Nasreddin

From ArticleWorld

Nasreddin was the name of a person who lived in the Middle Ages and who was a lower Muslim cleric residing in Central Asia. The spellings of the name may vary as Nasrudin, Nasr ud-Din, Nasredin, Naseeruddin Nasruddin, Nasr Eddin, Nastradhin, Nasreddine, Nastratin, Nusrettin etc.

Nasreddin was a wise philosopher and is remembered even today because of his anecdotal punchlines and hilarious stories. Such a character may often be found in Urdu, Arab, Persian, Pashto and Turkish folk tradition of vignettes. His name often is preceded by the title given to relegious scholars or men of wisdom, like “Khwaje”, “Hodja”, “Hoca”, “Hogea”, “Hodza”, “Chotzas”, “Mullah”, “Mulla”, “Molla”, “Maulana”.

Nasreddin is believed to have lived during the 11th and 14th century either in Anatolia or Persia. He is famous among the Islamic people as his stories are shared on pilgrimages to Mec. People in Morrocco, China and Central know him but under different names. There is a modern tomb built in his memory at Akşehir in Turkey. An international festival is dedicated to him. In Bukhara in Uzbekistan, there is a statue of him astride a donkey but bcakwards and he is gripping its tail (a traditional depiction).

Nasreddin, as can be percieved from the anecdotes about him, was a satirical and sardonic man who had a blunt nature. He was not afraid to use this on even the most tyrannical of sulatans. Thus, he represents the satire comedy of Central Asia and also mirrors the rebellious emotions of the public against the ruling dynasties. Although, Nasreddin was best known for his anecdotes, later on, whole stories and novels have been written about him.

Examples

Nasreddin was sitting on a river bank when somebody called out to him from the opposite side: - “Hey! how do I get across?” - ‘You are across!” Nasrudin shouted out.

A neighbour once came to Nasreddin Hoja's yard gate. He went out to meet him. “Would you mind, Hoja,” the neighbour asked, “to lend me your donkey today? I have some goods to transport to the next town.” The Hoja didn’t want to lend out his animal to that particular person, and so, not to appear rude, he answered : “I'm sorry, but I've already lent him to somebody else.” Suddenly the donkey’s braying was heard behind the wall of the yard. “You lied to me, Hoja!” the neighbour exclaimed. “There it is behind that wall!” “What do you mean?” the Hoja replied indignantly. “Whom would you rather believe, a donkey or your Hoja?”