A Rumi Tale of Dreams

In Which We Learn to Take the Cash and Let the Credit Go

A Jew, a Christian and a Muslim stopped at a Silk Road caravan-serai, whose keeper honored them with a gift of halva. The Muslim, who had been fasting, wanted to eat the sweet right away. His friends, however, had already eaten. They preferred to save the treat for the morning. After some argument, all agreed that the halva should be saved and that whoever had the best dream during the night should have it all.

In the morning, the Jew said that in his dream, Moses had taken him to a mountain and revealed to him wonders; therefore, he should have the halva. The Christian replied that in his dream, Jesus had taken him to the fourth sphere of heaven and showed him great secrets. Therefore he should have the halva, he said, because heavenly dreams were clearly better than earthly ones.