companions were saved from calamity. Before becoming insane, Bahlool lived a life of influence and power, but after obeying the Imam's order, he turned away from the majesty and splendor of the world. In reality, he became crazy. He dressed in rags, preferred desolate places over Haroun's palaces, lived on a bite of stale bread. He did not accept favors from or depend on Haroun or those like him. Bahlool considered himself better than the Khalifa and his courtiers because of his way of life. (A Poem) Those with kingly temperaments deserve respect from the chiefs of the kingdom. This is a ragged king whose slaves are great and powerful kings like Jamsheed and Khaqan. Today he overlooked the goodness of this world, tomorrow he will not even give importance to Paradise. Don't look scornfully at these beggars with no shoes on their feet! They are dearer to wisdom than eyes which shed tears from fear of Allah. If Adam sold Paradise for two grains of wheat, then truly know that these people will not buy it for even one grain. Bahlool was devoted to Allah; he was an intelligent and virtuous scholar. He was the master of the mind and manners; he spoke with the best of answers ready on his lips; he protected his faith and the Shariah. Bahlool became insane at the Imam's command for the love of Ahl al-Bayt, and so he could enforce the rights of which they had been wronged. There was no other way for Bahlool to protect his life. For example, Harun told his vizier, Yahya bin Khalid Barmaki, that listening to the words of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq's student Hisham bin Hakam—who proved Musa al-Kadhim's Imamate—was more dangerous to him than 100,000 swords. Harun said, "Even then it amazes me that Hisham is alive and I am in power." Harun planned to kill Hisham. Hisham learned of this and fled from Kufa, and hid in a friend's house, but after a short while he died. In popular culture Bohlol Dana - A Sage of Baghdad is a 2010 Indian Hindi-language historical film about Bahlool directed by Abdul Qayyoom Khan. References External links Some Interesting Events from the Life of Bohlool Bahlool the Majnoon Bahlool Dana Stories of Bahlool Year of birth missing Year of death missing 8th-century people from the Abbasid Caliphate Scholars from the Abbasid Caliphate Iraqi Shia Muslims People from