
# Stories of the Scholar Mohammad Amin Sheikho

His Life, His Deeds, His Way to Al'lah

(1890-1964)

The Great Humane Eminent Scholar

Mohammad Amin Sheikho

(His soul has been sanctified by Al'lah)

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Checked and Introduced by

Prof. A. K. John Alias Al-Dayrani

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Published by

Amin-sheikho.com at Smashwords.com

Copyright © Amin-sheikho.com

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# Introduction

You may wonder, as do I, and as do people everywhere: how could this great scholar have gained access to such truth, when all of the earlier scholars and the great guides and imams failed to do so? I would reply to you: a person has nothing except what they strive for.

Indeed, people are differentiated through their actions. This is true even for the Envoys (Messengers) and noble Prophets... and there will be a different level for everyone according to their deeds in this world.

Our own great scholar M. A. Sheikho was given awareness and understanding by Al'lah, and he was distinguished by his outstanding deeds and his great and humane sacrifices. Al'lah did not give him anything except that which he deserved. God says, "And We sent it down deservedly, and with righteousness it came down."[1]

# Part One

## A Glimpse into the Life of the Eminent Scholar M. Amin Sheikho (His soul has been sanctified by Al'lah)

### His Honourable Birth

A splendid full moon appeared over Damascus on a blessed night in 1890 when a baby son was born to a Damascene merchant and his wife... surely a portent of good news! The father loved his son very much because of his admirable and bright companionship, and because, for him, he resembled the full moon in all its heavenly beauty.

All during his young years, the son was an active, clever, and lively child; and his constant cheerfulness and joy radiated out to all those around him, creating a great sense of well-being in them too. Day by day he grew bigger and stronger, and showed an ever increasing level of intelligence and strength of personality, which led his devoted parents to become ever more deeply attached to him. They adored the child and cared for him with great love, affection and understanding. Sadly, however, his loving father died at a young age after suffering an exhausting and painful illness.

The entire family was greatly affected by the death of their husband and father, for he left behind a widow and two sons to grieve his passing. He was also sorely missed by his friends and colleagues for he was a good and honest man. The child, Mohammad Amin was not yet seven years of age when he took on the responsibility of protecting his mother and defending her against the difficulties which surrounded his family after the death of his father, and the departure of his brother Saleem to Turkey.

Even as the only child Mohammad Amin was distinguished for his serenity when faced with the many problems of life. Patiently he bore difficulties that powerful men might never have been able to deal with, because he was a member of a small, respectable family that had faced much adversity.

### A Distinguished Young Man and a Glimpse at His Deeds

Because of his honourable lineage that is linked directly to the great Envoy [2]Mohammad (cpth)[3] he had direct access to the hierarchy of the ruling Turkish state of the time, which entitled his family to reside in Sarouja Quarter, known as 'Little Istanbul', a residential quarter reserved then for Turkish statesmen. This connection also enabled him to study at Amber, the Royal Ottoman Faculty for police officers in Damascus.

Mohammad Amin completed his studies when he was eighteen years old and graduated with the rank of police officer. He was far superior to his colleagues insomuch as he displayed extreme courage, trust, and integrity; also his perseverance and dedication to hard work led to distinction. Succesively, he became the commanding officer of many of the police stations in various districts of Damascus, thus eliminating the criminal and political chaos rampant in the city at that time. Thereafter he was

appointed as the chief of police in a succession of small towns away from the capital city, where, yet again he established law and order in his unfailing way. In recognition of his professional ability and success he was eventually appointed to the position of director of the citadel of Damascus where the central prison was located. He was a great example to all, for no sooner had he taken up each new position than peace and safety prevailed throughout the entire area under his administration.

By day and by night he was constantly alert and prepared to protect and defend his country.

Whenever the state was confronted by any lawlessness or atrocity, his assistance would be requested. When all manner of evil such as killing, corruption and criminality spread across a region, he was their hope, their saviour, the man they could always rely on to resolve a dangerous situation and liberate people from oppression.

When decay began to nibble at the body of the Turkish state, and the light of Islam was dimmed, corruption and chaos prevailed all over the country to the extent that the level of crime became overwhelming; life became difficult, the daytime was fraught with danger, and the darkness of the night covered many horrific crimes; except in Damascus! Damascus, its suburbs and surrounding countryside, was a haven of calm and safety under the ever watchful eye of the eminent officer Mohammad Amin, whose life was dedicated to peace.

In his work he dauntlessly faced numerous criminals, showing superior courage and audacity, besieging many guerrillas and arresting their leaders. All of the tasks he undertook in the line of duty culminated in success and further support and he was given the nickname Aslan, meaning 'the Lion', for his fearlessness in facing adversity. With the Help of God, he was the only officer possessing the courage to confront injustice and terrorism. Fearing his bravery, criminals would surrender to him, and beg for his mercy and compassion.

He rose through the ranks and was moved from one police station to another until eventually he was appointed director of the citadel of Damascus, which contained the city's warehouses and prisons. He held this position for many years during which he achieved great distinction and demonstrated a level of bravery, the like of which Damascus had never seen before. He took audacious measures when, during the First World War, he freed thousands of prisoners facing the death sentence and put them in the army front lines to defend the country against the invading enemy. This singular decision was the reason that all gallows throughout the country could be demolished. These gallows had originally been constructed on the orders of Jamal Pasha, the Ottoman governor of Syria, known as 'the Butcher' for his brutal acts. They were placed prominently in marketplaces and neighbourhoods across the country and were used, rightly or wrongly, to snuff out the lives of hundreds of young men every day. For that reason he was frequently exposed to the threat of death. Thus, by His Greatness, His Mercy, and His Assistance, Al'lah saved Mohammad Amin by enabling him to have this innovative idea.

During the French mandate of Syria 1920–1946, as he was a trusted civil security officer, he was returned to his former position as the director of a district or the chief of a police station, until the great Syrian revolution took place. At this time, due to his love for God and his noble wish to serve his country, he became the incomparable driving force of the revolutionaries and the life blood of the revolution. In recognition of his sincerity and commitment to their cause the revolutionaries put the seal ring into his trustworthy hands. He unnerved the French forces with the astounding tactics that he employed to turn retreat into victory. The French forces were further infuriated when he showed his sympathy to the revolutionaries and arranged, to the benefit of the revolutionaries, the greatest arms transfer between France and Greater Syria.

At that time the French had appointed him to the prestigious position of director of Anjar Castle (in Lebanon) where they had stored a great amount of arms. One dark night, Officer Sheikho handed over these arms to the revolutionaries. General Catroux, the governor of Syria at that time, was totally enraged and ordered that Mohammad Amin be executed, but the Almighty God saved him and his accomplice through His Complete Words, and the French came to trust and respect him again despite their original error of judgement.

### Guidance and Invitation to Al'lah

When Mohammad was forty years old, God revealed to him the full knowledge of all things, that is, His Omniscience.

He began to envision and to hear the Prophet's recitation of al-Fatiha (the Opening) Fortress[4]while he waspraying to God. After that he started to guide his disciples, undertaking this great task with unparalleled strength andgreat worthiness.He used to be called 'Amin Bey' for 'Bey'[5]is a Turkish word meaning 'the pure'. His salon attracted the flower of the youth of Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq, who came asking tobathe in his Mohammadan well of wisdom. Here they found a rich, dignified and generous spiritual sanctuary.

'It is sufficient that your noble deeds are mentioned, for us to know that you are the shining example to all of us.'

### A Glimpse of Mohammad Amin's Invitation to Al'lah – His Revelation

Mohammad Amin's blessed gatherings were distinguished by his captivating and unique revelations which he explained perfectly with plain and realistic meanings. His words flew like an arrow that always hit the target and fell peacefully on the hearts of the listeners, and was like a light that charmed them into allowing their spirits to soar higher and higher.

He drove away darkness, ripped apart all contradiction, and finally obliterated the schools of intrigue and empty debate which created a mental chasm between the people and their God. He made them aware of the reality of God, and the consummation of His Qualities: a Merciful God, Compassionate, Wise, Fair, Conferrer of benefit, Giver, and that He deserved to be worshipped for Himself for He is the Owner of Beauty and Consummation. He should be praised even if a man suffers something harmful because this harm results in a cure and assistance from God. Al'lah has no need of any part of creation nor of man's allegiance and obedience, because He is Rich and we are poor; our obedience to Him is solely for our own good and benefit. We need to enter His Presence through prayer and good deeds in order to enter the shining stronghold of faith, and to be protected from misfortune and adversity.

The history of Mohammad Amin's acclaimed life is full of meaning and is a perfect structure for the wonderful revelation that he brought: a revelation which contained facts at which heads bowed in great respect. The reality of his life was like a light: his own behaviour was proof and his true practical application of God's Word was a guide. His revelation was without equal in world civilizations and the positive laws of contemporary life.

Why are we created?

What is this universe for?

What is the use of religious rituals?

What is the reason for fasting, followed by eating in Ramadan?

What does prayer achieve? And what are its benefits?

Why go on pilgrimage to a dry and barren desert?

Why were we brought into existence?

Where were we before coming to this earth?

What is death for? And what really comes after it? What is the spirit?

What is the soul?

What is the mind? What is Paradise? What is Hell?

What about the question of fate?

What is the pre-material world (the world of spirits)?

People have not allowed themselves to ask these questions because they were taken up with the temptations and deceptions of this human world, and they forgot to search in the files of existence to discover the secrets it holds.

In one of his meetings with other Western scientists, the famous English scientist, Sir John Bennett, a contemporary of Mohammad Amin, said, 'Indeed, all the sciences that we have obtained do not equal the sea of sciences of that great scholar in the Orient.'

His invitation to follow God's Path is based on a course of action that never fails, "Say, 'This is my way: I, and whoever follows me, invite you to Al'lah with certainty, for Al'lah is Glorified and Exalted. And I am not one of those who worship many gods.' "[6] After Mohammad Amin received such a message through this honourable Ayah (verse), he began to ask for God's Guidance for all mankind and continued to do so for a period lasting more than thirty years, concentrating on the following points:

1 Advising people how to achieve consummation with the Almighty God; demonstrating His Mercy to His servants; and His Justice towards His creation.

2 He discredited all the immorality that remained in the minds of humans, and whatever else that acted against Godly Justice, Clemency, Mercy, and all Godly Perfection. In all things M. A. Sheikho was guided by the Word of God, "And all the most Beautiful Names (Attributes) belong to Al'lah, so call on Him by these Names, and do not keep company with those who deny His Names. They will be paid back for what they have done."[7]

3 Revealing the fulfillments of the Envoys (ptt), [8]whose purity and flawless spirits God guaranteed in His Glorious Book (the Qur'an), and He made them the ultimate role models and guides for all the worlds [9]as mentioned in Mohammad Amin's book, Impeccability of Prophets, the like of which could only have come

through God and could never have been written by his predecessors. He refuted all falsehood or interpretation that disagreed with the Envoys' high spiritual worth and their flawless adherence to the Word of God, relying on the Qur'anic verse, "They are the ones who are guided by Al'lah, so follow their guidance." [10]

4 Calling people to adhere to the highest principles and truly to attain the devotion to God (as witnessed by Al'lah's Light), besides warning people not to let their spirits follow their capricious whims, nor to depend upon worthless wishes but turn to the Word of God, "It will not be according to your desires, nor to those of the people of the scripture; whoever does evil, will receive the appropriate payment, and he will find no one except God to protect or help."[11]

And also calling on the tradition of the Envoy (cpth), "The discerning person is one who knows his own faults and works towards what comes after death; and the disabled person is one who follows his own whims and asks God to grant whatever he wishes for."

5 Guiding people to the steps of true faith that the Envoy (cpth) showed to his noble companions: steps which were derived from the Book of God. No person's heart can be full of the joy of faith unless they follow God's Order and are self-disciplined so as not to commit sins. God mentioned this in His noble Saying, "And whoever believes in God, will have his heart guided by Him."[12]

6 Revering God's Envoy (cpth), glorifying him, and demonstrating the eminent position in which Al'lah holds him; then guiding them towards the way of his love (cpth) and revealing what benefits come from loving that pure, virtuous spirit, are twofold: man will enter into Al'lah's Presence through him; and if man's spirit is joined to the Envoy (cpth) through the perfection which comes to him from God, he will be tinted with perfection, according to the Almighty's Saying, "So those who believe in him, honour him, help him, and follow the light sent down through him, will be the ones to gain."[13]

The years that this pure man spent striving and seekingcloseness to Al'lah were of the greatest benefit. And through this closeness to God he achieved great prominence and fulfillment; he brought about wonderful things, undertook work that was full of bitter conflict, and made great humane sacrifices. So his life was the greatest example of perfect behaviour, in that he supported what is right through the unequalled heroic deeds that he did to defeat and destroy all falsehood.

Mohammad Amin devoted his valuable life to the service of mankind. He fought against the passing of time and radiated light as did the sun in the sky. At his hands, the dark, shadowy Damascus nights seemed as bright as day because of the glittering light of his works and the blessed grace brought by his sacrifices. He worked tirelessly, by night and by day, taking little time to rest. He rarely closed his eyes except to take short naps as his over-riding driving force was to save his human brethren who were mired in spiritual sorrow and pain. He gave no thought to the risks and dangers he faced, knowing that he might be punished or even put to death for his teaching and endeavours to lead mankind to God. He made many concessions and despite his previous wealth, he became penniless. Due to Mohammad Amin's unique virtue it is no wonder that God chose to reveal to him that clear revelation one divine night so that he could witness the Realm of God and his spirit could rise to the sacred lofty worlds of Mohammad (cpth) which were prepared for him because of his truthfulness, endeavours and great sacrifice undertaken to bring the Word of God to mankind. Similarly, anyone who does their utmost to follow this example and is honest in their love and their quest for God and the Envoy (cpth), will find the door open for them along with all their comrades, if they too choose to follow this path.

### Joining the Highest Comrade – the Death of Mohammad Amin

In this wonderful way, Mohammad Amin spent a beneficial life, brimming with the knowledge of God, that makes the heart feel secure, and without which humankind will never achieve true happiness. He was like a lamp that lit generations on their path towards achieving bliss through the Book of God (the Qur'an), and the light that guided mankind to great joy, fulfillment, integrity, and the virtuous life that comes only from knowing God. He carried out this unique work until he left this world to join Al'lah, man's highest Comrade, during the first days of Rabi' al-Thani in the year 1384 A.H. (1964 A.D.). He was buried in the cemetery of God's Prophet, Dhi al-Kifl, in the al-Salhiyeh district of Damascus.

God says, "And who can say anything better than the one who invites others to follow the Words of Al'lah, does good deeds, and states: 'I am a Muslim'."[14]

## The Great Saint

Once upon a time, more than one hundred years ago, people lived a simple and happy life. Their Arab houses were made of clay and built around large inner courtyards; the rooms were lit by oil lanterns at night, since there was no electricity at that time.

The courtyards were adorned with beds of fragrant, colourful flowers; roses and all manner of other sweet- smelling plants were irrigated by the musical sounds of trickling streams that lifted the spirits and delighted the eyes.

Surrounding the houses were beautiful orchards full of fragrant flowers and tall trees which cast welcome shade on the ground beneath their spreading branches. Life was good, the rains were abundant, and the earth gave generously of its produce. People slept early and rose at dawn to pray; there was no excessive noise, no pollution from cars or factories, and no traffic accidents or unforeseen disasters. Tranquility and peace prevailed; people lived in harmony with each other and were united for the common good.

This was the time during which our story is set.

Ismael, the hajji [15]was pacing the hallway waiting impatiently for the imminent birth of his child. He was a noteworthy, religious merchant, a man of high principles and excellent conduct. He was truly noble and generous, and a man of great courage.

Within a few hours, his wife Um Saleem[16] their son, easily and with little pain.It was a boy! gave birth to A new child had come into this world: his beauty surpassed even that of the full moon and was without any equal. When he was informed of this happy news, Ismael the hajji was overjoyed.

Um Saleem said, 'Al'lah has just given you a male child... he is more beautiful than the moon... so, what will you name him?'

He said, 'Thank God... thank God, all praise is to God. His name will be Mohammad Amin, if it pleases God.'

The young master Mohammad Amin grew up basking in his mother's love, and enveloped by his father's tender feelings.

He was greatly admired by all who had the good fortune to meet him, and was showered with gifts.

As the baby grew into boyhood his father continued to

dote on him so much that every morning before leaving his house to go to work, he used to give the child's mother awhole majeedi [17]coin, which was equal to half a golden lira, saying, 'Um Saleem, take this majeedi as pocket money for our son today. Give it to him when he goes out to play in the neighbourhood.'

She would take the money and hide it.

When it was time for the adventurous child to go out, he would come to his mother and hold out his hand without saying a word, and so she would put the majeedi coin into his sweet little hand. Then she would bend down and kiss him, telling him to take care of himself, so that he would come to no harm.

After receiving his spending money, he would dash off to his little friends, who greeted him warmly. This was no wonder, as he was their kind champion, and an intelligent and brilliant leader.

When the young Amin looked at those of his friends who were poor, he always had a feeling of great compassion for them, and so he used to see what they needed and provide it for them. He would also give small coins to other friends, until most of his daily allowance was spent on his companions and chums.

