The hero Sam waited a long time for a son. When he was finally born, the child was healthy and beautiful, but his hair was white like an old man’s. Sam was ashamed before the people and believed the child was the work of demons. He had the baby left at the foot of the Alborz mountains.
There the Simorgh found him, a huge, wise bird nesting on the summit. Instead of taking him as food for its young, the Simorgh took pity and raised him with its own chicks. The boy grew into a strong, clever young man. Caravans passing the mountain told stories about him.
Years later Sam saw in a dream a messenger reproaching him: how could he cast out his own child? Full of remorse he travelled to the Alborz and begged forgiveness. The Simorgh brought the boy down to him and, as a farewell gift, gave him some of its feathers: in times of need he should burn one, and the Simorgh would come at once. Sam named his son Zal, the white-haired one. The feathers later saved the family more than once, including Rostam, Zal’s son.