A charlatan spun a tale that he was a descendant of Ali and arrived in a city with a caravan from Hejaz, claiming to be returning from pilgrimage, and presented a poem to the king, claiming he had written it.

The king bestowed much wealth upon him and honored him. Until one of the king's courtiers, who had returned from a sea voyage that year, said: I saw him in Basra on Eid al-Adha! It became clear that he was not a pilgrim. Another said: His father was a Christian in Malatya, so how can he claim to be a Sharif (descendant of the Prophet)? And his poem was found in the Divan of Anvari.

The king ordered him to be beaten and exiled for telling so many blatant lies.

He said: O lord of the earth! Let me tell you one more thing in your service; if it is not true, I deserve any punishment you decree.

He said: Tell me what it is?

He said:

If a stranger offers you yogurt

It is two measures of water and one spoonful of buttermilk.

If you want the truth, hear it from me

Many a worldly-wise person tells lies.

The king laughed and said: He has not spoken a truer word in his entire life.

He ordered that whatever he desired be provided for him and that he leave in peace.