Bahlool was not exactly orthodox in his religious observances – what could you expect from a madman who prefers the company of stray dogs and the dead in the cemetery? – but once he happened to visit a mosque where a man with a magnificent turban, a. long, perfumed beard and a fine robe was standing before the congregation and reading from the Koran.

Bahlool listened for a time, and then, to the astonishment of all the people there, began to throw shoes at the reader. As he did not stop, people had to restrain him, and he was brought before the Imam of the mosque.

“What do you mean by this?” the Imam demanded. “Shoes in a mosque? And you throw them at a Molavi reading the Holy Koran? Why?”

“Because,” Bahlool replied, “he is lying.”

Everyone standing there erupted in shouts of anger. “Heresy!” they roared, “he has called the word of God a lie!”

Some wanted to tear Bahlool to pieces on the spot, but in the end they carried him to the court of the Caliph, Harun, to be properly judged before execution.

“What is this I hear?” Harun said to Bahlool. “Do you call the Koran a lie?”

“No,” said Bahlool, “but the man who was reading is a liar.”

Harun frowned, trying to understand. “What do you mean?”

“He lies not with the words, but with his voice. Even when the words are true, you cannot believe him.”

Harun looked at the viziers and courtiers gathered around him, all dressed in fine clothing, and then nodded. “Yes, I understand. Bahlool is free to go.”