Here we continue discussing legends and myths in Iran and then take you to the land of sweet Iranian stories. This week we continue relating the story of Malek Mohammad and one- footed demon. Keep us company until the end of the story.

We said that in oral and written stories demons refer to supernatural creatures including jinni, ghoul, Satan, devil and Ahriman. Zakarya Qazvini in his famous cosmography titled Ajaeb-ol-Makhluqat meaning "Marvels of Creatures" writes about easiness of defeating the jinn and Satan. Part of the book reads:

“The jinn were standing in front of Prophet Solomon in order to be observed by him. Among them a jinni passed by whose body was half wolf and half dog. Prophet Solomon asked the jinni: are you a devil? He answered: Yes and my name is Qahr ibn Fanaan. Solomon asked again: What do you do? And the devil answered: I try to adorn bad deeds in the eyes of people. I try to seduce people into doing evil things. I live in India and my focus is on wine and music. Then Solomon ordered his soldiers to detain the devil.”

Qazvini in his book describes devils as wicked creatures who own magic powers.

Henri Masse, French contemporary orientalist, who has spent his life researching Iranians’ culture, has mentioned creatures with characteristics of demons and has used words like ghoul and ogre. Researches show that demons are the symbol of wickedness. In the Arabic culture the jinn are mentioned as demons.

Also in the Holy Quran we read that the jinn are born out of fire. The Holy Quran also mentions that the Satan is actually a jinni. Because of being born out fire, the jinn have the ability to be invisible.

It is said after Adam was born and started residing on earth, the jinn disappeared and human took the jinn’s place of living and that is why there is an animosity between the jinn and humans.

This week we continue the story of Malek Mohammad.

We said that once upon a time there was a king who had seven sons the youngest of whom Prince Malek Mohammad was from the king’s second wife. Once the king sent his sons to fetch him a parrot with a golden cage. The six princes failed to bring the parrot, but Malek Mohammad set out to fetch the parrot, determined to achieve what he was looking for. As he arrived to the other land, he heard that there was a demon who came to the city every month and seized people’s properties including their food and girls and this month it is supposed to take the princess of the land to his residence. Upon hearing this, Malek Mohammaad went to war with the demon and defeated him. He then married the princess, but the day after the wedding ceremony, he left the bride to look for the parrot with the golden cage. And now the rest of the story.

Malek Mohammad headed to the desert in search of the parrot with the golden cage. He had not passed a long way that a dervish approached him. He said:

“Let’s have barter.”

Malek Mohammad then answered:

“What kind of barter do you mean?”

The dervish then said:

“I exchange my Kashkool, table cloth and horn with your horse and sword.”

Malek Mohammad then said:

“This Kashkool gives you whatever food you need. The table cloth gives you bread and if you blow in the horn and say ‘Oh Solomon I want the head of somebody’, that person would be beheaded.”

So Malek Mohammad agreed with the dervish and they two exchanged what they owned.

Malek Mohammad told himself:

“Let me examine these objects to see if they work well.”

He first took the horn and blew inside. Then he recited the words he had learnt from the dervish:

“Oh Solomon I want this dervish be beheaded.”

Then in a wink of an eye he found the dervish’s head in his hands. Then he took his horse and sword and went toward the seven fairies’ castle.

There the youngest fairy went immediately toward Malek Mohammad and said:

“Hide somewhere! If my sisters see you here, they will kill you.”

Then Malek Mohammad said:

“Don’t worry girl. If you don’t mind I’ll easily kill your sisters.”

The young fairy then agreed.

Then Malek Mohammad blew inside the horn and recited the same words.

Then he found the heads of six sisters in his hands.

The young fairy suggested Malek Mohammad to accompany him in the journey to find the parrot with the golden cage.

The fairy then changed into a bird and Malek Mohammd flew on her bird. They covered many lands through days and nights.

At their final destination, Malek Mohammad entered the palace of demons and the young fairy changed into a dove and flew over the palace’s dome to see what the prince was doing……

AE/ RM/ME