In the mountains near a village in the south of Algeria lived a marabou (Marabou - hermit, saint.). Everyone loved him and revered him for his piety and great kindness. He prayed all day long, and even at night, in the light of the moon, one could see him praying. He always fingered his amber rosary and thought about good and evil.
Many came to this man for wise advice.
One day, when the saint was praying, sitting, as usual, on his rug, a rich gentleman, accompanied by a squire, approached him. He came to ask how to protect his vast and generous lands from frequent attacks by enemies. The wise marabou listened to him and promised to help.
The old man descended from the mountain on which he lived into the valley. There trees grew in abundance, flowers bloomed, springs flowed and birds sang. Marabou went to ask the inhabitants of this wonderful land to help a man who was suffering from enemy attacks. But people did not heed the request of the holy elder. They themselves were not in danger; peace and prosperity reigned among them.
Offended by the refusal of support, the gentleman who came to the marabou set out alone with his small army against the enemies. And - alas - it was broken.
The old marabou's anger knew no bounds. With a staff in his hand, he left the fertile land and cursed these people, who did not want to come to the aid of man. Marabou sent misfortunes to their fertile land, and it gradually became dead and barren. The rivers dried up, the trees began to wither, the beautiful flowers and bushes in the gardens withered. There was nothing left except dry weeds, which the wind picked up and carried far away.
Since then, there have been no trees, greenery, water or freshness. The entire region became deserted and bare, and they called it Sahara.
However, the Almighty felt pity for this devastated land. Fanning rose petals with his breath, he created oases from them. Only there fresh water flows and palm trees provide welcome shade to the poor inhabitants of the desert, once so rich
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru