Master Nasruddin is closely modelled after the Mullah Nasruddin figure from classical Arabian Nights literature.  As far as I know he has not been woven into a fictional tale before but I have included him just the same as an example of what Sufis call majdub, a person so attracted by the divine that they seem a little mad, but they are benevolent and essentially harmless.  Master Nasruddin is included in the story to give some background to the traditional world feel of the novel and make homage to the wisdom of the idiots.

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In our story wisdom is not only held by lofty and arrogant scholars but by those who appear tattered, addled and distracted, yet this is but a guise.  The truly inspired can be somewhat hidden and reveal themselves only to the prepared.  Master Nasruddin is a member of the Al Chemya faculty but he is not alone in his notoriety.  Al Chemya has attracted a wide array of very famous teachers and figures from the Golden Age of Islam whom we will learn more about soon.

If Mullah Nasruddin is one of  your favourite figures you will not be disappointed to see him appear in our story both in this book and later in the series but do not mistake him for just a comical and inconsequential figure.  Despite his humour Master Nasruddin is so much more than he seems and is able to crack the most stubborn nuts at Al Chemya and we will begin to suspect that his humour is just a veil for his true reality.