Bahlool and the Wise Words on the Palace Walls

One day, Bahlool entered the court of Harun al-Rashid, who was proudly admiring a newly constructed, lavish palace. Harun, pleased with his accomplishment, turned to Bahlool and said, “Write something meaningful on these new walls for me.”

With his usual sharp wit and wisdom, Bahlool picked up a piece of chalk and wrote on the walls:

“O Harun! You have elevated mud and bricks but degraded religion.
You have raised the walls high but brought the teachings of the Prophet low.
If the expenses for this building came from your own wealth, then you are guilty of extravagance,
and God does not love the extravagant.
If it came from the wealth of others, then you have oppressed them,
and God does not love the oppressors.”

Then, Bahlool continued with a poem on another wall:

“O heart attached to this world, why are you heedless of the Hereafter?
The travelers have departed; why are you still shackled to worldly desires?
The snow of old age has fallen on your head, the clouds of time are passing,
Why do you not bow your head in submission and repentance before it’s too late?
A hundred thousand flowers have withered in the garden of life,
Yet you sit unaware, lost in idle amusement.”

Harun, moved and shaken by Bahlool’s words, realized the futility of his worldly pride. Once again, Bahlool’s wisdom served as a reminder of the fleeting nature of life and the eternal importance of one’s deeds.