Mulla Do Piyaza debating with a Shia through gestures
During the reign of Jahangir, a few Shias from Iran had come as
guests of the king. They challenged the people to a debate but
nobody was prepared to go forward since they were the royal guests.
Mulla Do Piyaza took up the challenge. The time for the debate was
announced and it was decided that the debate would be contested
through gestures.
When the time for the debate approached, Mulla Do Piyaza wore a
turban that was twenty hand spans long with its tail also being twenty
hand spans, carried by attendants from behind. He also carried a
large four cornered boulder wrapped in a casing as this was the book
eent-ul-bahr (stone of the ocean). If the need arose to provide any
references, this book would do the job.
As he ascended the stage, he placed his shoes before him. On seeing
this, the Shia asked:
Shia: Why do you show disrespect by bringing your shoes onto the
royal stage?
Mulla Do Piyaza: In the era of Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم , the Shias used to steal
shoes and I fear that today their progeny would do the same. That is
why I have placed my shoes before me.
Shia: Since when have the Shias existed in the era of Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم ?
Mulla Do Piyaza: I forgot. It was actually the Shias who lived
during the khilaafat of Hadhrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه
Shia: Shias did not exist at that time either.
Mulla Do Piyaza: Now I have remembered. They used to steal shoes
in the khilaafat of Hadhrat Umar رضي الله عنه.
Shia: They did not even exist at that time as well.
Mulla Do Piyaza: I am mistaken. They definitely existed in the
khilaafat of Hadhrat Uthman رضي الله عنه .
Shia: They were not in existence at that time as well.
Mulla Do Piyaza: Yes. I have now understood. What can one expect
of those who follow a religion that never existed in the era of
Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم or in the khilaafat of the first three khulafaa?
Thereafter the debate commenced. (It was to take place through gestures.)
The Shia showed one finger, Mulla Do Piyaza showed two fingers.
The Shia then showed five fingers, Mulla Do Piyaza showed him his
fist. The Shia then pulled out an egg and Mulla Do Piyaza pulled out
an onion. At this point, the debate terminated.
Later, the Shia said, “It seems that Mulla Do Piyaza is an expert in
debating. I showed him one finger indicating that we have to believe
in one Allah. He in turn showed me two fingers implying that only
believing in Allah is insufficient. One has to believe in Nabi as
well. I then showed him five fingers indicating towards panj tan
paak – five pure nobles (Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم , Hadhrat Ali, Faatimah, Hasan
and Husain( radiullah anhum ). He showed me his fist replying that all five of them
are together. They are not separate.
I pulled out an egg implying that this is the shape of the sky. He
pulled out an onion indicating that the sky is like an onion having
different levels.”
When Mulla Do Piyaza was asked about the debate, he replied,
“When the Shia showed me one finger I showed him two fingers
because he wanted to bust one of my eyes. Thus, I told him that I
would bust both his eyes. He then showed me five fingers indicating
that he wanted to slap me. In return, I showed him my fist telling him
that I would punch him. When he showed me the egg I pulled out the
onion because eggs cannot be eaten without onions.”
At times, it happens such that the speaker intends a certain thing
whereas the listener understands the total opposite.
Q: Was there really a person by the name of Mulla Do Piyaza?
A: Yes. There was a person by this name, but he was not that
famous. Many fabricated incidents are attributed to those who were
close to the kings.
Malfoozaat of Faqeeh-ul-Ummat
