Once upon a time there lived a king, and he had one son, Muhammad. And the wife of that king died early. Before her death, she called her son to her and said:
“I’m dying and, together with my parent’s blessing, I give you this mare.” She is not simple, she is magical. Take care of her. If any trouble happens to you, she will help you out.
Time passed, the king married for the second time. The new wife of the king’s son did not like her; all day long she kept thinking and wondering how to kill him.
Once the mare says to Muhammad:
“Don’t eat the bread, it’s poisoned by your stepmother.”
And the young man did not eat the bread. “Someone must be warning him,” thought the stepmother. “We should do something else, and see who is helping him with advice.”
This is how the evil woman managed to find out that Muhammad was being protected by a talking mare.
But you need to know that this woman has long since taken on a lover, even more cunning and insidious than herself. She followed his advice in everything. So the lover figured out how they could get rid of the mare.
“Put pieces of stale bread under your clothes,” he taught her. “Everyone will hear the creaking and begin to say: “The queen’s back is creaking.” And I will pass by and say: “I know a way to cure the queen.”
The king called this man to him and asked him:
- Tell me, what should we do? How to save the queen from a strange illness?
- Do you have a young mare?
- Eat.
“As soon as you kill her, the queen will immediately recover.” The mare learned her fate, cried bitterly, and then said to Muhammad:
- Don't worry, Muhammad. Pluck three hairs from my mane. Whenever you need me, put them together, and then I’ll come to the rescue.
They slaughtered the mare, and the king’s son became completely sad. It happened that an oil merchant once passed by the palace. Muhammad asks him:
“Give me your clothes, and take mine in return.” “You are a prince, the son of a king,” answered the oil merchant. “What do you need my dirty cast-offs?”
“Don’t let that worry you,” said Muhammad. They exchanged clothes with the clothes merchant, and the young man left his father's palace.
He walked and walked and came to another country. The king of that country had seven beautiful daughters, one better than the other. The young man sat down near the palace, the girls saw him and asked:
“Would you like to serve us, work in the garden, around the house, or do some other work?”
“I agree to everything,” the young man answered them. One day Muhammad was working in the garden. I looked around - there was no one. He took out three hairs, put them together, and immediately a magical mare appeared in front of him. He jumped into the saddle and began to prance in front of the palace windows. Unfortunately for him, or perhaps fortunately, the king’s youngest daughter saw him and fell madly in love. “You know, this gardener is not of an ordinary family,” the girl thought. The next morning she came to the king and said:
- Father, all our friends have been married for a long time. You don't want us to remain barren flowers, do you?
“Tomorrow I will convene the best young men of our country,” the king answered her. “Let each choose her betrothed.”
The next day the most distinguished young men of that country gathered. The six eldest daughters, according to custom, threw shawls to their chosen ones. And the youngest threw the shawl to the poor gardener.
The king was angry.
“I swear to Allah, I will throw you in prison along with your dirty little scoundrel!”
However, it so happened that the next morning enemies attacked the kingdom, surrounded the palace, threatened to burn everything with fire, and put the king himself to an evil death. The brave chosen ones of the six elder sisters sat on war horses, took sharp swords, and Muhammad saddled a lame donkey.
“I will also go to war,” he said.
-Who needs you and your donkey? - cried the Tsar. - We just missed you!
Muhammad did not listen to the king and left the palace. He put three treasured hairs in a secluded place - the mare was right there. He jumped into the saddle and rushed into battle. Muhammad crushed enemies left and right. One managed to cope with a whole host. And the chosen ones of the six older sisters got scared and ran away from the battlefield. The king looks - only he remains, and also some young man.
The king wanted to find out who this brave man was. He deliberately touched Muhammad's hand with his sword, then tore off the bandage from his head and bandaged his wound.
And as soon as not a single enemy warrior remained alive, Muhammad connected three hairs, and the mare disappeared. He returned to the palace riding a lame donkey.
“I know,” the king announced, “who saved my life and who defended our country in the battle.” I will find this brave man by the wound on his hand.
The king examined the suitors of his daughters, but they were all safe and sound. Only the poor gardener sat quietly on the sidelines.
- Bring this dirty little guy to me! - said the king. “Perhaps this is the one I am looking for.” Then everyone started laughing and saying:
- Where should he go! He can only ride a lame donkey!
The king looked at Muhammad's hand, saw his bandage and said:
“The truth is, this is the only one worthy to take the throne.”
He drove out the suitors of his six eldest daughters in disgrace, and married his youngest daughter to the brave Muhammad. And soon after the wedding, Muhammad returned with his young wife to his father’s palace. During this time, it turns out that Muhammad's evil stepmother died. The father joyfully met his son, and they all lived for a long time, without knowing worries and sorrows.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru