This reflects a belief in the Zaydi sect of Islam in North Yemen that ordinary Muslims can have as direct access to God as do prophets and saints.

The finger

Religion is a vital part of everyday life in Southern Arabia, but not all stories have religious themes.  The next tale, collected by Muhammad Ahmad Shihab in South Yemen, provides a glimpse of the tribal code of honor.  Honor was in effect the cement that held tribal society together in the absence of a strong central government and police force.  Yet, as the story shows, the obligations inherent in the honor standard can pose a moral dilemma and even risk one’s life.

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In a certain village a poor peasant farmer lived in a small hut with his wife.  He also had a small son, whom he loved very much.  During the day the peasant worked at the castle of a local prince.  There he prepared the food and made arrangements for banquets.  The prince was fond of throwing large parties to which he would invite the important men of the area, other princes, and tribal sheikhs.

One year the prince celebrated his birthday with a great banquet that lasted far into the evening.  The peasant continued to work the whole time, serving the guests until the hour was unusually late.  When the party finally ended, the peasant asked the prince if he could return to his far-off village and spend the night at home with his wife and child.  He greatly missed them and hated to spend even one night away.  The prince invited the peasant to remain at the castle until morning and then return to his village.  The road to the village was long, noted the prince, and at night there were dangerous wild beasts that could kill him.  However, the peasant was so intent on seeing his family that he decided to go anyway.  He took along a short stick for protection, but declined the offer of a gun from the prince.

Thus the peasant went out from the castle into the dark of the night.  He held the stick in one hand and a small lamp in the other to light the way.  After he had walked awhile, a wild beast with sharp teeth appeared directly in front of him.  As the beast lunged to attack, the peasant pounded it with his stick and even with the lamp.  But these weapons were no match for the powerful beast, which sunk its sharp claws into the peasant’s body and tore away his flesh with its teeth until he was at last overcome.  The beast then ate everything but the bones and fingers.