What an excellent, generous and benevolent companion he was!

He did not go home until his pocket was empty, having spent most, or all, of his money on his young friends.

This pure, gentle child continued this benevolent habit until he was seven years old.

One day Ismael, the hajji, arrived home from work earlier than usual, groaning painfully because he felt extremely unwell.

When his son came in, he called him, so the young lad presented himself before his father: 'Yes, father, what would you like me to do?'

Ismael said, 'My dear son! Come here...'

Then, with his eyes full of tears he gave him a look filled with love, mercy and compassion. He pressed his beloved child to his chest and called on God his Provider in a voice full of hope and supplication, saying, 'Oh, my Provider! I raised my other young son, Saleem, myself, but would You please raise this child (young Mohammad Amin), because I know I will not be able to do it?'

Ismael had realised that his time of death was drawing near, and a short time later he died and left this world in order to be close to Al'lah, his Provider.

His departure from this world meant that the young child and his mother were left alone in the house with no-one to care for them, as the elder son, Saleem, had left the family home after graduating from the Royal Military College.

Ismael's wife was grief-stricken because of the death of her husband, the man of the house.

She sat alone with her young child, gazing at him with sad, tearful eyes. Her deep sorrow was reflected in his beautiful green eyes, so that she believed that he, too, was feeling the same anguish. It was painful for her to see him in that state, although the truth was that he was not sad, as due to his tender years he did not fully understand the significance of the calamity. In fact she was the only one to feel this sorrow on the death of her husband.

Nonetheless, she thought that he was suffering from the bitterness of his father's parting, just as she was.

That is why this loving mother set about trying to recall a short story to tell her beloved little child, so as to lighten the sadness that she thought he was feeling.

She pondered for quite some time until finally she remembered just two incidents that had made her late husband very happy. Then she took the child to his bed, sat beside him, and started to relate the first story, saying, 'My beloved son, the delight of my eyes, seven years ago, when I was pregnant with you, during the last months of my pregnancy I went out to the market to buy some things that I needed...' and so she continued her gentle, sad speech.

She told him that as she was walking in the market to buy a few things, a man called Ibn Abidin came toward her. He was a preoccupied and absent-minded man, who loved Al'lah passionately, and who was more fascinated by the visions of his heart than by his own thoughts. At that time, Ibn Abidin was a man whose fame had spread all over Damascus and who was well known to all its citizens.

She continued by saying that he had approached her, and as he was about to run past, he stopped, raised his hand in the air and patted the pregnant woman on her back and said, 'You're bearing a great... great... great [18]saint!' With that, he rapidly turned back towards the market and retraced his steps; but it seemed as though his words still echoed in the breeze:

'Great... great...!'

The mother continued, saying, 'My son! Everyone knows that all that this man, Ibn Abidin, says will come true because the angels speak through him, and all of his deeds are blessed.

'Indeed, I was overjoyed at hearing this wonderful news telling me that you would be a great saint, and his words were quickly spread among all the women of the neighbourhood. They passed the word around and came to congratulate me, and it was as though your father's heart (may God have mercy upon him) overflowed with happiness, because he realised that you would be full of goodness.'

Young Amin was in his bed, his beautiful eyes focused on his beloved mother as he listened silently but understanding everything his cherished mother was saying, feeling happy with her kind, sweet and calm words.

She went on, 'Do you remember, my dear son, that day about three years ago, when you came out of your father's room?'

The mother continued her story, relating the second incident that she had remembered.

Through this incident, our little hero's wishes and aspirations (which far exceeded those of other children of his age) revealed themselves clearly, because when he was four years old, he had come out of his father's room with a white piece of cloth wrapped around his head like the turban of a religious scholar.

He wanted to be a guide [19]to lead people to Al'lah! However, stranger still was the fact that he also took a military hat belonging to his brother Saleem, who was studying at the Royal Military College, and had put it on over the white turban.

It was an officer's hat!

He was also riding a stick as a hobbyhorse. He hoped to be an officer!

When those watching saw him in that strange, thought- provoking costume, they were astonished, and his father said to him, 'My son! Our darling child! How can you bring together these two things that have no bearing on each other? You can either be a guide showing people the way to Al'lah, or an officer, but you could never be both of these things at the same time!'

However, the child's eyes were shining confidently with mounting hope, as if he was witnessing his glowing future stretching before him, and he said to himself, 'Yes, I will be a guide leading people to Al'lah, as well as an officer in the security forces; and I will establish righteousness and justice for the people, securing for them their rights and getting rid of injustice and evil. And what's more I'll put my words into action!'

The guests regarded this as something that was most unlikely and that could never happen, but time alone would confirm the truth of his subconscious, indiscernible prediction of the future, because as a young man, he became an officer, and then a great guide and a venerable scholar.

That 'great, great saint' proved that he was truly obedient to Al'lah as he did what was right and fair for the people, and put an end to criminality and corruption.

By the bed, Amin's mother continued to elaborate on her tale and speak kindly to her son, in an effort to elicit even a sad smile. All this time memories were passing before her eyes and adding to her own sorrow, until her child finally surrendered to tiredness and fell asleep. By then her concerns for him had abated, and she got up to adjust the lantern, dimming the light to a gentle glow.

And so, the little prince slept in peaceful tranquillity.

## The Brave Boy and the Genie

once, this young boy, Mohammad Amin, heard a discussion between his mother and another woman, who sat telling her a strange story about something that she claimed happened every night. She said that all the women in the neighbourhood knew and chatted about it among themselves.

'Oh, Um Saleem, haven't you heard about the genie?'[20] 'What? A genie?'

'Yes... the one that appears every day at the stable'

'No... no... by God, I haven't heard anything about a genie... but who told you? Where did you hear about it?'

'All the women in the neighbourhood have heard of it. They say that the genie appears if someone goes to the stable after midnight and summons it, and then it will see them and talk to them.

'They said that if anyone caught this genie, it would beg to be freed, and if they refused they would be offered three wishes; then if the genie granted them, it would be released.'

These stories continued to reverberate around the neighbourhood, being told and retold, so the news spread widely and people became obsessed with it until they could think of nothing else.

Everybody talked about it, and some set out to fabricate untrue stories in an effort to convince people that they had actually spoken to the genie!

Because of the constant repetition of the events of this story in the hearing of little Mohammad Amin, who was only about three-and-a-half years old at that time, he partly believed it, but still had his doubts. He would not be fully convinced before he himself was sure of what he had heard and of what he knew.

When night fell, the child went to bed and pretended to be asleep so that his family would not worry about him. However, at midnight, he got up from his bed and quietly went downstairs, left the house and headed for the stable where supposedly the genie dwelt.

His curiosity and inquisitive mind led him to undertake this adventure in order to see the genie up close.

He intended to catch it, if he could, and ask it – so it could secure its release – to bring him all the kings of the world so that he could suggest to them that they embrace the religion of Islam.

If they refused, he would cut off their heads!

He arrived at the stable and sat there waiting for the genie to appear. When there was no sign of it, he started calling it to come to him, beating the ground with his little hand... but no one answered his call!

His father woke in the middle of the night to check on the safety of his sleeping child, but he did not find him in his bed, and so everybody in the house was woken and began to search for him throughout the house. They went into every room hoping to find him, but he was nowhere to be found.

As their fruitless search continued they started to become extremely worried. It was now past midnight and this was becoming a terrible ordeal for them!

They had almost given up hope of finding him inside the house, when one of them suggested:

'Let's search in the garden, or we may find him at the stable.'

'A good idea! Let's go!'

They headed out to the stable holding torches aloft to light the way.

As they approached, they heard little Amin's sharp brave voice saying, 'You, genie! Why don't you answer me? Come on! I'm calling you and asking you to come here! Why don't you do what I ask?'

They hurried towards the sound of the voice, and there he was, sitting on the floor repeating these words and continuing to beat the floor, calling for the genie insistently and bravely, as a result of which their hearts, relieved of fear, now beat faster with ever-increasing admiration. They rushed to him saying, 'What are you doing, my child? Why are you here so late at night?'

He replied, 'I want to meet the genie that you all talk about.'

'Come on... come on my son... let's go home and forget about that. You are still a child, and too young to bother yourself with such things.' They privately chided themselves, as they truly believed such stories and felt conscience-stricken.

However, these tales are mere superstitions...!

His family were afraid for him, and devised a story to frighten him. They said to each other in his hearing: 'Did you know, there's a huge snake that sleeps in the horse's manger, and it bites and kills whoever sits there?'

Then he went home with them unwillingly, but the matter still occupied his thoughts and worried him. He was interested in finding out whether it was true or not!

Being the brave and inquisitive child that he was, the following night he tried once again. His heart was determined not to let this matter pass without getting to the bottom of it... so he thought that by taking positive action he would know one way or the other.

In fact, he went to the same place and did just as he had done the previous night, but nothing happened to confirm the truth of the snake stories he had heard. There was nothing but silence, interrupted only by the usual sounds of the night: a cricket over here, and a dog over there. As for the genie, there was no sign of its presence or indeed, its existence.

At this he realised that the women's chatter about this tale was nothing but fantasy and there was no truth to it. His certainty about the falsity of the tale was corroborated when he went there for the third consecutive night, at the same time, hoping yet again to find the genie.

After this story, he decided to believe nothing that he was told and nothing that he heard, whatever the subject, unless he looked into the matter himself to be sure of the truth of all that was said.

## Episodes in His Noble Young LifeHis Incredible Ability with Animals

since his early childhood, Mohammad Amin was passionately fond of horsemanship. However, his father was afraid that his son – who was still only five years old at the time of this incident – might fall off the horse. Therefore, he employed a stableman and told him that his son was not allowed to ride.

However, given the brilliance of that little boy, this tactic presented no obstacle!

Amin went to the groom and sat with him, and set about chatting to him in his lively, entertaining way. From time to time the little boy would yawn and pretend to be sleepy, in the hope that the groom would fall asleep so that he could carry out his intentions. Eventually, the man was overcome by drowsiness and fell fast asleep. Then the child approached him quietly and, with his small hand, slowly took the keys from the groom's belt. He then opened the gate of the stable.

He took care that the groom was not woken up by the sound of the horse's hoofs while he brought her out of the stable, by dressing them with pieces of cloth which he tied to the hoofs. He then led the mare out of the stable, leaving the sleeping man totally unaware of what was going on around him. Then with the help of a low wall he mounted her and galloped off, racing with the wind.

He spent some time racing all around, and then, having fulfilled his wishes, he returned and led her back into the stable in the same way he had led her out of it. Then he closed the gate, so it would seem as if he had done nothing, and put the keys in the sleeping man's sash.

However, strange sounds coming from inside the stable roused the stableman from his sleep and he was deeply concerned when he opened the gate and saw that the horse was wet with perspiration! He realised that the little boy had taken the horse out for a ride because he, too, was dripping with sweat. His worry increased when he noticed that the mare was about to give birth and, clearly, due to her state of exhaustion, her delivery was not going to be normal. He was afraid that the child's father would reprimand him, for his son, a mere child, had been able to take advantage of him, the grown man!

Indeed, the delivery soon became difficult when a part of the foal came into view, but then the labour stopped due to the mare's exhaustion from the recent exercise with the young boy.

Not sure what to do and driven by panic and fear, the man decided to drag the partly born foal out of its mother's belly, although this action would certainly have killed both the mare and the foal.

At that moment, he heard a sudden shout: 'Stop that! Wait a minute.'

It was the boy. He shouted at the groom, and then ran away, but soon returned with some old worn-out cloths. He twisted them into a narrow rope, and then tied one of its two ends to the foal; attaching a heavy stone to the other end he let it hang down towards the ground.

That light weight helped the foal to descend normally without being hurt and without injuring its mother.

Thus the mare delivered her foal safely.

Yet another action of that little boy that fills one's mind with wonder!

Mohammad Amin's father continued to worry that his son would fall off the horse's back, so he gave strict orders to his groom not to let the little boy ride the horse. Not to be outdone, the creative child used his imagination and took his compliant bulldog off to the saddler!

He stood in front of the saddler and asked him to make a saddle for the dog.

When the saddler heard the child's request he burst out laughing, 'Oh son! It's a dog, not a horse! Can a dog be saddled?'

Yet the boy stood his ground and answered him firmly, 'Don't you want to earn some money?' Amin then paid him a generous amount, and there and then the man saddled the dog for him, just as a horse would be saddled.

After that the little boy was able to train the agile dog so that it could be mounted, and he set about coaching it to run quickly until it could leave behind even the leanest and fastest coursers. By taking this course of action he upset the horse owners and, needless to say, it was not long until they took revenge.

They shot Mohammad Amin's dog in the eyes with a hunting rifle, causing it to go blind.

## The Compassion of a Child

He passed the front door of the house and stopped behind it. He had a ten bishli [21]coin in his hand.He held it for a while close to his chest, thentossed it in the air, caught it, and put it in his pocket.

He had realised something, so he made a decision!

This was the little boy Mohammad Amin. He was seven years old, growing and developing quickly, and rapidly becoming a child full of vitality and happiness. Signs of the noble, virile man he was to become were already clearly stamped on his handsome face.

His unflinching gaze is clear and direct: it carries the history of the past, yet looks confidently towards the future.

His movements are strong and fluid like the waves of the ocean, while his features reflect the brilliance within. One might say that he appears to be clothed in purity and crowned in dignity... and among his peers he seems like a banner constantly moving and swaying.

As for his father, he was a good man, a tradesman who was known for his honesty and good manners. Due to his praiseworthy character, he had become a reputable merchant dealing in a broad range of merchandise and, indeed, he was one of the chief merchants among his peers. Additionally, God provided him with the income that furnished him and his family with a high standard of living.

With the dawn of every new day, the father used to leave a whole majeedi (equal to half a golden lira) with his wife as pocket money for his son, Mohammad Amin.

When the little boy got it, he would go out directly to see his friends who used to wait for him, and spend all his money on them. To some he gave just a few coins and for others he bought what they needed, so that all of them were treated fairly and were overwhelmed by his gifts. Indeed, he was the generous head of this group who brightened their day, and the benevolent leader who helped them.

His behaviour is an example for all to follow, otherwise one must pay attention to the wise words:

Woe betide all those who stray from the path of virtue or commit any breach of the code of ethics!

When his pure and kindly father died, and was buried, his mother missed her husband and suffered inconsolable grief, so she sat with the seven year-old boy, crying piteously and groaning in a heartbreaking way. This misfortune had shaken her greatly. She was deeply saddened at the sight of her little son as she thought that he, like her, was grieving because of the death of the head of the family. She did not realise that his heart was not saddened at his father's death, for he was still too young to understand the magnitude of the problem. She saw, quite simply, the picture of her own grief reflected on his face as he looked at his mother in amazement.

The following morning, the little boy went to his mother and stretched his hand out towards her, as he was accustomed to do, for her to give him his daily pocket money. But his mother paid him no attention and pretended to be busy. However, he continued to stand there resolutely, waiting for her to give him the customary coin. At this point, she reached a hesitant hand into the folds of her gown, and rummaged around until she managed to bring out a ten bishli coin. She then gave it to him, but due to her anxious state she was perspiring profusely.

A questioning look passed across Amin's sweet face as he took it. He wondered to himself:

'Why only ten bishli? Where's the rest? Where is the majeedi? How strange! I wonder why?' Nonetheless, he took it and went outside. As soon as he had crossed the doorstep, he started to ponder the situation and became completely lost in thought. He said to himself, 'The man who supported our family so generously, and who provided everything we wanted, has passed away. He worked so hard to secure a comfortable standard of living for his family. As for this poor woman, how could she earn any money? A woman isn't allowed to leave the house except to go to the market or visit a friend. Even so, she has to be fully veiled, so how can she work?'

He looked at the coin for a few minutes, then tossed it up in the air, caught it and put it in his pocket. He bit his lip and then walked off, disappearing down the lane.

That ten bishli was the last pocket money he ever took from his mother.

On the following day, his mother said nothing about his pocket money. Some days passed and he did not once ask her to give him money, so a week later she asked him, 'Oh my son! Don't you want your pocket money?

'Dear Mamma! I still haven't spent the ten bishli you gave me last week. But when I do, I'll ask you for what I need.'

Oh! She felt such a great sense of relief and joy when she heard his words. He had really spared her the worry of dealing with such a difficult situation.

And so that magnanimous and contented boy accepted suffering and patiently accepted the lack of pocket money. This situation was not easy for him because he had long been accustomed to spending all his money on the children of the neighbourhood!

It was so hard for him to see himself, their leader, meeting them empty-handed, seeing in their eyes the expectation of his usual donations and presents, an expectation that was sometimes also expressed in words when they would ask why he no longer gave them gifts as he used to do. One can only imagine how difficult it must have been for this kind-hearted boy to explain his situation to them.

He kept that ten bishli coin with him in his pocket until he was eighteen years old.

The next eleven years were ones of self-deprivation and abstinence, accepting his lot in life and looking ahead to God's Satisfaction, while everybody around him was leading a life of plentiful ease and comfort.

