The Tales of Bul Bul Adventures

By Jawad Al Bahrani

his book tells the story of Bul Bul, a young boy who is known for his disinterest in education. He enjoyed the company of others, especially the vagabond boys. Until he realized that his way of life is wrong. Then one day, he made a mistake that changed his life. This is where his adventures started.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Singapore
• Release date: Oct 24, 2014
• ISBN: 9781482827613

Book preview

THE ADVENTURES OF BUL BUL

by

Jawad Ibrahim Ahmed Al Bahrani

D uring the last two centuries, there lived in the island of Zanzibar an old man called Mustafa the tailor. He was a very popular man in the islands and was well known in the whole of East Africa for his good and clean work of tailoring and embroidering man’s gowns and loinclothes as well as caps.

Such types of dress were favourite to the people of the islands and those who lived along the coastline of East Africa.

The customers used to buy from Mustafa the gowns and handmade caps in advance of their being tailored that before they were completely tailored. They were ready to pay any price for such commodities. People of the islands of Zanzibar were not happy to wear gowns or caps, which were not tailored by Mustafa the tailor. A person feels proud to wear a cloth, which has been tailored by Mustafa. Also a gown or a cap tailored by Mustafa would be considered a precious gift to friends. Thus, Mustafa the tailor established a reputation for his good work and that is why he was known as Mustafa the tailor. However, his popularity ceased after his death.

Mustafa left a Son who was called Bul Bul who was fourteen years old when his father died. Bul Bul did not bother to learn the skill and trade of his father although his father Mustafa made every effort to train his son in this trade but in vein. Bul Bul wasted his time in useless games, which were useful neither to himself nor to his parents. He was more concerned in catching birds, picking up the unwanted fish in the beaches and such types of activities which lazy children prefer to do. Thus, being deceived by his youthfulness, Bul Bul could not realize that there is an end for every being, and that a day would come when his father would cease to exist and everything would be on his shoulders. He never thought about these facts and he simply continued to please himself with his useless hobbies. Such types of enjoyments are exactly as the saying goes the enjoyment of a dog sitting on its tail.

After his father’s death, Bul Bul continued with his day to day activities, and in most cases he would return home late and ask his mother to cook food for him, when he brought nothing with him. Unfortunately Mustafa did not leave any property when he died, and hence the life of Bul Bul and his mother was miserable. Bul Bul remembered the old days when his father was alive and the happy life they had. He then realized that what he had been doing was futile as there was nothing to eradicate the poverty he was experiencing. He decided to do something which would help him to earn a living and to help his mother.

After some time when Bul Bul was tired of roaming and as he took rest on the way, thoughts of the difficulties he was suffering came to his mind, remembering the useless activities which had occupied his mind when his father was alive.

His friends appeared and found him deep in thoughts recalling his old days. They told him to join them in their futile activities. He replied to them saying: "Oh my friends, I have been here for quite a long time and I was engaged in thoughts which concern all of us. These activities which we have been practicing since our childhood are useless to us. Who amongst you can tell me what advantage we can derive from these activities which can help us and our parents? Just consider those pigeons which we used to kill and deprive them of their lives; what benefit have derived from our cruelty, or those birds we used to catch and even kill some of them! What did we get out of that? Also such remains of small fish we used to pick up from the fishermen! Whose belly among ours was filled up with it? Please answer me my friends! What difference is there between us and the vagabonds? We have wasted all our youthfulness in the useless activities. We have been thrown out from the Qur’aan teaching schools and the secular schools because of our engagement in these activities. Let us ask ourselves the benefit we have derived by running away from the schools! Our friends who behaved well and worked hard in their studies some of whom have successfully completed their studies and have become teachers and clerks – were they ignorant to remain at school; If they were ignorant – supposedly – are we wise? Please answer me my friends!

Bul Bul’s friends remained quiet and listened to him. Many of them consented that Bul Bul has spoken the truth as they have done nothing which they themselves appreciate and which has pleased their parents. When Bul Bul drew his friends into his thought provoking ideas, he himself was contemplating quietly that if only he had realised earlier and listened to his father and abandoned those useless activities he would have been quiet a different person