Zawaj.com's Islamic Humor Files

Goha is as Strong as Ever

Editor's Note: Some call him Goha or Joha, the Turks call him Hodja, the Afghanis call him Mullah Nasruddin, while the Persians call him simply Mollah or Nasrullah. Regardless of what you call him, this wise, mysterious and sarcastic figure has been a fixture of Middle Eastern stories for centuries.

Goha was sitting in a gathering of men of all ages, drinking tea. Some of the men were discussing the merits of youth versus old age. They had all agreed that the disadvantage of getting old is that a man's strength decreases as years go by. Goha, however, disagreed.

"I don't agree with you gentlemen, he said. In my old age I have the same strength as I had in the prime of my youth."

"How do you mean, Goha? asked somebody. Explain yourself."

"In my courtyard," explained Goha, "there is a massive stone. In my youth I used to try and lift it. I never succeeded. Nor can I lift it now."

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