When Timurleng was in Aksehir, a dehri (materialist philosopher) came to the city and announced:
- I want to ask questions. If you have skilled scientists, let's have a competition.
Timurleng gathered eminent citizens of the city and said:
— A scientist came to us from outside and wants to compete with you in the natural and materialistic sciences. He wanders, walks all over the world. And if you do not put up against him a man whose mind has comprehended various sciences, he will spread the word everywhere that in Rum the learned people have dried up and disappeared, and this will lead to a diminishment of our dignity among states and peoples.
The city elders held a meeting and at first wanted to regretfully admit that, indeed, they had no scientists, but then they thought: “No, that’s not good, we need to find a way out of the situation and get rid of this trash.” They decided to call scientists from Konya, Kayseri, but someone noticed:
- Calling outside scientists will take a lot of time, and this will only reveal our own insignificance, and it will humiliate us among the residents of our city. They say: “Smart advice comes from fools.” Let's find out how our learned Khoja looks at this. Maybe he’ll come up with something and we’ll fuse this stranger who doesn’t know our language.
Everyone found this proposal successful and, calling the Hodja, told him what was the matter.
“Okay,” the Khoja remarked, “you leave it to me.” If I calm him down with a well-aimed answer, great; but no, then you will say: “This is a man who has moved, duvana, and he himself climbed here to the meeting.” And put another, learned person against him. Only if I am lucky, I wish a gift from all of you. The sovereign's favor does not count.
“Darling Khoja,” the elders shouted, “just don’t disgrace us, and then whatever you want, we’ll do everything for you.”
On the appointed day, tents were pitched in the city square, and Emir Timurleng and his retinue, all dressed in gold, decorated, majestic, appeared in military armor and weapons. Then dekhri appeared, all disheveled and wonderful, and sat down near Timurleng. When all those gathered were seated, they began to wait for the Khoja. Finally, the Khoja came with a huge saryk on his head; he was wearing a shawl with wide sleeves; Hammad and his other disciples walked behind. Khoja was placed at the right hand of the sovereign.
They drank sherbet, and when they had rested, the dekhri stepped forward and solemnly outlined a circle, then, as if demanding an answer from the Khoja, he looked into his face. Khoja stood up and, drawing a line right in the middle of the circle, thus divided the circle into two parts and also looked at the dekhri. Then he drew another line, perpendicular to the first, and divided the circle into four equal parts. Making a sign with his hand, he seemed to pull the dekhri towards him three times, and seemed to push one part to the side of the dekhri and looked at him again. Dekhri signed the Hodja's decision with a sign, making it clear that he knew this problem. Then the dekhri folded his hand in the shape of a blossoming tulip and raised his fingers upward several times. But Khoja did the opposite and, holding his palm down, lowered his fingers; Dekhri agreed again. Finally, dekhri pointed at himself and, pretending with his fingers as if it were an animal walking on the ground, ran over his stomach, as if something was coming out of there. And Khoja took an egg out of his pocket and, showing it, began to wave his arms, pretending that he was flying. Dekhri nodded approvingly. He stood up and, bowing his head respectfully before the Khoja, kissed his hand and congratulated the sovereign and the nobles of the city that such a “miracle of time” was among them.
Those present at the meeting were very happy with the outcome, and for their part they also congratulated the Khoja, who had saved them from shame. Everyone began to give him money as a gift, prepared in advance just in case, someone promised to give it later; Timurleng also showered the Khoja with precious gifts.
When everyone had dispersed, the padishah, those close to him and the nobles of the city called the dekhri aside and through an interpreter told him:
“We didn’t understand anything from your signs.” What did you say to Khoja, and what did he answer you that you recognized as true?
Dehri explained:
— There is a disagreement between Greek and Jewish scientists about the creation of the world. Since I do not know the opinion of Muslim scholars about this, I really wanted to find out the truth. That's why I depicted the spherical shape of the earth. Khoja not only confirmed this, but with the lines he drew, he divided the earth into the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere. Then he drew another line, perpendicular to the first, and pulled three parts in his direction, and the fourth towards me; he wanted to say that three parts of the globe are water, and one quarter is land: this is how he explained the “seven climates” of the earth. Then, to explore the mysteries of creation and creation, I raised my fingers up, pointing to plants, trees, springs, mines. But the Khoja, on the contrary, put his fingers down and, according to the latest research of scientists, correctly explained to me that all this is thanks to the rain pouring from the sky, from the action of sunlight and other higher celestial bodies, and that this is how creations are born and grow on earth. Then, pointing to myself, I said that the creations that arise on earth multiply through the differentiation of parts; At the same time, I apparently expressed myself unclearly about a significant part of animate objects. And the Khoja took an egg out of his pocket and, making movements with his hand as if he were flying, hinted at flying creatures. Thus, briefly but intelligibly, he spoke about the creation of the world and the largeness of the human race. From this I understood that your scientist is truly a genius, possessing knowledge of the heavenly and earthly sciences, or, in other words, the tangible and real sciences. And you, his countrymen and compatriots, can be proud of such a learned expert in the natural sciences.
Having carried off the dekhri with honors and gifts, everyone now surrounded the Khoja and began to question him as well. Khoja said:
- Well, what can I say! This is a sick man, greedy, hungry like a dog. You told me about him, that he is a scientist, and you only worried me in vain. I have arrived; as you saw, he outlined a circle with his hand - he thought: “Oh, if only there was a tray of pies!” I first divided the tray in two, like a brother; I look, but he doesn’t even blow his whistle. Then I divided it into four parts: I took three parts for myself, and gave one part to him. The poor thing agreed and nodded his head, as if to say: “That’s enough for me,” although in fact he wanted more. Then he said: “If only they had made pilaf, we would have eaten!” And I added: “Yes, but you need to sprinkle salt on top, put pepper, pistachios, raisins, and so on.” This is how we resolved this issue. Then he pointed to his stomach and showed with his hand that he had come from afar and had not eaten anything tasty for a long time. And I told him that I was even hungrier than he was: from the emptiness in my stomach, I had lost so much weight that I could fly like a feather. I got up in the morning, and my wife just gave me an egg. And then you came for me, and I didn’t even have time to eat the egg and put it in my pocket as a reserve. That's it.
Those present, remembering the saying “What did I ask you? What did you understand? Amazing story!”, they were amazed at how, despite the difference in perception, the questions and answers satisfied both sides.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru