In the little village where he lived, Mullah Nasruddin was often seen in the company of his donkey – going to the fields, returning with a full load, carrying something to sell to the market, and so on It is not surprising, therefore, that one day when the Mullah appeared on the street alone, a passerby asked him, “Good day, Mullah. How is your donkey?’

Nasruddin replied, “He died.”

“Oh, Mullah, what terrible news! Why did he die?”

Nasruddin said, “Because he was living.”