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Key words£ºNasreddin,
Allah,
walnut,
pumpkin |
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Genre£ºfolklore |
Topic£ºNasreddin |
Words:200 |
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"Allah is great and Allah is good," said the Hodja. |
Walnuts and pumpkins
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Author£ºD.
L. Ashliman |
Source£ºwww.pitt.edu
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Nation£ºTurkey
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Date£º2008-8-14 |
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Nasreddin Hodja was lying in the shade of an ancient walnut
tree. His body was at rest, but, befitting his calling as an
imam, his mind did not relax. Looking up into the mighty tree he
considered the greatness and wisdom of Allah.
"Allah is great and Allah is good," said the Hodja, "but was it
indeed wise that such a great tree as this be created to bear
only tiny walnuts as fruit? Behold the stout stem and strong
limbs. They could easily carry the pumpkins that grow from
spindly vines in yonder field, vines that cannot begin to bear
the weight of their own fruit. Should not walnuts grow on weakly
vines and pumpkins on sturdy trees?"
So
thinking, the Hodja dosed off, only to be awakened by a walnut
that fell from the tree, striking him on his forehead.
"Allah be praised!" he exclaimed, seeing what had happened. "If
the world had been created according to my meager wisdom, it
would have been a pumpkin that fell from the tree and hit me on
the head. It would have killed me for sure! Allah is great!
Allah is good! Allah is wise!"
Never again did Nasreddin Hodja question the wisdom of Allah.
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About Nasreddin Hodja
Nasreddin Hodja is Turkey's (and perhaps all of Islam's)
best-known funny wise man. His legendary wit and droll trickery
were possibly based on the exploits and words of a historical
imam. Nasreddin reputedly was born in 1208 in the village of
Horto near Sivrihisar. In 1237 he moved to Aksehir, where he
died in the Islamic year 683 (1284 or 1285). As many as 350
anecdotes have been attributed to the Hodja, as he most often is
called. Hodja is a title meaning teacher or scholar.
Discussion£º
1. What was Nasreddin
concerned with?
2. What happened to
Nasreddin while he was sleeping?
3. Why didn't Nasreddin
question the wisdom of Allah from then on?
¡¡
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