Because the Queen of Hich-Hich fails to follow the precise instructions given to her by Arif the Wise Man, she gives birth to a half-boy, Neem. This story is about how Neem makes himself complete by an act of cleverness, negotiation and compromise. The story teaches children much more than the expected, usual lessons of bravery and perseverance, going further to introduce themes of flexibility, creativity and problem solving.
This tale is one of the many hundreds of Sufi developmental stories collected by Idries Shah from oral and written sources in Central Asia and the Middle East. For more than a thousand years this story has entertained young people and helped to foster in them the ability to examine their assumptions and to think for themselves.
This tale is one of the many hundreds of Sufi developmental stories collected by Idries Shah from oral and written sources in Central Asia and the Middle East. For more than a thousand years this story has entertained young people and helped to foster in them the ability to examine their assumptions and to think for themselves.
