Once, a religious leader invited Mulla Nasruddin to dinner. Mulla did not eat much that day. Thus, at the dinner, he was famished and eager to eat. Mulla’s friend who was at the dinner, too, asked him, “Mulla, how does one become wise?” “Listen attentively to wise people. And when someone is listening to you, […]
One day, at the town square, a group of people asked Mulla Nasruddin if he knew how to play the guitar. Mulla did not know. However, he replied, “Yes, I do. I am a masterful guitar player and one of the best in the world!” The people, who were expecting him to be boastful, immediately
One early morning, Mulla Nasruddin was returning home from the neighbouring town after a night’s stay. He thought that it would be a good idea to take a short-cut through the forest. ‘Why should I walk along a dusty road when I could be one with Nature, listening to the birds and looking at the
An illiterate man asked Mulla Nasruddin to write a letter for him. Mulla said, “Unfortunately, I can’t do it right now. My foot hurts.” The man asked, “What does that have to do with writing?” “Since nobody else can read my handwriting, I will go wherever the letter goes so that I can read it
Once, a village couple were digging the field to sow seeds. Suddenly, the man’s shovel hit something hard on the ground. It was a big silver pot. They took it out and carried it home. Back in home, the man put his shovel in the silver pot. Next day, when they looked for the shovel
Mulla Nasruddin worked as a watchman. One day, his master said, “Mulla, is it raining? I have to go to see the Sultan, and the dye on my favourite cloak is not fast,” “If it is raining, it will be ruined,” he said. Seeing the pet cat soaked thoroughly, lazy Mulla said, “Master, it’s raining
Mulla Nasruddin was strolling along a deserted road when he saw a troop of horsemen coming towards him. He became nervous and started to imagine himself captured and sold as a slave, or impressed into the army. So, he ran, climbed a wall into a graveyard, and lay down in an open tomb. Puzzled at
One day, Mulla Nasruddin said to the Sultan, “Laws do not make people better. They must practise certain things to become attuned to inner truth.” The Sultan decided that he could make people practise truthfulness. So, he had gallows built at the city gates. The following day, a captain was stationed there with soldiers to
One day, a peasant went to visit famous Mulla Nasruddin with a duck. Mulla, honoured by the offering, invited the man to dine and spend the night in his house. A few days later, the peasant’s wife and children visited Mulla and he treated them well, too. Eight days later, a whole family showed up
Once, a friend requested Mulla Nasruddin, “Can I borrow a thousand Thankas for three months?” Mulla replied, “I can fulfil half of your request.” “All right,” the friend said, “I’ll ask someone else for the other five hundred Thankas.” Mulla explained, “The half of your loan request I agreed, was the time: three months. I
Often, Mulla Nasruddin stood in the market to be pointed out as a fool. No matter how often people offered him a large and a small coin, he always chose the smaller one. One day, a kind man said to him, “Mulla, you should take the bigger coin. Then you will have more money and
One day, Mulla Nasruddin saw a crowd gathered around a lake. A Maulvi with a huge turban on his head had fallen into the water and was calling for help. Many people were leaning over and saying, “Give me your hand, Sir! Give me your hand!” But the Maulvi didn’t listen to them; rather, he
One day, Mulla Nasruddin went to a Turkish bath. However, since he was dressed very poorly, the bath attendants gave only him a small piece of soap, a rag for a loin cloth and an old towel. Mulla did not say anything and quietly took a bath. Before leaving, he gave the two attendants a
Mulla Nasruddin took his donkey to the market and sold it for 30 Thankas. The man who bought it immediately put it up for auction. “Look at this fine animal!” he shouted to passers by, “Have you ever seen a better specimen of a donkey? See how clean and strong it is!” Thus, he went
One day, Mulla Nasruddin went to a tailor with a piece of cloth. He asked the tailor to stitch him a shirt. While the tailor took his measurements, Mulla asked, “When will it be ready?” “God willing, it’ll be ready in a week’s time,” said the tailor. On the morning of the seventh day, Mulla