Hanzala and Sharik the honorable men
from Iraq
Mundhir, the king of Hira, had two favorite cup companions. One night, he became very drunk and grew so angry with his friends that he ordered his servants to bury them alive. The next morning he could remember nothing of what had taken place and went to look for his friends. When he learned what he had done to them, he was overcome with remorse and grief. To keep the memory of his friends alive he had two obelisks built by their graves, which were known as Al-Ghariyyan, meaning blood-stained. For two days every year he sat by the graves to do penance: the first day he called the Day of Good Deeds because whoever first came to him on that day was given a hundred black camels; the second he called the Day of Evil Deeds for whoever met him first on that day was offered in sacrifice to his dead friends and his blood was poured over their graves.
Every year Mundhir kept up the custom of the two days of penance. One day a man from Tayyi’ called Hanzala, came to visit the king. “May no shame blemish your name. I have come to you as a guest.” Said Hanzala.
“Alas, I have to offer you as a sacrifice, for today is the Day of Evil Deeds,” replied the king sadly. “But I am your guest, O king,” cried the shocked Hanzala. “You have always been hospitable and generous to both me and my people.”
“I have no choice,” said the king, “but before you die you may ask me one favor.”
“Grant me one year of grace so that I may settle my affairs and provide for my family,” Hanzala begged. “I promise to return after one year.”
The king agreed but on one condition. “Provide me with a guarantee of your return and you may go.
Hanzala looked around the king’s courtiers. He recognized the face of a worthy and honourable man called Sharik whom he asked to act as his guarantor. Sharik immediately agreed. “My no shame blemish your name, O king. I offer my hand for his hand, my blood for his blood, should he not return at the appointed time,” he said to the king.
The year passed and the day came for Hanzala’s return. There was no sign of him and Sharik went to the king to offer himself in his place. Already the woman appointed to mourn for him had begun to lament his impending death. The swords-man prepared to execute him and was on the point of raising his sword, when far away in the distance a rider appeared galloping towards them. As he drew near everyone was very surprised to see that the man was Hanzala of Tayyi’, returning to keep his word. He was already wearing his burial shroud and was accompanied by his mourning woman.
The king was so moved by the loyalty of the tow men that he set them both free and rewarded them for their honorable conduct. He then declared that the custom of sacrifice on the Day of Evil Deeds was to be abolished and forgotten.