The tales told of Khoja Nasr-ud-Dín's adventures with robbers are very numerous, and are frequently quoted in conversation by Greeks, Turks, and Armenians.

One night the holy, but impecunious, man heard some one moving cautiously about his room, and, far from becoming alarmed, he cordially greeted the unknown and earnestly begged him to strike a light.

The thief was so startled at this unusual request that he betrayed himself, and asked in astonishment why the khoja wished him to strike a light.

"Oh, fear nothing," said the khoja in a reassuring tone, "I only wished to see your face that I might worship it, for truly you must be a very great man when you attempt to find in the dark what I am unable to find in the daytime, though I am constantly looking for it."

On another occasion a thief entered by night into the humble abode of the khoja, seized everything portable which it contained, made it all up into a bundle, placed this bundle on his back, and made off with it.

The khoja chanced, however, to see him going off, so he followed the thief till the latter reached his destination. This destination was the thiefs own house, and when the thief entered it the khoja went in after him, to the great alarm of the other, who asked the venerable man what he wanted.

Whereunto the khoja innocently replied by asking another question. "What?" said he; "Have we not moved to this house today?"

On still another occasion somebody robbed the khoja of a small sum of money. So in his prayers to Allah the holy man frequently alluded to the injustice whereof he was the victim. He even went to the mosque and made a great outcry, a pitiful outcry, and he kept it up not only the whole of that day but also the whole of the succeeding night. At last the people felt great compassion for the khoja, and somebody suggested that each should contribute as much as he conveniently could to the holy man's wants. A collection was accordingly made, and though small it exceeded the sum which had been stolen. The khoja wondered at this, and marvelled that Allah should have inspired strangers to take compassion on him in such a practical way. He repeatedly expressed his gratitude to the Most High, and wondered when Allah would again have compassion on him, for he did not think it a very painful occupation to weep all day and all night and in the end receive such handsome compensation.

An adventure that is very frequently told in fact it has given rise to a proverb in the East "Yorgan meselessi" (the question of the quilt) – deals with the manner in which the khoja lost his only quilt.

The khoja and his wife were in bed when a great noise and rushing about of people in the street outside disturbed their slumbers. The khoja listened to this commotion for a time without getting up, but finally his curiosity could no longer be restrained, so he wrapped the quilt around his shoulders and rushed off with the crowd. His wife screamed after him to return, but he continued to go with the crowd until suddenly a thief snatched the quilt off the khoja's back and made off with it. In a short time the khoja came back crestfallen and shivering with the cold.

"What was the row about?" asked his wife, burning with curiosity.

"Hush, woman!" returned the khoja in a feeble voice. "Don't you see that the whole question was about our quilt?"