Once, two men went to Mullah Nasrudin's court requesting him to analyze their case.
One was a poor man and the other was a rich merchant.
- Your Honor, this guy stole my store! I demand that he pay for what he took! - the merchant spoke to Mullah.
"Sir, I am not a thief," replied the poor man.
- Yes he is! Look, Your Honor, I am a food merchant, if every poor person comes to my store to eat for free, I will soon become one of them - interrupted the merchant.
- Enough! One at a time! - Said Nasrudin to the merchant.
Come on sir "thief", what do you have to say in your defense? Asked Mullah.
- Sir, I really am a poor man, but I am not a thief. I was walking down the street when I found an old bread, hard and dry. So, I had the idea of going to the market to see if I could find something to make it taste better. I stopped in front of this gentleman's shop, and saw the steam coming out of his bubbling pots. So, I broke the pieces of bread and lifted them up in the air so that they were softened by the steam, and the smell of the food made me think I was eating something delicious.
- Now I get it! Mister merchant, how much do you want for what was consumed? - Said the Mullah.
- I'm not greedy, your honor. I only need two coins, - replied the merchant.
Then Mullah Nasrudin took two coins from his pocket while the merchant looked at them greedily and, letting them fall on a plate, said:
- Listen well, because the sound is a fair price for the smell, for someone so avaricious.
Prophet Muhammad said:
"Don't bother him with the tempting smell of your food, unless you're going to offer him a little."