Bahlool’s Strategy

One day, Bahlool was passing by and saw a man walking dejectedly, muttering to himself. Bahlool approached him and greeted him, then asked, “Have you been wronged? Why are you so upset?”

The man replied, “I am a traveler, and when I arrived in this city, I decided to rest for a few days. I had some money and jewelry, so I entrusted them to a shopkeeper for safekeeping. But when I asked for them back after a few days, he insulted me and called me crazy.”

Bahlool said, “Do not worry. I will get your belongings back from the shopkeeper.” He then asked for the shopkeeper’s address, and once he knew where to find him, Bahlool said, “Tomorrow at a certain time, I will go to the shop. You should come at the same time, but do not speak to me. When you arrive, simply tell the shopkeeper, ‘Give me my belongings back.'”

The man agreed and left to follow Bahlool’s instructions.

The next day, Bahlool went to the shopkeeper’s place and said, “I am planning to travel to the cities of Khorasan, and I have some jewelry worth 30,000 dinars. I would like to leave them with you for safekeeping. If I return safely, you can sell the jewelry and use the proceeds to build a mosque.”

The shopkeeper, pleased by this offer, said, “I would be honored to take care of your jewelry. When will you bring it?”

Bahlool replied, “Tomorrow at a certain time,” and then went to a ruined building. There, he made a leather pouch, filled it with some small pieces of iron and glass, and sewed it shut tightly.

At the appointed hour the next day, Bahlool went to the shopkeeper’s store. When the shopkeeper saw the pouch, he assumed it contained the valuable jewelry and was thrilled. Just then, the foreign man arrived and demanded his deposit.

The shopkeeper immediately called his assistant, saying, “The deposit of this man is in the warehouse. Bring it quickly and give it to him.” The assistant hurriedly brought the pouch and handed it to the man, who took the so-called “deposit” and left, thanking Bahlool and offering him prayers of goodwill.

Bahlool’s cleverness and wisdom were once again evident in his ability to deceive the dishonest shopkeeper and restore the man’s belongings. The shopkeeper, believing that he had received valuable items, was tricked into giving the pouch back, proving that Bahlool’s wit could resolve even the most difficult situations.