Bahlool’s Debate with the Scholar

A renowned scholar from Khorasan came to Baghdad, and when Harun al-Rashid heard that he had arrived in the city, he summoned him to the caliph’s court. The scholar went to Harun’s palace, and the caliph honored him by seating him beside him and engaging in a discussion. Just then, Bahlool entered, and Harun ordered him to sit. The scholar looked at Bahlool and, noticing his humble appearance, remarked, “It is amazing how the caliph shows such affection and respect for common people, allowing them to sit near him.”

Bahlool, realizing that the scholar was referring to him, turned to him confidently and said, “Do not be deceived by your incomplete knowledge, and do not judge me by my outward appearance. I am ready to debate with you and show the caliph that you still know nothing.”

The scholar responded, “I have heard that you are a madman, and I am not interested in debating with a madman.” Bahlool replied, “I admit that I am mad, but do you not acknowledge your own ignorance?” Harun, angered by Bahlool’s boldness, ordered him to be silent, but Bahlool persisted, saying, “If this man is confident in his knowledge, let him debate with me.”

Harun, trying to ease the tension, said, “What harm would there be in letting Bahlool answer a question?” The scholar agreed but set a condition: “I will ask Bahlool a riddle, and if he answers correctly, I will give him a thousand dinars. But if he fails, he must give me a thousand dinars.”

Bahlool agreed, saying, “I do not possess any wealth, but if I answer correctly, I will take the thousand dinars from you and give them to the poor. And if I fail, I will serve you like a servant.”

The scholar then posed the riddle: “A woman is sitting with her lawful husband, and at the same time, someone is praying and another is fasting in the same house. A man enters the house, and as soon as he enters, the woman and her husband become unlawful to each other, the prayer of the one praying becomes invalid, and the fast of the one fasting is broken. Can you tell me who this man is?”

Bahlool immediately replied, “The man who entered was the woman’s first husband. He went on a journey, and after a long time, news came that he had died. The woman, with the permission of the legal authority, married the man sitting beside her. She paid two men—one to pray for the deceased and the other to fast for him. Later, the first husband returned alive, and since he was now alive, the second husband became unlawful for her, and the prayer and fast for the deceased became invalid.”

Harun and the assembly were impressed with Bahlool’s swift and accurate answer. Everyone praised Bahlool for his wisdom.

Then Bahlool said, “Now it is my turn to ask a riddle.” The scholar replied, “Go ahead.”

Bahlool asked: “If we have a jar of syrup and a jar of vinegar, and we want to make a drink called sikanjabin, we take one container of vinegar and one of syrup, mix them together, and then find that a mouse has fallen into the jars. Can you tell me whether the dead mouse was in the jar of vinegar or the jar of syrup?”

The scholar thought deeply but was unable to answer. Harun, seeing that the scholar was struggling, asked Bahlool to provide the answer.

Bahlool said, “If this man admits to his ignorance, I will give the answer.”

Reluctantly, the scholar admitted his lack of knowledge. Bahlool then explained: “We must wash the mouse in water to remove all the syrup and vinegar. Once it is clean, we cut open its stomach. If there is vinegar inside, then the mouse was in the vinegar jar, and we must discard the vinegar. If there is syrup inside, then the mouse was in the syrup jar, and we must discard the syrup.”

The assembly marveled at Bahlool’s knowledge and insight. They praised him, and the scholar, ashamed, handed over the thousand dinars as he had promised. Bahlool then distributed the money among the poor.

This story highlights Bahlool’s wisdom, his ability to turn a difficult situation to his advantage, and his generosity in helping those in need. It also underscores the scholar’s realization of his own limitations, as Bahlool’s cleverness left everyone, including the caliph, in awe.