## The Adventure of the Little Horseman

This story happened in one of the beautiful gardens of al-Hameh, where the weather was pleasant and the widely spreading branches of the tall trees swayed in the gentle breeze.

The sun was smiling, casting its bright light across the whole of existence and watching the talented little boy on the back of his beloved horse, galloping at full speed across the verdant pastures.

The father of the little master had died while he was still enjoying his childhood and still only seven years old; so only he and his affectionate mother were left in the house after his elder brother Saleem had left to live and work far away.

As for his father's horse, it was still in its stable – its master horseman had left forever, but the master's son, the young horseman, had not.

While his father was still alive, he, Mohammad Amin, managed to mount it in secret or by clever contrivance, but now, after his father's death, he was alone with his mother, a gentle, kind, compassionate woman who was devoted to her young child.

He no longer needed to devise such intricate schemes, but just to give the matter a little forethought. Sometimes he would come to his mother and try to coax her with sweet words, and other times he insisted on having his own way, which usually led to her giving him the key of the stable, so he could take the horse out; how happy he was then!

His joy and happiness were so infectious that his mother could not fail to be affected by it! But nonetheless her mind was still preoccupied with her concern for him, for he was a small child and she was afraid that he might fall off the horse, al-Assilah. God forbid that such a thing should happen, because if it did he would certainly be hurt, an unbearable thought that she could not even contemplate. So, sometimes she refused to let him take the horse out, although it meant he would be so angry and upset that he would stop playing or even talking to her for quite some time. She was caught between two very difficult situations which filled her heart with pain and sadness for him.

It was as if she was trapped between two fires: if she did not allow him to ride the horse she would be sad because he was sad; but if she did allow him to ride, she would be so worried about him that, she would feel compelled to go out to watch him riding around their big orchard in al- Hamehin the Barada valley.

One day, Amin had mounted the horse and was racing across the garden, against the fresh, blustery wind. What an idyllic time it was for him, surrounded by the beauty of nature and the tall trees tossing their branches in the freshening breeze. The little horseman was enraptured, a free spirit racing across the land as though the whole world was not big enough for him. His mother was anxious, and yet she was happy when she saw his unbridled joy... but suddenly, something awful happened... oh! How terrible!

As the little hero was at full gallop – as swift as lightning – so fast that even the most accomplished of the great horsemen would not have been able to keep up with him, he passed beneath the widespread branches of a huge old tree, and he was caught on one of the low growing branches while he was still moving at full speed, it whipped him across the abdomen and he was snatched from the back of his horse.

Amin's mother almost fainted at this terrible sight, and could not bear to look at her son lying there on the ground; she was so overcome that she could only imagine the worst possible outcome. She covered her eyes to avoid seeing this terrible disaster, and as her legs gave way beneath her she slipped to the ground. Convinced that her beloved child was

about to die she bent her head rather than witness his death.

These were painful and critical moments... it was a dreadful shock and a feeling of grief overcame her as she was sure that her beloved child had just died in this unfortunate accident. The horse continued its headlong dash, running for some distance, before stopping when it missed the weight of the young horseman on its back.

As for Mohammad Amin, with very quick thinking, he had managed to turn a complete somersault around the branch by grabbing it with his hands and thrusting his head down and his legs up, to complete an almost perfect circle... and so avoided the extremely serious injury that might otherwise have resulted from this high speed collision.

Then he dropped down to the ground, landing on his strong legs; thank God that his body was so strong and flexible. He then ran to his horse, which had stopped quite some distance ahead of him, and with a leap, he landed firmly on its back in a seated position and sent it galloping ahead again, racing with the gusty wind.

This entire spectacular scenario took place within the space of just a few moments, throughout which his desperate mother had her eyes firmly closed, thinking only of the worst possible outcome, convinced that it must have resulted in the death of her beloved son.

When the horse continued to race ahead – as though nothing untoward had happened – towards Mohammad Amin's poor mother, she still sat with head bowed and eyes covered, oblivious of what was happening around her, but feeling as if the ground was quaking beneath her. In the meantime, the little horseman firmly seated on the back of his horse raced up to her, and when she heard the horse's movement she raised her head and took her hands from her eyes which were brimming with tears of great sadness. She could not believe her eyes, for the young horseman was still on his horse!

Then Mohammad Amin asked her, 'Mother! What's the matter with you?'

She still could not believe what she had just seen and heard, but she answered in a sad, low voice, 'Nothing my son, nothing,' and started to rub her eyes, as though she had woken from a bad dream. Or was it a daydream? Her dear son was before her mounted on his horse, sound and healthy, as if none of what she had just witnessed had actually happened! Then she said again, in a stupor that pervaded her words, 'No, nothing my son, nothing,' and she told herself that she had imagined it and that no accident or incident had taken place.

All was well, thank God, and as the proverb says, 'All's well that ends well!' Here was her sturdy son astride his horse before her, sound and healthy, and in fine form. How could she continue to deny seeing him when the evidence was before her eyes! Of course she could not, because he was right there talking to her and she was talking to him!

Then the little hero understood what torment his mother had just suffered and realised what she had been through as relief flooded across her face and she became overwhelmed with joy. It was as if the accident she had just witnessed was nothing more than a mirage, an illusion, or a horrible daydream which was now mercifully in the past. That was what she now thought and still she could not believe what she had seen with her own eyes. And so, she was able to smile again and thereupon, her kind and gentle son left her and rushed away yet again mounted on his horse, but he had understood very well what an extremely difficult situation she had just experienced.

Mohammad Amin knew how much his mother loved him and the extent of her concern and worry, and so because of his extreme compassion towards her, he had led her to believe that nothing untoward had actually happened to him. He convinced her not to believe what her eyes had seen so that she would avoid any feeling of pain, and be free from living in a state of constant worry about him.

What a youth! He had extraordinary intelligence and presence of mind, a heart as strong and upright as the mountains, and he displayed exemplary behaviour; yet it was the great sympathy and kindness for his mother that led him to let her think that the accident had been a mere illusion so that she would not suffer. This was all because he knew how deeply she loved him.

What a merciful, knowledgeable, free-spirited boy he was – dutiful to his mother – and truly the world would be a better place if all boys were like him.

## Importunity Punished

One day as Mohammad Amin passed the open door of the room where his mother was sitting with a neighbour he overheard part of the conversation between the two women. And what he heard did not please him!

'That poor woman!' said his mother, 'the local greengrocer has started making improper suggestions to her and she can't possibly avoid him because she has to walk past his shop to get to and from her home. Whenever she passes by, he doesn't miss a single opportunity to call out filthy words and badger her with requests that encroach upon her personal inviolability.' That is what the young lad overheard.

At the time he was only nine years old and, since the death of his father, he lived alone with his mother in their home in the al-Ward district [22]of Damascus.

Due to his chivalry and compassion, he wanted to help the woman who had been so insulted. He gave the matter considerable thought and said to himself, 'First I have to make enquiries to know if this gossip is true or not, and if what my mother and her friend say is correct, and if it is I will show you, greengrocer, something you don't expect'... and thus he soon decided on a wise course of action.

Wasting no time he headed for the greengrocer's shop that same day, and started to watch him while pretending to play. He planned to do the same thing every day for a whole week.

One evening, the woman passed by the greengrocer's for, as we already know, there was no other way for her to go to and from her home. At this point, the boy paid particular attention, and as was expected, the vulgar man began to speak to the woman, using vile and improper language which expressed nothing but his own indecent, vulgar vices.

Amin had heard enough to confirm what he had heard about the man, so, as swift as lightning he ran to his home and soon returned holding a rod.

He went up to the greengrocer, who stood up, thinking that the boy wanted to buy something. Just then, the young master, Mohammad Amin accosted him, saying, 'Hey man! You've lost all sense of honour and decency! How dare you violate the personal integrity of a pure and honest woman with your filthy words! You're a monster! God help you, you horrible man!'

Then, with a sudden movement, he smashed the lantern with his staff and set about trampling the excellent fresh grapes and pears that were on display.

The man was horrified, and shouted at the boy, 'What are you doing? Stop! Don't... don't do that!' Then he rushed towards Amin, but this young boy who had the courage to confront the greengrocer outmaneuvered him with a blow to his head and another to his face. He then showered him with a severe beating until the immoral man eventually fell to the ground in severe pain, and with a bloodied face.

The sudden, unexpected attack from one so young was enough to immobilize the dealer and he was unable to fend off the assault. He was dumbfounded at what had just taken place.

The beaten man managed to pick up a wooden box and throw it at the boy, but missed the target as the agile child quickly stepped out of range. Once again, Amin rushed forward and beat him repeatedly with his staff. The greengrocer was so furious at this unexpected attack at the hands of the young boy that he responded with equal violence which developed into a frenzied attack. Then as quick as lightning, the boy ran back to his house, proud and confident in the knowledge that his actions had shown that good will always triumph over evil.

The event was very distressing for the tradesman, both mentally and physically, and reluctantly he decided to tell no one about what had happened to him. He was so much older than the lad who had attacked him that if he told the real story behind his wounds, people would look down on him. He had been beaten up by a little boy and had completely failed to inflict any harm on his opponent, despite the fact that he was always boasting and priding himself on his strength and toughness.

The greengrocer was the leader of the youth in the community, and every evening he held meetings with them in his shop. Included in this group were a number of 'yes- men' who did whatever he asked, whether they agreed with him or not. Thus, the leader of the local youths, who was actually quite a coward, could find no way to take revenge, other than resorting to the help of the young boys of the district!

He began to call them together and to give them instructions to attack the courageous young Amin, offering them bribes to carry out his dirty work.

However, since the lad Mohammad Amin had already got the better of all of the boys in the neighbourhood, irrespective of their size, and had become their leader due to his courage, the boys were very reluctant to tackle him. So the tradesman promised them that he, personally, would take responsibility for the consequences, and encouraged them to band together against Amin. In the end, the boys armed themselves with sticks and gathered along the alleyway leading to Amin's home. They were lying in wait for him when he appeared in the distance, strutting along with his unique gait, which baffled the mind with its lightness, briskness and air of authority.

There was no doubt that his firm steps expressed the nobility and excellence of his pure spirit. Before he reached the alleyway, he could see about twenty boys, thronging together, clearly intent on mischief, their eyes full of hostility which was obviously directed towards him. He realised what they were up to, and dashed towards the heap where the ashes from the public bathhouse were thrown. In those days even the best houses did not have bathrooms, so everyone used the bathhouse which was usually in the market place. The water was heated by wood-burning stoves, which by a sheer stroke of luck, indirectly provided ammunition for the young Amin.

Thinking that he would pelt them with stones, the boys focused on his hands to see where he would throw them and try to avoid them. Then, quick as a flash, the inspired boy threw fistfuls of ashes straight at the eyes of the boys closest to him so they were temporarily blinded.

Then, with the strength and courage of a lion, he dived towards one of them and grabbing the stick from his hands, he began to rain blow after blow upon him and his friends.

They saw no way to escape except to turn tail, and run back to the shop of the malicious greengrocer. Nevertheless, the brave lad did not leave it there; he chased them until he had kicked them out of the neighbourhood, shaken and defeated.

He returned home, safe and sound, the victor in both battles, and having carried out God's Command in disciplining the immoral and depraved man, by inflicting severe punishment upon him.

## May Your Hands Be Ever Strong!

You Should Have Broken Her Head!

The principle of moral purity which once existed has been wiped out with the passage of time; mankind has abandoned their high ethics, buried all notion of honour, and turned towards the search for ways to help him achieve his contemptible base desires.

He has used the gifts God had given him to enjoy fleeting pleasures and wasted these same gifts for the sake of ephemeral vanity and excessive pride. This will inevitably result in suffering because he has failed to realise that the Godly Purpose in making these gifts available to mankind was simply to help him promote his ascension to the heavenly abode.

Man has decked the earth with all manner of beautiful things and allowed women to appear unveiled and dressed so as to display their attractive appearance, and as a result they have said goodbye to virtue and hello to vice.

This is the state of mankind in this age. A wise man once summed up this dreadful situation in just a few words, saying, 'The times are like the people, and the people are as you see them.'

Mankind has missed an important reality due to his lack of thought. He has forgotten that Al'lah imprinted yearning and desire on the surface of his spirit to be used as a means to help us in our advancement and not to be lost in a spiritual wilderness and exhausted in the fruitless quest for temporary delight which is ultimately associated with pain. If people were to abstain from fulfilling their every wish and desire through illicit ways and seek, rather, God's Satisfaction, the Almighty will allow them greater appreciation through correct ways, and then, on Doomsday, He will allow them to enjoy great pleasure in Paradise.[23]

The Almighty promised His servants that if they prevent their spirit from indulging its whims and worldly desires, their eventual reward will be the Gardens of Eternity, and they will remain there forever. God says, "Those who kept in mind that the day would come when they would have to face their Lord's Tribunal and, with this in mind, had controlled the base desires of their spirit, would find their ultimate abode in His Garden."[24]

At that time, more than seventy years ago, the social situation had not deteriorated to the depths that it has sunk to now. In those days people abided by the Godly Laws and followed the religion outwardly in their external acts and appearance, and inwardly in their thoughts and hearts, and both inside the home and outside in public. Their adherence to applying all aspects of God's Statute influenced the followers of other religions, such as the Jews and Christians, to the extent that no woman, whether Muslim or non- Muslim, would be seen with her face uncovered in public at that time. There was no lowering of moral standards and no contravention of the Legislation of God, the Almighty.

The story we are going to tell now presents a perfect pattern of the state of affairs during that period and epoch of our history. It recounts a new exploit of the compassionate young master, Mohammad Amin, whereby he was the very personification of Islamic ardour and zeal in their true, Godly Meanings, which swept away the evil powers of spirits which had been debased by the devil causing their spiritual fire to die down.

Let us, dear reader, go back to the time of this story, when master Mohammad Amin was nine years old. He had just finished playing in the neighbourhood and started on his way home along with his friends who were happily chatting as they walked alongside him.

The boys had reached the turning which led to Mohammad Amin's home opposite the al-Ward bathhouse in one of the quarters of the Sarujah Market in Damascus.

While passing in front of one of the houses in this street, master Mohammad Amin noticed that its door was opened cautiously and a twelve year old girl had stretched her bare head through the narrow opening, her glowing young face on view to all outside while she pretended to look for her little brother in the street. At that moment, feelings of high principles and honour began to surge in the chest of the young boy, for such unveiling was absolutely forbidden in Islamic society in the late nineteenth century. So, when he saw this sight, he picked up a big stone and threw it towards the girl's head, but she quickly closed the door for she knew well that she was the target due to the serious breach of behaviour she had committed, and the stone hit the door of the house causing it to split .

Then, the honest and faultless lad continued on his way home having frightened the girl as a deterrent to prevent her from repeating such an infringement of proper behaviour or, indeed, doing anything else that is prohibited. She had realised that her disobedience would be on everybody's lips, and public opinion would see her action as scandalous.

A few hours later the girl's father arrived home on horseback. He was one of the resolute men of the neighbourhood. When the man saw the crack in the door of his house he asked some of the local boys if they knew anything about it. They told him how master Mohammad Amin saw his daughter poking her head through the opening of the door with her face unveiled, and therefore he had thrown a stone at her but it had missed its mark and hit the door instead. On hearing this the man quickly tied his horse to a tethering ring fixed to the front door of his house, and heading straight to the home of our young master Mohammad Amin he knocked at the door.

It was God's Will which brought the young boy himself to open the door to the girl's father who embraced him and kissed his forehead, saying, 'I pray that no harm will ever come to your hands, for you are like a young lion, the champion of the neighbourhood! But why didn't you hit her and break her head?'

It may seem strange for a father to speak this way but, rather than condemning the boy's action, he praised him;

in fact, when he went to the coffeehouse where the local men used to gather to discuss their affairs, he stood where he could be seen by everyone and said in a loud voice:

'Gentlemen! Praise is to God, we are still living in a proper way and in good times, for when we are away, our children protect our honour.'

Then he related to them the full details of what the young master Mohammad Amin had done.

This story brings to mind the poetic verse which serves to illustrate this story:

Nations will survive alongside their morality, but if their morality fades, they too will fade away.

## A Good Lesson Learned the Hard Way

wrestling: Is it sport? Or an internal struggle for the self? This story of the twelve year old master Mohammad Amin gives us yet another glimpse of his exemplary character.

Once, his group of young friends invited him to go with them to the wrestling ring to watch some of the matches which were being put on there.

They encouraged him with their description of the excitement of the championships and how much they enjoyed them, until eventually he gave in.

When the boys arrived at the ring the bouts between the older men were already over, and it was now the turn of the younger wrestlers, aged fifteen and under.

That was the way the programme was usually organised. As the first young contestant climbed into the ring the watching crowd began to settle down to watch the match. This boy had a grudge against Mohammad Amin because our young hero was the undisputed leader of all the local boys.

When no opponent entered the ring, the referee called out: 'Where is your opponent?'

Pointing straight at Amin, the youth said, 'There he is!' The jealous, resentful youth had planned this bout in the hope that he would damage Amin's pride by defeating him and embarrassing him in front of all his friends. He fully expected that being a complete newcomer to the sport Mohammad Amin would lose the match and therefore the great esteem which his followers had for him.

