The Eight Loaves
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Ibn al-Jawzi has a whole chapter on the intelligence of the companions. And one of the most famous puzzles is told about Ali.
It is told that two men sat down to eat together. One had five loaves of bread. The other had three. A third man passed by, and they invited him to join them. The three of them shared all eight loaves equally. When they finished, the guest thanked them and left them eight silver coins.
The man with five loaves said: I will take five coins, and you take three. But the man with three loaves refused. We should split it equally, four and four.
They brought the case to Ali. He said to the man with three loaves: Your friend has offered you three. Take it. It is better for you. But the man insisted on his right.
Then Ali said: If you want the exact truth, you deserve only one coin.
Everyone was astonished. And Ali explained. Each loaf was divided into three parts, so there were twenty-four pieces. Each man ate eight. The man with three loaves had nine pieces, and ate eight of them, so he gave the guest only one piece. The man with five loaves had fifteen pieces, ate eight, and gave the guest seven.
Seven pieces, seven coins. One piece, one coin. Sometimes, demanding more than you are offered shows that you deserve even less.
