Walking at night along one of the outlying streets of Bukhara, Mushfiqi noticed a drunk lying on the road. Turning him over, Mushfiqi recognized him as the mayor and gave him a kick in the face, but he did not wake up. Then Mushfiqi took off his turban and robe and moved on.
In the morning, having sobered up, the half-naked mayor went to his office and announced to his discouraged subordinates:
“Tonight my turban and robe were stolen from my house.” Walk the streets and look! And if you see a thief wearing my clothes, bring him to me immediately!
The subordinates walked through the streets until they met Mushfiqi, dressed in the robe and turban of the mayor. Mushfiqi was immediately taken to the office.
“How did you get my things?” asked the angry nobleman. Mushfiqi calmly replied:
- Worthy and blameless sir! There is a proverb: “First ask, then kill!” At night, on one of the outlying streets, I came across a vile tramp, drunk to the point of indecency. I took off his turban and robe. If you admit for a moment that it could be you, then, of course, you can take this robe and turban.
And not tainted by suspicion of drunkenness, the praiseworthy mayor left Mushfiki the clothes of that “unknown” tramp.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru