Flying Marid of the Nuhas Journey

Overview

The white-snake helpers return with a man described as exceedingly and wonderfully large. He knows the ape-shaped abductor and reports that the missing wife has been carried to Nuhas. The helpers ask him to transport Mohammed there, identify him as a marid and warn the passenger not to invoke God's name while on his back. The carrier stoops so the man can mount and asks him to hold tightly. He then rises so high that the earth disappears from sight and only the air is visible.

The ascent reaches the sound of angels praising in heaven. A beautiful youth wearing a turban made from a green shawl and carrying a fiery missile addresses Mohammed by name. He commands the passenger to invoke God, threatening him if he refuses. When Mohammed complies, the jinn releases him; the youth strikes the carrier with the missile, and the marid melts like lead. The falling man reaches the sea, where a fishing vessel recovers and feeds him. This episode is a failed rescue transport, and its enormous carrier is distinct from the ape-shaped kidnapper still awaiting the later confrontation in Nuhas.

Origins & earliest records

Steere's preface identifies Mohammed the Languid as a story also present in Arabian Nights. His Swahili version was begun by Mohammed bin Abdallah bin Ali, continued by another Mohammed at p. 160 and, after that contributor died, completed by the first at p. 180. This is a Swahili literary and storytelling witness with acknowledged wider transmission, not a claim of uniquely local invention.

Records & interpretation

The complete supernatural encounter sequence and conclusion, English facing pp. 165-189, read in the bilingual 1870 primary volume. English pp. 179-183 give the large carrier, warning, complete ascent, heavenly missile and sea rescue.

In the literature

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Swahili Tales - Mohammed the Languid

   Named Mohammed contributors; Edward Steere, collector and translator · 1870

   English pp. 179-183 give the large carrier, warning, complete ascent, heavenly missile and sea rescue. Contributor sequence in preface pp. ix-x; Arabian Nights comparison in opening preface.

2. 02

   Swahili Tales, as Told by Natives of Zanzibar — Mohammed the Languid

   Mohammed bin Abdallah bin Ali, initial contributor; another Mohammed, continuation160–180; Mohammed bin Abdallah, completion; Edward Steere, compiler and translator · 1870

   London: Bell & Daldy,1870, actual title-page OCR. Complete selected Mohammed the Languid, title149, English151–189 with facing Swahili placement, independently read; relevant prefacev–x read. Prefaceix explicitly identifies changing contributors at160 and180 and calls this an Arabic-story rendering; no independently inspected Arabic original or whole-volume claim.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

Located primary passages

Specific passages supporting details in this entry, grouped by their published witness.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Digitized primary collected narrative and literary transmission witnessSteere 1870 - Mohammed the LanguidResearch access: 2026-10-05
2. Primary text transcriptionMohammed the Languid transcriptionResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

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