Mullah Nasruddin stories

1.Feast for Clothes

One day, Mullah Nasruddin was invited to a grand feast at the house of a wealthy man in the village. Excited about the delicious food, he dressed in his usual simple, tattered clothes and headed to the feast.

When he arrived, the servants at the door looked at him with disdain. Seeing his worn-out clothes, they assumed he was a beggar and refused to let him in. "This feast is for invited guests only," they said sternly, shooing him away.

Mullah Nasruddin, unfazed, went back home. He put on his finest robe, a luxurious turban, and polished his shoes until they gleamed. When he returned to the feast in his new attire, the servants immediately welcomed him inside with great respect.

As Nasruddin sat down at the table, he began doing something quite odd. Instead of eating the food, he started dipping the sleeve of his robe into the soup, the cuffs of his robe into the rice, and the hem of his turban into the dessert.

The other guests watched in astonishment. "Mullah Nasruddin, what are you doing?" one of them asked.

Nasruddin looked up and smiled. "Ah, you see," he said, "when I came here dressed in my old clothes, I was not welcome. But when I returned in this fine robe, I was treated with great honor. It seems that you are honoring my clothes, not me. So, I am letting them enjoy the feast."

The guests realized the wisdom in Nasruddin’s actions and learned that it is not the outer appearance that matters, but the person within.

2. Mischievous Donkey

One day, Mullah Nasruddin went to the market to buy a donkey. After much haggling, he finally purchased a sturdy, well-built donkey and proudly began leading it home.

As he walked through the town, a group of mischievous boys spotted him and decided to play a trick on the Mullah. Quietly, they untied the donkey’s halter and slipped it off the donkey’s head. One of the boys quickly put the halter around his own neck and began following Nasruddin, pretending to be the donkey, while the others led the donkey away.

After a while, Nasruddin turned around to check on his new donkey and was shocked to see a boy instead! Confused, he asked the boy, "What happened to my donkey?"

The boy, without missing a beat, replied, "Oh Mullah, I was your donkey! Because of some misdeeds in my previous life, I was cursed and turned into a donkey. But thanks to your kindness in buying me and taking care of me, the curse has been lifted, and I have returned to my human form!"

Mullah Nasruddin stared at the boy in disbelief. He scratched his head, thought for a moment, and then said, "Well, if that’s the case, you should go on your way and be a good person from now on."

The boy thanked Nasruddin and ran off, while Nasruddin continued on his way home, pondering what had just happened.

A few days later, Nasruddin returned to the market to buy another donkey. As he was inspecting the animals, he noticed his old donkey tied up for sale again.

Nasruddin approached the donkey, looked it in the eye, and said with a smile, "Ah, you naughty boy! I see you've gone back to your old ways. This time, I won’t buy you. You need to learn your lesson properly!" 

With that, Nasruddin walked away, leaving the onlookers puzzled, while the Mullah chuckled to himself.

3. Centre of the World

One evening, Mullah Nasruddin was sitting in a teahouse with a group of villagers, discussing various topics. The conversation soon turned to the subject of wisdom and knowledge.

One of the villagers, feeling rather proud of his own intelligence, decided to test Nasruddin. He said, "Mullah, you always claim to be wise. But tell us, if you’re so smart, where is the exact center of the world?"

Without missing a beat, Nasruddin pointed to the spot right under his donkey’s hoof, which was resting on the ground nearby.

"Here," Nasruddin declared confidently.

The villagers burst into laughter. "How can that be the center of the world?" they asked.

Nasruddin replied with a twinkle in his eye, "If you don’t believe me, you can measure it yourself. But I assure you, wherever my donkey’s hoof stands, that is the center of the world!"

The villagers, unable to argue with Nasruddin’s clever logic, laughed even harder. They realized that Nasruddin’s wisdom lay not just in knowing facts but in his ability to see the world in a unique and humorous way.

4. Magical Ring

One day, Mullah Nasruddin was walking through the marketplace with his friend when he saw a crowd gathered around a man who was boasting about his amazing ability to predict the future. The man claimed to have a magical ring that could answer any question about what would happen.

Intrigued, Nasruddin pushed through the crowd and asked, "If your ring is so powerful, can it tell me where my donkey is right now?"

The man confidently held up the ring and said, "Of course! Your donkey is standing under a fig tree, just outside the town."

Nasruddin nodded, pretending to be impressed, and said, "Thank you." Then, he started walking away.

As he walked through the market, his friend asked, "Mullah, where are you going in such a hurry?"

Nasruddin replied, "I'm going to see if my donkey is really standing under a fig tree outside the town, just as the man with the magical ring predicted."

His friend looked at him curiously and said, "But Mullah, don’t you know? You left your donkey tied up at the gate of your house this morning."

Nasruddin stopped in his tracks, smiled, and said, "Ah, I knew that. I was just testing whether the man with the ring is a fraud."

He then turned back to the marketplace, rejoining the crowd. When he reached the boasting man, Nasruddin announced loudly, "I just remembered—I don’t have a donkey at all! How can your ring know where something is that doesn’t exist?"

The man panicked and the crowd burst into laughter, realizing that the man was a fraud. Embarrassed, the man quickly packed up and left, while Nasruddin went home, chuckling to himself at how he had outwitted the false prophet.

5. Easy Solution

One day, Mullah Nasruddin was walking through the village when he saw a crowd gathered around a man who was selling a miraculous remedy. The man claimed that his potion could cure any illness, make people smarter, and even bring them great wealth.

Curious, Nasruddin approached the man and asked, "How much does this marvelous potion cost?"

The man proudly replied, "It is only one gold coin, Mullah. A small price for something that can change your life forever!"

Nasruddin pretended to be interested and said, "I would like to buy a bottle, but first, let me ask you a question. If this potion is so powerful, why are you selling it instead of using it yourself?"

The man, caught off guard by the question, stammered, "Well, you see, I have already used it, and now I am sharing its benefits with others. That is why I am wealthy and healthy."

Nasruddin nodded thoughtfully and said, "I see. But if it can make people wealthy, why do you still need to sell it? Shouldn't you be rich enough to give it away for free?"

The crowd, hearing Nasruddin's logic, began to murmur among themselves. The man, realizing he was losing his audience, tried to change the subject. But Nasruddin continued, "And if it can make people smarter, then why aren't you the wisest man in the land? Surely, with such intelligence, you wouldn't need to trick people into buying a worthless potion."

The crowd laughed, understanding now that the man was a fraud. Embarrassed and unable to answer Nasruddin’s questions, the man quickly packed up his things and fled the village.

Nasruddin turned to the crowd and said, "Beware of those who offer easy solutions to life's challenges. True wisdom and wealth come not from magical potions, but from hard work, honesty, and common sense."

The villagers nodded in agreement and thanked Nasruddin for saving them from being fooled. As Nasruddin walked away, he smiled, knowing that he had once again used his wit to teach an important lesson.

6. Saving the Moon

One day, Mullah Nasruddin decided to take a walk through the village. As he strolled along, he noticed a group of people gathered around a well, looking down into it with concern. Curious, Nasruddin approached them and asked, "What’s going on here?"

One of the villagers replied, "Mullah, something terrible has happened! The moon has fallen into the well! We don’t know what to do!"

Nasruddin peered into the well and saw the reflection of the full moon shimmering in the water. He realized what had happened, but decided to have a little fun. "Don’t worry," he said, "I’ll get the moon out for you."

The villagers, relieved to have the wise Mullah’s help, watched as Nasruddin took a long rope and lowered it into the well. He carefully moved the rope around, trying to ‘catch’ the moon. After a few minutes, the rope snagged on a rock at the bottom of the well, and Nasruddin pulled it up with all his might.

As he pulled, the rock suddenly came loose, and Nasruddin fell backward onto the ground. The villagers gasped, but when they looked into the well again, they saw that the moon was gone.

Nasruddin stood up, dusted himself off, and said with a smile, "There, I’ve done it! The moon is back in the sky where it belongs."

The villagers looked up, and sure enough, the moon was shining brightly in the night sky. They cheered and praised Nasruddin for his cleverness.

As Nasruddin walked away, chuckling to himself, he thought, "Sometimes, it’s easier to let people believe what they want to believe." The villagers went home that night, grateful to Mullah Nasruddin for saving their moon, unaware that it had never really been in danger at all.

7. Trustworthy or not

One sunny afternoon, Mullah Nasruddin was walking through the village when he spotted a merchant struggling to lift a large, heavy sack onto his cart. The merchant was sweating and grumbling under the weight.

