In the heart of old Bahrain, not far from the quiet dunes near Riffa, there lived a young merchant’s daughter known for her gentleness and courage. Her father often travelled with trade caravans, and she sometimes joined him, learning the routes between the villages and the coast. But one fateful evening, while returning home through the vast desert, night overtook her before she could reach the safety of her town.
The desert was eerily still, its silence broken only by the distant call of a night bird and the sigh of wind moving over dunes that glimmered under the crescent moon. Alone and weary, the girl tightened her scarf and pressed onward. Her camel’s hooves sank softly into the sand, and her heart quickened as shadows stretched longer.
Then, in the distance, she saw a faint light, a flickering glow that seemed to promise warmth and company. “Perhaps there is a traveller’s fire,” she thought. Guided by hope, she followed the light through the shifting dunes until she reached the ruins of an old stone dwelling, half-buried by time and sand.
From within came the trembling voice of an old woman. “Child, you must be tired. Come inside. Rest and eat.”
Relieved, the girl stepped closer. The old woman sat beside a small fire, wrapped in a tattered shawl. Her face was lined, her smile oddly fixed, and her eyes gleamed in the dim light. On the fire simmered a pot that gave off a strong, metallic scent.
“You are kind, grandmother,” the girl said softly, bowing in respect. “May I rest for a short while?”
The “old woman” nodded. “Of course, child. You are safe here. Eat, and your strength will return.”
She ladled a portion of stew into a clay bowl and handed it to the girl. But as the girl lifted the food, the scent made her stomach twist. Beneath the herbs lingered the unmistakable smell of blood. Her courage steadied her trembling hands. Something deep within warned her that this was not a meal meant for the living.
Quietly, she whispered a prayer her mother had taught her, one said to guard travellers from desert spirits. Then, pretending to taste the food, she let it slip to the floor where a small cat had wandered in, mewing softly. The creature lapped at the stew, and within seconds, collapsed lifeless beside the hearth.
The girl’s heart pounded. She looked up at the “old woman,” whose smile had vanished. The air seemed to thicken. The fire flickered blue. Before her eyes, the woman’s skin darkened and stretched, her fingers lengthened into claws, and her teeth gleamed sharp as blades. The girl realized in horror that she was face-to-face with a ghoul, one of the desert’s ancient shapeshifters who fed upon lost travellers.
“Stay,” hissed the ghoul, her voice no longer human. “You will make a fine meal before dawn.”
But the girl’s courage did not falter. She whispered another prayer and sprang toward the open door, sprinting barefoot into the night. Behind her came the ghoul’s shriek, a sound that echoed across the dunes like a storm wind. The girl ran until her breath burned and her legs trembled, guided by the faintest shimmer of the rising dawn.
As the first rays of sunlight touched the sand, the ghoul’s cries faded. The desert, once again, was silent. Exhausted and trembling, the girl fell to her knees and gave thanks for her deliverance. When she finally reached her home at Riffa, her family wept with relief.
After hearing her tale, the elders of the town decreed that no traveller should ever approach lights in the desert at night, no matter how kind the voices might sound. The ruined dwelling was said to remain cursed, a place where no bird sang and no beast lingered. And from that day, people whispered, “The dunes test not only the body but also the heart. Only courage and wisdom guide the living through the spirits’ domain.”
Moral Lesson
This Bahraini folktale teaches that true courage is not loud or reckless, it is the quiet strength to trust one’s heart when danger hides behind a mask of kindness. Instinct, faith, and composure can guard one’s life better than fear or blind trust.
Knowledge Check
1. What is the main setting of “The Girl and the Ghoul”?
The story takes place in the desert near Riffa, a region in central Bahrain.
2. Who is the main character in the tale?
A merchant’s daughter known for her courage and intuition.
3. What symbolizes danger in the story?
The flickering light in the desert and the stew with the scent of blood represent hidden peril.
4. What does the ghoul disguise itself as?
The ghoul disguises itself as a kind old woman offering shelter and food.
5. What is the moral of “The Girl and the Ghoul”?
Trust your instincts and show courage when faced with deceit, not all kindness is genuine.
6. What cultural belief is reflected in the story?
It reflects Bahraini folklore about desert spirits and ghouls that test travellers’ courage and faith.
Source & Cultural Origin
Source: Adapted from “The Girl and the Ghoul” in Folktales from the Arabian Peninsula, Taibah & MacDonald (2016), pp. 6–9.
Cultural Origin: Bahrain (Central region, Riffa)
