Mullah's Miracle

Grade Level: 
9, 10, 11, 12
Keywords: 
Faith Perspective
Folktales
Generosity of Spirit
Mullah’s Miracle
Persia
A Sufi Tale (Persian): Mullah Nasruddin demonstrates that miracles are all in the eye of the beholder.

Tell me a story...

Once Mullah was asked to perform a miracle.

“Never mind,” said Mullah as he commanded a tree to come nearer to him.

The tree did not move.

“Never mind,” said Mullah again as he stepped forward toward the tree.

“You said you are holy,” said one of the audience, “and yet the tree did not budge.”

“Oh, there is no haughtiness in holy men,” said Mullah. “The tree could not come to me for some reason, so I went to it!”

 

“Mullah’s Miracle.” Daenecke, Eric. Tales of Mullah Nasir-ud-Din: Persian Wit, Wisdom and Folly. New York: Exposition Press, ©1960. p. 31.