The Sagacity of Bohlool
Bohlool Instructs a Friend
It is said that a person brought a beautiful donkey for the commander of Kufa. The courtiers praised the donkey. Among those present, someone jokingly said, “I am ready to teach that donkey how to read.”
Hearing this, the commander said, “You who are saying this right now should fulfill it. When you have taught it how to read, I will give you a heavy reward, and if you can’t fulfill this, I will give the order to have you killed.”
The man regretted his joke. Helplessly, he asked for some time. The commander gave him ten days.
The man took the donkey home. He was very perturbed and worried. He didn’t know what to do. Helpless, he left the donkey at home and went to the market. On the way he met Bohlool. Since they were already acquainted, he asked for help and told Bohlool about the commander’s gathering and the donkey.
Bohlool said, “The work is under my control, whatever I tell you, do it.”
So, Bohlool ordered not to give the donkey hay or grain all day; and to place a day’s livelihood between the pages of a book. “Put the book in front of it and flip the pages. Since it will be hungry, the donkey will pick up whatever is between the pages. Keep repeating this action. Then keep him hungry on the tenth day, and when arriving at the commander’s gathering, take the same book along with the donkey to the commander. That day don’t put barley between the pages, and place the book in front of the donkey in the commander’s presence.”
The man did exactly what Bohlool had instructed him to do.
When the appointed day came, he took the donkey and the book to the commander; and in the presence of others, he placed the book before the donkey. It was very hungry and like everyday, as usual, flipped all the pages of the book looking for the barley which was always there, between the pages. It brayed to tell that it was hungry. The commander and those present did not know what kind of intelligence was behind this action. They believed that the donkey truly wanted to read the book. Everyone was astonished at this. Finally, the commander fulfilled his promise by giving the man a very good reward. This is how he was saved from punishment.
Bohlool and the Astrologer
It is said that a person came to Haroun Rashid, claiming knowledge of astrology. Bohlool was also present at this assembly. Coincidentally, the astrologer sat across Bohlool.
Bohlool asked him, “Can you tell who is sitting near you?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t even know who is sitting across you, then how can you tell about the stars of the sky?”
The man was left speechless at Bohlool’s statement, and left the assembly.
Bohlool and a Charlatan
They say that Bohlool had a gold coin in his hand, and was playing with it. A fraud who had heard that Bohlool was insane, came to him and said, “If you give me that coin, I will give you ten coins that color.”
When Bohlool saw his coins, he understood that they were copper, and said, “I agree on one condition, which is that you bray like an ass, Hee Haw, Hee Haw.”
The fraud agreed, and brayed like a donkey.
Bohlool said to him, “You are a strange ass that even after this foolishness- you know that the coin in my hand is gold- you think that I don’t know that your coins are copper.”
As soon as he heard this, he ran away from Bohlool.
Bohlool is Questioned About Hazrat Lut
People asked Bohlool, “Which nation was Hazrat Lut from?”
“It is clear from his name that he was the messenger for corrupt and voluptuous people (Luters).”
The people said, “Why do you show such rudeness to the dignity of Allah’s Messenger?”
Bohlool answered, “I was not being rude towards the dignity of the Prophet, I was speaking rudely about the nation, and I am not saying wrongly.”
Bohlool is Questioned About Shaitan
They say that an evil and unmannerly person said to Bohlool, “I have a great desire to see Shaitan.”
Bohlool said, “If you don’t have a mirror in your house, then look in clean water. You will see Shaitan.”
Bohlool and a Slave
It is said that one of Haroun Rashid’s slaves ate cheese, and a little cheese was stuck to his beard. Bohlool asked him, “What did you eat?”
The slave jokingly said, “I ate a pigeon.”
“I knew before you said so.”
“How did you know?”
Bohlool said, “I can see bird droppings on your beard.”
Bohlool and Haroun Go Hunting
One day Haroun Rashid and a group of his courtiers went hunting. Bohlool was also with them. A deer was seen in the hunting area. The Khalifa shot an arrow at it, but it didn’t hit the deer.
Bohlool said, “Well done!”
The Khalifa angrily said, “You ridicule me!”
Bohlool replied, “I praised the deer that it was well-saved.”
Bohlool and a Landlord
They say that one time Bohlool went to Basra. Since he had no acquaintances in this city, he rented a room for a few days. That room was so old and damaged that it started creaking at the slightest breeze.
Bohlool went to the landlord and said, “The room you gave me is very dangerous because its ceiling and walls start creaking at the slightest breeze.”
The landlord liked joking. He said, “There’s nothing wrong. You know that all creations timely praise Allah and recite Tasbeeh. This is the room’s praise and Tasbeeh.”
Bohlool replied, “That is true, but after praising and glorifying Allah, the creations lastly do Sajdah. That is why, from fear of this room’s prostration, I want to leave as soon as I can.”
