There was once a man called Bahlul who was walking in his habit in the markets of Baghdad. He met one of the merchants in his path, who greeted him, then said: I want your advice in a matter concerning my trade. Bahlol wondered, saying: What took you away from the wise ones to come to my advice? Then he stopped for a while and completed his speech, saying: Please… what is it that you want from me?
The merchant’s features brightened, saying: I want to buy merchandise to hoard it when its price rises in the market, then sell it to whoever pays more. Bahlul laughed until his teeth appeared, saying: If you want to profit in your trade, then buy coal and iron. The merchant smiled and thanked Bahlul, then went away determined to buy iron and coal.
Indeed, the merchant bought iron and coal and stored them until their prices rose in the market, then sold them at the highest prices. The merchant increased in wealth, but this wealth returned to him negatively in his behaviors. He started treating people with arrogance and pride until he became extremely arrogant.
The merchant went around talking about his cleverness and intelligence among people. One day, he passed near Bahlul, but this time he didn’t pay attention to his presence, but rather mocked him, saying in an arrogant voice: Oh madman, what can I buy that will return to me with profit after I hoard it for a period of time? Bahlul laughed without paying attention to the merchant’s way of speaking, then said to him: Buy garlic and onions.
The merchant felt more arrogant, then went away saying to Bahlol: You must boast that a merchant like me consults you. Bahlol didn’t speak any word until the merchant left, who then took the advice and put all the money he had in the garlic and onions deal, hoping to store them to sell them at a higher price and become richer and richer.
The man bought onions and garlic and left them for several months. When he needed to sell them after their prices rose, he went to their storage place and found that his merchandise had been affected by rot. He struck hand against hand, saying: Oh disappointment of hope. I have lost all my merchandise. Who will buy it from me this time!
The merchant buried his rotten merchandise in the ground, biting his fingers from intense regret and anger, as he was extremely angry at Bahlol who had advised him to buy garlic and onions. He started looking for him everywhere until he found him. He said to him angrily: Oh madman, what did you advise me to do! You made me lose all my property.
Bahlol looked at the man, saying with complete calm: You used to consult me at the beginning while addressing me with the speech of the wise, so I advised you with what they say. And when you consulted me later with the speech of madmen, so I also advised you with what they advise. You must know that your harm and benefit hide under your tongue. The man nodded his head sadly about his condition, then Bahlol left him after giving him a lesson he wouldn’t forget.