A young man, sitting with friends in a crowded teahouse, complained to them:
“A month ago, I lent two silver coins to the merchant Jafar, but this happened without witnesses. Jafar still hasn't given the money back. I'm afraid that if I demand my coins back, he will deny that he borrowed money from me.
Friends began to say that the young man’s action was indeed reckless and that, perhaps, the money would not be returned.
But the wandering dervish, who had been quietly dozing all evening in the corner of the teahouse, suddenly raised his head from his knee and said:
“Invite the merchant Jafar here and demand, in the presence of all these people, that he immediately give you the twenty gold coins that you lent him a month ago.”
- How can I say this? - the man exclaimed - This is a shameless lie, I only lent him two silver coins!
“These,” the Sufi laughed, “are exactly the words that he will shout back to you.” And note: each of those sitting here will hear it. You needed witnesses, didn't you?
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru