Along the sun-warmed shores of Muharraq Island in Bahrain, a humble fisherman lived by his wisdom and hope. Each morning, before dawn coloured the sea, he cast his net into the quiet waves, trusting that patience and cleverness would bring him fortune. But one fateful day, when he drew in his net, there was no fish, only a sealed copper jar, heavy with mystery and fate.
Curiosity overcame disappointment. The fisherman turned the jar in his hands, wondering what treasure or secret might lie inside. When he broke the seal, a whirlwind of black smoke burst forth, twisting and rising until it formed the towering figure of a jinni, vast as a storm cloud, with eyes that burned like embers and a voice that shook the air.
The fisherman fell back in terror as the jinni spoke, his tone thunderous and bitter. “For centuries I have been imprisoned in this jar,” he said. “In the first hundred years, I swore to reward my liberator with riches. But as time passed, rage replaced mercy. Now I vow to kill whoever sets me free.”
The fisherman trembled. “Surely you jest, great spirit,” he said cautiously. “How could such a mighty being have fit into so small a vessel? I cannot believe you were ever inside it.”
The jinni, proud and eager to prove his power, let out a booming laugh. “You doubt me, mortal? Then watch!” In an instant, he dissolved into smoke and flowed back into the copper jar.
Quick as lightning, the fisherman seized the lead lid, pressed it firmly, and sealed the jinni inside once more. “Stay there,” he said, his voice steady now. “The sea is wide enough for both you and my poverty.” And with that, he hurled the jar far into the deep waters, where it vanished beneath the waves.
As the ripples faded, the fisherman looked out over the calm sea. He had no gold, no feast, no fortune, but he had his life, and his wits. And that, he thought, was the greatest treasure of all.
Moral Lesson
Wit and wisdom protect even the powerless. Intelligence often triumphs where strength fails.
Knowledge Check
1. Who are the main characters in The Fisherman and the Jinni?
The two main characters are the poor fisherman and the vengeful jinni he releases from the copper jar.
2. What does the copper jar symbolise in Bahraini folklore?
It represents both imprisonment and the hidden consequences of curiosity and greed.
3. What is the key moral lesson of the story?
Wisdom and quick thinking can protect even the weakest from harm.
4. Where does this folktale originate?
The tale comes from the northern coastal villages of Bahrain, especially Muharraq Island.
5. How does the fisherman defeat the jinni?
He cleverly tricks the jinni into re-entering the jar and seals it shut again.
6. What cultural value does this story highlight in Bahraini tradition?
It celebrates wisdom, humility, and cleverness as virtues greater than physical strength or power.
Source: Adapted from “The Fisherman and the Jinni” in Folktales from the Arabian Peninsula by Taibah & MacDonald (2016), pp. 2–5.
Cultural Origin: Bahrain (Northern Coastal Villages, Muharraq Island)
