10. The Bridge of Dalale Narrated

A builder called Toma was commissioned to construct a bridge in Samana. After he had completed it successfully, the local ruler cut off his right hand, so that the builder could not repeat such a project for another city. The builder took revenge by causing it to collapse. Toma fled the city and arrived in Zakho, where he was commissioned again to build a bridge. He could not, however, prevent the bridge from collapsing. In a night vision, he was told by an angel that he must put a ‘living soul’ into the bridge. In the morning, Toma’s daughter-in-law, Dalale, reached the bridge first, so she was the one to be sacrificed. Dalale agreed to be put in the bridge to save Toma and his family. After this, the bridge was completed successfully. Dalale was put in the bridge alive, but died there after some days.