Mullah nasruddin

Mullah Nasruddin is a fabled character whose goofy stories embody morals or messages.  The following two are the ones I used in Friday's class where the theme was "When I enough enough?"

 Two Mullah Nasruddin stories...


 One day Nasruddin repaired tiles on the roof of his house. While Nasruddin was working
on the roof, a stranger knocked the door. 
 
- "What do you want?" Nasruddin shouted out.
- "Come down", replied the stranger, "so I can tell you."
Nasruddin unwillingly and slowly climbed down the ladder.
- "Well!" replied Nasruddin, "What was the important thing?"
 -"Could you give little money to this poor old man?" begged the stranger.
Tired, Nasruddin started to climb up the ladder and said,
 - "Follow me up to the roof."
When both Nasruddin and beggar were up on the roof, Nasruddin
said,  "The answer is no!" 


 
As Nasruddin emerged from the mosque after prayers, a beggar sitting on the street solicited
alms. The following conversation followed:

 - Are you extravagant? asked Nasruddin.
 - Yes Nasruddin. replied the beggar.
 - Do you like sitting around drinking coffee and smoking? asked Nasruddin.
 - Yes, replied the beggar.
 - I suppose you like to go to the baths everyday? asked Nasruddin.
 - Yes, replied the beggar.
 - ...And maybe amuse yourself, even, by drinking with friends? asked Nasruddin.
 - Yes I like all those things. replied the beggar.
 - Tut, Tut, said Nasruddin, and gave him a gold piece.

A few yards farther on. another beggar who had overheard the conversation begged for alms
also.
 - Are you extravagant? asked Nasruddin.
- No,  Nasruddin, replied second beggar.
 - Do you like sitting around drinking coffee and smoking? asked Nasruddin.
 - No, replied second beggar.
 - I suppose you like to go to the baths everyday? asked Nasruddin.
 - No, replied second beggar.
 - ...And maybe amuse yourself, even, by drinking with friends? asked Nasruddin.
 - No, I want to only live meagerly and to pray, replied second  beggar.

 Whereupon Nasruddin gave him a small copper coin.
- But why, wailed second beggar, do you give me, an economical and pious man, a penny, when you give that extravagant fellow a sovereign?  
-Ah my friend, replied Nasruddin, his needs are greater than yours.