Nasruddin approached and offered his assistance. “Let me help you with that sack,” he said.

The merchant, grateful for the help, agreed. Nasruddin grabbed one end of the sack and, with a great effort, lifted it onto the cart. The merchant thanked him profusely and said, “You are very strong, Mullah. I don’t know how I would have managed without you.”

Nasruddin smiled and replied, “It’s no trouble at all. But tell me, why is this sack so heavy?”

The merchant explained, “It’s filled with gold coins. I’m taking it to the bank for safekeeping.”

Nasruddin’s eyes widened with interest. “Gold coins, you say? If I may ask, how much gold is in the sack?”

The merchant thought for a moment and said, “I haven’t counted them, but it’s a small fortune.”

Nasruddin nodded thoughtfully and said, “Well, if you don’t mind, I’d like to see if I can help you further. I’ll take the sack to the bank for you.”

The merchant, trusting Nasruddin’s goodwill, agreed. As Nasruddin walked away with the sack, the merchant watched him, feeling relieved and hopeful.

However, as Nasruddin walked further into the village, he noticed a large crowd gathered around a tree, where a circus performer was juggling flaming torches. Intrigued, Nasruddin decided to join the crowd and watch the performance.

Hours passed, and as the performance ended, Nasruddin realized he had completely forgotten about the sack of gold. He hurried back to where he had left the sack, but to his dismay, it was gone. Nasruddin was puzzled and worried but decided to return to the merchant and explain the situation.

When he arrived, he found the merchant waiting anxiously. Nasruddin approached and said, “I’m very sorry, but I seem to have misplaced your sack of gold.”

The merchant’s face turned pale with shock and anger. “What do you mean you misplaced it?”

Nasruddin explained, “I was so absorbed in the circus performance that I forgot to deliver it. But don’t worry, I’ll make it right. I’ll return to the circus and search for it.”

The merchant, although still upset, had no other option but to wait. Nasruddin returned to the circus and, after some searching, found the sack of gold lying near the performance area where he had left it.

He brought it back to the merchant, who was both relieved and furious. Nasruddin, seeing the merchant’s anger, said, “I apologize for my distraction, but remember this: sometimes, even the most precious things can be misplaced, but it’s our responsibility to make things right.”

The merchant, though still upset, learned a valuable lesson about trust and responsibility. Nasruddin’s honesty and efforts to rectify the situation earned him respect, and he continued his walk through the village, content that he had managed to turn a potential disaster into a lesson in integrity.

8. True Value

One day, Mullah Nasruddin was strolling through the marketplace when he saw a man selling fine, beautifully crafted shoes. The shoes were so exquisite that they drew the attention of everyone passing by.

Nasruddin, always curious, approached the vendor and asked, “How much are these shoes?”

The vendor replied, “These shoes are of the highest quality. They cost a hundred gold coins.”

Nasruddin raised an eyebrow and said, “A hundred gold coins? That’s quite a lot for a pair of shoes. Why are they so expensive?”

The vendor, eager to impress, said, “These shoes are special. They are made from the finest materials and with the best craftsmanship. They will last a lifetime and bring you great comfort.”

Nasruddin nodded thoughtfully and said, “I see. Well, I have a pair of shoes that I have worn for many years. They are old and worn out, but they have served me well.”

The vendor, puzzled, asked, “What does that have to do with my shoes?”

Nasruddin explained, “I would like to test the comfort and durability of your shoes. If they truly are as great as you say, then they should last longer and be more comfortable than my old pair.”

The vendor agreed to the test, and Nasruddin took off his old shoes and put on the new ones. He walked around the marketplace, examining how they felt. After a while, he returned to the vendor and said, “I must admit, your shoes are very comfortable. But I have a challenge for you.”

The vendor, intrigued, asked, “What kind of challenge?”

Nasruddin said, “Let’s swap shoes. I will wear your new shoes for a month, and you wear my old ones. If at the end of the month, your shoes are still in perfect condition and mine are not, then I will buy your shoes for a hundred gold coins.”

The vendor, confident in the quality of his shoes, agreed. They swapped shoes, and Nasruddin continued his day while the vendor wore the old, worn-out pair.

A month later, the vendor returned to the marketplace to see Nasruddin. The old shoes were in tatters, while the new ones looked as pristine as ever. The vendor proudly showed off the condition of the new shoes and said, “Well, Mullah, as you can see, my shoes have held up perfectly, while your old ones are in terrible shape.”

