One day, Mullah Nasruddin and the emperor were debating the nature of the truth. According to Tamerlane, the truth is a simple thing: what a person says is true, or it is not.
Nasruddin disagreed. "It is not always so easy to say what is and is not the truth, Your Majesty."
"Nonsense," said the emperor. "I am the emperor, and I can command that my people tell the truth. This shall be the new law: anyone wishing to enter the imperial city must tell the truth to the guard at the gate. And the penalty for not being truthful shall be death by hanging!"
Accordingly, the king set up a gallows right outside the city gate. Anyone wishing to enter the gate had to answer the guard's question truthfully; if not, the guard would hang the liar there on the gallows.
Nasruddin was the first person to present himself at the gate of the city next morning. Tamerlane was also present, eager to observe the truthfulness of his people.
"Good morning," Nasruddin said as he presented himself to the guard at the gate.
"Good morning to you!" said the guard. "To enter the city, you must answer this question truthfully: where are you going?"
"I am going," Nasruddin said solemnly, "to be hanged."
The guard stared at him closely. "Surely you are not telling the truth! I do not believe that is the truth at all."
"If I do not speak the truth," Nasruddin replied, "you must hang me."
The guard looked to the emperor for guidance, while Nasruddin smiled contentedly.
"You see, Your Greatness, the truth is not so simple as you thought."
Tamerlane had to laugh, and he ordered the guard to take down the gallows.
Notes: I included this story in Witty Tales, version 1 (December 2019): 159. Nasruddin and the Truth.
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