The Old Non-Believers

[Olùkọ́ Ọbádélé]

The Old Non-Believers


In Muslim countries everyone is required to have their body and clothing clean before praying.
Once upon a time in a village of the Siné region of Senegal there was a group of old non-believers who converted very late to Islam. Every day, at the moment of prayer, they would remove their baggy pants, which were too dirty for prayer. Nearby there was always a crazy man who would watch them closely.

One day, at the moment of prayer, the crazy man picked up all the pants and threw them in a reservoir where the old men bathed before praying. Upon leaving the Mosque, they realized that their pants were missing. The crazy man had been watching them and said,

“Hé Ngor! What color were your pants?”

“They are the red ones!” one of the men responded, his head hung low.

“These?” asked the crazy man, pulling them out of the reservoir.

“Yes.” At this the crazy man threw him the pants saying simply,

“A pair of pants which are too dirty for prayer need to be cleaned, Ndjaane.”



Sometimes a crazy person can be more reasonable than someone who is sane.