Minaret Muslim Portal

One day Khodja and his students were on their way to their lesson. Khodja was sitting backwards on his donkey. “Khodja, they asked him “Why on earth do you sit that way? Isn’t it uncomfortable?” “If I sit the other way,” he answered, “you would all be behind me and we wouldn’t be face-to-face. Riding this way is better.”

One night a thief entered Khodja’s house and stole all kinds of things. After he left, Khodja grabbed the first thing he could put his hands on, which happened to be a strainer, and followed him out the door. He followed the thief all the way to his house, and even tried to go in after him. The surprised thief said, “What are you doing in my house?” “You’re bringing all our stuff here, Khodja said… I thought we were moving in, too?

The late Nasr al-Din Khodja was on his way to the village with his son. The boy was riding their donkey. They met two women on the road and they heard one say to the other.”Oh, for the days of youth! The boy rides in ease while his old father walks. Amazing!”
“Father,” the boy exclaimed, “you insisted I ride, didn’t you? Come on, don’t be stubborn. You ride the donkey!” and they went on down the road, Khodja riding, the youth walking, after awhile they met two old men limping alone. “Hey, old man!” they said,

“Your bones are already old and dry. You’ve got one foot in the grave. But this young sprout, does he deserve to dry up like you? Let him ride!” After they had passed, Khodja pulled his son up onto the donkey with him. They went along under the hot sun and then they came to a group of busy bodies sitting beside the road. “Oh, the cruelty! That poor animal. It’s too much, two people riding! The poor beast it’s about to die. Look at this guy, and he’s even a Khodja!” “Oh, for God’s sake,” Khodja said. He got off the donkey and they walked along together, driving the donkey in front of them. But in the next moment they encountered two men standing beside the road. 

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