Khoja Nasr-ud-Dín was often consulted on all sorts of matters – matters of everyday occurrence, and matters strange and exceptional. Being more over, as we have seen, a wise man, his decisions were always accepted without a murmur. He said, "Do so and so," and that was sufficient. None questioned his decision, for he knew all things – had he not read the Koran? On one occasion three robbers came to him and submitted their case. It was an important case, for it concerned the disposal of a whole sack of wheat, think! They came to him and each told his story, and promised to abide by the holy man's decision.

The difficulty between them was that they could not agree over the division of the sack of wheat. Each claimed the greater share, on the ground that he had risked the most and done the most to secure the coveted booty.

One of them had learned that a sack of wheat had arrived from the country, and that it was stored in a peasant's cottage in the populous part of the village. He even knew, having followed the peasant, where the sack of wheat lay. On informing his companions of the possible booty, it was agreed, after much discussion, that their plan of action should be as follows: One of them should watch and give warning at the first sign of danger. The other, armed with a yatagan, was to dispatch the owner if he were awake. Should the owner happen to be asleep, this second robber was to stand over him with his weapon, ready to give him his death-blow, until such time as the sack of wheat was in a place of safety. The duty of the third robber was to bear off the sack of wheat.

Khoja Nasr-ud-Dín listened to all three versions of the story, and admitted that each of the thieves had had a very dangerous mission. He added that it would be very difficult for him to satisfy either them or himself, if he decided the matter as a man or as a kadi would decide it, so he would ask them whether they wished him to decide their case to the best of his ability as a man, or to decide it as Allah decides the rewards of man on earth. He did not know what Allah did in paradise, but if they approved of his deciding the matter as Allah decided such matters among men on earth, then he thought that he might satisfy them.

The thieves consulted among themselves and finally declared themselves content to let the holy man divide the spoils as Allah would, and not as a kadi or a man would, for they feared that this latter course might have involved legal considerations and precedents that were beyond them. Besides, the very mention of the word "kadi" may have made them feel uncomfortable.

The khoja contemplated long, and the robbers watched him with anxious eyes. Finally the holy man got up and, walking in a somnambulistic manner toward the sack, he put his hand into the mouth thereof, and, muttering to himself something which the thieves could not understand, he took out one single grain of wheat. With closed eyes, he said: "This is the way Allah distributes His favours to man on earth. You, Mustapha, take this one grain of wheat and be grateful!"

Then, filling his hand with grains, he turned to another of the litigants and said: "Ali, Allah apportions unto you this handful of wheat as your share for your evil doings. Few are so rewarded for deeds of this nature, but what you do receive, receive with gratitude; and who knows but that these grains, obtained by sin, may produce an abundant harvest of good works? If so, reap that harvest, my child, in thankfulness and repentance."

Finally, taking hold of the whole sack, he gave it to the third robber, saying: "To you, Mehmet, who watched at the corner, well out of harm's way, to you Allah gives this as a reward for the labour and the dangers which the others underwent. Now [opening his eyes], depart in peace all of you. Allah has given to many an unequal share, to many, undeservedly, the greater share; and to many who deserve much, the lesser share. But the ways of Allah are not the ways of man. Allah be with you! Go in peace, my children! I have distributed your booty among you after the example of Allah Himself, the Merciful, the Compassionate."

The two surprised and disappointed thieves realized the truth of this, and allowed Mehmet to carry the sack of wheat to his home.

And when they themselves prepared to depart the khoja admonished them that a soul becometh liable to destruction by that which it committeth. "Verily, O true believers," he said unto them, "I am one of those who counsel you aright. And is it not written in the perspicuous book that, if you reform not, you shall surely be of those who perish?