Next to it was a tall stone tower, and from the top of the tower hung a massive heavy stone tied to a rope over a pulley.
If the rope was pulled from one side and released, the stone would crash down on anything below with full force.
The three men were: a scholar, a lawyer, and a philosopher.
First, the scholar was laid on the platform right under where the stone would fall. When asked for his last wish, he said, "I have complete faith in God. He gives life and takes it away. That's all I need to say."
As soon as the rope was released, the stone came crashing down — but stopped right above his head without touching him. Everyone was amazed. Because of his strong faith, the scholar's life was spared. The rope was pulled back up.
Next was the lawyer. He was placed on the platform, and when asked for his last wish, he said, "I am a lawyer of truth and justice. I am innocent, and I trust that my Lord will ensure justice is done."
Again, the rope was released. The stone fell with full force but stopped just above the lawyer's head. The executioners were stunned by this "justice," and the lawyer was safe too.
Finally, it was the philosopher's turn. When asked for his last wish, he said, "In this world, there is no God, and nothing saves anyone. God didn't save the scholar, and justice didn't save the lawyer. I have been watching carefully, and I noticed there's a knot in the rope above the pulley. That knot stops the rope from fully releasing, so the stone never falls completely."
When the executioners checked, there really was a knot in the rope. They untied it, and when they released the rope again, the stone fell with full force and crushed the philosopher's head.
The lesson:
Sometimes, even if you know a lot, staying quiet can actually be the wisest thing to do.