were loved and respected by their subjects.Thoroughly busy with their administrative responsibilities, the two brothers could not meet each other for twenty long years. Shahryar had a long crave to see his beloved brother. So one day, he sent his Wazir with a letter and numerous splendid gifts to his younger brother Shah Zaman. In his letter to his brother, Shahryar expressed his earnest desire to see him.

After days of long journey through the deserts, the Wazir reached the court of Samarkand. He presented the letter and gifts to the king. The warmth of the letter sent by his beloved brother Shahryar, made him jubilant. He became nostalgic remembering his elder brother. Shah Zaman at once accepted the invitation. He decided to go to Baghdad to see his brother. Shah Zaman requested the Wazir to stay in Samarkand as a royal guest for three days. Meanwhile, Shah Zaman collected a good number of rich gifts for his brother and asked his officers to make the necessary preparation for the long journey.

Shah Zaman was ecstatic at thethought of meeting his brother. On the fourth day, he had to leave for Baghdad. However just before leaving for Baghdad, Shah Zaman chanced to witness the unfaithfulness of his wife. Shah Zaman saw his wife expressing her love to one of her slaves. Raged and shocked by the unimaginable sight, Shah Zaman took out his sword and chopped off his wife’s head at once.

Shah Zaman loved his wife very much. The incident had shattered him. Immediately after the incident, he set out for Baghdad. But all his happiness had vanished. He was thoroughly grief stricken. The sorrow and bitterness turned Shah Zaman pale and weak.

When Shah Zaman reached Baghdad, Shahryar gave him a warm and splendid welcome. The brothers hugged each other passionately. However, the grief stricken pale look of Shah Zaman worried the elder brother Shahryar. When the two brothers sat all alone, Shahryar asked, “Dear brother! Your pale and grieved look is worrying me. What’s ailing you?”

Shah Zaman hid his distress and made an excuse. He said, “Dear brother, I’m not at all worried. The long and tiring journey is the culprit. I’m quite hale and hearty.”

However, Shahryar was not convinced with the reply. So he called the royal physician and asked him to treat his brother. The physician tried various medicines one after another. However, all the medicines and other treatments went in vain. Shah Zaman’s condition did not improve. Most of the time, he would live quietly in the palace and refuse to enjoy different flavours of the life.

One day, Shahryar chalked out a plan for hunting and invited his brother to accompany him. But Shah Zaman showed his unwillingness and chose to stay home.

In the absence of his brother, Shah Zaman witnessed the similar sight. which had shattered him. His brother’s wife was also unfaithful and wicked. She too was involved with one of her slaves and desired to marry him.

This shocking incident proved wonder remedy for Shah Zaman. He overcame from his sorrow. He thought, “I’m not the only one who has unfaithful wife. There are many others like me.” The incident strengthened his belief that women are evil, wicked and unfaithful.

The fact that he was not the only unlucky man who was cheated by his wife, but was one among many unfortunates, helped him in recovering fast.

When Shahryar returned from his hunting trip, he found his brother hale and hearty. Shahryar was very happy to see his brother cheerful.

Later on, Shah Zaman disclosed to Shahryar what he had witnessed in his absence. Shah Zaman also unearthed the ugly secret behind his pale and shattered condition.

Mad out of anger, Shahryar at once rushed to his wife and chopped off her head. The angry Shahryar then took a wild oath, “Everyday I’ll marry a maiden for a night. Next day, early in the morning, she will be killed. This way, I will never provide any opportunity to my wife to betray me.” After few days, Shah Zaman returned to his kingdom.

Shahryar remained adamant on his insane oath. He called his Wazir and apprised him about his oath. Shahryar said, “You have to bring one young maiden everyday and make her my bride for the evening. Make sure that she will be killed in the morning.”

The king’s cruel and crazy oath astonished everyone. People were frightened but what they could do. The cruel practice started. Each morning a young beautiful maiden was hacked to death. It went like this for years. Parents of the young girls started fleeing from the kingdom. Soon the kingdom was totally bereft of young girls.

One day, the Wazir returned home anxious. The Wazir had two beautiful daughters named Shahrazad and Dinarazad. Shahrazad, the elder daughter was exceptionally wise, humble and soft spoken. Besides this, she was a voracious reader and a learned person. When Shahrazad noticed her  father’s tensed and perturbed face, she asked, “Father, you are looking unusually disturbed. What’s the reason for your worry?”

The Wazir said, “Dear daughter, the king has ordered me to bring a bride for tonight. However, not a single young girl is left there in our kingdom now. Shaken by the possible death, all the parents of the young girls had left the kingdom with their daughters. Now if I go to the king without any bride, he will chop off my head for not obeying his order.”

Shahrazad said, “Father, please don’t worry! Take me to the king as his bride.”

Astonished to hear this, the Wazir exclaimed, “How can I do this? Don’t you know what end do the king’s brides meet?”

