That prince, his whole
court, the inhabitants of the city, and all his other subjects, were
magi, worshipers of fire instead of God.
"But though I was born of an idolatrous father and mother I had the
good fortune in my youth to have a nurse who was a good Mussulman,
believing in God and in His prophet. 'Dear Prince,' would she
oftentimes say, 'there is but one true God; take heed that you do not
acknowledge and adore any other.' She taught me to read Arabic, and
the book she gave me to study was the Koran. As soon as I was capable
of understanding it, she explained to me all the passages of this
excellent book, unknown to my father or any other person. She died,
but not before she had perfectly instructed me in the Mussulman
religion. After her death, I persisted in worshiping according to its
directions; and I abhor the adoration of fire.
"About three years and some months ago, a thundering voice was
suddenly sounded so distinctly through the whole city that nobody
could miss hearing it. The words were these: 'Inhabitants, abandon the
worship of fire, and worship the only God who shows mercy.' This voice
was heard three years successively, but no one was converted. On the
last day of that year, at the break of day, all the inhabitants were
changed in an instant into stone, each one in the condition and
posture in which he happened to be. The sultan, my father, and the
queen, my mother, shared the same fate.
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