The challenger thought that he would easily defeat our amazing young hero since he was about three years older than him and was already a master of the martial arts; on the other hand the younger boy had no experience of them and, in fact, knew nothing about them whatsoever.

At this point, our hero had fully grasped the real purpose behind the challenge. He was faced with two difficult options: either refuse to enter the ring, in which case they would see this as a sign of weakness and cowardice on his part; or enter it, knowing it was impossible for him to defeat the older boy in a straight fight!

Quick thinking was needed if he was not to lose face!

Within moment he had devised a plan which might just give him the way out of a difficult situation.

Undeterred he entered the ring.

The match began, and the referee approached the boys in order to adjudicate the bout.

The two opponents grasped hands, the aim being for the stronger one to force to the other to the ground. As they drew close Mohammad Amin grabbed the opportunity to whisper in his opponent's ear, unheard by the referee, and said, 'Hey, if we finish the round with a tie, I'll give you two majeedi'(one golden lira).

Since the challenger earned only a meagre living by working at a greengrocer's shop, his mouth watered when he heard this and his desire to win, weakened in the face of the unexpected temptation of money, especially money he did not have to work for! Soon he had forgotten all about his wish to humble Mohammad Amin because he had given into his low moral standards and the desire for instant gratification.

The older boy knew all about Amin's honest and trustworthy character, so he believed what he said about the two majeedi and instantly agreed to his suggestion. He loosened his grip and only pretended to grapple his opponent, because the lure of the money was uppermost in his mind. Seeing the older boy momentarily distracted by thoughts of a 'golden prize' our hero grabbed the opportunity to stick his leg out and trip him up. And so the older boy lost the round because the young hero, Mohammad Amin, by his clever manipulation and tactics, was able to overcome the older boy who had wanted to bring him down and wrong him without any just cause or reason.

The noble verse states, "Those who plot evil will be ensnared by it."[25]

As, indeed, did happen! The instigator of this unfair match 'came unstuck' as they say. The evil, immoral boy was defeated, and so not only did he fail to achieve his original aim of belittling Mohammad Amin, he also failed to achieve his greedily anticipated aim of the two majeedi.

As for our hero, he came out of the contest with his honour and dignity intact, and Al'lah raised his spirit to an even higher level than it had been before.

As a result, after this incident Mohammad Amin decided never to attend a wrestling ring again for, as far as he was concerned, its purpose was simply for pointless amusement.

The man who said, 'Brain is better than brawn', certainly spoke the truth.

## Practical Action when Dealing with a Wicked Uncle

After his father's death and the departure of Saleem, his elder brother, master Mohammad Amin remained alone in their home with his mother.

Therefore, his maternal uncle brought his own wife and children to live with them in their house. Now, this may seem a strange state of affairs, but one must keep in mind that in Islam a widow is not allowed to live alone, and is deemed to need a close male relative to take care of her. This would usually be her father, or married brother or son.

However, soon after the uncle's family arrived, Amin's aunt was unhappy that the little boy and his mother occupied the upper room, which was spacious and bright, catching the sun's warming rays for much of the day. She started a whispering campaign in the household and kept on urging her husband to turn them out of this room, so that she could take it for herself. She continued to badger her husband with this underhanded course of action until eventually he gave in to what she wanted.

The uncle had the furniture removed from the comfortable upper room, and took it down to a small corner room of the house. Now, this room was totally unsuitable for habitation, as it was damp, smelled musty, and was untouched by the warmth of the sun's rays. Nevertheless, this is where the belongings of the boy and his mother were taken.

When young Amin returned home, his mother was distraught and defenceless in the face of such unfair treatment at the hands of her brother, especially within her own home.

On seeing his mother in that dreadful state he resolved to act quickly: a thought crossed his mind but he kept it to himself.

He had decided on a clever plan which should resolve the situation and stop the uncle in his tracks!

In the evening, when all was calm and peaceful, his uncle was sitting in the courtyard, happily puffing on his narghile. [26]At that moment, the plucky little chap came through the street door, pulling the horse behind him, and causing a great cacophony of sound as its hoofs clattered on the tiled floor. This chaos was only added to with the animal neighing loudly, objecting to this strange behaviour.

The uncle soon came out, in a furious rage, wanting to see what was the cause of such commotion, and hoping to stop the chaos; he was so angry that he was quite prepared to beat whoever it was.

When he saw his nephew with the mare, he glared at him and spoke to him with a voice full of fury, saying, 'What on earth are you doing? How can you bring a horse into the house? Take it back to the stable immediately.'

He spat out these words in a most scornful and arrogant way.

A great roar of rage erupted from the proud young boy as he pointed towards the small corner room, which had been declared unfit for use before the uncle had dumped the furniture of Amin and his mother in there, without giving the matter any further thought. He then looked pointedly at his uncle, saying, 'Al-Assilah (the mare) will spend the night in there.' He could no longer contain his fury at the way he and his mother had been treated in their own home.

The uncle was thunderstruck.

He could not understand what had happened to him!

It was the first time that he had seen his nephew in such a state!

Whenever he had been in the boy's company in the past he had seen him as a gentle and attractive child, with straight, fair hair and wonderful green eyes. But now before him there seemed to be a creature from the wild, screaming at him furiously, and looking at him as though daggers would come from his eyes to pierce the very depths of his being. His heart started to pound and he feared for his life.

An all-encompassing fear had overwhelmed him.

At that moment he gladly would have given all that he owned, even the whole world if it were his to give, in order to escape the raging fury he saw before him: so desperate was he to free himself from this terrible predicament.

This was a situation that seemed to have arisen from nowhere. Indeed, it was an unusual turn of events that he could not begin to comprehend.

Totally incapable of putting up any resistance he gave in to what was right and just, and told Amin and his mother that the rooms would be changed back to the way they had been previously. With no further ado, he gave way to what was fair and honest, and told them that he would arrange the room immediately. Thus, in the face of that firm will to establish justice and to correct what was wrong, the man ended up detaching himself from his unfair deed. Contrary to his own original wishes, he put all their belongings and furnishings back in the spacious, bright and comfortable room.

His wonder at the stupendous sight of that little boy was so great that he later told one of his relatives about his astonishment at seeing him during that dreadful, frightening scene. He went on to say how, at the moment of the confrontation, it seemed as though this nice, kind, handsome boy had been cloaked in the kind of reverence more usually associated with the mightiness of a higher being: a being that has the power to totally demolish mountains and reduce them to dust.

He wondered what the secret was behind it.

What was the reality?

He did not know; or rather, he was too afraid to even think about what had happened.

A dreadful panic came over him at the very sight of young Mohammad Amin until he was convinced that the boy was no longer the sweet, gentle nephew that he had previously known.

This was the overwhelming feeling which put paid to his tyranny and arrogance once and for all!

The moral of this story

Mohammad Amin's heart said, 'Oh Uncle! You have sacrificed your humanity and compassion to get whatever you want for yourself, to the point that you regarded your sister and her son as animals, and decided to let them live in a room that is fit only to be used as a stable. No, Uncle, this is wrong!

'We are human beings! Only animals live in a stable.'

When his own inherent sense of justice clashed with the injustice embedded in his uncle's spirit, his heartfelt actions, in carrying out what was right and just, erased the wrongdoing of his uncle, so that its negative effect on the uncle was eliminated. Thus, he helped him to regain his sense of reason and turn back towards a path of honour and rectitude.

Needless to say, the uncle dared not repeat such harebrained conduct ever again!

We would do well to remember the old saying, 'Do as you would be done by.'

## Always Establish the TruthThe Night of Valuation (Al-Qader Night)

Our next story took place one year during the holy month of Ramadan. This is the time when all devout people fast between dawn and sunset, which helps them to learn self-discipline and empathy with those who do not have enough to eat. Consequently they come to live happier lives because their self restraint and the time spent in extra prayer bring them closer to Al'lah. They become certain of His Satisfaction with them because they undertake this divinely prescribed course of action.

When the time approaches for them to break their fast, tables are set, heavily laden with platters of delicious food, while those who are fasting, eagerly await the call to sunset prayer. Then, as soon as the call is heard, they immediately mention the Name of God and thank Him before starting to eat.

This fast depicts a most important aspect of life in the era before the present one, and one that also became a vital part of Mr. Mohammad Amin's life when he turned sixteen years of age.

By this time, he had become an outstanding youth: extremely intelligent, deeply understanding, and full of vitality and enthusiasm for everything in life.

In all ways he was superior to his companions. He did not follow the majority blindly as most young people do, for he wanted to enjoy fully the innate ability with which God had endowed him at birth. He was determined to seek out all of the facts for himself, to be sure of the truth of what he heard and how it would affect his life, before putting these words or deeds into action.

The following description of the Night of Valuation, which usually occurs during the last ten nights of Ramadan, has been so widely circulated that everyone accepts that it is true.

The Almighty God mentioned this Night in the Holy Qur'an and urged people to seek it out because it is regarded as a reward for those worthy people who adhere to the fast: each one being rewarded according to their diligence and their obedience to their Provider.

However, many people gave way to exaggeration when describing the Night of Valuation, relating incredible stories, until people's apparent understanding of it was made up of mere imagination and fantasy.

They came up with the idea that the Almighty God leaves His Throne in the seventh heaven to come down to the lower heavens, and at the moment that He (Glory to His Name) settles in the heaven that is nearest to the earth, the sky appears to be totally lit up by His intense Light, which resembles the beautiful rays cast by a splendid full moon.

On that momentous occasion, mankind can ask God for whatever he wants for himself: man has only to ask Him Who is so close and ready to respond (Glory to Him). He has indicated His Presence in the heaven closest to you so that He will hear your call and request. You only have to ask and He will certainly fulfill your wish!

To confirm the truth of what they had seen, they made up a story about the al-Azem family, who were widely known, throughout Damascus, to be extremely wealthy. The story goes like this: They claimed that once, in the past, a forefather of this family had witnessed God's Manifestation on the Night of Valuation, and so asked God to grant him abundant wealth, many children, and endless honour and renown. This ancestor, having witnessed the Night of Valuation, soon came into such an enormous fortune, that, all the members of the family, throughout the generations are still wealthy to the present day.

Everybody spoke about this Night, mentioning what they knew, or thought they knew, or what they had heard, or who they thought they or someone else had met on one Night of Valuation or another, so that everyone thought themselves experts on the topic... and the story expanded and grew greater in the telling of it; often full of nonsense and ridiculous notions!

As for our free thinking youth, Mohammad Amin, he heard this description of that special Night before the beginning of Ramadan, and with a feeling of the utmost pleasure he began to formulate his own sweet dreams and great hopes based on the heaven of the forthcoming Night of Valuation. He thought to himself: 'I'll be so happy! Just think what great and wonderful benefits there will be for me as well as for all mankind! I will really be so pleased if my hopes and aspirations for this life become reality through what I am going to ask from my Lord during the Night of Valuation.

'Ramadan will start within a few days, and that important Night will soon arrive too, so when I witness it, I will call on my Lord to fulfill my principal goal and the central wish of my life.'

Mohammad Amin then decided to pay particular attention during the last ten nights of Ramadan. He was constantly alert and allowed no hint of lethargy or drowsiness to overcome him, so that he could be sure to witness for himself all that they had said about the Night of Valuation; at this time he planned to ask his Provider to bring about his longed-for ambition.

In fact, despite his young age, he was the first one to apply a scientific approach to defining the Night of Evaluation; one that is still followed in recent times, and which is the actual standard and practical test for this important matter.

But what was it that he really wanted?

What goal and inspiration was he looking forward to?

It will be no surprise to know that this young man did not plan to ask for fame and glory for himself on this earth, nor did he want to acquire money, or many children, or even an important position, What he truly wished for was nothing but a great humane request that flowed from the abundance of love he held in his heart, and which ultimately was to overwhelm all of humanity.

With great interest and eagerness, Mohammad Amin went to his friend and said to him, 'Oh, my friend, have you heard what I've heard?'

'Bring me the good news, Amin! Tell me, what is it?' his friend answered.

Mohammad Amin, being very motivated and looking forward to that special Night, began to explain to him what he had heard about the Night of Valuation and how a person, according to what people claimed, could have three of their wishes granted. To do so they must witness this Night of Valuation – the Night when God leaves His Place in the seventh heaven to settle in the lower heaven, whereupon the sky becomes beautifully illuminated; at that time they should call upon God to fulfill their wishes.

The friend said, 'Are you sure about this, Amin?'

'So many people talk about it and I've heard it myself, so during the last ten nights of Ramadan, I'm going to stay awake to watch for the signs of this wonderful Night so I can ask God to fulfill my wishes, if what I've heard is true.'

'What do you wish for, my friend?'

The young Amin said, 'My wish... my wish is to witness the Night of Valuation and to ask God to bring me all the kings in the land so that I can tell them about the religion of Islam. If they embrace it... this religion... which is a religion of justice, it will travel with them and be spread all over the world; consequently, peace and harmony will prevail. Then, all of mankind will be like one huge family, spiritual brothers and sisters, with love for one another, the result being that happiness and peace will last forever more. There will be no more misery or destruction, no killing, stealing or plundering. What a wonderful world it will be!

'But, if they do not accept to follow the path of Islam, I will cut off their heads: all of them!

'In that case I will look for another way that will help me to spread the teaching of Islam and peace among all people.'

Being affected by Amin's ardour, his friend replied, 'So will I. I'll watch for the Night of Valuation like you, and perhaps my hopes and wishes will be fulfilled, too.'

Mohammad Amin asked, 'And what will you ask for, my friend?'

In a calm drawn-out tone of voice, his friend answered as if he was dreaming that his wish had already become reality, 'I'll ask God to grant me money, children, and glory that never fades. I'll be rich and famous! I'll have so many beautiful things just like a millionaire. This is the perfect chance, and I won't miss it.'

What a world of difference there was between the two youths and their respective requests!

How can this difference be described in words?

Indeed, how does one describe the relationship between the earth and the stars?

Mohammad Amin's request was nothing but a sheer, humane demand, motivated by his high sense of morals, ensuring his happiness in this world and his place in the everlasting Gardens of the Hereafter.

On the other hand, his friend's request was nothing but a selfish, mundane, transient and limited wish. It would have lasted for a relatively short time, ending at the time of his death and his departure from the fleeting passage of this earthly life. He had given no thought to his life in the Hereafter and failed to realise that all riches on this earth are as nothing at the time of death.

So, the two youths agreed to keep watch and wait for this particular Night so that both of them could ask for their wishes to be granted.

They discussed the matter and decided that they would both stay awake keep watch together, so that if either of them were to be distracted, or if one of them were to doze off, the other could wake him up, to make sure they did not miss this precious opportunity.

The month of Ramadan soon came and as the days of fasting successively followed the nights of eating and rest, Mohammad Amin and his friend counted them impatiently one by one until the first twenty nights had passed.

Then, when the last ten nights of Ramadan started, with the advent of the twenty-first night, the youth Amin hurried, full of enthusiasm, to remind his friend before breaking his fast. His eager anticipation for those nights was increasing with every passing day; he believed that the time when his great inspiration and hope would become reality was fast approaching.

He said to his friend: 'Today... today, right after breaking our fast, we will both go up to the rooftop. We shall begin to watch for the Night of Valuation from tonight onwards. I've heard that it can happen at any time between the call to evening prayer and the call to dawn prayer. But just to be sure, let's start to watch for it immediately after breaking our fast just after sunset, and continue until sunrise.'

In fact, as soon as it was time to break their fast and the muezzin[27]had called for the sunset prayer, they ate together and then they went up to the roof as the first star appeared, lighting the night sky.

The weather was pleasant, the sky clear, and all was still. A perfect evening!

The night began to cast its shadow over the earth little by little, so that it blended with the many wonderful shades of twilight cast across the earth by the setting sun, creating soft shadows to gently colour the ground.

There, on the rooftop, the two youths lay on their backs side by side, each one ready to wake the other should he fall asleep.

They looked towards the night sky and started to watch in patient silence and companionship.

They were enveloped in absolute silence and total stillness while they gazed wide-eyed at the clear sky, as the light gradually faded to the darkness of night. Mohammad Amin, with his desire to spread Islam all across the land the foremost thought in his mind, was waiting for the moment when Al'lah would descend to the lower heaven; whereas his friend was imagining himself surrounded by all the pleasures of abundant wealth and many children!

What a difference in their aspirations!

Some time passed and night had fallen but the two youths remained as they were on the roof.

Amin was alert, watchful, fully awake.

His steady gaze did not waiver one iota from the night sky.

He was absolutely determined to achieve his lofty purpose by following the rules.

He knew well that any omission could cause him a great loss, for it might mean that he would fail to witness the Night of Valuation, thus delaying the achievement of his aspirations for a whole year.

Sleep, or even drowsiness, was absolutely out of the question.

He remained on the roof, constantly watchful, until dawn was about to break and the light of day began to spread slowly across the entire sky, inviting the birds to take flight, to soar towards the clear sky, to burst into song and welcome the bright new day.

Then Mohammad Amin said, 'That's the end of the first of the ten nights and now it's a new day. The Night of Valuation didn't happen but perhaps we'll see it tonight if God wills it.'

