The phrase ‘Open Sesame’ is perhaps the first thing that comes to our mind when we think of Ali Baba. Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves is one of the best stories from The Thousand and One Nights. Ali Baba, the hero of the story is a poor woodcutter who one day, secretly watches 40 thieves who were hiding their booty in a cave. The door to the cave can be opened only by the verbal command, ‘Open, Sesame!’
After the thieves leave, Ali Baba uses this magic phrase, takes the riches from the cave, and lives a prosperous life. The thieves eventually suspect Ali Baba, and they hide themselves in large oil jars. These oil jars are stored overnight in Ali Baba’s courtyard.
When Morgiana, Ali Baba’s slave goes to extract oil from one of the jars, she hears a robber’s whisper. Realizing that the robbers hiding in the jar were waiting to kill her master, she pours hot oil into each jar, thus killing the robbers. Morgiana later saves Ali Baba’s life a second time. Ali Baba in gratitude, frees her. She marries Ali Baba’s son, and the entire family lives happily.
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