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31_days2005-11-28 05:06 pm
kurosawabride.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2005-11-28 05:06 pm
November 28 / The Sandman / "The City of Dreams"
Title: The City of Dreams
Day/Theme: November 28 / Visions of Damascus
Series: The Sandman
Character/Pairing: Haroun Al Rashid speaking to Dream
Rating: PG
Notes: A few months ago while I was in a comics store, I had bought the last two copies of "Ramadan", one of the several and perhaps, most beloved issues in the Sandman series for its Arabian Nights quality and the incredible story of Haroun Al Rashid and how he bargained for Dream to keep the Golden Age of Baghdad and take it into the land of dreams. My friend,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
_artistmonk_ has the other copy.
Standard disclaimers apply as per usual. I am not making any money out of this. I merely like writing. ^_^
These days, you would not think Baghdad was a beautiful place. Through all the rubble and bomb sites, the smoke and ash and dust, all you will see for miles is a stretch of desruction. The city has seen many wars and though food is not easy to come by, making fasting easier during the Ramadan, the citizens of Baghdad still dream about a story that has been passed through generations. They dream of the Golden Age of Baghdad and how resplendant it was, reflecting the glory of Araby and the children of Adam.
Upon waking they are unsure of whether the story was real or not, for it already fades as soon as their eyes open.
But Allah alone knows all.
In the story that they remember so well, the greatest king of Baghdad, Haroun Ibn Mohammed Ibn Abdallah Ibn Mohammed Ibn Ali Ben Abdullah Ibn Abbas, Caliph of Baghdad and how he had asked that his glorious city be taken in dreams and never forgotten by his people for as long as they live.
His story is not as simple as you think...
Haroun Al Rashid looked over his fair city, the domes of his palace gleaming gold in the sunlight, its walls decorated with pearl and its halls made entirely of marble. Truly Baghdad was a sight to behold and even at night, it sparkled and was called the Jewel City of Araby. Haroun Al Rashid was proud of his city and how his people were flourishing under his rule. In the soukh*, he overheard many praising his name, marvelling at his infinite wisdom and praying for Allah to continue to bless him with good health.
But he was troubled. The stranger who sat behind him on his flying carpet understood, for the caliph was ready to make a bargain. And the Lord of Dreams was not such an easy being to bargain with. He looked over his shoulder to where the said being was seated, his smoky eyes observing the glory that was Baghdad.
"You already know what I ask for, Lord Morpheus," he said. "This Golden Age of Baghdad will come to an end soon and not even my people will be able to remember it."
Dream turned to Haroun Al Rashid. "You are not the first to tell me this, Haroun Al Rashid. I have seen a great many other cities like Baghdad, all gleaming under the sun and pulsing with life. Syria, India, Israel, Damascus...they all flourish as Baghdad flourishes, golden cities gleaming against the sands of Araby, all visions to behold..."
"Then, will you be able to do what I ask of you?" Haroun asked again, his eyes full of hope for his people.
Standing straight up on the carpet, Dream nodded. "After a fashion, I can."
The caliph nodded his understanding. "There is no spell for this, oh mighty Lord?"
"None," Dream replied with a small smile. "You only need to tell your people and they will follow. Yours is the dream, Haroun Al Rashid."
And so it was the Haroun Al Rashid of the Hashimi bloodline, the greatest, wisest, noblest, and most beautiful son of Araby and caliph of Baghdad smiled in great relief, feeling the burden roll off his shoulders as he set his jaw and stepped up on the fountain so that his beloved people would hear what he had to say. He looked over at Dream and smiled.
"Insya'Allah**," he said. And then he went on to proclaim that he had given the Golden Age of Baghdad to the one they call the Prince of Stories. Providing that as long as mankind lasts, Baghdad in all its glory, will not be forgotten.
That is the story that the people of Baghdad remember until this day.
But Allah alone knows all.
