THE KHALIF HAROUN ER RESHID AND THE THREE SLAVE-GIRLS

The Khalif Haroun er Reshid lay once with three slave-girls, a Meccan, a Medinan and an Irakite. The Medina girl put her hand to his yard and handled it, whereupon it rose and the Meccan sprang up and drew it to herself. Quoth the other, "What is this unjust aggression? I have heard of Malik, (105) on the authority of Ez Zuhri, (106) who had it of Abdallah ibn Salim, (107) on the report of Said ben Zeid, (108) that the Apostle (whom God bless and preserve) said, "Whoso revivifies a dead land, it is his."" And the Meccan answered, "Sufyan (109) tells us, on the authority of Abou Zenad, (110) who had it of El Aarej, (111) on the report of Abou Hureireh, (112) that the Apostle of God said, "The game is his who catches it, not his who starts it."" But the Irak girl pushed them both away and taking it to herself, said, "This is mine, till your contention be decided."