Layla and Majnun (16 page)

R
apidly, so rapidly, did he travel towards death, but however fast he moved, it seemed that he would never reach his goal. He was now but a pilgrim in the world, hurrying towards the grave that was his Mecca, his only place of rest along the way a bed of rocks and thorns. The harvest of his time on earth was burnt and lay smouldering, and now the millstone of Fate was crushing his bones and grinding them to dust.

Gradually, he grew weaker until one day he knew that he had reached the very edge. Slowly, for one last time, he dragged himself to Layla’s tomb. It was evening when he arrived, the sky deep indigo and studded with stars. The Milky Way looked like a rushing river; soon Majnun’s boat would weigh anchor for the last time, and his soul would join that river for
the final journey. He sat down exhausted at the foot of Layla’s grave, lifted his face and, raising his hands towards heaven, began to pray:

‘O Lord, Creator of all beings! I implore You in Your own Name: relieve me of the burden of life! Set me free and let me go to my beloved! Untie the chains that bind me to this cruel world and let me fly!’

Majnun closed his eyes and lay down on Layla’s grave, pressing his body against the earth with all that remained of his strength. His parched lips moved in silent prayer; then, with the words, ‘Layla, my love …’ his soul broke free and he was no more.

S
ome say that Majnun’s body remained on Layla’s grave for a month, others say a year. Some of those who had seen him there swore that he had not died but was merely sleeping, for Majnun’s beasts sat guarding him, as one watches over a slumbering child. Even they could not believe that he would not rise again.

Afraid of the animals who crowded around the lovers’ tomb, the people kept away. From afar they would stare and point, saying, ‘The madman is still asleep on his lover’s grave.’

And thus in death, as in life, Majnun was left alone; even the vultures that wheeled and swooped above the tomb would not approach him. Eventually, all that remained of him became dust and returned to the earth, leaving nothing but a few scraps of bone. Only then did
the animals abandon their vigil. One by one they sloped off into the wilderness, leaving their master behind them.

Once the animals had gone, the people came. Members of the two families — Layla’s tribe and Majnun’s tribe — came to stand and weep at the grave where their dear ones lay, united at last in death. A new headstone was made, and on it were inscribed the words: