Adapted by Bertie.
Read by Elizabeth.
Proofread by Jana Elizabeth.
Hello, this is Elizabeth, and I'm here with the final voyage of Sinbad the Sailor.
After my return from my sixth voyage, which brought me a fine profit, I returned to my old life of enjoyment and fun. I continued this way for some time until I began to long once again to sail the seas, visit foreign countries, make friends among like-minded merchants, and experience new things.
So having made up my mind, I packed up my merchandise and had it taken down to the port of Basrah. I found a company of merchants with a ship ready for sea. I set sail with them, made friends, and travelled in health and safety with a fair wind in our sails.
Eventually we came to a city called Madinat-al-Sin, where we did good business. After we sailed on from the city, a violent head wind blew up, and rain started to drench our ship and our goods. We covered everything with canvas and prayed to the Almighty Allah to save us from danger.
When the storm had passed, the captain climbed up to the top of the mast. He looked right and left and then began beating his own forehead with his fist.
We cried up to him: “Captain, what is the matter?”
And he replied saying:
“Say goodbye to one another and recite the prayer for those who are about to die! The wind has got the better of us and has driven us to the furthest corner of the world.”
Then he climbed down, opened his sea chest and took out a book which he read for a while with tears in his eyes. Eventually he said to us:
“This book describes exactly where we have come to. It is a place from which there is no escape and we shall surely die here!
It is called ‘The Sea of the King’, for here Solomon, Son of David (peace be on them both) is buried beneath the waves. Great sea serpents live here, so massive that they can eat a ship whole!”
On hearing the captain’s words we were filled with wonder and dread and began to commit our souls to Allah. Before long, we heard a terrible roar, like thunder, and we were struck with terror. A huge fish came up to us, as tall as a mountain and we became wild with fright and made ready for death.
Then a second later, another still more monstrous fish reared its head.
Neither serpent made a move to attack us, though we might have died of fright. Finally a third fish appeared out of the water and soon there were three fishes circling around our ship. We were stupefied and lost the power of reason. The third and biggest fish opened his mouth. We looked into its jaws that were wider than the gate of a city! We beseeched the Almighty for help, when suddenly a violent squall of wind hit the ship which rose up out of the water and landed on a reef. It broke into pieces and everyone and everything on board was plunged into the sea. I rode on a plank with my legs astride it like a horse. The winds and waters played sport with me, and threw me up and down.
Then I cried out to myself: “Oh Sinbad, Oh Seaman, you have not learned the lessons of your sufferings and hardships! You have not given up sea travel. You have sworn to give it up, but you lied, and now you deserve this suffering and you must endure it with patience! All this is decreed by Allah (whose name be exalted!), to turn me from my greed of gain.
This greed is the cause of all I suffer. There is no need for I have wealth galore."
I soon returned to my senses and said: "In truth, this time I most sincerely repent to the Most High of my lust for gain and venture; and never again shall I travel - not even in my thoughts and dreams."
I continued like this for two days, until at last I landed on an island where I ate fruit and drank fresh water. And it was here I said to myself:
“He who ties the knot of fate can untie it equally well.”
And so I walked about, until I found a great river of sweet water. As I had done once before, I tied together some logs of balsa wood and made myself a raft. For several days I lay on my boat, not eating or drinking, until I was as weak and giddy as a chicken. Eventually I passed through a valley, at the end of which I could hear the sound of water crashing down a great fall and I feared that I would be carried over its edge and smashed to pieces on the rapids.
I cried:
"There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"
I was in such despair that this was my end, that I did not notice a fisherman cast down his net. He caught me in it, and hauled me up onto the bank.
I found myself looking up at a crowd of people who had come down to the river from a great city. One of these, an elderly gentleman, richly dressed, helped me to my feet and led me to the city. He bought me a fine set of clothes and paid for me to visit the steam baths. Then he invited me to his house and set rich food before me. At the end of the evening, I retired to a set of rooms, and servants were told to bring me anything I wished for. I stayed in my rooms for three days, eating and drinking well, and restoring my health and mind.
On the fourth day, my host came to me and said: “Praise be to Allah for your safety. Will you come to the market with me and sell your goods and take their price?”
I was puzzled, and asked what these words meant, for I had lost all my goods in the shipwreck. He told me not to worry, and so we went together to the market. There I found his servants had brought my raft and put it up for sale. One man offered 100 silver pieces for it, and my host offered me 150. He pressed me to accept his offer, which I did, most gratefully, for it was not worth one silver piece in my mind.
When we returned home, he said to me: "I am a very old man and have no son, but I have a daughter who is young and ready to marry. The Most High has smiled on you by saving you seven times from the sea. In all my long life I have not heard of another man who has survived more than three shipwrecks. Would you do me the honour of taking her to be your wife?”
I was silent and made no answer, for his generosity was great. But he continued to press me and say that he wished for nothing greater than this, and so at last I accepted.
I was married to his daughter and her father arranged for a noble wedding feast. I found her perfect in beauty and character, and she was dressed in rich clothes, covered with precious ornaments and gems worth a mint of money. We lived happily together for some years until her father passed to another world… Peace be upon him.
After I became the head of the household, I began to know the other city folk more closely, and I discovered that they had a secret. Once a month their forms altered and they changed into birds. I asked a man who was a friend to me: “Next time this happens, carry me upon your back so that I too may know what it feels like to fly?”
“This cannot be,” he replied, but I did not cease to ask him until at last he agreed to do as I wished. I climbed on his back and he took me so high that I heard the angels glorifying God in the heavens. I was greatly thrilled and called out: “Praise be to Allah in his perfection!” No sooner as I said these words than a great fire came from heaven and the birds scattered this way and that. My carrier cursed my name and dropped me on top of a mountain. Here I met two young men carrying rods of gold. I saluted and salamed them and asked who they might be.
“We are the servants of Allah most High!” they replied. They gave me a rod of gold and walked by my side along a ridge on the edge of the mountain.
We heard the cries of a man:
“Save me, and Allah will save you from all your troubles!” he called out.
The next moment a great serpent came into a view. The monster had already half swallowed the man. His head and the top part of his body were still sticking out of his mouth and he was calling out to me. I rushed down and beat the serpent’s head with my golden rod until it released its victim and fled. We continued along our way together until at last we found a group of men-birds. One of these agreed to carry me back to the city.
My wife met me, rejoicing in my safety and told me to beware of flying with the bird-folk, for they were related to devils and did not know how to mention the name of Allah the Almighty, which was why the fire had come down against us.
I did not wish to remain any longer in this city, and so we sold all our property for a fine sum of money and boarded a ship back to Basrah from where we travelled safely to Baghdad. When my friends and family heard of my return, they welcomed me and marvelled with great joy for I had been away for an entire 27 years. Then I foreswore travel before Allah the most High and I will journey no more for this seventh and last voyage had shown me enough of Earth and the skies.
I thanked the Lord (may He be praised and glorified) for bringing me back to my family, friends and home country.
Sinbad the Sailor spoke to Sinbad the Porter and said: “So now you have heard what dangers and hardships I went through to become a man of wealth and leisure.”
“Allah bless you, my Lord,” replied the porter. “Pardon me for my words that wronged you.”
And the two Sinbads remained friends and enjoyed the delights of life until their last days on Earth.
And that was the story of the final voyage of Sinbad. You might be interested to know that there's an alternative version of this story in which Sinbad visits the place where elephants go to die.
Bertie says that we chose this version because we thought that flying up to heaven to hear the angels singing was a more spectacular climax to the series - but it was a difficult choice as both are great stories. If you've missed some of his earlier adventures, do remember that you can drop by at Storynory.com and find them under Fairytales, the 1001 nights.
But for now, from me Elizabeth, bye.
I like this story.
kevin — September 8, 2016
i loved it
savina — September 13, 2016
it was a great story indeed
dcari — September 14, 2016
so I like the story becase it is so cool
bobby — September 21, 2016
This book series is amazing
BoB — November 21, 2016
I liked it it seemed like a real true story so i liked it
EJ — September 14, 2016
We need more
Anonymous — September 15, 2016
was amazing
Daniel — October 1, 2016
this is pretty good
seth — September 22, 2016
this a good book
kemonte — September 27, 2016
Awsome
The real cinderella — November 21, 2016
I liked the story because it was a cool and interesting story. My favorite part about it was the serpents.
Louis — September 8, 2016
I like the part when the ship just pops out of the water.
