kaana as-sindibaadu taajiran yuḥibbu as-safara fii al-baḥriSindbad was a merchant who loved travelling at sea.
rakiba safiinatan maʿa tujjaarin aakhariinaHe boarded a ship with other merchants.
baʿda ayyaamin waṣaluu ilaa jaziiratin jamiilatin fanazaluu ilayhaaAfter some days they reached a beautiful island and went ashore.
ashʿaluu naaran liyaṭbukhuu aṭ-ṭaʿaamaThey lit a fire to cook some food.
faj’atan taḥarrakati al-jaziiratu waahtazzatSuddenly the island moved and shook!
ṣaaḥa al-qubṭaanu irjiʿuu ilaa as-safiinati haadhihi laysat jaziiratan innahaa ḥuutun ḍakhmunThe captain shouted, "Go back to the ship! This is not an island, it is a huge whale!"
rakaḍa al-jamiiʿu ilaa as-safiinati ammaa as-sindibaadu fasaqaṭa fii al-maa’iEveryone ran to the ship, but Sindbad fell into the water.
taʿallaqa biqiṭʿati khashabin wasabaḥa yawman kaamilanHe held on to a piece of wood and swam for a whole day.
waṣala ilaa shaaṭi’in fanajaaHe reached a shore and was saved.
baʿda sanawaatin ʿaada ilaa baghdaada waḥakaa li’aṣdiqaa’ihi maa ḥadathaYears later he returned to Baghdad and told his friends what had happened.