In the same way, for nine consecutive nights, they remained alert and watchful, but nothing appeared that matched the description they had heard of that special Night.

When the last of the ten nights approached, Mohammad Amin turned towards his friend with his face glowing with the conviction and confidence that this would surely be the night when he would achieve his wish, and addressed him with great enthusiasm, 'Tonight, the Night of Valuation will definitely reveal itself and my wish will be granted.'

Then he lay down on his back as, too, did his friend.

Bright with hope, the youth continued his vigil with even greater attention and interest than on any of the previous nights.

But, alas! The first rays of daylight appeared in the sky, and nothing was new! The sun rose and voices were raised in praise of God, 'Al'lah is Greater', to welcome the beginning of the Lesser Bairam, the festival held to mark the end of Ramadan.

Mohammad Amin stood up.

He realised that all the descriptions he had heard about the Night of Valuation were baseless, and the claims made about it were completely false, concerning the way that it occurs and how one can gain advantage from it by praying to God as it takes place.

Amin turned towards his friend, looking at him with eyes that were full of hope and ambition, and said to him, 'My friend, the Night of Valuation is definitely nothing like their descriptions. I believe that there's another way to witness it which is completely different from what we have heard, and I will surely discover it with God's Leave.'

At this point one should pause to consider the high moral level to which that youth had risen due to his open and unbiased opinions formed from a tender age, and strengthened as he became increasingly aware of the reality of this life!

Think, too, of the high position he achieved through his unique devotion to his constant quest to seek true knowledge by detaching himself from blindly imitating any unsubstantiated thought or creed. Through his own admirable and bright adventures he could brush aside all lies and fantasies.

Reflect on his inestimable character that inspired him to make full use of his capacity for thought, and the ability to delve to the greatest depths in order to establish the truth. Truly, he was a free thinker who did not yield to the passive dogmas which – when they are followed blindly – degrade the rank of the human (the rational) being, and reduce the level of our humanity. The Almighty gave people the precious gift of thought for it to be used logically, so as to help us distinguish between advantage and disadvantage, and between right and wrong, so that we may choose to follow the straight path.

It is right for us to make sure of the truth of all that we hear from people before adopting this path so that we may follow it and guide others towards it, once we have ascertained its accuracy by our own personal practical experience. However, if we find out that what we have heard is wrong and not genuine, it is right to dismiss it and cast it from our minds.

God says, "Mankind will be questioned about every act of hearing, or of seeing, or of feeling (in the heart)"[28]

The Arabian Envoy (cpth) said, "We are a nation driven by facts. We believe in what we see and witness."

He (cpth) meant that we first discover the truth through what we see with our own eyes, and then we bear witness to it with our hearts and our minds.

## Wisdom and Ingenuity

This account contains several anecdotes demonstrating both the brilliant and the edifying sides of the life of M. A. Sheikho, and gives a wonderful insight into his canny course of action within his home.

### Setting the Scene

This story is set during the time when both goodness and humanity prevailed, where people were known for their humility and devotional exercise. At that time the teachings of the religion of Islam prevailed and people looked to them not only out of habit but with reverence and respect. They applied the principle of Islam to their daily lives even if they did not fully understand the wisdom behind it. Everyone endeavored to live a good life so there was rarely any incidence of wrongdoing of any kind. Confident that little harm would come to them they enjoyed a life of simplicity and honesty according to the principle, 'He who follows the steps of a religious scholar will be in a state of grace when he meets God.'

There was no betrayal, no sex outside marriage, and people adhered to God's Words to the extent that they wanted to follow His Way, but imitatively.

During that time there was a group of men called the 'Lunatics'[29]who no longer exist in modern times. The 'Lunatics' of whom we speak were simple, pure and very close to God. In modern times, however, their every act is the epitome of deceitfulness, hypocrisy or deception and, needless to say, they have distanced themselves completely from the Word of God and so have become minions of Satan...

But we digress, so let us return to our story...

### Glad Tidings

During the last months of her pregnancy with him, Mohammad Amin's mother was walking along the road one day, covered from head to toe in her black gown as were all women when out in public. A 'Lunatic' passed her by, then turned and came back to her. He patted her on the back, all the while shouting loudly, 'You will give birth to a great saint... great... great...'

Then, off he ran, still crying, 'Great... great... great...' as he knew that he had seen something marvelous that only he could see.

When the women of the neighbourhood heard about this event and the good news announced by the 'Lunatic,' they went to offer her their congratulations. At that time everyone believed the truth of the words spoken by this particular 'Lunatic' whose name was Ibn Abidin, and they firmly believed that the angels spoke through him.

And indeed, the happy news became fact when, a few months later, the woman gave birth to an innocent baby of captivating and singular beauty, the like of which had rarely been seen. That was the day that the great eminent scholar M. A. Sheikho was born.

### Human Intelligence or Divine Inspiration?

The baby grew up totally secure in the love of his parents who frequently noticed him doing the most amazing things. Like most children he was active and full of life, as well as being physically agile and mentally brilliant. And here we should also mention the sweet and captivating way he had of talking, whereby, one day he even managed to cajole the stableman into falling asleep so he could bring out the mare. His father had expressly forbidden this as he was afraid that Mohammad was still too young to mount a horse.

Years before this particular escapade, when he was much younger, he went to the stable at midnight to meet the female djinn [30]after he heard that she could grant people's wishes. But do you know what he wished for? He wanted to catch her and keep her prisoner until she brought him all the lords in the land so he could ask them to convert to the religion of Islam!

His parents were astonished by everything he did. He was so different from any other child which made them even more devoted and loving towards him.

One day, when he was only three years old, he came out of his father's room looking very strange and was immediately the centre of everyone's attention!

What on earth could they have seen that attracted such attention and amazement...?

They saw him holding a stout stick, his head wrapped in a white cloth that looked like the turban worn by religious scholars, and on top of it all he had put a military hat that belonged to his brother Saleem.

They said to him, 'You can't actually achieve this! You cannot become a religious scholar and a military officer at the same time!'

### Totally Devoted

Day by day, the praiseworthy child was growing up, glowing with grace and life, and demonstrating an intelligence bordering on genius. Some of the things he did and said seemed to be like those of a wise, mature man; and we will not even mention all manner of other amazing words and deeds which his mother could not begin to comprehend!

Soon after the death of his father, a good man, his brother Saleem, older than Mohammad and by now a young man, left his homeland to settle in Istanbul where his work was based. There he married the daughter of the foreign minister of the Ottoman Empire.

So this extraordinary child became the sole focus of his mother's attention and she became completely attached to him since he was the only son living with her.

During his childhood, when he went out to play in the neighbourhood, he used to hold an iron chain and urge the local boys to submit and agree to his wishes. You could see him prowling among them like a lion cub, controlling them all by his courage and ingenuity. It was his admirable integrity that gave him the power of a lion over other boys of the same age. Yet there were also some boys who befriended him because of the kind way he treated them and for what he offered them, so they followed him gratefully.

Whenever he was out of the house his mother constantly worried about him, and could not relax until he came home safely. She thought of him as an orphan with no brothers to defend him, so if he was ever involved in a quarrel or a fight, there would be no-one to protect him.

She would have defended him herself if it were possible, but since she, like all women of that time, was completely covered by her veil, she could not go out to protect him from harm. His behaviour led to greater worry and anxiety for his mother, resulting in her becoming ever more attached to him. For example, when he came home after playing in the neighborhood, he used to climb to the top of the wall, some metres high, which surrounded the house in the al-Ward quarter (where it still stands to this day) and then he would sleep on top of it! On seeing this his mother was terrified that he would fall and would cry out in alarm, 'What are you doing, my son? Come down, please... please, come down!'

She was so afraid that he would fall that her heart would be in her mouth... and through the experience of such moments her love and attachment to him grew stronger and stronger.

Anyone would understand her feelings because if he had made the slightest wrong move he might have fallen from the high wall. And if that happened, God forbid, he would certainly die and leave her to suffer in desperate loneliness.

She begged him to come down, but got no reply, for the little boy was deeply and peacefully asleep. When she realised this she flared up saying, 'That "Lunatic" told me that I would give birth to a great saint, but all I see is an acrobat not a saint!'

He had stolen her heart by his outstanding deeds and actions which were always lively, happy and delightful. Indeed, he was the joy of all those around him and became the topic of everyone's conversation.

### Bonding, Milk Teeth and Finding the Balance

The Almighty says, "And in years twain is his weaning."[31] By the age of two a baby should be fully weaned and be eating proper food. During the first two years the mother's milk provides the infant's body with all the nourishment it needs and prepares it to eat proper foods when the milk teeth come through. In addition, these two years of nursing are long enough for the mother and her son to bond and create a wonderful loving relationship. During this period, the spiritual ties of mercy, clemency, love and such like are tied fast between mother and child.

On the other hand, if the mother nurses the child for more than two years, the physical benefits are diminished and the child's rate of growth slows down. However, the emotional ties and depth of affection between the mother and her son grow ever stronger. The mother becomes more loving and attached to her son, while the child feels even greater love and compassion towards his mother and treats her with increased kindness.

So, Almighty God decreed a general law when He decided that two years for suckling an infant was sufficient time for the child's body to be properly formed in order to grow strong and healthy.

As for Mohammad Amin, since he was an only child his mother continued to suckle him until the age of eight. So, whenever he arrived home from school, he used to drop his bag and dash towards her to suckle at her breast which only made her love for him deeper and she became even more attached to him.

### Marriage – Discord – Inventive Solution

Day by day, as the young Mohammad was growing bigger and stronger, so was his mother's love and fondness for him, even until he was a young man. He was all she had in this life. So, she would have gladly born the pain of all the diseases of this world rather than see him in discomfort because of a single thorn in his foot.

Like all mothers, especially those who have only one sonwith them, she wanted her son to be married. Yet the marriage of a son, as everybody knows, often leads to natural jealousy between the wife and the mother-in-law. It is perfectly normal for a mother to have a great desire to see her son married and have a family of his own, and when her son said to her, 'But Mother! There would soon be arguments and quarrels between you and a daughter-in-law,so why are you in a rush for me to be married?' She replied, 'I would truly love her and put all her comforts and needs before mine. So, do not worry my son, and don't think about it.'

Now, as for the mother, who stood feasting her eyes on the handsome appearance of her beloved son, Mohammad Amin, her only supporter in this world , she approached him saying, 'Oh my sweetie... oh my hope... you are the focus of all my wishes! I want you to complete my happiness. I want you to get married. I wish to see your babies before I die.'

Mohammad then agreed to her wishes since this matter was so important to her. So he replied, 'As you like, Mother. I have no-one in this world except for you, whom I love dearly,' then he bowed his head and kissed her hand.

With tears of joy coursing down her cheeks showing just how happy she was when he agreed, she said to him, 'May God be pleased with you, light of my life... my heart!'

Indeed, a suitable wife was soon chosen and the wedding arranged. Then, with the marriage ceremonies over, the bride was brought to the house, where the guests came to offer their congratulations, and then departed.

There, the mother who was so pleased because of her son's marriage led the bride to her newly furnished room, all the while saying kind and sweet words of congratulations.

She then went to her own room feeling as though she was in the seventh heaven, for the focus of all her hopes, her love, and the light of her life, had finally married.

As for Mohammad Amin, that inspired man, who radiated happiness and excellence in all that he did, now broke with the normal, accepted custom. He did not go to the room of his wife as any new husband would, but went to his mother's room and, opening the door, went in showing no sign of happiness or pleasure with his marriage.

When his mother saw him entering her room, she looked at him in bewilderment and asked, 'My son! My dear boy! Why have you come here? You left your beloved wife and came to me! Do you want something?'

Mohammad replied, 'No, Mother, but I would like to sit with you. I always like to spend time with you.'

'What are you saying, my son? This isn't right! You shouldn't leave your wife alone, especially tonight, her wedding night. Come on, son! Get up and go to her.'

'No Mother, I won't! I don't want her. I do not want anyone in this world except you, and no-one can replace you in my life.'

His mother was so afraid that people would gossip and blame her for this situation, so she said to Mohammad, 'But this will make people talk badly about us, my son! Other people's daughters are not merely games to be played with whenever you want. May God look favourably on you, son! Now, do the right thing and go to your wife; tomorrow you can sit with me as much as you wish.'

But Mohammad Amin was adamant and refused to go, saying, 'No mother, never! I will not go. I don't like her. I love only you, my dear mother.'

When she realised that it was useless to discuss the matter with him any further, she said nothing. But after a while, she stood up, took his hand and pulled him. He did as she wanted and stood up. She put her hands on his shoulders and began to push him towards the door but he resisted, showing reluctance to leave her room. Yet his mother kept pushing him despite his opposition until finally she managed to get him out of the room. Then with all her strength, she tried to shut the door, but he pretended that he would not give in and kept resisting and pushing the door trying to open it again. She kept trying from the inside and he kept trying from the outside until finally she managed to close the door and lock it. However, Mohammad Amin stayed outside his mother's door knocking and begging her to open it but she refused. Finally, he left and went to his new room.

Could this really be true? Here was this powerful officer, who had destroyed the heads of crime and evil one by one; can we truly believe that his mother was strong enough to push him out of her room?!

Through such wise and canny behaviour which he repeated for many successive days, he convinced his mother that her son was still hers, alone, and that the newcomer 'his wife' could not steal his heart from her, nor would she ever be able to do so, because he loved no-one in this life, other than his mother.

And so, the normal negative emotions did not arise; as a result, there was neither jealousy nor discord.

However things were not to change! This air of domestic peace and harmony ever lasted except for one!

### Clever Schemes and New Clothes

The days passed peacefully because Mohammad Amin showed great tact when dealing with both his wife and his mother, and took care to avoid any situation that might cause an upset between the two women. He knew only too well that domestic hassle causes misery, depression, and unhappiness, and that harmony and friendliness in the home lead to security, peacefulness and contentment; and Mohammad Amin did not want anyone to be unhappy; on the contrary, he wanted everyone to be content with their life.

So, wanting to strengthen the good family relations which he had contrived and brought about, and trying hard to prevent the 'understandable jealousy' that his mother might show towards his wife, he devised a second plan. He went to the market and bought some beautiful clothes for his mother, and other things that she needed. He then returned to the house without his wife seeing him, and went upstairs to his mother's room to surprise her with the presents he had brought for her. It was a wonderful surprise for his mother who realised yet again just how much her beloved son adored her.

But a few moments later, once she had got over her initial happy surprise, she asked him, 'But, my son! What about your wife? Haven't you bought anything for her?' Mohammad Amin replied, 'Mother, my dear, sweet mother! I care only about you, and love you more than anyone. So, don't think of her. I don't like her. She doesn't need anything more, she has enough!'

Then, he left his mother and went directly to his wife and gave her some money saying, ' Here's some money for you; give it to your mother and ask her to bring you whatever you want.' His wife was overjoyed with this gift because she thought it showed how much he cared about her. She wanted her mother to bring her some items that she needed, and by giving her the money for these he had done exactly as she wished.

The following day, his mother went to sit in the courtyard so as to keep an eye on the situation. She noticed that her daughter-in-law did not get anything new. She was not wearing any new clothes and even her shoes were the same old ones she had had for some time.

She continued to watch like this for three days but nothing changed. Finally she realised that her son really had not bought anything new for his wife. She was upset by this and felt very sympathetic towards the poor downtrodden woman (as she thought)! She said to herself, 'I enjoy having beautiful new things while this poor woman is still wearing her old clothes and has nothing new! It's a shame!'

Then, she hurried off to her son, and out of true love and affection for his wife, she said to him, 'It isn't fair to treat your wife like this. You should not stop her from having new clothes. So, for God's Sake, son, buy her what she needs!'

But Mohammad Amin answered her kindly, 'You, dear Mother, are my chief concern, so do not think about her. She deserves nothing and I don't like her.'

'So why did you marry her?' she asked, but he did not answer.

A few days later, his wife went to visit her family, and while she was there she gave her mother the money her husband had given her and asked her to buy her all the clothes and other things that she needed. Her mother promised to bring the purchases the following afternoon.

When his wife returned home, her kindly husband asked if she had asked her mother to bring whatever she needed.

'Yes,' she answered.

'When will she bring them?' he asked.

'Tomorrow afternoon,' she replied.

The following day, shortly before her mother was due to arrive, Mohammad Amin entered his mother's room and sat with her. A few minutes later, they heard a knock on the main door of the house. Pretending to be surprised he asked his mother, 'Who could that be?'

His mother replied that she would go to see.

As she had been eagerly expecting her mother to arrive, Mohammad's wife hurried from her room to open the door and welcome her mother who was carrying a large package of clothing and other shopping.

So, when Mohammad's mother went out to the second floor balcony, from where she had a good view of the courtyard, she saw her daughter-in-law and her mother with the package. She went back into her room and said to her son who, incidentally, knew who the newcomer was, 'It is your mother-in-law. She has brought a package of clothes and other shopping for her daughter.'

