Bahlool and the Restoration of Justice

A man set out for Hajj and, having young children, he entrusted one thousand gold dinars to the judge in the presence of the court officials. He said, “If I pass away during this journey, you are my executor and may give whatever you wish to my children. If I return safely, I will take back this trust.” The man passed away on the way, and when his children came of age, they asked for the trust that their father had left with the judge. The judge replied, “According to your father’s will, I can give you only what I feel is right, and I have decided to give you only one hundred dinars.”

The children, in disbelief, began to cry out and seek justice. The judge summoned the witnesses who had been present when the father had deposited the money, asking them to testify. They all confirmed that the father had said, “If I die during the trip, give whatever you feel is appropriate to my children.” The judge, however, stood firm and insisted that he would only give them one hundred dinars.

The children were at a loss and turned to others for help, but no one could find a solution to this legal trick. Eventually, news of this reached Bahlool, who brought the children before the judge and asked, “Why are you not giving these orphans their rightful inheritance?” The judge explained, “Their father’s will stated that I may give them whatever I desire, and I have chosen to give them only one hundred dinars.”

Bahlool replied, “Oh judge, according to your own words, what you desire is nine hundred dinars, not one hundred. Since the will clearly states that you are to give them whatever you choose, I demand that you give them the nine hundred dinars, as that is what you want.”

The judge, realizing the logic in Bahlool’s statement, was compelled to give the children the nine hundred dinars, restoring justice to them.

This story emphasizes Bahlool’s cleverness and his ability to ensure that justice is served, even when a legal trick is being used to deceive the orphans.