Nasruddin smiled and replied, “Indeed, your shoes are still in excellent condition. But remember, my old shoes had already served me for many years. If your new shoes last as long as my old ones did, then they will be worth the hundred gold coins. Until then, I’m afraid I cannot buy them.”

The vendor, taken aback by Nasruddin’s reasoning, realized that while his shoes were high quality, they still had a long way to go before proving their true worth. He learned that value isn’t just about immediate appearance but about lasting quality and durability.

Nasruddin walked away, content with his clever negotiation, and the vendor continued to sell his shoes, now with a new perspective on what true value means.

9. Almost There

One afternoon, Mullah Nasruddin was sitting by the village well, when a group of children approached him, looking worried. One of the children said, “Mullah, we’ve lost our ball, and we don’t know where to find it. Can you help us?”

Nasruddin agreed to help and asked, “Where did you last see the ball?”

The children pointed to a grassy field on the edge of the village and said, “We were playing over there, and it must have rolled away.”

Nasruddin followed the children to the field, where they began searching frantically. After a while, Nasruddin noticed the children were becoming frustrated, so he said, “Why don’t we take a break and think about this?”

As the children rested, Nasruddin had an idea. He asked the children to show him where they had been playing. They led him to a spot under a large tree. Nasruddin looked around and then asked, “Did anyone see the ball roll in this direction?”

One of the children pointed to a nearby bush and said, “I think it went that way.”

Nasruddin walked over to the bush and began rummaging through the branches. After a few moments, he pulled out the missing ball, covered in dirt but otherwise intact.

The children cheered and thanked Nasruddin for finding their ball. As they happily took the ball and ran off to play, one of the children asked, “Mullah, how did you know where to look?”

Nasruddin smiled and replied, “I didn’t. I just used a bit of common sense. Sometimes, when you’re searching for something, it helps to retrace your steps and think about where it might have gone. And sometimes, the solution is closer than you think.”

The children nodded, understanding the lesson. Nasruddin walked back to the well, satisfied that he had helped the children and taught them a valuable lesson in problem-solving.

As he sat down again, he chuckled to himself, thinking about how sometimes the simplest answers can be the most effective.

10. No Plan is a Plan

One day, Mullah Nasruddin was invited to a wedding feast by a friend in the village. The celebration was grand, with tables full of delicious food and everyone in high spirits. Nasruddin, always enjoying a good meal, eagerly joined in the festivities.

As he was about to start eating, he noticed that the host had placed a large pot of soup in the center of the table. The pot was steaming, and the aroma was delightful. The guests were waiting for the host to ladle out the soup, but he seemed to be taking his time.

Nasruddin, feeling impatient and a bit hungry, decided to take matters into his own hands. He picked up a large ladle and began serving the soup himself. The guests watched with amusement as Nasruddin ladled out generous portions of the soup into their bowls.

However, as he was serving, Nasruddin noticed that the soup seemed to have a peculiar consistency. It was unusually thick and sticky. He tasted a spoonful and found it quite strange but decided to continue serving anyway.

When the host finally arrived and saw Nasruddin serving the soup, he was shocked and asked, “Mullah, what are you doing? This soup is meant to be served at the end of the meal as a special treat!”

Nasruddin looked at the host and said, “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. It seemed that everyone was waiting for it, and I thought it would be a good idea to serve it now.”

The host, though initially upset, saw the humor in the situation and chuckled. “Well, Mullah, since you’ve already served it, let’s just make the best of it.”

The guests, who had been eagerly waiting for the soup, tasted it and were pleasantly surprised. It turned out that the soup, though thick and sticky, was quite delicious and unique.

The host then said, “Mullah, you have given us a new way to enjoy the soup, and it has turned out to be quite a hit.”

Nasruddin smiled and replied, “Sometimes, even when you don’t follow the plan exactly, things can turn out well. It’s all about making the best of the situation.”

The guests enjoyed the rest of the meal, and Nasruddin’s unintentional intervention became a fond memory of the wedding feast. The host thanked Nasruddin for his contribution, and the Mullah left the celebration with a full belly and a sense of satisfaction, having once again turned an unexpected situation into a lesson in adaptability and making the best of things.