In a quiet Palestinian village nestled between rolling olive groves and sun-baked fields, there lived a humble farmer named Abu ‘Aly. He was neither tall nor strong, nor possessed of wealth or status. What Abu ‘Aly had, however, was a sharp mind, nimble hands, and a courage born from daily toil in the sun-scorched soil. His neighbors respected him not for might, but for cleverness and steadfast honesty.
One year, as the harvest season approached, a band of forty thieves came down from the hills, laden with plundered treasures from distant lands. Seeking a hidden place to conceal their stolen goods, they arrived in Abu ‘Aly’s village. From the shadows, they surveyed the rows of modest homes, finally settling upon Abu ‘Aly’s house. They marked it with a secret symbol only they could recognize, intending to return under the cover of darkness to retrieve their treasure.
The news might have terrified a man of lesser wits, but Abu ‘Aly had a mind like a scythe, sharp and fast. He observed the marks, inspected the thieves’ secret paths, and devised a plan that would save his home and deliver justice. He did not act alone; his wife, a resourceful and brave woman, stood ready to assist.
When night fell and the thieves crept silently toward the marked house, Abu ‘Aly was already at work. He had taken a brush and, with careful strokes, marked every house in the village with the same secret symbol. When the thieves returned, they were confounded. Which house was truly theirs? How could they be sure? Fear crept into their hearts as they argued among themselves, uncertain and mistrustful.
While confusion reigned outside, Abu ‘Aly and his wife set traps within each home. Some cellars were prepared with pits covered by loose boards, others with barrels of boiling oil or bundles of heavy stones balanced to fall at a touch. The villagers watched from a distance, inspired by Abu ‘Aly’s audacity and cunning, knowing that their clever neighbor had the mind to protect them all.
The thieves, believing only one house held the treasure, tested each door cautiously. One by one, they fell into the clever traps. A thief attempting to lift a barrel slipped into a hidden pit; another trying to pry open a cellar tumbled headfirst into boiling oil, emerging in shock but unharmed enough to be bound. Abu ‘Aly’s wife, deft and swift, helped secure the captured men while Abu ‘Aly prepared to confront the rest. The forty thieves, now scattered, panicked in the village’s maze of marked homes, realizing that the very intelligence they had underestimated had become their undoing.
When the last thief crept toward the fields, Abu ‘Aly emerged, scythe in hand, and faced him. Using skillful feints and quick strikes, he disarmed the would-be raider. With his wife’s assistance, they bound the remaining men and placed them securely until the local authorities arrived to take them away. The villagers celebrated not just the victory of one man, but the triumph of cleverness, resourcefulness, and communal solidarity over organized greed and intimidation.
From that day forward, Abu ‘Aly became a legend in his village and beyond. His story spread through the olive groves, along the winding paths of the hills, and into neighboring towns. It was told in hushed admiration and loud laughter alike: the tale of a poor farmer who had no sword, no army, and no treasure, yet defeated forty thieves through the art of wit, courage, and careful planning.
Abu ‘Aly’s tale reminded everyone that intelligence, creativity, and the unity of a community often outweigh brute force and sheer numbers. His victory was not just for himself; it was a triumph for all who valued justice, prudence, and courage in the face of danger.
Moral Lesson
This Palestinian folktale teaches that intelligence and cleverness can overcome raw power. Resourcefulness, courage, and unity are often more valuable than wealth or strength.
Knowledge Check
1. Who is Abu ‘Aly in the story?
Abu ‘Aly is a poor but clever Palestinian farmer who uses his wit to outsmart thieves.
2. How many thieves does Abu ‘Aly confront?
He confronts and defeats forty thieves using clever traps and strategy.
3. What role does Abu ‘Aly’s wife play?
She assists him by helping set traps and securing the captured thieves.
4. What does the story illustrate about cunning versus strength?
It shows that cleverness and planning can triumph over brute force.
5. How does Abu ‘Aly trick the thieves?
He marks every house in the village with the same symbol, confusing the thieves and making them fall into traps.
6. What is the broader cultural lesson of this Palestinian folktale?
It celebrates al-hila (cunning) and communal solidarity as tools to protect a community against greed and organized crime.
Source
Adapted from the Palestinian folktale type ATU 954 “The Forty Thieves,” Palestinian rural oral tradition, collected and categorized in On Palestinian Journeys (Folktale Archive).
