'Ala al-Din is a street urchin in China.
In a large and rich kingdom of China, there lived a poor tailor named Mustafa. His son, 'Ala al-Din, would spend the whole day playing with street children. When he was old enough to learn a trade, his father took him into his shop and began to show him how to use a needle, but neither sweet talk nor punishment was able to curb 'Ala al-Din's flightiness. Grieved at being unable to inspire responsibility in his son, Mustafa fell ill and died. 'Ala al-Din's mother closed the shop and tried to support herself and her son by spinning cotton. 'Ala al-Din continued his delinquent way of life until he was fifteen years old.

A magician from Africa seeks out 'Ala al-Din.
One day, as 'Ala al-Din was playing with a group of children, an African magician stopped him and asked, "Son, was not your father called Mustafa the tailor?" 'Ala al-Din confirmed this and informed the magician that Mustafa had died. The magician embraced 'Ala al-Din and cried out, "I am your long-lost uncle, and your father was my good brother."

The magician brings gifts to 'Ala al-Din and his mother, and takes the boy on a long walk, until they arrive at a mysterious cave.
Later, the magician arrived with gifts and food, explaining to 'Ala al-Din's mother, "Forty years ago, I left this country. After I travelled the most beautiful cities, I went to Africa where I have since lived." Then he asked 'Ala al-Din, "What do you do? Do you have a profession?"
'Ala al-Din's mother lamented, "His father did all he could to teach him his trade, but failed. I despair of his amounting to anything."
The magician replied, "If you wish, I will establish a shop for you and set you up to live honourably."
Two days later, the magician led 'Ala al-Din through one of the gates of the city, across the open country, to a place between two mountains, and said, "Under this stone there is hidden treasure that will make you richer than the greatest king. Lift the stone up. At the bottom of these steps, you will find three large halls with vessels full of gold and silver. At the end of the third hall, there is a garden planted with fine trees loaded with fruits. Across the garden, you will find a lighted lamp. Bring the lamp to me. You may gather as many fruits of the garden as you please." The magician drew a ring off his finger and put it on one of 'Ala al-Din's, telling him that it would serve as protection. 'Ala al-Din then went down into the cave in search of the lamp. The cave was full of wonders, but 'Ala al-Din was particularly drawn to the shiny fruits hanging off the trees.

Ala al-Din retrieves the lamp, picks some jeweled fruit, and is abandoned by the magician.
After retrieving the lamp, he stopped in the garden and took several fruits of each colour and kind. Back to the mouth of the cave, the magician was waiting for him impatiently, and insisted that 'Ala al-Din hand him the lamp before coming out of the cave. 'Ala al-Din refused. The magician flew into a terrible rage, and cast a spell to cover the opening of the cave.

Buried for three days in the cave, 'Ala al-Din is saved by the Jinn of the Ring.
'Ala al-Din, buried alive, was certain he would die there alone. On the third day of his entrapment, throwing himself on the mercy of Allah, he inadvertently rubbed the ring that the magician had placed on his finger. A jinn, a demon of enormous size and dreadful look, rose before him and asked, "What do you wish?" 'Ala al-Din asked to be set free and immediately the earth opened.

'Ala al-Din returns home to his mother, who accidentally summons the Jinn of the Lamp.
After recovering from this ordeal, 'Ala al-Din showed the lamp and the fruits to his mother, and said, "I will sell the lamp, and buy us food." His mother had begun to rub the lamp clean when a hideous demon of gigantic size appeared and asked her with a thundering voice, "What do you wish?"
'Ala al-Din took the lamp and replied, "Bring me something to eat," and the jinn immediately brought 12 covered silver plates full of excellent food.


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