Once upon a time, in a land filled with wise stories and ancient traditions, there lived a man named Mamad, famous everywhere for never telling a lie. People from villages, towns, and even distant communities spoke of him with great respect because his words were always true and reliable. Everyone trusted him, and his reputation for honesty spread across the region. Mamad’s unwavering truthfulness made him a figure of admiration and authority, showing that integrity can be more powerful than strength or wealth.
One day, the king of the land heard about Mamad and grew curious. Could a man truly never lie? To test him, the king ordered his servants to bring Mamad to the royal palace. Standing before the king, Mamad looked calm and respectful as the ruler asked, “Mamad, is it true that you have never told a lie?” Mamad replied with certainty, “It is true.” The king pressed further, asking if he would never lie in his life, and Mamad confirmed calmly that he would not. The king warned him that lies can be cunning and slip into speech easily, but Mamad remained confident in his honesty.
A few days later, the king gathered a crowd and prepared to go hunting. While holding one foot in the stirrup of his horse, the king commanded Mamad to visit the summer palace and tell the queen that the king would arrive for lunch the next day and that she should prepare a grand feast. The king expected Mamad to lie because he planned not to come for lunch, hoping to prove Mamad’s honesty false.
Mamad bowed and set off carefully. When he reached the queen, he spoke only the truth he knew for certain: “Maybe you should prepare a great feast for lunch tomorrow, and maybe you should not. Maybe the king will arrive by noon, and maybe he will not.” The queen was puzzled and asked whether the king would arrive. Mamad replied honestly, “I do not know whether the king placed his foot in the stirrup or put it back on the ground after I left.” He refused to guess or assume, speaking strictly what he had observed.
The next day, the king arrived at the summer palace and proudly claimed that Mamad must have lied. However, when the queen repeated Mamad’s exact words, the king realized that Mamad had told the truth. He had reported only what he had seen without speculation. The king understood that true honesty means speaking only what you know for certain, and even the most powerful ruler can learn from such integrity.
In the end, the king honored Mamad and respected him deeply, recognizing that wisdom and truthfulness are more valuable than wealth or authority. Mamad’s story became a lasting lesson in trust, integrity, and the true meaning of honesty, showing generations that courage and wisdom are inseparable from speaking the truth.