Rashid Saluja

Rashid Saluja (ラシッド・サルージャ, Rashiddo.Sarūja) was the 21st King of Balbadd. He died during the Fog Troupe's initial attack on Balbadd's palace.

Appearance
In his youth, Rashid was a tall, handsome man with "v"-shaped bangs and long blond hair. His eyes are pink. He wore the red and yellow robes of Balbadd royalty, and had draped around his neck various emerald-like jewels.

Though he didn't bear a striking resemblance to his son, Alibaba Saluja, Rashid did share Alibaba's horn-like ahoge, though it flattened as he grew older.

Personality
Rashid was a wise man, and very cunning as well. He single-handedly brought Balbadd to prosperity, and was beloved by his people. Leaders of other countries respected him as well, shown by how Barbarossa was willing to accept Sinbad's presence in Parthevia at Rashid's request.

Though he was originally very critical of Sinbad's idealistic thinking, he eventually warmed up when he realized just how far Sinbad would go to achieve his dream. He gave Sinbad 100 gold coins to kickstart his company, thus showing a kinder side to his personality. His guards also noted that he seemed happier after being with Sinbad, which he denied.

It seemed that his guards respected him greatly. Even though they were skeptical of him appearing by Ja'far's side in a scheme to free Sinbad from Madaura, they backed off, and didn't question his choice.

History
The King met Anise when she worked as a maid in the Balbadd Palace, where they became lovers. Presumably, Anise quit her job when she had Alibaba and worked as a harlot in the slums for the remainder of her life.

Rashid met Sinbad on Sinbad's first day in Reim. He offered to help him in starting his trading company, but only if he could gather 100 coins before Rashid's return to Reim. When Sinbad succeeded, he concurred, and taught him everything he knew about trading, thus becoming Sinbad's mentor and friend. After Sinbad experienced a battle where he hurt his country and its residents, he gave him a sword from the King's family as an encouragement to pull himself together when he lost his way.

Years later, after Anise had died, he went to the slums and told Alibaba that he was his father. Even though Alibaba was dubious about it, since his mother was a harlot, Rashid insisted, explaining who she was. He then took Alibaba to the palace. Some time later, he accompanied Alibaba to the practice lesson of the economy outside of class, where Alibaba first managed to be successful with trade negotiation alone. Using the profit he earned, Alibaba bought a knife, which would later become his first vessel. Rashid told Alibaba that his country is the trading centre and he should depend on himself to comprehend the secrets of trading. He left him with words to continue learning at this pace.

As Rashid became weaker and weaker with illness, he summoned Alibaba to his death bed and told him that he wanted him to become king. He died when Cassim and his men had invaded the palace.

Reim Empire Arc
Rashid is first shown as a shadowed figure hovering around Sinbad's booth. He notes that they are an interesting group, with a charismatic boy capable of attracting customers and an Imuchakk. However, he also observes that Sinbad is an amateur, and knows that he won't last long in Reim.

He meets Sinbad officially when Sinbad pays three copper coins for the apple Rashid was examining, though the merchant seems to think otherwise. To compensate, Rashid buys Sinbad dinner. As they eat, Rashid explains that he is "Harun", a merchant of Balbadd, and that he came to Reim to expand his trading knowledge. Though initially friendly, he quickly dissects Sinbad's situation, and tells Sinbad to consider this first trading experience a failure.

After this, he asks Sinbad how he received permission to trade with Imuchakk. Instead of giving Rashid a straight answer, Sinbad bargains, saying that he will tell him everything he knows, including information about Imuchakk, if Rashid becomes a "friend" and shares his knowledge and expertise with him. At first, Rashid seems dismissive, saying that Sinbad is but a child, but he agrees.

Upon learning that Sinbad is the legendary Dungeon Capturer from the stories, Rashid expresses his disbelief at the fact. It is only when Sinbad freezes Rashid's cup full of liquid that he believes him. They continue conversing about dungeons, at which point Rashid admits that that is the adventure he yearns for. He then asks Sinbad what he wants to do with the power he has in his hands. Sinbad tells him of his dream to build a country and become king, to which Rashid scoffs and says that the pressure of being king is something no ordinary man could withstand. It is then that Barkak comes in with a fellow guard and reveals that Rashid is the 21st king of Balbadd.

Rashid then proceeds to tell Sinbad that their conversation was intriguing, but his dream is still immature. He asks Sinbad to show him that he can earn the amount of money needed to establish and maintain a country. After this, he leaves for Remano, the capital of Reim, for diplomatic negotiations, leaving Sinbad to his own devices.

A few weeks later, Rashid returns to find Sinbad making a lot of profit by telling his stories on the street.

Balbadd Arc
Rashid's Rukh is brought back by Aladdin using Wisdom of Solomon. Together with Anise, he goes to see Alibaba. He then heads towards his older sons, Ahbmad and Sahbmad, where he wordlessly expresses his disappointment in how Balbadd was ruled. The two brothers fully understood their deceased father's dissatisfaction.

Sindria Arc
When Sinbad gives Alibaba a new sword for his Metal Vessel, he reveals that Alibaba's father had given him the sword and some advice about ruling a country, referencing how Rashid had once coached Sinbad.

Royal Swordplay

 * As a member of Balbadd's Royal Family, he must have known Royal Swordplay, since he gave Balbadd's Royal sword to Sinbad.

Merchant Skills

 * Rashid is shown to be a very cunning and wise merchant, able to point out all of Sinbad's mistakes when he mistakenly sold all of his merchandise to a Reim merchant on his first day in Reim. He also taught Sinbad the ways of trading, and encouraged Sinbad to think realistically on his way to becoming a king.

Alibaba Saluja
Alibaba is his third son and the one he wanted to be the next king. Though Alibaba speaks of Rashid in a very formal tone, going as far as to call him "the king" instead of "my father", it is clear that he respects his father very much, and regrets the events of his death. After appearing to Alibaba by Solomon's Wisdom, Rashid smiled at his son, giving Alibaba great relief upon seeing his parents happy together.

Anise
Anise was a maid that had worked in the palace until they met and she became his lover. Though Anise presumably quit soon after, becoming a harlot of the slums, Rashid told Alibaba that he really loved her.

Ahbmad Saluja
Ahbmad is his oldest son and the one who became King after he died. Rashid seemed to be exasperated by the prince/king's antics when he was young, shown by how he sighed when Sinbad pointed Ahbmad out to Rashid when the prince appeared before them. This exasperation gradually turned to crushing disappointment, and led Rashid to search for other options for the throne before his death.

Rashid appeared to him via Solomon's Wisdom, similarly to how he materialized before Alibaba. He exchanged a look with his two sons, and conveyed his disappointment to them.

Sahbmad Saluja
Sahbmad is his second son. Rashid seemed to be on similar terms with Sahbmad as he was with Ahbmad. Sahbmad was also reprimanded by Rashid when he appeared via Solomon's Wisdom.

Trivia

 * This character was first named on the anime site. His name did not appear in the manga until Night 203.
 * In the original,  there is a recurring character called Caliph Harun al-Rashid, who was a real person. He appeared in such stories as "The Tale of the Three Apples", and was briefly mentioned in "The Wily Dalilah and Her Daughter Zaynab".
 * Rashīd (رشيد) means Rightly Guided in Arabic.
 * Despite only one lover of his being known, in Night 203 Alibaba suggests that Rashid might have been quite a womaniser.
 * In the anime Adventure of Sinbad, he introduces himself as Harun to Sinbad.