The Qazi of Az-Zahra November 2006

The Qazi of Az-Zahra

• November 2006

• Sawwal 1427

• In a palace big lived Hakim the king,

• He didn’t worry about a thing!

• Wanted the land of a lady

• Was willing to have a fight

• He was greedy!

• ‘Oh my lady, pretty lady

• Give me your land

• For 100 pieces of silver.’

• ‘Na, na,na, na, na,re,na,re,na,re

• Na,na,na,na,na,re,na,re,na’

• She replied

• ‘No, no,no it is my land and listen to me clear,

• Listen to me clear my king.

• It is my land and listen to me dear

• You can’t have it for your shiny silver.’

• ‘Oh lady, please give me your land,

• Give me your land for 100 pieces of gold.’

• ‘Na, na,na, na, na,re,na,re,na,re

• Na,na,na,na,na,re,na,re,na’

• She replied

• ‘No, no,no it is my land and listen to me clear,

• Listen to me clear my king.

• It is my land and listen to me dear

• You can’t have it for your gold or silver.’

• Hakim the king sent 10,000 men

• They marched up the lady’s house

• And they all marched down again.

• ‘Give us your land or your head.’

• They demanded.

• ‘Na, na,na, na, na,re,na,re,na,re

• Na,na,na,na,na,re,na,re,na’

• They shouted,

• ‘Yes, yes, yes we will take your land

• And we’ll take it right away.

• We’ll add it to the palace garden.

• We’ll take your land and take it right away,

• We’ll take your land by force.

• ‘Where is the justice?’ It’s not fair.

• She yelled

• ’A Wiseman spoke, ‘Go to Qazi,

• ‘He’ll give you justice to make you razi.

• He’ll be fair and square.’

• With a little hope in her heart

• She dawdled to Qazi in the dark.

• ‘O Qazi, O Qazi, listen me out I pray,

• Give me justice I know you’re the best.’

• ‘O Lady, O Lady, go home and rest

• I’ll speak to the king myself, I dare.’

• On a little donkey and a sack

• Qazi entered the palace gates.

• ‘Can I feel this sack with royal soil

• And take it on donkey’s back?’

• ‘You may, my friend, sure you may.’

• .

• Qazi filled the sack with the royal soil

• But couldn’t lift it, and was in turmoil.

• ‘Help me O king, help me Hakim

• Lift the sack with your royal hands.’

• Hakim tried once, twice and many times

• But goodness gracious me!

• He fell to the ground many a-times.

• Qazi bowed to the king and said,

• ’You can’t lift one sack of soil?

• How will you carry the lady’s load of soil

• on the day of your judgement?

• Hearing this, Hakim started to shiver

• ‘What shall I do?’ He shouted in fear!

• ‘Bring the lady to the palace.’

• ‘Welcome, my friend, my dear lady.

• Take this palace for your piece of land.

• I have hurt you during negotiation

• God forgive me for my wrong action.’

• So everybody’s happy now,

• Happy now, happy now

• So everybody’s happy now,

• We all take a bow!

• That’s all friends!

• But remember:

• ‘You are responsible for your own actions!

• Think hard before you act!’