The Little Judge
Many hundreds of years ago, Harun El Rascid ruled the land of Persia. Instead of being called a king, he was known as a Caliph (pronounced Cae-lif). His palace was in the city of Baghdad, where there lived a merchant named Ali Cogia.
Ali Cogia’s Journey
At that time, many Persians made journeys to Mecca, their holy city, as it was part of their faith. Ali Cogia was among those eager to visit Mecca, but he knew that he would be away from Baghdad for a long time. To prepare, he decided to sell his business. Another merchant paid him two thousand gold coins for his shop.
Ali Cogia used one thousand of the coins to purchase goods for sale on his journey to Mecca. He then joined a camel train making the pilgrimage to the holy city. “I will not take the other thousand gold coins with me in case I am robbed,” he said. He stored them in a large clay jar, covering them with fresh olives that resembled small green plums.
Trusting a Friend
Ali Cogia took the jar to a friend’s house, who was a baker. “Tomorrow, I am going to Mecca,” he said. “Please look after this jar of olives until I return to Baghdad.”
“Of course,” the baker replied. “I will give you the keys to my warehouse, and you can store your jar wherever you wish inside it. It will be safe there.” Ali Cogia thanked his friend and secured his precious jar.
A Successful Trade
The next morning, Ali Cogia left Baghdad, riding one camel, followed by others loaded with goods destined for Mecca. He stayed longer than planned because he conducted excellent business, buying and selling many items. Encouraged by his success, he traveled even further, visiting cities such as Cairo and Damascus. For seven long years, he made a fruitful journey across lands.
A Baker’s Temptation
One evening in Baghdad, the baker realized he had no olives for his meal and remembered Ali Cogia’s jar. “Surely, after all this time, he will not return. Even if he did, I know he wouldn’t begrudge me a few olives,” he mused.
Despite his wife’s advice against taking them without Ali Cogia’s knowledge, the baker searched for the clay jar. Upon inspection, he found the olives dry and withered. To check their condition, he emptied the jar onto the floor, only to be astonished by the sight of glittering gold coins spilling around him. He quickly returned to his wife, deciding against taking any olives.
The Discovery of the Missing Gold
The next morning, the baker greedily took the gold coins from the jar, refilled it with fresh olives, and returned it to its original spot. Exactly one month later, Ali Cogia arrived at the baker’s house to claim his jar of olives. “It is where you left it,” the baker assured him.
However, when Ali Cogia opened the jar, he discovered that the gold was missing. He promptly returned to the baker, saying, “I left one thousand gold coins in that jar, and now they are gone. If you needed them, I am not angry. You may repay me whenever you can.”
A Quest for Justice
Despite Ali Cogia’s kindness, the baker denied knowing anything about the money, angering Ali Cogia. “Very well, I shall take my case to the Cadi,” he declared. The Cadi, the magistrate of Baghdad, was known for his wisdom. Yet, even before him, the baker insisted he knew nothing of the gold.
<p“There is no evidence against the baker,” the Cadi concluded. “Therefore, if he swears he is innocent, I will let him go.” The baker swore his innocence and was allowed to leave.
A Young Judge
That evening, Caliph Harun El Rascid passed a poor courtyard and heard some boys playing. “I will be the Cadi!” shouted one lively lad. “Bring the baker and Ali Cogia to me!” Two boys pretended to be the baker and Ali Cogia, brought before the make-believe Cadi.
The young Cadi asked to taste the olives from the clay jar. After tasting one, he remarked, “This is a very juicy olive! How have you kept it fresh for seven years, baker? My experts tell me these olives in Ali Cogia’s jar could not be more than a few months old.” He then pronounced the sentence: “Accused, you have lied and deserve no mercy. You will be executed.”
The Caliph’s Interest
The next morning, the Caliph sent an official to fetch the boy who played the Cadi. The boy, named Hamid, was scared but was assured that the Caliph only wanted to talk. Dressed in his best clothes, he went to the palace.
In the throne room, Caliph Harun El Rascid explained to Hamid that he had heard the game the previous night. “Today, you will see the real Cadi and the real baker and merchant. Come, sit beside me,” said the Caliph.
The True Trial
Once everyone was ready for the trial, the Caliph announced that young Hamid would judge the case. He listened attentively as the baker and Ali Cogia presented their stories. Then, mimicking his previous game, Hamid tasted the olives. However, this time the Caliph called upon real experts, who affirmed the olives were just a few months old. Consequently, the baker was forced to confess.
Lessons Learned
The Caliph deemed the baker’s shame as sufficient punishment, ordering him to repay the gold to Ali Cogia, which he did. The real Cadi felt embarrassed, having seen that a young boy had displayed greater wisdom than he had. The Cadi vowed to act more judiciously in the future.
The Caliph thanked Hamid and sent him home with a present. “I am so grateful,” said the Caliph, “because now, I’ve learned that wisdom can come from the most unexpected places.”