Among the Yaghnobi, tales of cleverness and folly often walk hand in hand. Today’s story is not about saints or demons, but about one man’s attempt to pretend he was something he was not… and how a single mistake gave him away.
There was once a man who returned to the Yaghnob Valley after many seasons away.
“I have been on the Hajj!” he told the village.
A pilgrimage to Mecca — a sacred journey for any Muslim — is a sign of honor. Those who complete it are given the title “Haji”, and they are treated with deep respect.
The villagers, impressed, gathered to hear his tales.
He spoke of deserts, of caravans, of the great black stone. He described camel camps, distant cities, and prayers beneath vast skies.
But something didn’t feel right.
One day, an old shepherd approached him during a feast.
“Tell me, Haji,” the old man asked gently,
“Did you see the two great rivers on the road to Mecca — the ones that flow backward at night?”
The man hesitated.
“Yes, yes! Beautiful rivers,” he nodded.
The villagers stared. A long silence followed.
And then laughter erupted.
“There are no such rivers, fool! The old man just made them up!”
The lie was undone, not with a fight — but with a question. And the man, once honored as a pilgrim, was now known by another name:
“Ҳоҷии дурӯғгӯ” — The Lying Haji.
He never lived it down.
In many communities, especially rural and close-knit ones like Yaghnob, spiritual status carries real weight. Claiming to have made the pilgrimage is more than bragging — it shapes how others see you. To lie about it is not just foolish — it’s a form of betrayal.
And yet, the punishment here is not exile or violence. It’s laughter.
In Yaghnobi storytelling, public embarrassment is a kind of justice.
If you lie, and you are caught, the truth will echo.
Folktales like this are vital in keeping social values alive through humor. They make us consider: How do we judge each other? What do we expect from those who claim spiritual authority? And can a joke teach us more than a sermon?
In this case, the answer is yes.
Source:
Khromov, N. Yaghnobi Texts, Text IX — “Ҳоҷии дурӯғгӯ”