An adaptation of The History of Codadad and His Brothers from One Thousand and One Nights.

Once upon a time, in a beautiful city called Harran, there lived a Sultan who had fifty sons. While forty-nine of these princes lived in the palace, one special prince named Codadad lived far away with his mother, Pirouzè. Unlike his brothers, Codadad grew up learning to be brave, kind, and humble.

When Codadad turned eighteen, he decided it was time to meet his father, the Sultan. But instead of announcing who he was, he chose to prove himself first. Riding a magnificent white horse with golden reins, he traveled to his father’s palace and offered to serve as a royal guard.

The Sultan quickly noticed that this new young guard was different from others. Codadad was not only the bravest soldier but also the kindest person in the palace. He helped everyone he met and never boasted about his good deeds. The Sultan was so impressed that he put Codadad in charge of watching over his other forty-nine sons.

But Codadad’s brothers didn’t like having someone their age telling them what to do. They became jealous of how much their father admired him. One day, they came up with a trick. They asked Codadad for permission to go hunting, promising to return by sunset. But they didn’t come back!

Worried about his brothers (even though they weren’t very nice to him), Codadad went searching for them. His journey led him to a spooky castle where he found not only his brothers but also a beautiful princess, all trapped by a terrible giant! Without thinking twice about his own safety, Codadad fought the giant and rescued everyone.

During their journey home, Codadad finally revealed his secret: “I am your brother, and the Sultan is my father too!” But instead of being happy, his jealous brothers did something terrible. While Codadad was sleeping, they hurt him badly and left him behind, thinking no one would ever find him.

But good fortune smiled upon our brave prince. A kind farmer found him and nursed him back to health. Meanwhile, the princess he had rescued made her way to the Sultan’s palace and told everyone what had happened. The Sultan was heartbroken to learn that Codadad was his son and that his other sons had been so cruel.

Just when everyone thought all hope was lost, something amazing happened. Enemy armies were attacking the kingdom, and things looked bad for the Sultan’s army. Suddenly, a mysterious warrior appeared on the battlefield, leading a group of brave riders. They helped drive away the enemies and saved the kingdom. When the warrior removed his helmet, everyone gasped – it was Codadad!

There was great joy in the palace that day. Codadad was reunited with his father, his mother Pirouzè, and the princess, who became his wife. But the most remarkable thing was what Codadad did next. Instead of punishing his brothers for their meanness, he forgave them. “They are my brothers,” he said, “and family should forgive each other.”

The Sultan was so moved by his son’s kindness that he named Codadad his heir, the future Sultan of Harran. From that day forward, the brothers learned from Codadad’s example. The kingdom of Harran became known not just for its wealth and power, but for something far more precious – the kindness and forgiveness that Codadad had taught them all.

And so, the brave prince who had once been a stranger in his own father’s palace became the kingdom’s greatest hero, not just because of his courage in battle, but because he showed that true strength lies in having a forgiving heart.

The End

Moral of the story: True strength isn’t just about being brave in battle – it’s about having the courage to be kind and forgive others, even when they’ve hurt you.

Read more One Thousand and One Nights stories.

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