"The hero, usually called Malik Mohammad, is the youngest of three brothers whose father, an aging king, has a wondrous, life-giving tree of golden apples in his garden. Night after night, a monstrous demon enters the garden and seals the fruit. The two older brothers fail to ward off the predator, but the youngest keeps watch and succeeds in cutting off the monster's arm. The next day, the brothers track the monster to a well, following a trail of blood. Again, on the youngest is brave enough to descend into the well, which, like hell itself, is filled with burning vapours. Once in the well, he successivly attacks and slays three dragons, each of which lives with a captive maiden in its won underground room, house, or castle. He frees the maidens and the elder brothers pull them up to safety, but when the youngest brothers starts climbing the rope, they cut it and he is plunged into the abyss. He lands on the back of one of two rams which are fighting in the pit and is thrown even deeper into that dark world."

"An episode follows in which the hero finds his way to a city which has been laid waste by a dragon which has cut off the water supply by damming the stream. In order to get water, each year the citizens sacrifice a maiden to the dragon; while he is devouring her, they are able to set the waters free. The hero slays the dragon and releases the waters. He is finally brought home to the world of light and to his father's kingdom by the mythical King of the Birds, Simorq. Once there, he punishes his two brothers and marries the most beautiful of the three maidens."