A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

A poor man accepts money from a king in exchange for a promise to show him Khizr, agreeing to execution if he fails. After paying his debts, he returns voluntarily at the appointed time and admits that he has no power to summon the sacred figure. As the king’s ministers propose punishments, an aged visitor comments that their suggestions reveal their backgrounds. Scissors, an oven and a razor expose the former tailor, baker and barber, while the minister who proposes a village and money is praised for mercy.

The visitor then declares that the debtor has indeed shown the king Khizr and suddenly vanishes. The debtor identifies him as the prophet; the king cannot find him again, rewards the debtor and dismisses the cruel advisers. The text’s title uses Prophet Khizr, while an editorial footnote reports differing understandings of his status and attributes immortality, green clothing and appearances in times of difficulty to wider belief. Those notes are historical editorial claims, distinct from this tale’s actual scene; no green garment or Water of Life episode is narrated here.

Aged visitor at royal judgmentKnowledge of advisers’ former occupationsSudden disappearance
01

Origins & earliest records

Bakhtiari storytelling, Iran

02

Records & interpretation

Complete LIII, pp. 325–327, with editorial footnote directly read in original-edition OCR.

Selected bibliography

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

  1. 01

    Persian Tales

    D. L. R. Lorimer and E. O. Lorimer, collectors/translators · 1919

    Bakhtiari tales; LIII, The Apparition of the Prophet Khizr, pp. 325–327 and note

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.

Primary records and illustrations

Direct primary record

D. L. R. Lorimer and E. O. Lorimer, Persian Tales (London: Macmillan, 1919)

Bakhtiari tales; LIII. Bakhtiari tales; LIII, The Apparition of the Prophet Khizr, pp. 325–327 and note

Complete LIII and footnote read. Vanishing aged helper and final identification distinguished from editorial green-clothing/immortality traditions. Lane reference not independently inspected. Sacred public narrative, original paraphrase.

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References

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

  1. Historical translated folktaleLorimer, Persian Tales (1919), Bakhtiari tales; LIII, The Apparition of the Prophet Khizr, pp. 325–327 and noteResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

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