Secretly she was glad because it saved her son's money. But when Mohammad Amin heard this, he jumped, up, pretending to be very surprised, and angrily said, 'Do they think we need anything from them and decided to bring us these purchases?' Then he pretended that he would go down in order to scold both of them for what they had done, and tell his mother-in-law to leave his house But his mother stopped him saying, 'No, my son! You don't bring her what she needs nor do you let her family buy it for her! Do you think you are being reasonable, son?' So, he calmed down but he was still annoyed, and sat down again.

Through this well thought out plan, he made sure that his mother became the greatest support and close friend of his 'oppressed' wife because with his bright, humane, diverse actions, that he often repeated, he kindled in her intense feelings of sympathy and tenderness towards her daughter-in-law.

And so, because of his plan of action, there was no room for jealousy in his house at that time. On the contrary, he instilled in his mother great feelings of compassion, love and kindness that were reflected in the way his mother treated his wife. In return, when his wife saw such tenderness from her mother-in-law and sensed her great kindness and love for her, she reciprocated in her own gentle, sweet and loving way.

The bond of love, familiarity, and understanding which developed between the two became stronger until it was like the relationship between a mother and her only daughter.

### Keeping the Balance

One day, our man went to the market and bought two kilos of Kebab (small pieces of meat placed on skewers and grilled), some appetizers and Leban, (curdled sour milk) which he then divided into two portions, one kilo for his mother and one for his wife. He put the two portions of food on a tray and told the little boy who worked in the restaurant to take it to his house.

It was lunchtime when he arrived home. His mother and his wife were both in their own rooms. Going first to his wife's room, he gave her a portion and told her to bring some simple food from the kitchen, such as olives, thyme and olive oil, and whatever other similar food there was, and to hide it under her bed. Then he said, 'If you hear my mother coming, hide the Kebab under the bed with the appetizers and Leban, and bring out only the simple lunch to show her that this is the kind of food you usually eat...'

His wife replied, 'Yes, darling, as you wish.'

Following this he went to his mother's room where he greeted her and kissed her hand, and then said to her,

'Come on, Mother! Let's eat together; I have brought you Kebab and some appetizers.'

His mother saw the delicious food laid out on the table, so she sat beside her son for them to eat together. But before she began eating, she said to him, 'But, where is your wife, son? Call her to come here with your little child to eat with us.'

'No, Mother! Don't worry about her I've brought this just for you.'

'But, son! What will she eat?'

'She can eat whatever food she finds in the house.'

'That's completely unacceptable, my son! You should not treat your wife like this.' Mohammad did not reply.

Then, when the mother had finished eating with her son, she left him in her room and went to his wife's room.

The wife heard the footsteps of her mother-in-law approaching her room, so, as directed by her husband, she quickly pushed the tray of Kebab under the bed and pulled out the tray of simple foods, and pretended to be eating from it. Naturally, when the mother opened the door, she saw the 'poor woman' eating nothing but olive oil and olives. Overcome by her feelings of compassion and kindness, she closed the door quietly and returned to her room, sadly affected by the situation of the wretched woman!

She said to herself, 'How could I possibly eat any of that excellent dish of Kebab and the other food while my poor daughter-in-law is eating only the simplest of foods such as thyme, olive oil and olives?'

She could not hide her feelings of sadness for her daughter-in-law, and said to her son, 'No son... no! That is so unfair. By God! You should not deprive your poor wife like this.' Her words came genuinely from a heart brimming with ever-increasing feelings of love for her daughter-in-law who had become as a real daughter to her because of her son's wise scheme.

On the other hand, she became convinced that her son was not in love with his wife and that he loved no-one but her. She thought that the great attachment he had had for her since he was a baby, had led to his depriving his wife of his love and care, and she felt this to be totally unacceptable. Therefore she always stood by her daughter-in-law in so many ways.

That was what Mohammad Amin achieved through the kind and compassionate control of his household situation. The above are just a few examples of many actions leading to similar excellent results and ultimately the relationship between the two women was like that of a mother and her own daughter, and a daughter to her own mother. They came to treat each other with the greatest respect and compassion, and lived together with no further hint of any unpleasantness between them. Nothing had happened in the past except for this only unrepeatable incident.

### Domestic Disharmony – Situation Unrepeatable!

In general some time after any marriage, the usual domestic arguments and disputes arose between the mother and her son's wife, just as it had been predicted. The mother felt that matters were getting out of control and despite her better judgement she unwillingly found herself becoming

unfriendly towards her son's wife; and because of jealousy, she started to think badly of the young woman. The explanation for this situation is probably that the mother felt in her heart that her son's love was now given to another woman and not to her. Although she felt she loved him more than she thought his new wife did, the wife had soon replaced his mother in his affections!

It is perhaps understandable that such feelings quickly gave way to intense jealousy growing inside her, which quickly turned into hostile behaviour towards the daughter- in-law. Thus, she began to treat her as an adversary and lay in wait ready to pounce on any fault or mistake that the young woman may make and be prepared to blame her.

Eventually, there came a time when the aged mother interfered in a matter that was nothing to do with her. She started to criticise some of the things her daughter-in-law did, by telling her what she was doing wrong or what she was not allowed to do.

The poor wife did not react and patiently put up with the criticism. But when her mother-in-law went too far, she became fed up and could no longer tolerate the situation. Things went from bad to worse until she could not put up with the meddling of her mother-in-law any longer. So she said to her, 'Please, Mother! This is my business not yours, so for God's Sake leave me alone!'

With every word they spoke, their quarrel became worse and degenerated into a serious argument to the point where they were cursing and swearing at each other.

The man of the house was, still at his work, so there was no-one to mediate between the two sides or, at least, to prevent a worsening situation.

The previous excellent, loving relationship of the two women had now become one of total animosity!

The mother-in-law started to swear at her daughter-in- law, and she, in turn, could not bear it any longer. 'Oh my God... oh my God! This situation is unbearable...' at which point she exploded with anger and swore back at her mother-in-law.

The old woman, shocked that the daughter-in-law was yelling at her in this way, found herself giving as good as she got. And so the abuse increased between the two women until they reached the stage where they were totally out of control and were about to hit each other!

Fortunately, this was the first and last time that an argument between them had sunk to such a level. At that very moment, when the fighting and cursing came to a head, Mohammad Amin arrived home.

As soon as his feet crossed the threshold, he heard shouting and words that he had never heard before inside his own house!

'What's going on? Swear words?' He looked inside, and saw that his mother and his wife had let loose their tempers and their tongues, with each of them giving back twice what she received.

He was completely shocked by what he saw and heard, so he stopped quite still for a few minutes, totally taken aback at that strange sight which he was not accustomed to seeing.

Standing there, speechless, he heard the claims and counter-claims that the two women were yelling at each other and he realised what was wrong between them: his mother was to blame. But since she was his mother and by now quite old, he felt that he could not take her to task for the argument. On the other hand, it would be unfair to lay the blame on his wronged wife who had become so fed up with his mother's interference that she felt totally downtrodden and eventually had exploded in anger. So he could not tick her off or scold her in front of his mother.

Yet his quickness of thought and admirable wisdom soon led him to a quick solution.

The skirmish was still going strong when he rushed towards his wife and picked her up by force and ran quickly towards his room. There he laid her on the bed and then locked the door. He was still in his military uniform holding his whip in his hand. He looked at his wife who, when she realised where she was, managed to control her tongue but not her temper.

'I'll give you one golden lira if you let me pretend to give you a single lash of my whip. What do you say?'

'Never!' she said, completely rejecting his suggestion. How could she allow her husband even to pretend to punish her when she was totally blameless and would have never burst out against her mother-in-law if she hadn't felt that the situation was so unfair and one-sided.

'So,' she thought, 'after all that, he wants me to cry and pretend that I am being whipped as punishment even though I'm the victim here!'

She refused to agree with him because, in her opinion, all her feelings of oppression, anger and distress could not be simply wiped out by gold.

He increased his offer and said, 'Two liras for two lashes of the whip... eh!... What do you say?' She refused his increased offer also. So then due to his canny wisdom and experience he threatened her, 'If you don't agree with me, I will treat your family in the same way you treat my mother.'

When she heard this she was afraid that he would really carry out his threat. She said to herself, 'My family...! He will treat them the way I've treated his mother!'

She gave in to his demand so that her family would not be compromised, and quickly replied, 'Ok... Ok... I'll do what you want! But will you give me the two golden liras?'

He agreed and then raised the whip, and with all the strength he could muster, struck the bed. The crack of the whip and the sound of a strong flogging resounded throughout the whole house, followed by a scream from his wife that made it seem as though she was truly being lashed. In fact, by screaming she gave vent to the deep anger and frustration she felt in her heart, and because of her pent up emotions it became even more heart-rending than the cry of someone who was actually being whipped.

The distinct sound of the powerful lashing was heard by his mother who, dumbstruck, and in total disbelief, put her hand to her mouth, and asked herself, 'Could this really be happening? Is he actually whipping her?'

But she soon answered her own question when the sound of the lash was followed by that terrible scream of the (wronged!) wife. Whereupon, she cried out, 'Oh my God! Oh my God! He's beating her... and with his whip! Oh my God! That's horrible! How could he beat her? Oh... I wish my tongue were cut out and that I'd never blamed her or scolded her... oh... if only...!'

Then she yelled at Mohammad, 'No, my son! Stop that no-one's daughter should be beaten!'

According to the old tradition of Sham (present day Damascus), it was forbidden for a man to beat his wife for any reason whatsoever because she is a partner in a man's life. If, however, the two sides do not get on well, the husband can resort to divorce, but never to violence. An animal may be struck but a human being, never! A wife is a human being, so she should not be beaten.

That is what the people of Sham used to believe. So any man who beats his wife will damage his own good name and be disgraced. People will despise him and say the worst possible things about him.

The mother ran quickly towards the young woman's room repeating, 'Stop that, my son, other people's daughters should not be beaten... this is not allowed... others' daughter should not be beaten...'

While she was running towards the locked door, unable to see clearly, she heard the sound of the second whipping followed by yet another heart-rending cry from the distressed wife; the second scream was just as loud as the first as it came from a heart that was giving vent to its anguish and pain.

She could not bear what she heard, 'Oh my God! Oh my God! How could he beat her again? What will people say about him?'

She forgot all about the quarrel that had happened earlier, and cared only about saving the poor wife from the hands of her son who was (as she thought!) treating his wife so unjustly. Besides, she wanted to avoid the possible outcome of such behaviour. 'How could he beat her? She's his wife. Surely, he will blacken his own name and will not be able to face other men...' was the thought going through her mind. She rushed quickly towards the door and started banging on it so that she might save the situation, and when she heard the crack of the second lash hitting the body of her daughter-in-law (or so she thought!) she called on God to take action against her son. At that moment, he opened the door violently and dashed out of the room like a roaring lion, still holding the whip in his hand. He left the house immediately so as to give his mother an opportunity to comfort his wife.

The old woman entered the room and looked at the 'poor' wife who burst into tears, through which she managed to gasp out the 'pain,' and her grief subsided. So her mother-in-law quickly approached her and set about trying to comfort her in a gentle and soothing way, using soft, sweet words, 'Oh daughter! He didn't think; so please bear with him. Oh my daughter! I have mistreated you, so please forgive me.' Then she embraced her and made amends by telling her how fond she was of her and how much she loved her.

As for the wife who was still crying, when she heard her mother-in-law's soothing, kind words, she felt an air of calmness come over her as she realised she could win the mother-in-law over by clever acting and so make the old woman give in. The mother continued trying to calm her, 'Oh daughter... forgive him... he is wrong...'

She did her best to please her, afraid that she might tell her family about the beating at the hands of her husband, for if this happened people would get to know about the appalling behaviour of her son who was known to have such high moral standards and an excellent character.

She stayed beside her for a long time, calming her, chatting to her as a friend, and treating her as an affectionate mother would.

These kind and gentle words, in addition to the copious amount of tears shed by the wife would wipe away all her negative emotions and feelings of sadness. She realised that it was only a temporary surge of anger and nothing more, and that it had passed, thank God.

And so the situation returned to its usual state of happy normality and once again harmony and tenderness were established.

And that was exactly what Mohammad Amin had expected to happen when he left the home after giving that well thought out performance. He put his full trust in God that the plan he had applied would bring the perfect results.

Indeed, when he came back home in the afternoon, he found them as close to one another as two lovers might be. Then, he praised God wholeheartedly while his mother sat scowling at him because of what he had done!

That event made her believe that her son was just a normal, typical husband, harsh and brutal towards his wife!

The old woman thought back over the events that the situations that had arisen in the household, and the way her son dealt with them:

'He doesn't bring her the same delicious food he brings to me, nor does he buy her such splendid clothes as he buys for me. He deprives her of all these special treats. If her family had not helped her, she would have been in a pitiable state! He treats his wife as though he doesn't love her, and isn't even fond of her. What's more, his bad treatment of her went as far as beating, and even, whipping her! It seems he's a hardhearted brute towards his wife. He certainly does not love her at all.

'I wonder, was I wrong when I chose her to be his wife? Did he feel forced to marry her? She has been entrusted to his hands and he must treat her well. So, why does he act so harshly towards her?'

All these questions and conclusions passed through her mind and settled there, as she realised that if she did not stand by that 'poor' wife and protect her, Mohammad (who, as she thought, loved no one but her, his mother) would only continue to abuse his wife.

So the mother turned into an advocate for her daughter- in-law, to advise and help her and always to obtain all her rights from her husband. Moreover, whenever she found her daughter-in-law at fault she instantly forgave her, saying, 'Poor woman! Isn't it bad enough that she suffers unfair treatment and deprivation at the hands of her husband? No... no... I will not blame her, whatever she does wrong...'

Finally harmony prevailed between the two women to the extent that the mother-in-law became like a real mother to her daughter-in-law, in the full meaning of the word.

The truth of the matter is that, through his wisdom and admirable chain of thought, Mohammad Amin ensured lasting and peaceful relations between the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law to the extent that whenever his mother wanted to call his wife she used the words 'my daughter,' whereupon his wife would reply, 'Yes, my mother!'

And so, finally, blessed peace descended upon the household of M. A. Sheikho.

# Part Two

## The Only Man for a Difficult Assignment

This story takes us back a little to the time when Mr. Mohammad Amin had just completed his studies at Amber College. Having newly graduated as a security officer, he was assigned to his first official task in confronting crime.

How would he react? Would he succeed? Would good triumph over evil?

Let us relive this critical time with Officer Mohammad Amin and see how he conducted himself when faced with the dangers of this, his first important duty.

In a certain district of Damascus, a group of Kurds had arrived and set up residence. They took over a substantial area which they established as their home and went to build their houses. At that time many of them were united behind their mighty, autocratic leader who was an indomitable criminal.

They, in their perverted view, held him in high esteem and would always rally around him against all attempts made by the Ottoman State to curb the crimes committed by that arch criminal in its endeavours to wipe out corruption in that region.

The region we are talking of is marked by its mountainous terrain, dotted with caves which provide ample hiding places for all who might need them. Every inch of its landscape is well-known to these criminals for they had made this land their home and had become accustomed to the mountain and its harshness.

The Ottoman authorities had sent army troops to kill the Kurdish leader, but they knew nothing about the region, nor did they have any idea about its caves and rough and difficult terrain. They were unfamiliar with the harshness of the mountains and if they were to chase the Kurds they would need to be as agile and nimble as mountain goats that easily climb and descend this type of terrain, as indeed were the Kurds. The army found itself at a serious disadvantage as its soldiers could gain no ground in their pursuit of this criminal, especially when his band of loyal followers would rush to his aid and defend him whenever he came under attack by the armed force. Day by day, the criminal's confidence grew, and his evil and criminal acts grew along with his confidence until the Ottoman State no longer knew what further action they should take to apprehend this criminal. Thus, the high commander of the army left no stone unturned in his quest to find a solution to the problem since his own reputation was at stake, and the state itself was under threat.

It seems inconceivable that this villain might continue to outwit the high commander of the Turkish army despite the impressive resources at his disposal.

He studied the case carefully and became lost in his thoughts until, suddenly, an idea came to him. 'I've got it!' he exclaimed to himself. 'I'll entrust this case to that young officer who proved to be far superior to all his peers in the Royal Military Faculty. Without a doubt he's the best man to tackle this problem and take down this felon.' The commander had seen great potential in the Arab cadet Mr. Mohammad Amin, even before his graduation from Amber College. His skills in planning and management, his conduct, courage and bravery, added to other excellent attributes, had made him stand out head and shoulders above his peers.

He sent for the cadet without further delay, and the young officer came with a face alight with his hope and aspirations for the future. The newly graduated officer saluted his commander and said, 'Commandant, I am reporting to you as requested.'

'Please have a seat', the commander replied. The young officer sat and listened to his commanding officer, who continued by setting out the problem he was faced with: 'I believe that you have heard about the criminal leader of the Kurds in Damascus? You must be aware of the Kurdish Quarter and the criminal disturbance and trouble that these people cause. Of course, the source of all that misery is the lawless leader of the group; he's as venomous as a snake. He's killed dozens of men, destroyed people's lives and families, turned wives into widows and made their children fatherless. Many times we have tried to get rid of him, but we have failed, so we want to get rid of him at any cost: dead or alive. All we care about is to save good people from any further suffering at his hands. So, as a senior commander, I have put your name forward for this important mission. You can have as many soldiers as you need, a squadron of the army will be at your disposal if you wish. So what do you say, Officer?'

