Bahlool and the Scholar’s Broken Head

One day, Bahlool was walking through the streets when he overheard a renowned scholar, Abu Hanifa, teaching his students. The scholar, who followed the Mutazilite school of thought, boldly proclaimed, “I respect Imam Jafar al-Sadiq, but I strongly disagree with him on three matters!

First, he says that God cannot be seen. I argue that if something cannot be seen, it does not exist.
Second, he claims that God will punish Satan in Hellfire, but Satan is made of fire. How can fire harm its own kind?
Third, he states that humans have free will in their actions. I believe that all actions are predestined, and humans act under compulsion.”

Bahlool, upon hearing this, picked up a large clod of dirt and hurled it at the scholar’s head. The clod struck the scholar squarely on the forehead, splitting the skin and causing him pain. Enraged, the scholar and his students chased Bahlool and dragged him to the court of the caliph to demand justice.

The caliph, upon seeing Bahlool, scolded him harshly. “You madman! How dare you harm the great scholar of our time? What justification can you possibly have for such disrespect?”

Bahlool replied calmly, “O Caliph, this man raised three objections, and I answered them all with that single clod of dirt. If you will allow me to explain, you will see that I meant no disrespect but merely resolved his arguments.”

The caliph, intrigued, allowed Bahlool to speak.

Bahlool turned to the scholar and said, “You claim that Satan cannot be harmed by Hellfire because he is made of fire. Is that correct?”

“Yes,” the scholar replied.

Bahlool smiled and continued, “What is this clod of dirt made of?”

“Earth,” the scholar answered.

“And what are you made of?” Bahlool asked.

“Also earth,” the scholar admitted.

Bahlool then pointed to the scholar’s injury and asked, “Then why did this clod of earth harm you, when you and it are of the same essence?”

The scholar fell silent, unable to respond.

Bahlool then posed a second question: “You also claim that God can be seen because He exists. Correct?”

“Yes,” the scholar replied.

“Did the clod of dirt I threw at you cause pain?”

“Yes,” said the scholar, still nursing his wound.

“Then show me the pain,” Bahlool demanded. “If something exists, it should be visible, correct? So where is your pain?”

The scholar stammered, “Pain cannot be seen—it is felt.”

“Exactly,” Bahlool retorted. “Pain, a creation of God, cannot be seen. How, then, do you expect to see the Creator Himself?”

The scholar, now visibly embarrassed, remained silent.

Finally, Bahlool addressed the third issue: “You claim that all human actions are predestined and performed under compulsion, correct?”

“Yes,” the scholar confirmed.

“In that case,” Bahlool said with a sly grin, “I must have thrown that clod of dirt at you under divine compulsion. It was God’s will that guided my hand. Why, then, are you angry with me? I was merely fulfilling His decree.”

The scholar, now utterly humiliated and at a loss for words, stood up and left the court in shame.

The caliph, along with everyone present, marveled at Bahlool’s wit and wisdom. With his sharp reasoning, Bahlool not only silenced the arrogant scholar but also delivered a profound lesson on faith, free will, and the nature of divine justice.