The River and the Forty Sages
(From World Folklore - A Moroccan Folk Tale)
From the towering peaks of the Atlas Mountains in the Kingdom of Morocco—which spans a total area of 710,850 square kilometers—pour abundant rivers flowing westward to empty into the embrace of the Atlantic Ocean. These rivers are fed by numerous tributaries that stream through mountain crevices, nourishing lush orchards, sprawling farms, and fertile pastures in that vibrant green plain alongside the ocean coast.
Among these majestic rivers, the "Oum Er-Rbia" river stands out as one of the largest waterways. It originates from the mountain peaks and plunges into deep valleys, cutting through the vibrant wilderness and forests of central Morocco, until it reaches its final destination at the sea, just west of the city of Azemmour.
However, a strange tale is tied to this river, one that has struck profound awe and dread into the hearts of the nearby inhabitants. The prevailing legend tells that the river begrudges the farmers its water and will not grant it unless it swallows forty victims—men, women, and children—every single year! Superstition attributes this to the "Spirit of the River," an evil jinn who inhabits the depths and controls the flow of the water. Consequently, people avoided swimming in the Oum Er-Rbia or even approaching its banks for fear of his wrath.
One year, the jinn completely withheld the river’s water. The channels dried up, the earth cracked, and a severe drought befell the land, threatening both crops and livestock. Faced with this grave calamity, the Sultan of the country had no choice but to intervene. He summoned the kingdom's greatest scholars and consulted them on ways to save the land and bring life back to its streams.
The Sultan addressed the scholars, saying: "The river jinn refuses to release the water he has trapped with his magical power unless the country offers forty sages as a sacrifice. Who among you possesses the courage to sacrifice his life so that the water may return and our land may live?"
These words struck the scholars like a thunderbolt; they all stood stunned, and a heavy silence hung over the room. After a moment, their elder stepped forward and asked the Sultan to grant them a brief respite to reflect and deliberate on the matter. The Sultan granted his permission, and they left his council burdened with worry.
Before long, the elder of the scholars returned alone to the throne room, stood before the Sultan, and said: "We have thought deeply about this dilemma, Your Majesty, and we realize that releasing the Oum Er-Rbia river is indeed contingent upon offering lives. However, as our master the Sultan knows, there are two types of sages: those who derive their knowledge from the pages of books, which is us; and another group who derive their knowledge from the abundance of inspiration and emotion—the poets and musicians who create beauty in this universe. I do not believe the fierce jinn means us; rather, he seeks those inspired geniuses."
The Sultan asked skeptically: "Are you absolutely certain of this?"
The elder replied confidently: "Yes, Your Majesty, we are absolutely certain that the creative geniuses are the ones intended by the jinn's desire. It would honor and please us to ransom the waters of spring with our lives, but we are certain that our sacrifice would be in vain and would not achieve the goal."
The Sultan yielded to their counsel and immediately ordered the gathering of all the poets, singers, writers, and musicians in the kingdom. When they assembled in his court, he recounted the grave news to them and concluded by stating: "The river jinn demands forty of you so that we may reclaim our water. Who among you will step forward for this noble deed?"
The creators listened to the Sultan’s words, and signs of dignity and courage appeared on their faces; they did not hesitate, nor did fear creep into them. Instead, forty creators immediately stepped forward; among them were poets who had crafted the sweetest verses, musicians who had plucked the strings of hearts, and singers who had delighted souls with their melodious tunes.
These forty brave souls marched in a solemn procession toward the banks of the dry Oum Er-Rbia River, followed by crowds of grieving farmers and scholars with anxious hearts. When they reached the edge of the dry riverbed, the musicians stepped forward with their instruments, and the poets and singers broke the silence of the pale valley.
Before taking their final step into the depths, one of the inspired poets turned to his companions and said in a steady voice: "My friends, it does not befit us to meet our end in forced silence. Let us enter the realm of death welcoming the melody of life, and let us play our most beautiful tunes as a ransom for our land."
Immediately, the musicians raised their instruments, and the strings of the oud, the ney, and the qanun began to chime with enchanting melodies that captivated the minds. The voices of the singers joined in, chanting the most beautiful songs praising nature, life, and the earth. The echo of the music reverberated through the Atlas Mountains, shaking the corners of the silent valley.
At that historic moment, and under the spell of that captivating artistic beauty, the miracle began to unfold. A shiver ran through the body of the dry river, the rocks stirred, and suddenly the "Spirit of the River"—the fierce jinn—emerged from the crevices, stunned and spellbound by those melodies, the likes of which he had never heard in his life. The jinn danced with joy, his body swaying to the rhythm of the music, and he was so overcome with delight and happiness that he forgot his wickedness and cruelty.
In his immense ecstasy and rapture, water burst forth from beneath his feet, and springs erupted, shattering the magical constraints. The Oum Er-Rbia River rushed forth, roaring with an abundance the people had never witnessed before. The rushing waters filled the riverbed, irrigating the thirsty orchards and barren farms, bringing greenness and life back to the sprawling plain.
As for the forty creators, they stepped back to the riverbank safe and sound, washed by the river's fresh water without being harmed. Everyone realized then that beauty, music, and art were the true weapons that conquered evil and restored life to its course, without a single drop of blood being spilled. Since that day, the people ceased to fear their river, and they began to gather by its banks to play melodies and sing songs, celebrating the memory of that great victory.