The Golden Mirror – A Turkish Fairy Tale of Truth and Justice

Short Description: A Turkish fairy tale about a young merchant who, with the help of a magical mirror, uncovered the truth and restored justice. The story teaches that honesty and conscience are more important than wealth and lies.

In a beautiful city lived an old merchant named Halil. He was known for his kind heart and honesty. Halil believed that wealth is not gold, but a pure conscience. Before his death, he called his son Aslan and said, "My son, I leave you not only the shop and the house but also this golden mirror. It is magical: it reflects not only faces but also the souls of people. Use it to help others and protect the truth."

After his father's death, Aslan carefully took care of the mirror. He kept it in his home and remembered his father's advice: to use it only in important matters. The young merchant lived honestly, continuing his father's business. His shop prospered because people trusted his words.

One day, a wealthy merchant named Mustafa came to the city. He was known for his greedy nature, but few knew that Mustafa often deceived people. He accused his workers of theft, demanded money for non-existent goods, and always got away unpunished.

One day, Mustafa stormed into Aslan's shop with a young man named Kamil, who was his servant. "This scoundrel stole a sack of gold from me!" Mustafa shouted. "I want justice! Let everyone know what kind of thief he is!"

Kamil, pale with fear, pleaded, "I didn't take the gold! I swear!" But no one wanted to believe him because Mustafa was rich and influential.

Aslan, knowing that the city valued justice, decided to use the mirror. He invited all the residents to the square and said, "Mustafa, you claim that Kamil stole your gold? Then let's look the truth in the face. This mirror will show who is guilty."

The residents gathered around. Mustafa confidently approached the mirror, but when he saw his reflection, he quickly stepped back. His face turned red, and his gaze became nervous. Then Kamil stepped forward. He looked into the mirror and said, "I didn't take the gold." His reflection remained clear, and his eyes were calm.

Aslan addressed the crowd: "Look at their faces. Who looks honest, and who looks frightened? The mirror does not lie. It sees the truth." Under the pressure of the people, Mustafa confessed that he had accused Kamil to hide his own mistakes. "I lost the gold myself, but I couldn't admit it. Forgive me!" he said.

The residents condemned Mustafa, and Kamil was exonerated. From then on, the mirror became a symbol of honesty and justice. Aslan continued to use it for good deeds but always reminded people: "The true mirror is inside you. It is your conscience."

Moral of the Story: The story teaches that truth and honesty always prevail. Even the greatest lie cannot withstand the power of justice.

Questions about the Story:

• Why did the father pass the mirror to Aslan?
• How did the mirror help to expose Mustafa?
• What does this fairy tale teach?