Needs

After the friday prayers, our hero is seen leaving the mosque and approaching a beggar performing his daily duties: giving the better off and rich people an occasion for charity, a very honourable profession.

"Do you like luxuries?" Nasrudin inquired "Yes, indeed, Mullah, I do" was the charity workers reply.
"And you also enjoy a good company with friends, coffee and smoking?" "O yes, very much so..."
"Of course you appreciate a daily bath and massage, do you?" "Of course, sir!"
"And sometimes, you go for special pleasures, all human...?" "O yes, all of it..."

"Hm. O very well so..." The Mullah nodded and silently passed him three golden coins.

Another beggar, performing the very same duties a few yards down the road, couldn't help but overhear the conversation and saw his chance coming. When the Mullah reached him, he asked the same questions.

"Do you like luxuries?" "No, I don't"
"And you also enjoy a good company with friends, coffee and smoking?" "Not at all..."
"Of course you appreciate a daily bath and massage, do you?" "No, Mullah, no!"
"And sometimes, you go for special pleasures, all human...?" "No, my pleasure's a modest life in prayers."

So the Mullah nodded and silently passed him a small copper coin.

The beggar whined: "How come" he demanded "I, an econimical man devoted to prayers and submission, am only given one single tiny copper coin, whereas this squandering and voluptuous sinner receives gold?"

‘Ah,’ replied the Mulla, ‘his needs are greater than yours.’

[with special gratitude to my SEC Irving ]