Officer Sheikho replied, 'I would like to think about this, Commandant. Please give me some time.'

'You have it,' the commander replied, 'but please reach your decision without delay because we are facing an extremely difficult situation.' The young officer left the room, racking his brain to make sense of what had been put to him, and analysing the request carefully.

He wondered: 'Is it justifiable to kill this criminal? Would this action be pleasing to God? He is a felon; he has killed many men and plundered so many times. Should he be killed under God's Law? I think that I should ask religious scholars their opinion about this matter.'

He spoke with many men of the cloth and asked each of them, 'Oh Sheikh! There is a criminal in the Kurd's Quarter. He has killed dozens of men and the families of their victims are distraught. His crimes get worse with every day that passes. Should he die for this? And would it please God if he were to be killed?'

One of these sheikhs answered him, 'Oh my son! If he had killed just one person unjustly it would be lawful to put him to death. God says, "And We ordained therein for them: life for life, eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal."[33] Since you say that he has killed dozens of men, killing him is admissible under God's Law, and the man who kills him will be rewarded in full for his action.'

To be absolutely certain of any action he might take Amin Bey2 [34]consulted many other scholars and they all gave similar replies, which made it far easier for him to take a decision. He thought, 'All the scholars I have spoken to are unanimous. They say that killing him is allowed, and in fact I would get a great reward from God if I did. So, this task is mine. I will save people from his crimes, with God's Permission.' He took himself directly to the senior commander and said to him, 'Sir! I am ready to undertake this mission.'

The commander swelled with pride and great relief for Mohammad Amin was the only officer he could trust to carry out this mission. He addressed the young officer, saying, 'Now, my brave, compassionate officer, you may choose whichever police officers and soldiers that you need. They are ready to do your bidding and for you to command as you see fit.'

Surprisingly the courageous young officer replied, 'I need only eight men, sir. But I want to choose them myself.'

Astonished, the commander said, 'Are you sure? I've told you before that we have already employed large squadrons of well trained and fully armed men to track down this criminal, and even they had no success. Their efforts came to nothing. So, how can you say that you need only eight men? Have you really thought this through? Be fully aware, officer, that you will come up against many, tough, able- bodied men in those mountains, not just one criminal. Most of them are armed and share their leader's goals and they will immediately rush to help him. I've told you before and now I'm saying it again, "take as many of my men as you want." '

'Sir, I have considered this very carefully and I still say that I want only eight men – not more. So please set your mind at rest and leave this to me.'

Due to Officer Sheikho's insistence, and concerned that the young man might have second thoughts and withdraw from the assignment, the commander realised he had no option but to agree to his demands. He said to him, 'As you wish. It is your choice. But I have to say that I think this course of action may be suicidal. There's nothing more for me to add, it is now your business to deal with as you think fit! I wish you and your men success and a safe return.'

The commander fell silent but continued to look at the officer with a steady, admiring gaze. And so Officer Sheikho went to the barracks and began to assess each of the men until he had at last selected seven strong soldiers whose faces displayed their courage and fearlessness. Curiously, he chose only those men who spoke Turkish and understood no Arabic at all. For his eighth man, he wanted a knowledgeable guide who could lead them to their quarry. So he chose a man who had been born and raised in the mountains, and who knew by sight the criminal's house, which was perched at the summit of the mountains and towered over all the other houses. Unlike his comrades, the man chosen to be the guide spoke only Arabic, and not a word of Turkish, exactly as the young officer had planned. Every man had been chosen for a specific reason and not by accident, for our officer had thought thoroughly about the criminal and the plan he should hatch to overcome him.

He knew that the criminal had become famous by the very fact of his countless violent crimes and everybody in the town had heard tales of his exploits repeated in coffee houses throughout the area. The tales of his exploits had instilled such fear that men trembled with terror on hearing his name.

So, fearing that the squad of men he had chosen might become afraid and lose their courage if they heard the guide speak of the criminal, or point him out (whereby, God forbid, they should be too afraid to put an end to his criminal acts), the young officer chose seven men who understood no Arabic; and just one who understood no Turkish was chosen as a guide.

In this way the men could not understand the guide and the guide could not understand them; Mohammad Amin, however, understood both languages fluently. This was all part of the young officer's cunning plan whereby he could be sure that the soldiers would focus fully on the task at hand, and by God's Leave they would have the courage and high level of morale required to succeed.

Officer Sheikho called his men together to begin their journey to the Kurdish mountains.

It was after midnight and the stars twinkled brightly in the sky above. The streets were empty because all good people were at home in their beds. There was only our intrepid young officer and his brave troops riding their horses and demonstrating great skill and strength. Onwards they rode, watched by the stars in the night sky, until they arrived at the square which was then known as al-Sit Hafaza and is now called al-Maysat Square, in Damascus.

At that time, this area was full of beautiful gardens and abundant orchards, and there was also an abandoned police station. So, accompanied by his seven soldiers and the guide, our officer entered the building. He had spent a difficult day thinking and scheming for the best way to get rid of his adversary and he needed a short rest before carrying out this duty. He was particularly anxious to succeed as this was his first mission after graduating as a security officer. So, he ordered the police watchman to wake him when the muezzin called the people to dawn prayer; then he went in and slept. This timing was well calculated because the dawn prayer is called long before sunrise, and so our courageous troop would be able to set off under cover of darkness.

While sleeping, Mohammad Amin had a vision: he saw himself in a tough and violent man-to-man fight with the criminal, but he finally got the better of him, and pinned him to the ground.

At this moment, he woke up with a start and found himself in a heap on the floor, having fallen out of bed. As he opened his eyes fully, he saw the watchman coming in to wake him, and as he stood up he believed that the vision was a good omen from God that he would be granted victory over the wicked criminal. Immediately, demonstrating great personal strength and high morale, he assembled his courageous men who rode their horses with their leader's firm will and optimism reflected in their own spirits. They climbed the mountains with the courageous Officer Sheikho and the guide at their head, and made slow but steady progress in the direction of the criminal's house. By the time they drew near to their objective, the darkness had become mixed with daylight and the first shadows of dawn approached.

The sound of the hoof-fall of the squadron's horses and their general commotion alerted the criminal and put fear into his heart. Whereupon he immediately ran out of his house and continued as fast as he could towards the wall between his house and his neighbour's, and started to climb it. As he tried to run away the guide recognised him in the growing light and turned towards him to indicate that, indeed, this was the dangerous, wanted man himself.

At that moment, our young officer pointing to the criminal, ordered his soldiers in Turkish: 'Open Fire!'

In a trice, the seven men shot the criminal who fell down to the ground. Dead!

As swift as lightning Officer Sheikho drew his long dagger, and jumping off his horse he dashed towards the dead felon where he cut off his head and attached it to his belt.

Then he shouted to his men in Turkish, 'Come on men! Let's climb higher up the mountain. Quick! Let's get away before we come under attack and it's too late.'

The way uphill was narrow, winding and rugged, for it was a ravine which cut through the surface of the mountain. Needless to say the criminal's men had heard the crack of bullets from the soldiers' guns, so they rushed out, heavily armed. Some of them saw the body of the headless criminal lying on the ground, and they called out the gory news to each other, 'Our leader's dead. They've cut off his head. God help those who have killed him! Come on men! Let's take our revenge. Let us show them the force of our fury. Quick! Follow them.'

So they all began to climb the mountain pass.

Almost every able-bodied man in the area came out to avenge the blood of their evil leader and role model, and set off in pursuit of the officer and his troops who were making good their escape.

As for our young officer Mohammad Amin and his troops, they slowly but surely continued to climb the mountainside until they reached a place where the path became so narrow and difficult that the horses could go no further. At that point the quick-witted officer shouted,

'Come on, men, quickly! Abandon the horses and run up towards the summit of the mountain.' Meanwhile the whole of the local population who, to a man, championed the murdered chief, had already surrounded the level summit of the mountain, as a bracelet would encircle the wrist, as they steadily climbed higher on all sides.

At that time guns could fire only a single shot, so the rifleman needed some time to reload his gun after shooting.

The soldiers and their officer were now in a critical and dangerous situation. Soon the mob's bullets would rain upon them from all sides in a desperate attempt to avenge their dead leader. So Officer Sheikho actioned a brilliant plan in order to create a gap so he and his men could escape from the siege. He ordered his men to play his own ingenious version of leapfrog What a brilliant ploy! Our young officer quickly explained to his squad that as the Kurds opened fire they should lie flat on the ground to reload their guns. Then as the bandits stopped firing at them and dropped to reload their own guns the first soldier, the one closest to the bandits, should leap up while he and his colleagues are firing in every direction, and run to the end of the line. He will then be the man closest to the escape route. Their guns now empty, the whole squad should reload as quickly as possible while the enemy was firing another round.

As the enemy stopped to reload Officer Amin's men were to fire at the bandits all around while the second of their colleagues, the one now closest to the bandits, was to run to join the end of the line. They were to continue in this way, one man "leapfrogging" to the back of the line during every round fired by his colleagues. This pattern was to be repeated by every other soldier in turn and as each soldier played his part in this well-thought out, but dangerous, game, the whole column would move backward, man by man, and they would gradually be able to retreat to the nearest place of safety, which was al- Salhiyeh, located behind the Kurd's Quarter.

This manner of retreat ensures that the enemy remains at bay, while the soldiers in the squadron provide a form of covering fire for their comrades as they retreat.

In this tale, the troops implemented their speedy retreat in the most brilliant and efficient way. Neither side ceased firing at each other until Officer Sheikho reached al- Salhiyeh with his soldiers.

Once there, a gap opened in the Kurdish through giving them the opportunity to escape to the lower level of the mountainside. While all of this was taking place the constant snap and crackle of shooting had woken the people of Damascus. Word of the great battle reached the ears of the supreme commander who immediately raised an armed battalion and led them out to the mountains to help our young officer.

However, he was too late, for our cadet and his squadron had already reached al-Salhiyeh in Damascus and the Kurds could not advance further since they had no control or influence over that area. Further, when they saw the commander coming with his army to aid the dauntless officer they turned tail and fled. They retreated having suffered two losses: the death of their leader, and their complete failure to avenge his death.

Indeed, it was a perfect victory and success for our officer, for all of his men survived the raid uninjured. The Almighty protected them by the high morals of their leader and his excellent, well contrived plan.

So, when the situation calmed down and the danger was past, the stalwart officer, Mohammad Amin, marched down the mountain towards the high commander and there he saluted him. Then, proudly, with head held high, he cast the head of the criminal at the commander's feet.

But how strange! The reaction of the commander was so cool and unexpected. He said, 'What have you accomplished? You have killed only one criminal and brought me his head. Do you think such a deed is remarkable?'

Nevertheless, our officer did not react to the commander's words, on the contrary he said to himself,

'That is right. Really I have not achieved anything worth boasting about.'

But, one must be fair! Can such a triumph over one of the biggest districts of Damascus and its leader by a squadron of only eight soldiers be regarded as merely a simple deed? That none of them was hurt is miraculous in itself! The miracle of our young cadet's achievement was yet hidden from glory. And it was said, 'Spirits of great wishing weary the body in their seeking.'

## Never Judge a Man by His Moustache

When Mohammad Amin was an officer heading one of the security forces, he was charged with maintaining security in one of the al-Sheikh mountain regions where an annual festival takes place.

Besides Muslims this festival also involves members of the local Christian and Druze[36]communities. It is celebrated in one of the villages of the area and most of the inhabitants of the region come along to participate. Unfortunately a great number of crimes are committed during the festival and so it was highly likely that Officer Mohammad Amin would be kept very busy.

When he arrived at the headquarters, the highest ranking officer went out to greet him and brief him on the best approach to adopt in order to combat the problem. Mohammad Amin approached the commander and saluted him as an officer before introducing himself. To his surprise the commander seemed annoyed. Amin was quite taken aback, but having thought about it for a moment he realised it must be because his moustache did not fulfil the usual traditional standards. You see, at the time of the Turks it was customary to have a thick moustache, long and curled at the ends; this was also considered a sign of a man's strength and manhood. On the other hand Mohammad Amin's moustache was very ordinary and obviously nothing special! Did the shortsighted commander truly believe that this was a measure of our officer's ability?

The commander looked down his nose at the officer and sneered at him: 'Have they sent me girls?'

Deeply offended at this humiliating comment, our honest officer became angry. Giving the commander a look of the utmost contempt, he tugged at the reins of his horse and turned to leave without saluting. This was a major breach of officers' conduct which showed the extent of Amin's anger. And so he rode off to undertake his commission.

The festival began on the following day and as usual there was a general air of chaos. A drunkard had stabbed another man violently with a dagger, killing him instantly.

Officer Mohammad Amin immediately gave orders to the police to arrest the criminal. A crowd of people had gathered around the dead man preventing our officer from gaining access to the killer, so he asked the help of the security forces in order to arrest him. He was astonished by their reply!

'Sir... we cannot arrest this man because he's the headman of the whole region, and arresting him means that everyone for miles around will side with him and will kill us all.' That is the very moment when he understood that these officers were accustomed to taking bribes from this killer. To add to his troubles the killer was rapidly disappearing into the crowd while he was talking with the recalcitrant policemen!

There was nothing else for it, he would have to capture the killer alone as there was no possibility of any assistance from these corrupt officers. In fact he thought they might even turn against him, and kill him too, if the bribes were high enough!

He searched among the dense, jostling crowds but could find no trace of the murderer. He knew there was little chance of finding him now as his escape would be covered by his supporters milling around him. Anger boiled in his chest and he stormed back to his office at the police station.

Added to what he perceived as his failure to capture the killer Mohammad Amin was still smarting from the earlier snub of the contemptuous commander whose words continued to ring in his ears: 'Have they sent me girls?' At this point he felt so angry and dispirited that he lay prostrate in despair, with his face to the floor. The day passed, night fell, and still he lay in the same painful position until the next morning. Suddenly he jumped up and rushed, with renewed God-given strength and energy, to the village where the festival was taking place. God was on his side and saw to it that once again Amin found himself mere footsteps away from the killer.

But how strange! The killer surprised him by smiling warmly and greeting him as if they were long-standing friends or even family. Why would he appear to be so happy and contented? Clearly, the evil-minded criminal thought that matters were going according to his wishes and that this officer wanted – like his own followers – to accept a bribe and consequently turn a blind eye to his abominable crime Our officer, with his customary quick thinking, decided to play the criminal's game! Approaching him with a smile on his face, he offered the killer a cigarette which he accepted gladly. The false feeling of camaraderie increased between them, and the noble officer even lit the cigarette for him. The killer's men saw that the two seemed to be chatting amiably and they relaxed. Smiling, our officer took the criminal by the arm and led him down one of the alleys which sloped away from the festive crowd and towards the village.

The misguided killer thought the officer wanted to be alone with him in order to bargain about the amount of the bribe, so he complied and went willingly. But no sooner had they gone out of sight, than the officer caught the man by the wrist, shackled him with chains and pushed and shoved him to the police station.

He immediately gave orders to the security forces to prepare a carriage to take the criminal to headquarters without any further delay. Meanwhile news of the arrest was soon spread and reached the ears of the killer's men. Maintaining their allegiance to the captured man they promptly stole ahead of Officer Sheikho in order to barricade the road and release their chieftain.

The carriage was prepared quickly and then, with its criminal passenger on board, rushed at full speed en route to the headquarters; the criminal was firmly locked inside accompanied by a group of tough, honest policemen.

At a certain point the road crossed a narrow mountain pass and there was no alternative route. Our officer had thought that if there was going to be a problem with the headman's supporters, this is where it would be. He was not wrong! As the carriage reached the pass he realised that a huge fire had been set in the middle of the road, and the carriage was unable to get through. The prisoner's men had put it there in the hope of ambushing the carriage and freeing their leader. Now, their trap sprung, the killer's men opened fire on the carriage. Mohammad Amin ordered his men to return fire and he dragged the chieftain from the carriage and threw him onto the back of his horse the way a sack of wheat is loaded onto a donkey, then he galloped towards the fire and, showing great courage, leapt over it, paying no attention to the hail of bullets whizzing past his ears.

He continued on horseback to the headquarters, and when he arrived he found that the news of the killer's arrest had already reached the commander who had gathered his men to go the officer's aid. But before the commander could utter a single word, Officer Mohammad Amin, took his foot out of the stirrup and kicked the criminal so that he fell at the feet of the commander.

Then he said, 'This is the girls' deed!'

So, the words of the poem are relevant to this story: Whenever lofty people attend and appear They will be in company with blessings And the best manners that they bear.

## Courage in the Face of Adversity

Officer Mohammad Amin was transferred from his place of work to the al-Zabadani region where he became assigned to the position of a regional manager.

On the first day of his new job, he took along two policemen who would guide him to the al-Dimmas police station where he planned to spend the night, before going on to his new headquarters.

The group walked until they arrived in al-Dimmas where they passed a field planted with sweet melons. There, one of the policemen picked a melon and presented a slice of the succulent fruit to our officer, who was concerned that the policeman had taken it without the owner's consent. Before accepting the slice of fruit he asked them about the owner of the field, wondering whether they had permission to take the melon. One of them soon put his mind at rest by telling Amin that this field belonged to him so our officer was reassured and ate the delicious slice of the proffered refreshment.

