Hello Members and Friends
I enjoy folk tales when they seem to instruct us today as clearly as they did years ago. In fact, the older the tales, the more poignant the lesson because they offer a fresh viewpoint.
"Mullah Goes to Market"
(a Middle Eastern Folk Tale)
A Mullah journeyed to a market in a large town to buy some things for his household. He was amazed by the crowds of people and the variety of goods available for purchase.
He decided to stay the night in order to explore the bazaar and make the most of his trip. He found a hostel and secured a bed but became confused by the number of other men in the beds that lined both sides of a large room. He was obviously troubled as he sat on his bed with his head in his hands and his eyes down. A man nearby said, "You are worried, my friend. What is the matter?"
The Mullah said, "I have never in my life been among so many people. I cannot sleep, for when I awaken, I will not be able to find myself."
"There is an easy remedy," said the other man. "Here is a piece of string. Tie it to your toe. In the morning, look for the toe with a string on it. That will be you."
"A good strategy!" exclaimed the Mullah. "Thank you very much, I will take your advice!" He tied the piece of string around his toe, secure in the knowledge that he would sleep peacefully among the other men and would know who he was in the morning.
When the Mullah was asleep and snoring, the man who so helpfully advised him, took the string off the Mullah's toe and tied it around the toe of a sleeping man in the next bed.
The Mullah awoke and looked down at his toe thinking he would find the string. Then he frantically looked around only to find the string on the toe of the man next to him. Reaching over to to him, the Mullah stated, "It is clear from the string on your toe that you are me. Who, then, am I?"
retold by Margaret Rappaport
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