In the city of Baghdad, three one-eyed mendicants, known as Calenders, arrived at the house of three mysterious sisters. They were joined by the Caliph Harun al-Rashid and his vizier, who were traveling in disguise. The sisters agreed to host them on the condition that they ask no questions about what they saw. However, curiosity overcame the guests when they witnessed strange rituals involving two black hounds. To save their lives, the three Calenders revealed that they were actually princes who had each lost an eye through supernatural misfortune. The first prince had lost his eye to a vengeful vizier after discovering a secret subterranean tomb. The second prince was transformed into an ape by an Ifrit and later lost his eye during a magical duel between a princess and the demon. The third prince found a palace of forty doors; he opened the forbidden fortieth door and was carried by a mechanical horse that struck out his eye as he fled. Moved by their tragic tales of fate and forbidden curiosity, the Caliph revealed his true identity, pardoned the household, and restored the princes to their rightful status.
Reckless curiosity and the violation of forbidden boundaries often lead to irreparable loss, though honesty and humility can provide a path to redemption.
Questions about this story
What is the moral of The Story of the Three Calenders?
The moral is that curiosity and the pursuit of forbidden knowledge carry heavy prices that cannot be undone. It also emphasizes that fate is often inescapable, regardless of one's royal status or wealth.
Why are the three Calenders one-eyed?
Each Calender was a prince who lost an eye through a different magical catastrophe. One was blinded by a vizier, another during a magical battle with a jinn, and the third by a magical horse after opening a forbidden door.
Who is the disguised observer in the story?
Caliph Harun al-Rashid, the historical ruler of Baghdad, is the observer. He frequently wandered the city in disguise with his Grand Vizier to see how his people lived.
What is a 'Calender' in the context of Arabian Nights?
A Calender (or Qalandar) refers to a member of a wandering Sufi dervish order. In the story, the princes use this disguise to travel as humble mendicants after losing their kingdoms.
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Good night.