Ava ;-; — September 14, 2016
i liked this story because is cool and exciting, the book was not just calm and it was not only danger. i will read this over and over again love this book.
brooke — September 8, 2016
your right
Dylan King — September 8, 2016
the book is awesome
Anonymous — September 27, 2016
good book
Anonymous — September 8, 2016
Good book vary good
Anonymous — September 27, 2016
cool book
uzziel — September 8, 2016
THE SHIP A BIG WAVE
JOSELINE — September 8, 2016
it is a good book
joel — September 8, 2016
I like it
Anonymous — September 8, 2016
Awsome I Love It
Tessa — September 9, 2016
Awesome???????
Aaron — September 9, 2016
Finally!
Helpful Henry — September 9, 2016
storynory is really a good place to improve english by reading and listening these fab stories…
thanks to the team..
Anonymous — September 9, 2016
Coll
Anonymous — September 9, 2016
Very good
Isaac — September 9, 2016
I liked this a story
Aisha — September 10, 2016
Good story
Please do more katie and wicked uncle
Fatima — September 10, 2016
long cool book
Tiara — September 11, 2016
Coooooooooooolllll bro
Anonymous — September 14, 2016
Awesome?????????
Sallahudin — September 11, 2016
The best???????????????????
Pratyush — September 11, 2016
YEAH IT’S THE BEST
John — September 19, 2016
I loved this story because it has great plot.
Gina — September 11, 2016
I like it???
Andrej — November 3, 2016
I loved the story! I am sad that it is over thought!
Also i wish that Elizabeth would read more stories!
Anonymous — September 11, 2016
I LOVE IT
I LOVE IT — September 11, 2016
Why don’t you tell the story of simbad and the island of elephants anyway. I think it is a good story?
superhamster — September 11, 2016
Sorry its just not my type
but I think its great storey I really want to
download it.
This storey has great description and a good storey line.
I watched until the end because I really like it
I even listened to it again.
Thanks for all the good storeys please continue making storeys I like them all
Jack — September 11, 2016
this is so long
ethan — September 12, 2016
it is so good i love it you need to read it have a great time reading it
Swaeyy — September 12, 2016
the best story
Anonymous — September 20, 2016
i love this book
l drago — September 12, 2016
I think it was a great book
Rebecca — September 12, 2016
Amazing book, so inspiring.
wixgirl_aida12 — September 13, 2016
Wow! Very nice story!
Please make more Katie stories…..
Please reply,
Vallaree
Vallaree — September 13, 2016
I loved the story and I want to read anther story like this I likae it so mush
shaniya — September 13, 2016
I LIKE THIS BOOK
IS SO GOOD
Anonymous — September 13, 2016
nice story [email protected]!
fl234 — September 13, 2016
This is a great story
Elyssa — September 13, 2016
Love the book
Christian — September 13, 2016
this was a very good story
brariah — September 13, 2016
Dear story nory
Hey it’s me it has been a while I haven’t listened to this story and I won’t I’m sorry to say I’m leaving I may pop back again another time for an idea do Sherlock Holmes a study in scarlet (I have listened to them all) goodbye storynory I will miss you tell Bertie I read his book it’s good and I like
Goodbye
~Oliver Ingram
Oli — September 13, 2016
I lovvvvvvve this boooooook
Anonymous — September 13, 2016
Nice story
meme — September 14, 2016
Good story
Anonymous — September 14, 2016
It was the best story I’ve heard
Kayden — September 14, 2016
loved it
chilly whilly — September 14, 2016
good story
Anonymous — September 14, 2016
coooooooooooooooooooooool book
Anonymous — September 14, 2016
I love this story it’s so good and I like how I can relate to it
Jacquelyn — October 31, 2016
wow love it read them all
demarcus — September 14, 2016
Love’it…….
reggie — September 14, 2016
This is a good story you should read it
FUN GIRL — September 15, 2016
I’m a You tuber but I use this is a super website, Thank!
Cobble=lyfe
Ssundee — September 15, 2016
I love this movie
asha — September 16, 2016
It’s……not……….a…….movie…………its………..a……….story…………
Anonymous — September 18, 2016
I love it
The best thing ever — September 16, 2016
It is gooooood
AH — September 17, 2016
I……….guesse…………I……….like………..it……………..-maybe……..I………..think…………?
………………………..
