It happened once upon a time that a wealthy man passed away. He was not just wealthy – he was perhaps the most wealthy man in the entire province, and of course many people went to his funeral. Among them was Mullah Nasruddin, who stood at the back of the crowd with tears streaming down his face.

“Mullah,” said an acquaintance, “are you grieving so much for this man? You are not a relative, are you?”

“No, said Nasruddin. “That is why I am crying.”