Zal, the son of the great Iranian hero Sam, was born different from other children. His hair was completely white, which troubled his father. Sam, fearing that this unusual appearance was a bad omen, made the difficult decision to abandon his newborn son in the mountains. There, the majestic and mythical bird Simurgh found the infant and, with motherly affection, raised Zal as her own.Years passed, and Sam, filled with regret, sought out his son. He eventually found Zal, who had grown into a strong, wise young man under the care of the mighty Simurgh. Sam, overjoyed, welcomed Zal back into the human world, where he quickly became known for his bravery and noble heart.As a young man, Zal traveled to the city of Kabul, a land of lush valleys and towering mountains. In Kabul’s palace lived Rudabeh, the daughter of King Mehrab. She was not only extraordinarily beautiful but also known for her intelligence. Her eyes, dark as the night sky, held the mystery of a thousand stars. From the moment Zal saw her, he was struck with love, and so was Rudabeh. It was as if their hearts spoke a language that words could not express.Rudabeh, too, longed to meet Zal again.Each night, she gazed out from her palace, looking toward the mountains, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man who had captured her heart. One moonlit night, she gathered her maidens and devised a plan to meet Zal in secret.That night, as the full moon bathed the city in silver light, Zal stood outside the walls of Rudabeh’s palace. When their eyes met again, time seemed to stand still. With a warm smile, Rudabeh let down her long, dark hair from her window and said, “O noble warrior, if your heart is truly drawn to me, then climb up and meet me.”Zal, astonished by her beauty and courage, looked at her hair and thought, “How could I tread upon such a precious gift?” He refused to climb her hair and instead used a rope he had brought to scale the palace wall, out of respect for Rudabeh.
Once together, they spoke of their lives, their dreams, and the love that had sparked between them so quickly. Zal shared the story of his upbringing by Simurgh, the years spent alone in the mountains, and his return to the world of men. Rudabeh revealed her own struggles—being a princess tied to her family’s legacy, yet yearning for a love that went beyond politics and power.They vowed to be together no matter the cost. But their love faced a great challenge. Rudabeh’s father, Mehrab, was a descendant of the infamous Zahhak, a tyrant who had once terrorized Iran. This connection threatened to cause political unrest, and the possibility of their union seemed doomed.When Sam and the Persian king, Manuchehr, heard of their love, they were shocked and initially opposed the idea of the two being together. But the wise Simurgh appeared to Zal in a dream and assured him, “Your love is stronger than any obstacle. Move forward with courage, and I will be with you.”With the intervention of elders and through the sheer power of Zal and Rudabeh’s pure love, King Manuchehr relented. He saw that their union would not bring doom, but rather hope. A grand wedding was held, and the entire kingdom celebrated their love. The mountains and valleys of Kabul rejoiced with the music of the wind, carrying songs of joy across the land.Years later, from this legendary love, a child was born—Rostam, the greatest hero Iran would ever know. And so, the story of Zal and Rudabeh remained a tale of love, loyalty, and destiny, inspiring generations to come.