* - marketplace
** - Praise Allah (I'm not to sure, but I hear my uncle say that all the time. It may also be "Allah's will be done.")
Day/Theme: November 28 / Visions of Damascus
Series: The Sandman
Character/Pairing: Haroun Al Rashid speaking to Dream
Rating: PG
Notes: A few months ago while I was in a comics store, I had bought the last two copies of "Ramadan", one of the several and perhaps, most beloved issues in the Sandman series for its Arabian Nights quality and the incredible story of Haroun Al Rashid and how he bargained for Dream to keep the Golden Age of Baghdad and take it into the land of dreams. My friend,
_artistmonk_ has the other copy. Standard disclaimers apply as per usual. I am not making any money out of this. I merely like writing. ^_^
These days, you would not think Baghdad was a beautiful place. Through all the rubble and bomb sites, the smoke and ash and dust, all you will see for miles is a stretch of desruction. The city has seen many wars and though food is not easy to come by, making fasting easier during the Ramadan, the citizens of Baghdad still dream about a story that has been passed through generations. They dream of the Golden Age of Baghdad and how resplendant it was, reflecting the glory of Araby and the children of Adam.
Upon waking they are unsure of whether the story was real or not, for it already fades as soon as their eyes open.
But Allah alone knows all.
In the story that they remember so well, the greatest king of Baghdad, Haroun Ibn Mohammed Ibn Abdallah Ibn Mohammed Ibn Ali Ben Abdullah Ibn Abbas, Caliph of Baghdad and how he had asked that his glorious city be taken in dreams and never forgotten by his people for as long as they live.
His story is not as simple as you think...
Haroun Al Rashid looked over his fair city, the domes of his palace gleaming gold in the sunlight, its walls decorated with pearl and its halls made entirely of marble. Truly Baghdad was a sight to behold and even at night, it sparkled and was called the Jewel City of Araby. Haroun Al Rashid was proud of his city and how his people were flourishing under his rule. In the soukh*, he overheard many praising his name, marvelling at his infinite wisdom and praying for Allah to continue to bless him with good health.
But he was troubled. The stranger who sat behind him on his flying carpet understood, for the caliph was ready to make a bargain. And the Lord of Dreams was not such an easy being to bargain with. He looked over his shoulder to where the said being was seated, his smoky eyes observing the glory that was Baghdad.
"You already know what I ask for, Lord Morpheus," he said. "This Golden Age of Baghdad will come to an end soon and not even my people will be able to remember it."
Dream turned to Haroun Al Rashid. "You are not the first to tell me this, Haroun Al Rashid. I have seen a great many other cities like Baghdad, all gleaming under the sun and pulsing with life. Syria, India, Israel, Damascus...they all flourish as Baghdad flourishes, golden cities gleaming against the sands of Araby, all visions to behold..."
"Then, will you be able to do what I ask of you?" Haroun asked again, his eyes full of hope for his people.
Standing straight up on the carpet, Dream nodded. "After a fashion, I can."
The caliph nodded his understanding. "There is no spell for this, oh mighty Lord?"
"None," Dream replied with a small smile. "You only need to tell your people and they will follow. Yours is the dream, Haroun Al Rashid."
And so it was the Haroun Al Rashid of the Hashimi bloodline, the greatest, wisest, noblest, and most beautiful son of Araby and caliph of Baghdad smiled in great relief, feeling the burden roll off his shoulders as he set his jaw and stepped up on the fountain so that his beloved people would hear what he had to say. He looked over at Dream and smiled.
"Insya'Allah**," he said. And then he went on to proclaim that he had given the Golden Age of Baghdad to the one they call the Prince of Stories. Providing that as long as mankind lasts, Baghdad in all its glory, will not be forgotten.
That is the story that the people of Baghdad remember until this day.
But Allah alone knows all.
* - marketplace
** - Praise Allah (I'm not to sure, but I hear my uncle say that all the time. It may also be "Allah's will be done.")