# Bahlool

Bahlūl (Arabic: بهلول) was the common name of Wāhab ibn Amr (Arabic: واهب ابن عمرو), a companion of Musa al-Kadhim. He lived in the time of the Caliph Hārūn al-Rashīd. Bahlūl was a well known judge and scholar who came from a wealthy background.
The Name 'Bahlul' literally means a laughing man. Mehtar Nikoroi and the leader of the people and the collector of all charities, and in non-Arab cultural areas such as Tajik, it means a fool and a fool, and in North Africa it means a simple-minded person, and maybe it is the same with the word Hubali/Bohali. The meaning is confused. Ibn Arabi, by mentioning its plural form (Bahalil), considered the historical Bahlool as an example of a type of madmen who lose their "reasons" due to "ward" and fall into the category of divine admirers. Majlesi also used it as an adjective in the meaning of clever and brave.

## Becoming Bahlūl

There are interesting and humorous stories about him that depict a wise but crazy personality and indicate his qualities such as contentment, disregard for power, anti-tyranny, gentleness of soul, presence of mind and attention to detail. There are different sayings about his obvious characteristic, that is, his madness and his motivation; The most famous speech is Imam Musa Kazim's advice to him to declare insanity in order to save himself and escape from the harassment of the Abbasid caliph and to create an escape route so that he would not be in a position where he would have to approve the fatwa of killing the Imam or judgment in general. In this way, Bahloul's insanity was a form of taqiyyah with political motives. But in mystical texts, the insanity of Bahloul and others like him is due to the overwhelming intoxication of divine love and an involuntary thing that makes their communication with other people difficult and sometimes impossible, and their words It looks crazy
The Caliph Hārūn al-Rashīd had begun a crackdown against the followers of the imprisoned Imam Musa al-Kadhim. Wāhab and a few others met the Imam and sought advice. Mūsá replied with the Arabic letter ﺝ (jīm). Each of these companions took their own interpretation of the letter: jala'u l-waṭan "exile", jabl "refuge in the mountains" and for Wāhab, junūn "madness, possession by the jinn". The next day, Wāhab left his wealthy life, wearing rags and came into the streets. Baghdadis soon dubbed him Bahlūl.
Bahlool was born in Kufa and his real name is Wahab bin Amr. Hārūn al-Rashīd feared for the safety of his Khalifate and Empire from the 7th Imam Musa Al-Kadhim; therefore, he tried to destroy the Imam. Harun thought of a trick by which he could kill the Imam. He put the blame of rebellion upon the Imam and demanded a judicial decree from the pious people of his time—which included Bahlool. Everyone gave the decree except Bahlool, who opposed the decision. He immediately went to the Imam and informed him of the circumstances, and asked for advice and guidance. Then and there the Imam told him to act insanely.
Because of the situation, Bahlool acted insanely as per the Imam's order. By doing this, he was saved from Harun's punishment. Now, without any fear of danger, and in amusing ways, Bahlool protected himself from tyrannies. He insulted the notorious Khalifa and his courtiers just by talking. Nevertheless, people acknowledged his superior wisdom and excellence. Even today many of his stories are narrated in assemblies and teach the listeners valuable lessons.
According to a more popular tradition, some of the Imam's companions and special friends came to him because the Khalifa was angry with them, and asked him for advice. The Imam answered with the sole letter (jim); all of them understood that that was it and asked no further questions.
Each person understood the Holy Imam's advice in his own different way. One person took (jim) to mean (jala'u l-waṭan) --exile. Another thought of (jabal) -- mountain. Bahlool took it to mean (junoon) -- insanity. This is how all of the Imam's companions were saved from calamity.
Before becoming insane, Bahlool lived a life of influence and power, but after obeying the Imam's order, he turned away from the majesty and splendor of the world. In reality, he became crazy. He dressed in rags, preferred desolate places over Haroun's palaces, lived on a bite of stale bread. He did not accept favors from or depend on Haroun or those like him. Bahlool considered himself better than the Khalifa and his courtiers because of his way of life. Most of Bahloul's advices are about the last day: think about your end, that the world is transitory; However, the other world is hardly beautiful. This idea has led to the creation of a beautiful and mystical piece describing the world of the hereafter. A debate about forgiveness has the smell of Sufism. Some stories show his cleverness in world affairs. (A Poem)
Those with kingly temperaments deserve respect from
the chiefs of the kingdom.
This is a ragged king whose slaves are great and powerful
kings like Jamsheed and Khaqan.
Today he overlooked the goodness of this world, tomorrow
he will not even give importance to Paradise.
Don't look scornfully at these beggars with no shoes on their feet!
They are dearer to wisdom than eyes which shed tears from
fear of Allah.
If Adam sold Paradise for two grains of wheat, then truly know
that these people will not buy it for even one grain.
Bahlool was devoted to Allah; he was an intelligent and virtuous scholar. He was the master of the mind and manners; he spoke with the best of answers ready on his lips; he protected his faith and the Shariah. Bahlool became insane at the Imam's command for the love of Ahl al-Bayt, and so he could enforce the rights of which they had been wronged.
There was no other way for Bahlool to protect his life. For example, Harun told his vizier, Yahya bin Khalid Barmaki, that listening to the words of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq's student Hisham bin Hakam—who proved Musa al-Kadhim's Imamate—was more dangerous to him than 100,000 swords. Harun said, "Even then it amazes me that Hisham is alive and I am in power."
Harun planned to kill Hisham. Hisham learned of this and fled from Kufa, and hid in a friend's house, but after a short while he died.

## In popular culture

* Bohlol Dana - A Sage of Baghdad is a 2010 Indian Hindi-language historical film about Bahlool directed by Abdul Qayyoom Khan.
* In 2017, Bahlul is played by Waseem Qazaq in The Imam.