No living one is hethat hath a title to respectNor dead，that folk should say of him'God's mercy him comprise！'？'
（A.）'The pen.'（Q.）'What does the poet refer to in these verses：
Two breasts in one it hath；its blood is eath and quick of flowWide-mouthedthough all the rest be blackits ears are white as snow.
It hath an idol like a cockthat doth its belly peckAnd half a dirhem is its worthif thou its price wouldst know？'
（A.）'The inkhorn.'（Q.）'And in these：
Say to men of wit and learning and to doctors everywhere，Skilled to find the hidden meanings riddles and enigmas bear，Come expound to me what is it that ye see a bird produce，'Mongst the Arabs and barbarians and wherever else ye fare；
Neither flesh nor bloodI warranthath the thing whereof I speak；Neither down nor feathersbirdwisefor a garment doth it wear.
Boiled it is and likewise roastedeaten hot and eaten cold；Yeato bootand when 'tis buried in the glowing embers'
flare，Colours twain in it are notedone as silver clear and white，And the other lucent yellowgold therewith may not compare.
Living can it not be reckonedneither may we count it dead：
Tell methenwhat is this wonderrarity of all things rare？'
（A.）'Thou makest long the questioning of an egg worth a doit.'
（Q.）'How many words [or times] did God speak to Moses？'（A.）
'It is related of the Prophet that he said'God spoke to Moses fifteen hundred and fifteen words [or times].'（Q.）'Tell me of fourteen things that speak to the Lord of the Worlds？'（A.）
'The seven heavens and the seven earthswhen they say'We comeobedient.'（Q.）'How was Adam created？'（A.）
'God created Adam of clay： the clay He made of foam and the foam of the seathe sea of darknessdarkness of lightlight of a fishthe fish of a rockthe rock of a rubythe ruby of waterand the water He created by the exertion of His omnipotent willaccording to His saying（exalted be His name！）'His commandment is only when He willeth aughtthat He say'Be，'--and it is.'（Q.）'What is meant by the poet in the following verses：
A things sans mouth or maw that eats in wondrous wise；On trees and beasts it feeds and all beneath the skies.
Give it to eatit thrives and flourishes amain；But give it not to drink of wateror it dies？'
（A.）'Fire.'（Q.）'And in these：
Two loversthat are still estopped from all delight：
Embracingeach with eachthey pass the livelong night.
They guarantee the folk from all calamityAnd with the risen sun they're torn apart forthright？'
（A.）'The leaves of a gate.'（Q.）'Tell me of the gates of Hell？'（A.）'They are seven in number and their names are comprised in the following verses：
Jehennem firstthen Leza comes and eke Hetim as well；Then must thou count Sa茂rand fifth comes Sekersooth to tell：
Sixth comes Jehim and last of allHawiyeh；thus thou hastIn compass brief of doggrel rhymethe seven rooms of Hell.'
（Q.）'To what does the poet refer in these verses：
A pair of ringlets long she haththat trail for aye Behind heras she comes and goes upon her way，And eye that never knows the taste of sleep nor sheds A tear，for none it hath for sheddingsooth to say；Nor wears it aught of clothesfrom year to ended year；Yet in all manner wede it doth the folk array？'
（A.）'A needle.'（Q.）'What is the length and breadth of the bridge Es Sirat？'（A.）'Its length is three thousand years'
journeya thousand in descenta thousand level and a thousand in ascent： it is sharper than a sword and finer than a hair.'
（Q.）'How many intercessions [with God] hath the Prophet [for each soul]？'（A.）'Three.'（Q.）'Was Abou Bekr the first that embraced Islam？'（A.）'Yes.'（Q.）'Yet Ali became a Muslim before him？'（A.）'All came to the Prophetwhen he was a boy of seven years oldfor God vouchsafed him the knowledge of the truth in his tender youthso that he never prostrated himself to idols.'（Q.）'Which is the more excellentAli or Abbas？'
Now she knew thatin propounding this questionIbrahim was laying a trap for her；forif she said'Ali is the more excellent，'she would fall in disgrace with the Khalif；so she bowed her head awhilenow reddeningnow palingthen said，'Thou askest me of two excellent meneach having [his own especial] excellence. Let us return to what we were about.'
When the Khalif heard her replyhe rose to his feet and said，'By the Lord of the Kaabehthou hast said wellO Taweddud！'
Then said Ibrahim'What means the poetwhen he says：
Slender of skirts and slim of shape and sweet of taste it is，Most like unto the spearexcept it lacks of the spontoon.
In all the countries of the world the folk make use of itAnd eaten 'tis in Ramazanafter mid-afternoon？'
She answered'The sugar-cane；'and he said'Tell me of many things.'What are they？'asked she；and he said'What is sweeter than honeywhat is sharper than the swordwhat is swifter than poisonwhat is the delight of a moment and what the contentment of three dayswhat is the pleasantest of days，what is the joy of a weekwhat is the debt that the worst payer denieth notwhat is the prison of the tombwhat is the joy of the heartwhat is the snare of the soulwhat is death in lifewhat is the malady that may not be healedwhat is the reproach that may not be done awaywhat is the beast that harbours not in cultivated fieldsbut lodges in waste places and hates mankind and hath in it somewhat of the make of seven strong beasts？'
