A MAN of Merv, well known as the home of complicated thinkers, ran shouting one night through the city’s streets. ‘Thief, Thief!’ he cried. The people surrounded him, and when he was a little calmer, asked: ‘Where was the thief.”’ ‘In my house.’ ‘Did you see him ?’ ‘No.’ ‘Was anything missing?’ ‘No.’ ‘How do … Read more
ONE dark night a dervish was passing a dry well when he heard a cry for help from below. ‘What is the matter?’ he called down. ‘I am a grammarian, and I have unfortunately fallen, due to my ignorance of the path, into this deep well, in which I am now all but immobilized,’ responded … Read more
THERE was once a dervish who embarked upon a sea journey. Asthe other passengers in the ship came aboard one by one, they sawhim and-as is the custom—asked him for a piece of advice. All thedervish would do was to say the same thing to each one of them:he seemed merely to be repeating one … Read more
THERE was once a good man. He had spent his whole life in cultivating the qualities enjoined upon those who would reach Paradise. He gave freely to the poor, he loved his fellow creatures and he served them. Remembering the need to have patience, he endured great and unexpected hardships, often for the sake of … Read more
A MAN who was troubled in mind once swore that if his problemswere solved he would sell his house and give all the money gainedfrom it to the poor. The time came when he realized that he must redeem his oath.But he did not want to give away so much money. So he thoughtof a … Read more
AN idiot may be the name given to the ordinary man, who consistently misinterprets what happens to him, what he does, or whatis brought about by others. He does this so completely plausiblythat—for himself and his peers—large areas of life and thoughtseem logical and true. An idiot of this kind was sent one day with … Read more