=Thal´aba ebn Hateb=, a poor man, who came to Mahomet, requesting him to beg God to bestow on him wealth, and promising to employ it in works of godliness. The “prophet” made the petition, and Thalaba rapidly grew rich. One day Mahomet sent to the rich man for alms, but Thalaba told the messengers their demand savored more of tribute than of charity, and refused to give anything; but afterwards repenting, he took to the “prophet” a good round sum. Mahomet now refused to accept it, and, throwing dust on the ungrateful churl, exclaimed, “Thus shall thy wealth be scattered!” and the man became poor again as fast as he had grown rich.--_Al Korân_, ix. (Sale’s notes). =Thal´aba, the Destroyer=--that is, the destroyer of the evil spirits of Dom-Daniel. He was the only surviving child of Hodei´rah (3 _syl._), and his wife, Zeinab (2 _syl._); their other eight children had been cut off by the Dom-Danielists, because it had been decreed by fate that “one of the race would be their destruction.” When a mere stripling, Thalăba was left motherless and fatherless (bk. i.); he then found a home in the tent of a Bedouin named Mo´ath, who had a daughter, Onei´za (3 _syl._). Here he was found by Abdaldar, an evil spirit, sent from Dom-Daniel to kill him; but the spirit was killed by a simoom, just as he was about to stab the boy, and Thalaba was saved (bk. ii.). He now drew from the finger of Abdaldar, the magic ring, which gave him power over all spirits; and, thus armed, he set out to avenge the death of his father (bk. iii.). On his way to Babylon he was encountered by a merchant, who was in reality the sorcerer, Loba´ba, in disguise. This sorcerer led Thalaba astray into the wilderness, and then raised up a whirlwind to destroy him; but the whirlwind was the death of Lobaba himself, and again Thalaba escaped (bk. iv.). He reached Babylon at length, and met there Mohāreb, another evil spirit, disguised as a warrior, who conducted him to the “mouth of hell.” Thalaba detected the villainy, and hurled the false one into the abyss (bk. v.). The young “Destroyer” was next conveyed to “the paradise of pleasure,” but he resisted every temptation, and took to flight just in time to save Oneiza, who had been brought there by violence (bk. vi.). He then killed Aloa´din, the presiding spirit of the garden, with a club, was made vizier, and married Oneiza, but she died on the bridal night (bk. vii.). Distracted at this calamity, he wandered towards Kâf, and entered the house of an old woman, who was spinning thread. Thalaba expressed surprise at its extreme fineness, but Maimu´na (the old woman) told him, fine as it was, he could not break it. Thalaba felt incredulous, and wound it round his wrists, when, lo! he became utterly powerless; and Maimuna, calling up her sister, Khwala, conveyed him helpless to the island of Moha´reb (bk. viii.). Here he remained for a time, and was at length liberated by Maimuna, who repented of her sins, and turned to Allah (bk. ix.).