It happened once upon a time that Mullah Nasruddin had a lamb, and as he raised it himself with great care, it grew very plump and tender. But in a small village, where everyone knows the business of his neighbour, the lamb attracted the attention of a group of boys who thought the lamb would make a delicious meal for them. Putting their heads together, they came up with a plan to persuade Nasruddin to offer it to them.

One boy came to the Mullah and praised the plumpness of the lamb, but then said, “But what a pity it will be wasted. Mullah, have you not heard? Tomorrow is the end of the world! Why not roast the lamb now as a magnificent feast? Don’t let this fine lamb go to waste!”

Nasruddin refused the suggestion, for he did not believe that the next day would be the end of the world, but then a second boy came with the same story, and a third and a fourth. Now the Mullah recognised that if he did not offer the lamb willingly, it would probably disappear some day soon anyway. So, he agreed, and they decided to go and have a picnic, roasting the lamb beside. the river.

When they arrived, the Mullah slaughtered the lamb and began to prepare a fire to roast it, while the boys stripped off their clothes and plunged into the river for a swim.

Returning from the river happy and hungry, the boys were greeted by the sight and delicious smell of roasting lamb, but to their surprise they were unable to find their clothes. They looked around everywhere, but found nothing. Finally, they asked Nasruddin where their clothes had gone.

“Oh, those?” Nasruddin replied. “I burnt them. They made good fire starter, and as the world will end tomorrow, you won’t need them anymore, will you?”