It happened once upon a time that Bahlool the fool was sitting in a corner of the market when the powerful Khalif Haroun came passing by. His guards were roughly pushing people out of the way, but he stopped them from bothering Bahlool. Although all the ministers in the court regarded Bahlool as a lunatic, Haroun was not sure – he suspected that perhaps Bahlool was a great soul who merely pretended to be mad. Therefore the Khalif approached him, and offered him a gold coin.

“What is this?” said Bahlool. “I do not need it.”

“Then give it to the poorest person in the city,” said the Khalif.

Bahlool took the coin, looked around him at the guards and all the people gathered in the market, and then handed the coin to Haroun.

“You return the coin?” said the Khalif. “Why?”

“As you instructed, I give it to the poorest person,” said Bahlool. “Your agents tax all the merchants in the market, and whip them if they do not pay. They never have enough money. Since they work for you, you must be the poorest man in the whole city.”