Protecting the Minaret

Nasreddin Hodja was the imam at the time. One day, the people of Aksehir saw the Hodja tying a rope around the minaret of the mosque, and fastening it to the trunk of a large tree.

`Hodja Effendi, what are you doing?' they asked, totally baffled.

`I am securing the minaret,' the Hodja said, `so that nobody can steal it overnight.' The passers by were incredulous. They tried to reason with the Hodja.

`Hodja Effendi, if someone stole the minaret, where would he put it?'

`One who steals a minaret, prepares its case ahead of time!'