The Sage Who Spoke Through Madness: The Life and Wit of Behlol Dana
Unveiling the stories of a noble jurist turned ‘madman’—who used divine wisdom, loyalty to the Ahlul Bayt (as), and clever satire to challenge tyranny from within the Abbasid court.
🕋 Who Was Behlol Dana?
Behlol Dana (Arabic: بهلول دانا), whose birth name was Wahab ibn Amr, was a respected scholar and jurist during the Abbasid era, a contemporary of Caliph Harun al-Rashid and a devout follower of Imam Musa al-Kazim (peace be upon him). Known for his eccentric behavior and satirical brilliance, he intentionally feigned madness to protect his life and speak the truth without fear of persecution.
His title “Dana,” meaning "the Wise," is a testament to his depth of intellect, though outwardly he was considered a fool. Yet behind every jest and parable was a thunderbolt of wisdom, often exposing the hypocrisy of rulers, scholars, and society.
📜 Behlol and Imam Musa al-Kazim (AS): A Turning Point
According to Shia sources, Behlol was among those close to Imam Musa al-Kazim (AS). When Harun al-Rashid began persecuting the Imam and pressuring scholars to issue fatwas against him, Behlol—faced with a moral crisis—turned to the Imam for guidance. The Imam gave him a cryptic answer:
"Ijtanib al-nas." (Avoid the people.)
"Iltamis al-najaat." (Seek salvation.)
Then the Imam said simply: "Jim."
Behlol interpreted this "ج" as junoon (madness) and immediately abandoned his position as a judge. He walked into the streets barefoot, disheveled, and began behaving like a madman. But under the cover of insanity, he fearlessly defended the truth and challenged the corruption of the caliphate—often through riddles, humour, and parables.
📚 Reference:
Allama Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 48, p. 290
Shaykh Abbas Qummi, Muntaha al-Amal, vol. 2
📖 The Wisdom Within Madness: Stories of Behlol Dana
🪑 The Throne Incident
One day, Behlol was seen sitting on the caliph’s throne while Harun was away. The guards dragged and beat him mercilessly.
Behlol smiled through the pain and said:
“Look at how you treat me just for sitting on this throne for a moment. Imagine how Allah will deal with Harun who has taken it for himself in arrogance!”
Harun was shaken when he heard this. Behlol had reminded him of Divine accountability—something even the caliph dared not ignore.
📦 The Empty Palace
Harun once asked Behlol:
“What do you think of my palace?”
Behlol replied:
“It’s beautiful, but it’s empty.”
“Empty?!” Harun exclaimed.
Behlol answered calmly:
“Where are your father and grandfather now? They too lived in palaces like this, and now lie buried in the earth.”
This subtle lesson reminded the tyrant of the fleeting nature of power.
🌾 The Clod of Earth
Once, Behlol saw the prominent jurist Abu Hanifa mocking Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq’s teachings—saying that some of the Imam’s narrations didn’t make sense logically.
Behlol threw a clod of earth at Abu Hanifa.
When questioned, he said:
“You say there’s no pain in the soul—only in the body. So how did you feel pain when I threw earth at you? The earth didn’t cut your flesh.”
Even the great jurist had no reply. Behlol, the ‘madman,’ had defended the Imam through a perfectly logical example.
📚 Reference:
Shaykh al-Tusi, Amali, Majlis 10
Al-Kashani, Tafsir al-Safi, under Surah Baqarah
🕯️ The Message Behind the Madness
Behlol’s entire life was a lesson in courage, humility, and loyalty. In an era where truth was dangerous, he chose madness over silence.
He lived in rags, rejected titles and luxuries, and spent his time among the poor and children. His outward “insanity” was his shield—and his sword. Through his stories, Behlol exposed:
The hypocrisy of scholars who sold their religion to rulers
The fragility of worldly power
The beauty of simplicity, sincerity, and justice
🪦 His Death and Legacy
Behlol passed away in Baghdad and is buried near the grave of Sheikh Junaid Baghdadi. His grave is visited by lovers of the Ahlul Bayt (AS) and seekers of spiritual insight.
His memory lives on in oral traditions, literature, and among scholars who recognise his brilliance. For Shia Muslims, Behlol is more than just a clever man—he’s a hero who protected the legacy of the Imams with his wit and unwavering love.
🔚 Final Reflection
In a time of tyranny, Behlol’s madness was his resistance. He reminds us that truth can be spoken in many forms—and sometimes, laughter is a deeper sword than rage.
“The madman of Kufa was saner than the caliph of Baghdad.”