Was Bahlool really insane?
People in the western Arab world describe a stupid person as ‘Bahlool’, which is the name mentioned in Abbasid history of someone who is said to have lived during the reign of Caliph Haroun Al-Rasheed and is even said to have been one of his cousins, who on seeing many people losing their lives in the quest for power, pretended to be insane.
Some other historians say that he was highly knowledgeable and only said the truth at the time when people were silenced. So, in order to save his life, he pretended to be a fool and was thus named Bahlool! It was even said that Haroun Al-Rasheed once summoned him to his palace and had the following dialogue with him:
Haroun Al-Rasheed: Do you need anything that I can give you? Bahlool: Yes, I want three things, for which I will be thankful to you all my life if you manage to do so. Rasheed: What are they? Bahlool: I want you to prolong my life. Rasheed: I cannot. This is up to Almighty Allah. Bahlool: I want you to protect me from the angel of death. Rasheed: This is also up to Almighty Allah. Bahlool: I want you to make sure I go to paradise after death. Rasheed: I cannot. The decision will be up to Allah. Bahlool: Then, you ought to know that you are nothing but a mamlouk (slave) like myself and you can do me nothing.
A while later, Rasheed learnt that Bahlool was dwelling amongst graves, shouting words that were frightening people. He went over and shouted from horseback: When will you get back your mind? When will you reason up? Bahlool ran up a tree and shouted: “Oh, Haroun. When will you be back to your mind? When will you reason up? “Are you asking me to reason up while you are the one living amongst graves?” said Rasheed, leading his horse underneath the tree. “I live amongst graves because I know that that palace of yours will perish,” Bahlool answered, pointing to Rasheed’s palace and then pointed to a grave, saying it remains forever. “This is why I live around it to prepare for it. It is a much better than that palace. Who is insane now, Haroun?” he asked.
Rasheed: Allah ordered us to build. Bahlool: Yes, he did. But you built everything for yourself and for those surrounding you, while the dwellers of these graves found nothing but this. I prefer living amongst them because they do not cheat, they are honest, they do not tell lies nor steal like those living with you, under your custody or in your palace!
Hearing this, Haroun thought for a while and said: You are right. Bahlool: I am more right than you Haroun. Do you remember when you failed to provide what I asked for? Rasheed: Yes, I do. Bahlool: I knew then that you are nothing but a worshipper like me and that you will eventually end up in this grave next to me! The story goes on, saying that Rasheed cried, drenching his beard with tears, and said: “Leave Bahlool alone. He is saner than all the people in Baghdad!”
Some other historians say that he was highly knowledgeable and only said the truth