Characters of Arab Heritage
Many cultures have crafted amusing and imaginative characters that reflect the prevailing economic and social conditions within their societies. Through these characters, humorous stories have emerged, characterized by wit and cleverness at times, and by simplicity on other occasions, captivating and entertaining audiences. Among the Arab world, notable figures include Juha, Ash’ab, and Abu Qasim al-Tanbouri. This article intends to provide a brief overview of the character Abu Qasim al-Tanbouri and one of the most famous stories associated with him.
Abu Qasim al-Tanbouri
Abu Qasim al-Tanbouri was a merchant based in Baghdad, known for his stinginess despite being relatively wealthy. Numerous anecdotes and tales about him have been passed down through various books featuring witty literature. One of the most well-known stories regarding Abu Qasim al-Tanbouri is that of his old shoe, which has been highlighted in multiple television series.
The Story of Abu Qasim al-Tanbouri’s Shoe
It is said that Abu Qasim al-Tanbouri owned an old shoe that he constantly patched with fabric or leather whenever it wore out. Eventually, his shoe became so mended that it was widely recognized among the people, giving rise to the saying, “Heavier than the shoe of Abu Qasim al-Tanbouri.” Frustrated with its condition, al-Tanbouri sought to dispose of it, but each attempt led to unforeseen complications. In his first effort, he threw the shoe into the garbage, only to later buy a bottle of perfume from the market and place it on a shelf in his home. Meanwhile, a passerby, spotting al-Tanbouri’s discarded shoe, mistakenly assumed it belonged to a troublesome child. He retrieved the shoe and tossed it through a window of al-Tanbouri’s house, where it struck the perfume bottle and shattered it upon impact. Upon witnessing this, al-Tanbouri took the shoe again and tossed it into the river. However, a fisherman found it and returned it to him. He then placed the shoe on his rooftop to dry. A cat, mistaking it for a piece of meat, grabbed the shoe with its mouth. Al-Tanbouri, noticing this, scolded the cat, which fled with the shoe, eventually causing it to fall on a pregnant woman, leading to her miscarriage. This prompted her husband to confront al-Tanbouri, who was compelled to pay compensation for the unborn child and was punished for disturbing his neighbors, while the shoe was returned to him.
Determined to rid himself of the shoe, al-Tanbouri hurled it into a sewage channel. Two days later, the blocked channel overflowed, disturbing the residents. Workers were sent to clear the obstruction and discovered that al-Tanbouri’s old shoe was the culprit. For this misdeed, he was sentenced to imprisonment and received corporal punishment, only to later be returned his shoe. He then resolved to dig a hole at night to bury the shoe. However, his neighbors, suspecting him of trying to commit theft, reported him to the authorities, resulting in another arrest and the return of the shoe to him.
In another attempt to rid himself of the nuisance, al-Tanbouri visited a public bath, determined to leave his shoe there. Coincidentally, the prince was also present, and someone stole the prince’s shoe. To identify the thief, they decided to find the owner of the last remaining shoe, believing that person was the culprit. That shoe turned out to be al-Tanbouri’s. He was then accused of theft and saw no option but to bury the shoe in the desert outside Baghdad. However, while digging, guards apprehended him, suspecting him of being involved in a murder that had occurred at the site. He faced significant challenges proving his innocence but eventually managed to convince the judge, who released him with a reprimand about troubling the guards over such a trivial matter as a shoe. Following this ordeal, al-Tanbouri requested the judge to issue a document exonerating him from any association with the shoe due to the troubles it had caused him. As a result, the phrase “like the shoe of al-Tanbouri” became a common saying, symbolizing something ominous and difficult to discard.