Shahrazad said calmly, “I’m fully aware of what fate the brides meet, my dear father! Even then, I emphasize you to produce me as the king’s bride. I am confident that my wisdom, will force the king to change his thought regarding women. In case I fail to do so, I’ll have a satisfaction of dying for a good cause.”

However, the argument laid by Shahrazad was not at all acceptable to the Wazir. He was not ready to send his daughter to meet such a cruel fate. He said angrily, “If you will not obey me, you will have to face the same misfortune, which was faced by the farm owner, the master of the bull and the donkey.” Shahrazad asked, “O father, what’s the tale of the farm owner?” The Wazir began the tale.

The Wazir goes before the king, telling him that his daughter would like to marry him.  They are wed, and that night Shahrazad requests that she say good bye to her sister before her death in the morning.  The king agrees and sends for Dinarzad, who requests a story from her sister before she sleeps.  With the king’s permission she starts the story of the Merchant and the Demon, but does not finish due to sunrise and sleep.  As morning overtakes her, her audience is intrigued by her story.  She states “What is this compared with what I shall tell you tomorrow night if the king spares me and lets me live?”  Due to his curiosity, she is not put to death, but the next night continues the story.  She does this for one thousand and one nights.  At the end, the king accepts her as his queen, having learned many lessons about life from her stories. 

Source:

One Thousand and One Nights

Thousand and One Nights (Introduction)

“THE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS” is one of the great story-books of the world. It was introduced to European readers by the French scholar Galland, who discovered the Arabic original and translated it into French in the first decade of the eighteenth century; but its earlier history is still involved in obscurity. There existed as early as the tenth century of our era a Persian collection of a thousand tales, enclosed in a framework which is practically the one used in the present collection, telling of a King who was in the habit of killing his wives after the first night, and who was led to abandon this practise by the cleverness of the Wezir’s daughter, who nightly told him a tale which she left unfinished at dawn, so that his curiosity led him to spare her till the tale should be completed. Whether more than the framework of the Arabian collection was borrowed from this Persian work is uncertain. The tales in the collection of Galland and in more complete editions discovered since his time are chiefly Persian, Indian, and Arabian in source, and in ultimate origin come from all the ends of the earth. No two manuscripts have precisely the same contents, and some of the most famous of the tales here printed are probably not properly to be regarded as belonging to the collection, but owe their association with the others to their having been included by Galland. Thus “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves” is found in no Oriental version of the “Nights,” and “‘Ala-ed-Din and the Wonderful Lamp” was long supposed to be in the same situation, though within recent years it has turned up in two manuscripts.	1
Both the place and the date of the original compilation are still matters of dispute among scholars. From such evidences as the detailed nature of the references to Cairo and the prevailing Mohammedan background, Lane argued that it must have been put together in Egypt; but this opinion is by no means universally accepted. As to date, estimates vary by several centuries. Burton, who believed in a strong Persian element, thought that some of the oldest tales, such as that of “Sindibad,” might be as old as the eighth century of our era; some thirteen he dated tenth century, and the latest in the sixteenth. There is a fair amount of agreement on the thirteenth century as the date of arrangement in the present framework, though they were probably not committed to writing till some two centuries later.	2
Of a collection of fables, fairy-stories, and anecdotes of historical personages such as this, there can, of course, be no question of a single author. Both before and after they were placed in the mouth of Shahrazad, they were handed down by oral recitation, the usual form of story-telling among the Arabs. As in the case of our own popular ballads, whatever marks of individual authorship any one story may originally have borne, would be obliterated in the course of generations of tradition by word of mouth. Of the personality of an original editor or compiler, even, we have no trace. Long after writing had to some extent fixed their forms, the oral repetition went on; and some of them could be heard in Mohammedan countries almost down to our own times.	3
In the two hundred years of their currency in the West, the stories of the “Nights” have engrafted themselves upon European culture. They have made the fairy-land of the Oriental imagination and the mode of life of the medieval Arab, his manners and his morals, familiar to young and old; and allusions to their incidents and personages are wrought into the language and literature of all the modern civilized peoples. Their mark is found upon music and painting as well as on letters and the common speech, as is witnessed by such diverse results of their inspiration as the music of Rimsky-Korsakoff, the illustrations of Parrish, and the marvelous idealization of their background and atmosphere in Tennyson’s “Recollections of the Arabian Nights,” “Barmecide Feast,” “Open Sesame,” “Old Lamps for New,” “Solomon’s Seal,” “The Old Man of the Sea,” “The Slave of the Lamp,” “The Valley of Diamonds,” “The Roc’s Egg,” Haroun al-Raschid and his “Garden of Delight,”—these and many more phrases and allusions of every-day occurrence suggest how pervasive has been the influence of this wonder-book of the mysterious East.	4
The translation by E. W. Lane used here has been the standard English version for general reading for eighty years. The translations of “‘Ali Baba” and “‘Ala-ed-Din” are by S. Lane-Poole and for permission to use the latter we are indebted to Messrs. G. P. Putnam’s Sons.

Source:

http://www.bartleby.com/16/1001.html