Anonymous — September 18, 2016
It’s a relly good story
Ismail — September 19, 2016
Story norm is a really good place to be
Ismail — September 19, 2016
I thought the story was really good and awesome
Ava p — September 19, 2016
Awesome
Evan — September 20, 2016
I don’t like it…
Bradley — September 20, 2016
the best story
jo — September 21, 2016
what an amazing book
Julian — September 21, 2016
# itssssssssssssss is aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasome
jacob — September 21, 2016
i love this book
isaih — September 21, 2016
It was quite interesting.
Rhiannon — September 21, 2016
This book was great I loved how the impression looked like.
Lol — September 22, 2016
It’s so coooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool
Lol — September 22, 2016
it is not good that much good miy
cayden — September 22, 2016
it was a good book
gavin — September 22, 2016
it was ok
Anonymous — September 22, 2016
it is so good
guru — September 22, 2016
my favrat in yers it werf 1,000$$$ dolers have a graet day
grayson — September 23, 2016
I loved it it was the best you have to read this:) 🙂
Kyra — September 23, 2016
I loved this story I’m 10 years old from Vietnam,and trying to learn English better,thank you
Anh — September 27, 2016
it is so good story i loved this it’s very beautiful
rachid — September 27, 2016
cooooooooooooooooooooooooollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Anonymous — September 28, 2016
awesome book i will read it again and again it is awesome
Thomas — September 28, 2016
awesome book
-Thomas — September 28, 2016
awesome amazing its wicked good
- jared — September 28, 2016
wicked good aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasdssssssssssssssssssssssssssssoooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
- jared — September 28, 2016
wow love story reading for second time
demarcus — September 28, 2016
So I love this story indeed
Nevyns — September 29, 2016
It was a great story so far. Sinbad series is a great story to read AND A HUMBLE THANKS TO ELIZABETH AND TEAM.
TOM — October 4, 2016
Thanks Tom, we are glad you’ve enjoyed the series!
Jana Elizabeth — October 4, 2016
i love this book
bloodybul3t5 — October 4, 2016
i like no i loveit so much
kimberly — October 4, 2016
This is the best story ever.
I really enjoyed the story.
The women is so humbled. She is so creative and I sincerely thank her for her greatness.
She inspires me to write my own book.
Sincerely,
Jasmin
Jasmin — October 4, 2016
This is a good story
Natalie — October 5, 2016
i liked the story
nory — October 6, 2016
i was interesting when i read this story , thanks 🙂
shahd — October 9, 2016
Seriously the story is borry
Izzy? — October 11, 2016
It is a mazing and an interesting story.
Mohammad — October 10, 2016
amazing
icecream — October 11, 2016
This story is great but long,make more stories just like this but add more pictures
Cookie Dough — October 11, 2016
I love it
Anonymous — October 14, 2016
It was awesome??
Anonymous — October 19, 2016
It is too long
Riley — October 20, 2016
This book very good, prety and amazing. I like it.
dima — October 23, 2016
I like the movie it is good and the book ?????? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$##### #$$$$
C9ool — October 25, 2016
To short only lasted a few seconds
Bob — October 30, 2016
Nice
Cool — October 25, 2016
so good I cannot say enthing to good
sebastian — October 27, 2016
Bored ?
Tessa — October 30, 2016
i love this story
nelson — November 1, 2016
great mate awsome
sab — November 2, 2016
ola great very gooooooooooooooooooooooood man ilove it
Anonymous — November 2, 2016
I love ❤️ it
Leah — November 21, 2016
I love this story and series as a whole
Andrew — November 21, 2016
happy i like itb very good
ddd — November 22, 2016
This is good
Joyay — November 29, 2016
ok
Brandin — December 1, 2016
awnsome
zehra — December 12, 2016
Please make more Sinbad adventures. Thay are so exciting. During my little brother’s naps I like to listen to storynory.com. Elizabeth does a good job reading.
Arden — December 30, 2016
nice story
ronny — January 5, 2017
i liked the story
dustin — January 5, 2017
Can you do more Arabian nights please, and also have you got a story is about how enemies become friends? ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Jess — January 7, 2017
the story is had a very awesome plot and settings
Sarah — January 13, 2017
A pretty long but good book
Polly and the pirates — January 13, 2017
I like a story because it but for now from me Elizabeth bye
Sukh,mit — January 20, 2017
its too fresh and better for us
mukesh — February 7, 2017
I like this story.
