Arabian NightsAdditional Tales

The Story of Sidi Nouman

A man discovers his wife's ghastly secret and survives a magical curse to claim his revenge.

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Illustration for The Story of Sidi Nouman - a additional tales Arabian Nights story with moral lessons

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Story Summary

Discover the classic Story of Sidi Nouman from the Arabian Nights, where a man uncovers his wife's dark secret and faces a magical transformation into a dog.

Sidi Nouman, a wealthy citizen of Baghdad, married a beautiful woman named Amina. However, he soon noticed her strange eating habits; she would consume only a few grains of rice using a bodkin. Suspicious, Nouman followed her one night to a cemetery, where he was horrified to see her feasting on a corpse with other ghouls. The next day, when he confronted her, Amina grew furious and cast a spell, transforming him into a dog. As a stray, Nouman suffered much until he was taken in by a baker. Later, a young woman recognized his true form through her knowledge of magic. She restored him to human shape and provided him with a potion to exact his revenge. Nouman returned home and sprinkled the magic water on Amina, turning her into a mare. To punish her for her wickedness, he led her to his stable and beat her daily, a secret he eventually revealed to Caliph Haroun al-Rashid.

The Moral

Inner wickedness cannot be hidden forever, and those who practice cruelty will eventually face the consequences of their actions.

“Wretch! Receive the punishment of thy wickedness!”

Fun Fact

This tale is one of the 'orphan tales' added by Antoine Galland to the Arabian Nights collection, meaning its literary origins remain a mystery to scholars.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the moral of The Story of Sidi Nouman?

The story teaches that appearances can be deceiving and that evil deeds eventually bring about one's own downfall. It also warns against the dangers of marrying someone whose character is unknown.

Why did Amina turn Sidi Nouman into a dog?

Amina used her dark magic to transform him after he discovered her secret life as a ghoul. She sought to silence him and punish him for spying on her nocturnal activities in the cemetery.

How was Sidi Nouman restored to his human form?

He was rescued by a woman skilled in the magical arts who recognized that he was a man trapped in a dog's body. She used a special potion and incantation to break Amina's spell and return him to his true self.

What happened to Amina at the end of the story?

Sidi Nouman used magic water given to him by his savior to transform Amina into a mare. He then kept her in his stable and punished her regularly for her crimes and cruelty.

Is The Story of Sidi Nouman part of the original Arabian Nights?

It is one of the 'orphan tales' added by Antoine Galland to his French translation of the One Thousand and One Nights. No original Arabic manuscript for this specific tale has ever been found.

Who is the Caliph mentioned in the story?

The Caliph is Haroun al-Rashid, a historical ruler of the Abbasid Caliphate who frequently appears in the Arabian Nights as a wise judge of his people's strange adventures.