Bohlool and a Book of Philosophy
Bohlool went to the Mosque one day. Since that day was Eid, there were a lot of people. Bohlool wanted to go sit in the upper room. He saw that there were a lot of shoes, and since his shoes were stolen once, he was scared that it might happen again. With this thought, he wrapped them up in his handkerchief and hid them in his clothes. When he got to the upper room, and had sat in a corner, a person sitting next to him saw a bulging, wrapped handkerchief under Bohlool’s shoulder, so asked about it.
“I think that there is a valuable book under your shoulder. Can you tell me which book it is?”
Bohlool said, “It is a book of philosophy.”
“Which bookseller did you buy it from?”
“I bought it from a cobbler.”
Bohlool and an Inspector
A Baghdadi inspector was boasting in a crowd that no one had ever cheated him yet. Bohlool was also in this crowd. He said to the inspector that his work is very easy and not worthy of taking pains over.
The inspector said, “You are saying so because you can’t do this job.”
Bohlool said, “Regretfully, I have to do a very important job right now, or I would deceive you.”
“I am here. You go and immediately do your work, and then come back.”
“Okay. Wait for me here. I will immediately return.”
So, Bohlool went away, but did not return. After two hours, the inspector began to rave. He said, “This is the first time! A lunatic has given me this kind of deceit. He kept me useless for these hours unnecessarily.”
Bohlool’s Decision
An Arab beggar arrived in Baghdad. When he passed the bakery, he smelled the pleasing smells of many kinds of foods, but he didn’t have any money. He took stale bread out of his bag and softened it with the steam coming out, and then ate it.
The baker astonishingly watched this for a few moments. When his bread finished, the beggar wanted to leave. The baker stopped him and demanded money. They exchanged hot words. Coincidentally, Bohlool passed by. The Arab wanted Bohlool’s decision.
Bohlool said to the baker, “Did this person eat your food or not?”
“He didn’t eat the food, but certainly benefited from its steam.”
Bohlool said to him, “This is correct. Listen!” He took a few coins out of his pocket, and one by one showed them to the baker, dropped them on the ground, and then picked them up. He said to the baker, “Take the noise of these coins.”
Extremely surprised, the baker asked, “What kind of way is this to give money?”
Bohlool replied, “According to my just decision, the person that sells smells and steam should, in exchange, get the noise and tinkling of coins.”
Bohlool and a Traveler
It is said that a traveler came to Baghdad and Haroun Rashid’s court. He asked a few questions before the Khalifa to his viziers and wise men, but no one could answer correctly.
The Khalifa got angry and said to his scholarly courtiers and viziers, “If you people can’t answer this person’s questions, then I will give your entire wealth to him.”
Those present wanted 24 hours time, which the Khalifa gave. One of them said, “I think that we should seek out Bohlool. No one except he can give correct answers to this foreigner.”
So, they went to look for Bohlool and told him the whole story when they found him. Bohlool agreed to answer the foreigner’s questions the next day. He addressed him, “Ask whatever you want. I am ready to answer.”
The man sketched a circle with his cane and looked at Bohlool.
Unhesitatingly, Bohlool drew a line in the middle of the circle, cutting it in half.
The traveler made another circle. This time Bohlool divided it into four equal parts, and pointing one out, he said to the man, “This one part is land, the other three are water.”
The traveler knew that Bohlool understood him and had given him correct answers. He praised Bohlool before the scholars, Khalifa, and all those present. Then he put the back of his hand on the floor and pointed his fingers toward the sky.
Bohlool did the opposite; he put his fingers facing the ground with the back of the hand upwards. The traveler praised him a lot, saying to the Khalifa, “You should be proud of keeping such an intelligent scholar.”
The Khalifa said, “I don’t understand these questions and answers.”
The traveler explained, “I drew a circle. My purpose was to show the earth’s being round. He understood and cut it into two pieces. He wanted to show me that he believed the earth was round, and that he knew its signs. He drew that line, making two equal pieces to show North and South. The second time I drew a circle, he divided it into four parts to show me that the earth has four parts. One part is land, while the other three are water. The third time when I put my palm and fingers facing upwards, my purpose was to show the growing plants and the secrets of their development. Bohlool also pointed his hand out as rain and the sun’s rays and explained that the growth of vegetation is because of rain and sunlight. Therefore, you should be proud of such an intelligent person.”
The scholars and viziers were saved form Haroun Rashid’s anger by Bohlool’s ready, witty replies. They thanked Allah and Bohlool very much.
Bohlool’s Decisive and Silencing Reply
It is said that an Indian businessman was bringing wealth and goods from India and selling in Baghdad. His caravan stayed at the inn one night and he asked for dinner. The cook brought him a roasted chicken and a few eggs. When the businessman woke up, the caravan had departed. The cook had gone out of the inn on some errand. The businessman kept calling him, but the cook was not present to give the dinner bill. Since the caravan had left, the businessman could not repay the cost. Coincidentally, a year later the same caravan passed by the inn. The same person again asked for dinner. Like the previous year, the cook brought a roasted chicken and a few eggs. When morning came, he called the cook and said, “Since last year I am indebted to you for a chicken and some eggs. Tomorrow bill me for last year along with last night’s dinner so I can pay you.”
