Chapter 11, The City of Many-Columned Iram and Abdullah Son of Abi Kalibah Summary

A man named Abdullah bin Abi Kalibah goes out to find his lost she-camel in the desert of Al-Yaman when he comes upon a magnificent abandoned city decorated like paradise with pearls and precious gems. He gathers up as much of the treasure as he can carry and reports news of the city to Caliph Mu'awiyah. Seeing proof of the gems, the Caliph asks his lieutenant about it and he reports that it is the City of Many-columned Iram built by the mighty King Shaddad who ruled over three hundred sixty kings. It took three hundred years to build and when King Shaddad left his palace to occupy the glorious city, Allah struck him dead as a warning against pride. Shaddad's...