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Nasruddin and the tourist

Mullah Nasruddin went on a pilgrimage to Mecca, and on the way he passed through
Medina. As he was walking by the main mosque there, a rather confused looking tourist
approached him. "Excuse me sir," said the tourist, "but you look like
a native of these parts; can you tell me something about this mosque? It looks very
old and important, but I've lost my guidebook."

Nasruddin, being too proud to admit that he, too, had no idea what it was, immediately
began an enthusiastic explanation. "This is indeed a very old and special mosque."
he declared, "It was built by Alexander the Great to commemorate his conquest
of Arabia."

The tourist was suitably impressed, but presently a look of doubt crossed his face.
"But how can that be?" he asked, "I'm sure that Alexander was a Greek
or something, not a Muslim. . . Wasn't he?"

"I can see that you know something of these matters." replied Nasruddin
with chagrin, "In fact, Alexander was so impressed at his good fortune in war
that he converted to Islam in order to show his gratitude to God."

"Oh, wow." said the tourist, then paused. "Hey, but surely there was
no such thing as Islam in Alexander's time?"

"An excellent point! It is truly gratifying to meet a visitor who understands
our history so well," answered Nasruddin. "As a matter of fact, he was
so overwhelmed by the generosity God had shown him that as soon as the fighting was
over he began a new religion, and became the founder of Islam."

The tourist looked at the mosque with new respect, but before Nasruddin could quietly
slip into the passing crowd, another problem occurred to him. "But wasn't the
founder of Islam named Mohammed? I mean, that's what I read in a book; at least I'm
sure it wasn't Alexander."

"I can see that you are a scholar of some learning," said Nasruddin, "I
was just getting to that. Alexander felt that he could properly dedicate himself
to his new life as a prophet only by adopting a new identity. So, he gave up his
old name and for the rest of his life called himself Mohammed."

"Really?" wondered the tourist, "That's amazing! But...but I thought
that Alexander the Great lived a long time before Mohammed? Is that right?"

"Certainly not!" answered the Mullah, "You're thinking of a different
Alexander the Great. I'm talking about the one named Mohammed."