Bahlool and the Caliph’s Food

One day, Harun al-Rashid ordered that a portion of his royal meal be sent to Bahlool. The servant carefully carried the food to Bahlool and presented it to him.

Bahlool, without hesitation, said, “I will not eat this. Take it and throw it to the dogs behind the bathhouse.”

Outraged, the servant retorted, “You fool! This is the caliph’s food. If I had taken it to any minister or noble, they would have rewarded me generously. How dare you show such disrespect to the caliph’s food?”

Bahlool calmly replied, “Speak softly. If even the dogs find out this food comes from the caliph, they wouldn’t eat it either.”

Through this sharp and witty response, Bahlool highlighted the hypocrisy and corruption often associated with wealth and power, leaving the servant speechless and reinforcing his disdain for superficial grandeur.