Hatim walked in wilderness for days, until he reached Mountain Kaf; crossing it, he came to a great expanse of desert. There was nothing but sand wherever he saw. He walked and walked until he got tired. Hatim looked for some place to rest. At a distance he saw some foliage. He walked near it and saw a fountain of pure water. Thanking God for this provision, he bent down to drink water. There, in the middle of the fountain, sat a giant serpent. He uncoiled himself, shocking Hatim, who backed away. The serpent then said to Hatim, “Do not be scared of me; the water is all yours to drink; come and have your fill. I will move away.” Hatim drank the cool water and then the serpent guided him towards a shady garden, where he could rest for the day. The serpent disappeared as quickly as he had appeared, leaving Hatim alone!
The Serpent in the Fountain
