One hot day, Nasreddin Hodja was taking it easy in the shade of a walnut tree. After a time, he started eyeing speculatively at the huge watermelons growing on vines, and the small walnuts growing on a majestic tree.
“Sometimes I just can’t understand the ways of God!” he mused.
“Just fancy letting tiny walnuts grow on such a majestic a tree and huge watermelons on the delicate vines!”
Just then a walnut snapped off and fell smack on the Hodja’s bald head.
He got up at once and lifting up his hands and face to heavens in supplication, said:
“Oh, my God! Forgive my questioning your ways! You are all-wise. Where would I have been now, if watermelons grew on trees!”
More parables of Hodja at https://simerg.com/
Nasreddin or Nasreddin Hodja (variants include Mullah Nasreddin Hodja, Nasruddin Hodja, Mullah Nasruddin, Mullah Nasriddin, Khoja Nasriddin, Khaja Nasruddin) (1208–1285) is a character commonly found in the folklores of the Muslim world, and a hero of humorous short stories and satirical anecdotes. There are frequent statements about his existence in real life and even archaeological evidence in specific places, for example, a tombstone in the city of Akşehir, Turkiye. Nasreddin appears in thousands of stories, sometimes witty, sometimes wise. A Nasreddin story usually has a subtle humour and a pedagogic nature. The International Nasreddin Hodja festival is celebrated between 5 and 10 July every year in Akşehir.
Image: Turkiye issued a set of four postage stamps in 2008 to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the birth of Nasreddin Hodja.