It happened once upon a time that Nasruddin, along with other sages and philosophers, was summoned to the court. The king had had a dream, and he urgently required an interpretation.
When the wise were gathered, the king said that he had dreamt that all his teeth except one had fallen out. “I have never had such a dream before,” the king told them. “What could it mean?” And he promised gold coins to whoever gave him the best explanation.
The wise men began to murmur among themselves, and then, one by one, to offer suggestions. One said the crops would fail for seven years, and there would be famine throughout the kingdom. Another said it portended an invasion, and that the armies of the king would be severely tested. Another declared that the king’s treasury would be threatened by evil spells and witchcraft.
With each suggestion the king became more gloomy and depressed.
Then Mullah Nasruddin spoke up. “Your majesty,” he said, “Congratulations!”
“Congratulations?” said the king. “What for?”
“T|he dream informs you that you will live a very long life!” said the Mullah. “Perhaps two hundred years!”
And it was Nasruddin who went home with coins in his pocket.
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Wat mij treft in dit verhaal is dat Nasruddin de andere wijzen eigenlijk niet tegenspreekt.
Zij zeggen allemaal hetzelfde als hij, maar in een andere taal.
De wijzen zien dat alle tanden verdwijnen en spreken over verlies, rampspoed en dreiging.
Nasruddin ziet dezelfde droom en zegt: “Gefeliciteerd, u zult een lang leven hebben.”
De feiten veranderen niet. Alleen de blik verandert.
Dat doet mij denken aan Jezus. Wanneer anderen een verloren zoon zagen, zag Hij iemand die was teruggekeerd (Lucas 15:24). Wanneer anderen een arme weduwe zagen met twee kleine muntjes, zag Hij iemand die meer gaf dan allen (Marcus 12:43).
Toen vroeg iemand aan de Mullah:
“Maar wat als de andere wijzen gelijk hadden?”
“Dat hadden ze,” antwoordde Nasruddin.
“En wat als jij gelijk had?”
“Dat had ik ook.”
“Hoe kan dat?”
“Zij vertelden de koning wat hij verloren had. Ik vertelde hem wat hij overhield.”
🌹 Murad