Long ago, in a Somali village, there lived a fox named Deya Ali. She was known for her cunning, always looking for ways to trick others and get what she wanted. One day, as she wandered near the village, she noticed a crowd of people weeping. Curiosity sparkled in her eyes, and she approached them.
“What has happened?” she asked.
“A man is very ill,” they replied. “He is about to die. That is why we are crying.”
Deya Ali nodded thoughtfully. “I will try to cure him. Will you follow my advice?” she asked.
“Of course,” the people said, desperate for a solution.
Deya Ali’s eyes gleamed. “Bring all your camels and cattle,” she said. “Cut the meat and bring it into a room. No one else should enter. Only the patient and I will be inside. I know I can cure him.”
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The villagers did as she asked. They placed vast amounts of meat inside the room and waited outside, anxious and hopeful. But the moment the door closed, the patient died. Deya Ali was not deterred; she was clever and knew how to manipulate the villagers’ trust.
When the people outside asked about the man, she said, “Oh, he is getting better. Bring more meat. More! More!”
Obediently, they brought more and more meat. Meanwhile, the fox used a clever trick to maintain the illusion of life. She captured a swarm of flies in a large jar and kept it covered through the night. Early the next morning, she opened the jar. The flies buzzed and flew around, making noise.
“What is happening?” the villagers whispered.
“He is trying to pray at the mosque,” Deya Ali explained smoothly. “See, he is strong enough to lift himself and call for prayers.”
The villagers believed her, amazed at the supposed recovery. Each day, Deya Ali repeated her trick with the flies. With every passing moment, she feasted on the meat that had been brought in to feed the ill man. At last, when all the meat was gone, she covered the lifeless body with a cloth. “He is asleep,” she said. “Do not disturb him yet. He will wake up and feel better. Goodbye.”
Without another word, she vanished into the forest, leaving the villagers in shock. Later, when they uncovered the man, they discovered the truth: he had died, and the fox had deceived them completely.
Furious, the villagers mounted horses and pursued Deya Ali. They caught her and tied her firmly to a tree, planning to punish her for the trickery. “We will boil some water and put her in it,” they said. “This is how we will end her deceit.”
As they left to fetch a large pot, a hyena appeared nearby. “Fox, what has happened to you?” asked the hyena.
“Oh, my uncle invited me,” Deya Ali explained quickly. “He said he would bring me a lot of meat to eat. But he wants to make sure I do not escape. So he tied me to this tree.”
The hyena’s eyes gleamed with opportunity. “Can we trade places?” he asked. “I want to enjoy the meat.”
Deya Ali thought for a moment, then agreed. “If you want the meat, untie me, and I will tie you instead.”
The hyena eagerly agreed, and soon he was bound to the tree. Deya Ali hid nearby, barely containing her laughter. When the villagers returned with the boiling water, the hyena was certain he was about to feast. But the moment the men arrived, they did not look at Deya Ali hiding in the bushes. They poured the boiling water over the hyena.
“Oh fox! Help me!” the hyena cried in pain.
Deya Ali only called out, “Sway like a camel, and maybe you will be better.” But it was too late. The hyena had learned the hard way that greed and gullibility can lead to misfortune.
With her cleverness, Deya Ali escaped again, but her story became a lesson told across villages. People warned children and neighbors alike: beware of the cheating fox, and never let greed or deception lead you into danger.
The story of Deya Ali reminds everyone that cunning may bring short-term gains, but those who are careless, greedy, or too trusting may suffer. It also shows that cleverness requires wisdom and that taking advantage of others can lead to serious consequences.
Moral Lesson
Deya Ali, the Cheating Fox, teaches that deceit and greed may give temporary rewards, but dishonesty and trickery bring dangers in the long run. One should be clever, but always with fairness and care, for those who cheat others may themselves be caught or harmed. Trust and wisdom are far more valuable than easy gains.
Knowledge Check
Who was Deya Ali?
Deya Ali was a clever and cheating fox known for tricking people in Somali folklore.How did Deya Ali trick the villagers with the dead man?
She used flies in a jar to create the illusion that the man was alive and praying, while secretly eating all the meat.What happened when the villagers tried to punish Deya Ali?
She cleverly swapped places with a hyena, escaping while the hyena received the punishment.What lesson does Deya Ali’s story teach about greed?
Greed can make people careless and vulnerable, and trickery often backfires.Why did the villagers initially trust Deya Ali?
They believed she could cure the sick man because she appeared confident and clever.What is the main moral of the story?
Deception and greed bring danger, while wisdom, caution, and fairness lead to safety and long-term success.
Cultural Origin: Somalia (Eastern African Folktale)
