It happened once upon a time that Bahlool wandered from Baghdad to Basra, and when he arrived there, his reputation as a madman seemed already to be known, for the people of that city gathered around him and asked, “Bahlool, surely you will have insight into this matter. Can you tell us how many madmen there are in Basra?”

Bahlool shook his head and said, “Impossible – there are too many to count.” But then he added, “But if you wish, I shall count the number of wise people for you – that will be a much easier task.”