Deglet-en-Noor
If the Deglet-en-Noor, the Finger of Light is the prince of dates, there is one palm tree in an oasis between Syria and Iraq where grows the absolute best, the juiciest, sweetest, most fragrant variety, and when Quddus Ali, a poor farmer, visited his dying uncle, the latter told him, ‘I am dying penniless, but I have one gift for you.’ And he told him about the palm tree. Keep this to yourself, and only tell your eldest son before Allah calls you. Quddus Ali arrived in his village outside Bagdad with a large bag of those honeyed drops of brown light. Everybody he shared his bounty with opened wide their eyes and swore that verily they had never tasted anything as sweet and tasty.
He took his wife’s advice and went to the palace with a basket of fingers. Haroun-al-Rashid ate one, and his eyes lit up. Verily I have never tasted anything as fragrant in my whole life. And Quddus Ali went home with a reward of twenty-five gold pieces.
Next door to him, lived a much richer farmer, Abu Suffian. Why would a rich man be envious of a poor fellow who toiled very hard to make ends meet, no one knows, but the rich man’s jealousy was as deep as it was grotesque. He nearly had an apoplexy when he heard about Haroun’s gift to his arch-enemy.
At great cost, he had imported some Aseel hens and roosters from Hindustan, with the intention of making a killing when the right time came. After a sleepless night, he woke up with his bright idea. I am going to offer the Caliph a brace of my Aseel. If he gave that son-of-a dog twenty-five gold pieces for a handful of rotting dates, I cannot imagine what he will reward me with for my vastly superior gift.
Early next morning he set out for the palace. When the Caliph set eyes on the glorious roosters, he shook his head in wonderment. Effendi, he told Abu Sufian, do you know how blessed I am to have such loving subjects. You will never know how much I appreciate your gift. There is only one fit reward I can think of: Only last week I was given some dates from jannat itself, but your Aseel birds have blinded my good sense. He gave instructions to a steward. Now do me the honour of sharing a plate with me.