The cook carefully calculated for some minutes and then demanded 1,000 dinars from the businessman, saying that he had been very generous in his calculations and there were no mistakes that would make him indebted. When the businessman heard that the cost of the two meals was 1,000 dinars he got furious and said, “I think that you are crazy that you demand 1,000 dinars for two chickens and a few eggs.”
The cook replied, “This statement is beyond the justice of the reason I applied and didn’t want to exceed the limits in your right. You call me insane.”
“I am thankful to you but tell me what costs 1,000 dinars and why do I owe this amount?”
“Think carefully for a moment. If I would have said it without calculating, then you are right. The cost I am demanding is in respect of last year when you ate a chicken and six eggs here. If this chicken had been alive, then I would have put those eggs under it; they would have hatched and chicks would have come out. Then each of these would have had the same number of eggs and these eggs would hatch chicks also; therefore, by now I would own thousands of chickens and eggs. For this reason, I have given up all this profit just to fill your stomach. Now from this entire account and last night’s meal the total I demand is 1,000 dinars and you call me crazy.”
The quarrel between the cook and the businessman soon drew the attention of all the caravan travelers. Every minute they tried to settle the dispute, but it was impossible. At last it was decided to appeal to the dignitary of the place for justice.
When the chief came and was told the case, he decided in the cook’s favor and said to the businessman, “You must give the cook 1,000 dinars.
The poor businessman was very perturbed and worried. He didn’t know what to do. Among the travelers was a person who was friends with Bohlool. He knew that only Bohlool could solve this problem. He addressed the travelers, “There is not a lot of distance between here and Baghdad. I’ll go and bring Baghdad’s judge so that whatever decision he makes will be acted upon.”
Everyone agreed and that person rode a fast, speedy mule in search of Bohlool. He found him in a mosque and narrated the whole story.
Bohlool rode toward the caravan inn with the man. When they reached near the inn, Bohlool got down and said to him, “Quickly go to the people that are waiting and tell them to wait half an hour more. The judge promises that he is coming.”
The man did so. Everyone started counting the minutes. The judge did not come half an hour later. They again waited. One-and-a-half hours later Bohlool’s cap was seen. When he came near the people, everyone got up from their seats out of respect to the judge. Then Bohlool sat on the floor and got acquainted with everyone.
He said, “I have heard about the cook’s and the businessman’s dispute. I apologize to you that my said half hour became one-and-a-half hours, but my delay was correct in this respect that besides being a judge, I also know farming at the same time. When I was coming here to do justice, a farmer came for some grains of wheat. I have heard that if the wheat grain is boiled first, then its growth is very good. That is why, in the extra time I took, I was busy boiling wheat. I apologize to you in this regard.”
The chief and the others said, “What a strange, crazy judge that boils wheat grains!”
Bohlool replied, “In this city where roasted chickens hatch chicks, it isn’t strange that boiled wheat can also be green.”
Everyone was astonished at Bohlool’s silencing answer.
The chief addressed the cook, “This judge decided correctly. Roasted chickens do not hatch chicks.”
Thus the people gave the cook a small amount for the two meals that the businessman had eaten. In this way, the two made peace and hugged each other.
Bohlool Goes to the Public Hot Bath
One day Bohlool went to the public bathhouse, but its servants acted carelessly and didn’t massage him with the sponge. In that regard, when coming out, Bohlool gave the bath’s owner all 10 dinars he had. When the servants saw his generosity, they got embarrassed as to why they showed him such carelessness.
The next week Bohlool again went to the hot bath. This time all the servants gave him a bath with extreme respect and honor, and showed open-heartedness, but besides all this hard work and effort, Bohlool gave only one dinar when he came out.
The bath’s workers angrily asked, “Last week your unnecessary tip and what is the reason for today’s behavior?”
Bohlool replied, “I paid for today’s bath last week when I came and gave; I am paying for that bath today so that you people will behave respectfully with your customers.”
Haroun Questions Bohlool About Wine
It is said that one day Bohlool went to Haroun, who was busy drinking wine. He wanted to prove that he was safe from forbidden eating and drinking, so he asked Bohlool, “Is it forbidden to eat grapes?”
“No!”
“What if after eating grapes, water is drunk over them?”
“There is no harm.”
“After eating the grapes and drinking water, one sits for a while in the sun?”
“Even then there is no harm.”
Then the Khalifa said, “Then if grapes and water are placed in the sun for a time, how does it become forbidden?”
Bohlool said, “If some dirt is put on one’s head will it cause any harm?”
“No.”
“Afterwards if water is poured on it, will it cause any pain?”
“No.”
“If that dirt and water are mixed to make a brick, and thrown on a person’s head, will it cause any pain?”
The Khalifa said, “True, the brick will break a person’s head.”
Bohlool said, “The way dirt and water mixed together break the human’s head and cause him pain; likewise, grapes and water mixed together become such a thing that the law of Shariah forbids it and states it as impure. Drinking wine causes man many troubles and it becomes obligatory to punish its drinker.”
The Khalifa was distressed at Bohlool’s answer, and ordered the wine stock to be removed.