In this episode, we continue our One Thousand and One Nights narration, with the finale of “The Case of the Tailor, The Hunchback or Humpback, the Jew, the Inspector, and the Christian” or known as “The story of the Humpback” with Night 34. This has been a long tale first begun during Night 25 and reaches a satisfying conclusion for all parties involved in this tale. We begin a new tale, that of “The Story of Nur-ud-din and Anis al-Jalis” with Night 35.

The story of Nur-ud-din and Anis al-Jalis is one of the core stories known in the One Thousand and One Nights, with it being present in one of the oldest manuscripts extant of this work. The story is similarly framed to the earlier story we encountered, “Nur-ud-din and his Son and Shams-ud-din Mohammad and his Daughter”, in that the two central characters in this plot are vizers of a singular Sultan. However, unlike the earlier story they are both polar opposites of one another.

As we continue to explore the central core stories found in manuscripts of the One Thousand and One Nights, it might behoove us if we pay attention to how these core stories may have influenced other stories, some found earlier and some we will encounter later, and how similar characters can be found in them.

As we reach the end of the Gregorian calendar for 2023, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our listeners for sticking with us and hopefully you continue to support us in the New Year. May Allah bless you all and have a happy holiday whatever you are celebrating.