Mulla and his son were riding the donkey to the town market. A group of people passed. Mulla heard them whisper:

"What times are these ? Look at those two, have no mercy on the poor animal!"

Mulla, hearing this, tells his son to get off and continue the journey on foot. Another group of people passing by and seeing this comment :

"What times are these ? Look at this man. His poor son with his frail body has to walk while he at his best age is riding the donkey!”

Hearing this, Mulla tells his son to ride the donkey and he himself gets off to walk the rest of the way. A third group of people seeing this remark :

"What times are these ? This young man is riding the donkey while his sickly old father has to walk!”

Hearing this, Mulla tells his son to get off the animal and they both walk with the donkey trailing behind. Another group passing by point to them, laughing:

"Look at these idiots. They have a donkey and they are walking all the way to the market!!!"