Ludmila 08.02.2017 — February 8, 2017
It’s long story but it ‘s great thanks 😊
Ossama — February 9, 2017
i love this story
nate — February 10, 2017
aye this story was not the best story but it was okay
todd — February 13, 2017
I hate this story
jayquan — February 16, 2017
i love the series
frank — February 23, 2017
Omg
Why did it has 2 end? It such a good story!
Rowan — March 8, 2017
I like ittttttttttttttttttt this story
Grace — March 28, 2017
I LOVE all the books =}
colin — April 21, 2017
Very happy and magical 💍
Joseph — April 30, 2017
Luv dis story
Nathan — May 9, 2017
Coollllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PROGAMER-707 — May 9, 2017
Sinbad stories are all very interesting, I read all of them!
Eric — May 12, 2017
Hmm.nice story
Noor — June 10, 2017
good story
akas pinAkas — July 8, 2017
The story was ok but the only thing I have to say is that story was just wondering.
Thanks so very very much for the story.
Raven — August 17, 2017
this a lovely story
badr — August 24, 2017
Good
Guy — September 22, 2017
I can not understand without picture(please add)
Andrew — November 17, 2017
Can you tell more stories of the 1001 nights
Hi — December 21, 2017
I wish the Sinbad series was still available on the podcast. My nephew’s kids loved these stories and I must admit, I did as well.
Rebecca — January 20, 2018
very nice story
allen — January 24, 2018
heyyyy this was a good story. Im doing this for my ELA project
Sophiazzzz — February 5, 2018
heyyyyy I am doing this for my Ela class
LCAT — February 5, 2018
GOOD STORY😘👍I love it.😍
Isis — February 24, 2018
yas
nona — March 6, 2018
So cool I love it
Lloid — April 18, 2018
Nice
Shawn — April 24, 2018
It so intresting
timilehin — May 24, 2018
I LIKE THIS VERSION, CREATIVE.
Sarabjeet — May 25, 2018
Fantastic story A1
Garv — May 30, 2018
it was interesting
bob — June 4, 2018
it was good ,not
somebody random — June 4, 2018
Sorry but it is just not my style. I like elephants!!!
Anonymous — June 26, 2018
Lovely to read a “teaching story” with adventure and delightful reflection. Love Sinbad and his openess with us about his outer and inner journeys.
Anonymous — July 2, 2018
I love it 😍
Sultan — October 1, 2018
amazing elizibeth
maya — October 18, 2018
amazing story right
maya — October 18, 2018
it was ok
maya — October 18, 2018
it was interesting
maryam — October 19, 2018
I love it poooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooop still like it but it is
Anonymous — November 18, 2018
more 1001 nights
Anonymous — March 10, 2019
more 1001 nights
joseph — March 10, 2019
I hope they make an 8th sinbad book soon because I love the rest please make another😢😢👍
😃your books are incredible — April 11, 2019
tell me when your going to make another
😃your books are incredible — April 11, 2019
FUTSUITER READER SAYS: I LOVE THE STORY!! IT VERY INTERESTING.
Skylar — October 7, 2019
it was ight
Joe Mama — October 9, 2019
great job i think you are good at stories but you are dumb to do something like this.
Ali baba — December 30, 2019
I was better then that!
Sinbad the sailor — January 5, 2020
It was a great story.
Justin — February 6, 2020
VERY GOOD GOOD
HASAN — March 16, 2020
This helped with my homework thanks 🙂
aine — April 20, 2020
i really enjoyed this
bsbdajsdbsd — May 7, 2020
i hate it
evan — May 12, 2020
it was quite nice and i am a bit happy it is finishing
marya — May 12, 2020
The stories were interesting and very similar to other myths in other mythologies; especially Ancient Greek mythology
Rackela — May 12, 2020
😂
I really enjoyed these stories. They are quite similar to other mythologies; especially Ancient Greek Mythology.
Rackela — May 12, 2020
Yeah, because it wasn’t cliche like all the other Sinbad stories.
Human — May 12, 2020
iiiiii adore it
camila — May 13, 2020
I LIKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!THANKS FOR THE STORIES ELIZABETH
CAN YOU READ MORE STORIES ELIZABETH CAN YOU I BEG YOU
Audrey Thong — June 19, 2020
i love this story
alakananda — October 16, 2020