After this short break Mohammad Amin decided to continue walking but the two policemen begged him to let them stay where they were, saying, 'Oh, Sir! The police station is very close to here, just beyond that hill. Would you please give us permission to go home now?' They pointed to a hill about two kilometres away. So, according to the common proverb: If you feed the mouth, the eye will get shy, [37]he agreed and continued alone in the direction they had indicated until he reached the hill. But surprise, surprise! He could see no police station beyond it.

Dusk was falling and the darkness of night began to cover the Earth, spreading gradually until all was black. Our officer meanwhile, continued his search becoming increasingly agitated, when suddenly he was surprised by a huge and terrible hyena with flashing eyes that seemed to scatter sparks in his direction.

In a show of power the wild beast let out a loud and terrifying howl which echoed round the hills. Its aim was clearly to dominate our officer and make him so afraid that, overcome by cowardice, he would soon surrender and become a tasty morsel for the hyena's dinner.

But our officer did not react hastily, though there was a loaded gun and a rifle by his side. He quickly reviewed his options but decided not to use either of them because the deep velvety blackness of the night meant he wouldn't be able to aim accurately, and should he miss or, even worse, wound the animal, it might well make the situation far more difficult. The hyena, an animal with strong instincts to attack its prey, would no doubt take the opportunity to attack immediately. If he missed or caused a flesh wound it would only serve to make the hyena more ferocious. Indeed, firing a shot that missed would definitely make his situation worse, since at that time rifles were designed to hold only one bullet, and loading another one would take time; unless he could kill the animal with one shot – an almost impossible feat in the darkness – he would be exposed to the danger of a fierce, wounded beast grown even more ferocious because of a painful wound. Accordingly, Mohammad Amin sat down a short distance from the hyena, which was staring at him with green fiery eyes, and undaunted despite his dangerous situation, he looked at the animal with a steady gaze.

From this incident we understand that Al'lah had installed bravery in his heart and overwhelmed his very being with a sense of peace and calm, rather than the extreme terror that other men might have felt.

With exceptional sangfroid he laid his charged rifle across his lap, took the tobacco wallet out of his pocket and rolled a cigarette, then set to smoke it with great enjoyment.

The hyena rose and tensed, ready to pounce, letting out a terrible manic whoop which echoed round the hills, but our officer responded only by shouting a single word:

'Bullets'.[38] What a strange thing to do! The hyena seemed confused, and squatted on all fours, motionless, regarding Mohammad Amin with a strange quietness, bright eyes glowing and peering into the darkness of the night.

It was a magnificent beast, the size of a donkey, with a massive head, and displayed formidable, muscular strength. It remained calm for about half an hour, its foul breath steaming from its wide nostrils making a sound like the hissing of snakes.

Suddenly and unexpectedly the hyena leapt to its feet and tensed for the attack. With a fearsome, deep throated sound it prepared itself for the frightful leap, and yet our self- assured officer bellowed in a long-drawn-out voice that sounded like the rumble of thunder: 'Bullets!' Miraculously, the beast became calm once again and squatted on its haunches, while our officer continued to smoke, utterly contented and totally in control of the strange situation in which he found himself.

Things continued in this manner, with the hyena's cries reverberating around the hills at regular intervals and the officer responding with the single word: 'Bullets!' – in the same way as before, a single word which he now ejected like a missile. This scenario continued until daybreak! As a soft light rose slowly but surely, heralding the start of a new day, familiar shapes began to form in the growing light and gradually blossomed into rocks and trees with a background of wonderful soaring mountain tops. Mohammad Amin looked around and saw a man-made cairn of rocks reaching high into the air. He immediately climbed it, levelling his rifle at the hyena that seized the opportunity to hurtle forward to attack him. He aimed at the animal's forehead and fired, believing that he had hit his target.

At once, the hyena let out a terrible howl which tore through the silence of the beautiful, gentle dawn and reverberated in the uplands and the valleys. It was a spine- chilling sound!

The hyena then turned and fled.

Our officer readied his rifle to fire again, and as he was doing so he heard a footfall and the sound of men approaching. He turned around and saw a group of armed men coming towards him. They were policemen from the police station which was directly at the bottom of the hill, but on the other side from where he had been searching in the dark the previous night.

The men greeted him and wondered what had happened, seeing him on the crest of the mound with his rifle in his hand and smoke rising from the muzzle. They asked him what had happened and he related to them the facts of the night he had passed sitting with his rifle across his lap, facing the ferocious hyena. On hearing his tale they told him that this hyena had already terrorised the entire region and that it had killed two people in the nearby village, al-Dimmas.

The policemen left Officer Mohammad Amin and followed traces of blood until they found the hyena's lifeless carcass lying on the ground at the bottom of a slope.

Thus, through the courage and patience that Al'lah had instilled in our officer He had shown Amin the way to achieve the first of his many tasks, by removing a ferocious animal that had been terrorising villagers in the region.

So what was the reason for Mr. Mohammad Amin relating this strange and interesting tale?

We will relate a contrasting tale to show its relevance: One day, our officer was standing and chatting with three men beside the cages of a travelling zoo in Damascus. Suddenly, a lion or a tiger roared loudly and he felt so afraid that he became quite panic stricken. His heart trembled, as did his body, from head to toe; he was very shaken and thought he was about to faint.

He turned to his companions to see whether they noticed what had happened to him, but he found them engrossed in discussing the caged animals.

Our officer then wondered how it was that Al'lah had given him such amazing composure and steadiness for an entire night when he was faced by a ravenous hyena, and had filled his heart with all the necessary emotions and ability to deal with that difficult situation, only to find himself petrified at the sound of a caged animal here, in the middle of a noisy, bustling city, where women and children were wandering happily among the animals' cages.

So, one can see that in this case courage and fear are at the disposal of Al'lah. He spreads them however He wills, to whomsoever He pleases, as there is no might or power except that which comes from Him.

The Almighty says, "And that He is alone the Provider of our feelings. [39]"[40] This means that none of our feelings and emotions are under our personal control, but they are entirely God given!

## Criminals Become Policemen

That time was a wonderful golden era that held the rest of the world in awe as the Ottomans conquered vast and distant countries and ruled many nations of various race, creed and colour, with justice and mercy under their banner, the banner of truth.

That was when the Ottomans established Al'lah's Law by the teaching of the Holy Qur'an, and by putting those lessons into practice. Safety and tranquillity prevailed, satisfaction, cordiality, and brotherhood spread among mankind, and no preference was given to Arabs over other peoples except in the question of piety: whereby preference would be given to those who followed the Word of Al'lah, whatever their race or colour.

But in the final days of the empire, during the reign of Sultan Suleiman al-Qanuni (the Lawgiver), they substituted God's Law for secular, man-made law and the Light of God began to dim and ultimately it was extinguished.

Towards the end of the Ottoman reign civil strife spread, misery prevailed, and crime and robbery were rife among people in the various countries under Ottoman rule.

One of the regions became a lifeless desert where once it had been a lush, green valley surrounded by mountains and populous gardens, due to the thievery, killing and other crime that now prevailed throughout the area.

This story has its origins in the region of which we speak: the al-Zabadani region which borders the country of Lebanon. Crime and criminals prevailed in a way that defies description, and there was an indomitable criminal at the head of them.

Many times the Ottoman state tried to exterminate these bandits by sending military forces to combat them but its efforts always met with abject failure due to the proximity of this region to Lebanon where the criminals never failed to find a safe haven. They would retreat to the Maronite region where international law prevented the Ottoman forces from chasing these bandits or meddling in any way, as Lebanon was a European protectorate at the time.[41]

After this repeated failure the Ottoman state resolved to try a different approach to get rid of those criminals who caused so much civil unrest and conflict across the entire state. They turned to Mohammad Amin, as they had in the past when needing a champion to deal with a particularly difficult situation, and sent him forthwith into the den of thieves. They had previously witnessed his unusual boldness, his peerless courage, and his wonderful wisdom which he applied in achieving the best possible outcome in all tasks entrusted to him. Needless to say, they chose him as the best man for this task too.

After he had been briefed in his new post, he set out to familiarise himself with the lie of the land, which was quite mountainous. Mohammad Amin knew that there was a criminal mastermind who headed about seventy men and he gave orders to his men to seize him and then the rest of the band. Our officer's men answered him plaintively: 'If the state itself can't carry out such a task, how do you expect us to do it?' Officer Sheikho understood then that his men were cowards and they would not be able to accomplish the task, so he said to them:

'If those are your thoughts on the matter then go to your homes and take leave until I send for you. Your salaries will be sent to you.'

The men, quite bemused at this reaction, took leave of their commander, but what would he do now? He had no men and there was still a vicious band of criminals at large. So in his usual quick-witted way, he took the unorthodox decision to take a group of rehabilitated criminals and promote them to policemen. He then imposed a tax upon the inhabitants of the region in order to give these policemen their salaries.

Soon after, he ordered his newly appointed policemen to arrest the criminal and his gang, but their faces turned pale as they were overcome with horror.

They also said, 'We cannot', for they had known this master criminal and were very afraid of him and his followers. So our officer left them and, mounting his horse, set off alone to the region of Serghaya in search of the bandit. When he reached the orchards close to the village he tied his horse to a tree, carefully removed his military stripes and put them in his pocket, then he entered the village as a soldier of ordinary rank, not as an officer.

He walked into a café which his informants had told him was usually frequented by the leader of the criminal gang... and barely had he stepped over the threshold when he glanced around the room and saw the bandit sitting on a high chair which resembled a throne. His heavily armed henchmen were relaxing at tables around him.

You will recall that he entered the café as a simple soldier, so no-one paid him much attention. They mistakenly dismissed him as being no threat. They thought, possibly, that he had been sent on a routine matter to the owner of the café.

So as not to arouse their suspicion he first walked towards the manager of the café who was standing near to where the gang leader was sitting, then without any warning he swiftly pounced upon the bandit from behind and clasped him around the chest with one arm while with the other hand he held his charged pistol pressed to the man's back and aimed towards his heart. With great composure and deadly intent he said, 'Don't move! The slightest move from you and I'll shoot, even though I'll be risking my own life. Any movement may cost you your life, and I'll kill you even though your men will kill me immediately after.'

A feeling of great apprehension spread into the criminal's spirit which rapidly turned into overwhelming terror. He trembled then felt a cold sweat break out all over his body! The man surrendered immediately despite the seventy criminals at his command which were ranged all about him. His cronies aimed their weapons at the officer's head and body but they hesitated to fire because to do so would mean their leader's death.

'Walk with me,' our officer snarled into the man's ear, 'otherwise I'll kill you even though it means that I'll be killed too.'

These words were spoken by our officer, Mohammad Amin and came from a heart that never trembled with fear; a heart that could be likened to a deep-rooted mountain towering in truth. His was a heart that fought against injustice wherever it was found, though he might be confronted with the combined forces of mankind and jinn- kind, and even if he died for the righteous cause.

'Yes,' he said in a composed and disdainful voice that nevertheless exuded power. 'Walk with me otherwise I'll kill you even if it means my own death.'

At that moment there was a stunned silence in the small café while the language of the spirit controlled the room and the criminal was sure of certain death if he showed any resistance; he knew that when words come straight from the heart, they go directly to the heart of the listener, and the officer had spoken from the heart when he ordered him either to walk with him, or to be killed instantly. The criminal understood full well not to dismiss the officer's words.

The men gathered around him were confused and waited for a sign from their master, who knew in his heart the truth of our officer Mohammad Amin, and who surprised them by his saying, 'He means what he says, so wait and let's see what he intends to do.' The bandit leader rose and he and Officer Mohammad Amin walked out of the café with the procession of criminals behind them, firearms in their hands, and waiting for their master's command. They all proceeded in this manner until they reached the place where Amin's horse was tethered. There, our officer told his prisoner to order the criminals to go back, so he turned to his men saying, 'He'll certainly kill me, so do nothing here. Go and speak with the authorities on my behalf. You'll get nowhere with this man, save me by any other way you can.' Humiliated, the group reluctantly lowered their weapons and retreated. Once they had gone our officer put his pistol in his waistband, took out chains and shackled the criminal's hands, then he hoisted him onto his horse and mounted up behind him.

Our officer returned to his base full of dignity and respect, supported by his victory and by being the finest example of a bold and magnanimous hero.

When he reached the police station he dragged the criminal down from his horse and drove him still shackled, over to where his policemen were sitting safely and quietly. They were thunderstruck! This couldn't be true!

How could this officer bring the criminals' leader in person?

Was it a dream? And they sat rubbing their eyes unable to believe what they had actually seen for themselves.

From that day forward they regarded him with total admiration and respect, and their very hearts and souls were at his beck and call. Our officer's band of rehabilitated criminals became his loyal and trusted men and together they rid the region of the scourge of that particular group of bandits.

And whenever they needed to seize a fugitive seeking shelter in the caves with which the mountains were riddled, his men would find Officer Mohammad Amin and make him swear by God that he would stay at home while they went to arrest the criminal.

Such was their respect for him and his leadership that they would place fresh fruits on a table before him, then they would rush off to apprehend the criminal and bring him back, shackled, within a few hours.

This became a period of security for the entire region as those courageous and indomitable men changed the way crime was fought in the area. Then safety and security prevailed throughout the al-Zabadani region as a whole: across the plains and on the mountains, in villages and in fields. Life returned to normal and people went out to work, to tend their orchards, and to reclaim their land from the desert it had become under the tyranny of the lawless bandit. The region once more became the luxuriant paradise it had been in an earlier time: its fruits and grain filled the markets of Damascus as its harvested bounty flooded across the entire area.

The Ottoman ruler of Syria and his administrators were amazed at this radical change, so he sent the commander of his army to investigate and find out the truth. The commander made an unannounced visit to the region where our officer and his soldiers lived and worked. He met with him personally and learnt of his plans and recent actions. Mohammad Amin told how he had sent the policemen to their homes, having been paid their salaries. He also explained to the commander that those bold men whose faces glowed with all the signs of courage and valour had been no more than skilled criminals before they repented and returned to the right path at his hands, and now they prayed and guarded people's lives with an iron hand. And their salaries cost the treasury nothing!

He left Mohammad Amin and went back to report to the ruler, his heart filled with admiration for the superior ability of the officer and full of praise for his amazing accomplishments.

Thus, the entire region became subject to Officer Mohammad Amin's protection. Peace and happiness prevailed once again, and its inhabitants enjoyed freedom, happiness and fulfilment. He devoted his life to the people, putting himself in danger for their sakes and worked tirelessly day and night to keep them safe. Thus we learn: Honour belongs to God and His Envoy (cpth),[42] and to whoever supports the truth and defends it.

## The German Marksman

During World War I, when Turkey was an ally of Germany, a certain German officer who claimed to be a marksman set off to tour around the sectors of the Turkish army to display his marksmanship skills. He took great pride in his ability to hit any target exactly and perfectly without the need to take aim.

He became widely known and many people, especially officers of the Turkish army, expressed their admiration for his prowess.

At that time, Mohammad Amin was an officer in the Turkish army,[43] and when he heard the story of that particular German officer he paid it little attention because, according to his expertise and ability in this field, he knew well that shooting as the German described could not be as accurate as he stated.

Yet when he saw the great interest and the excessive admiration for the Nazi German marksman, and how his admirers grew in number despite his mean and wicked spirit which was full of sinful ways, Amin's ardour for his religion and his love for his compatriots became aroused. He decided to meet the German marksman in order to reveal him for the charlatan he was and to open people's eyes to his lowly character. Since our man had spent a great part of his life in the pursuit of criminals and bandits (which, naturally, required quick reflexes and excellent marksmanship as there was no room for error if he was not to lose his life prematurely!), he was, by God's Grace, a distinguished marksman himself.

So, our man headed to where the German marksman was standing chatting to some officers and there he challenged him and told him that he was ready for competition. He said to the German, 'You shoot first.' The German marksman shot, but while he was doing so Officer Mohammad Amin turned to God asking him wholeheartedly for His help. While in prayer he observed his competitor's methods. He discovered that the German, contrary to what he had said did, in fact, take momentary aim before shooting, but due to his long practice it was too quick for most people to spot, therefore it seemed as if he was firing instinctively. Thus, our sharp officer understood within a few minutes what the German officer had taken many years of training and practice to learn. Moreover, Amin's own confidence was boosted by having noticed the German's trick of taking split-second aim.

'Oh, that's easy, no problem for us,' said Officer Mohammad Amin addressing the German officer.

Then he brought out his revolver and, as his competitor had done, he quickly and surreptitiously took aim then shot towards the mark.

Truly amazing! Really, it was a miracle! The Arab officer hit the target on his first attempt! Not only that, his shot was even more precise than that of the German.

The German marksman could not believe his eyes, so to be sure of what he thought he had seen, he said to our officer: 'Do it again.'

But when Amin repeated it again and yet again, the German was astonished and his arrogance was soon destroyed. There was nothing for it but an ignominious departure! He returned to his barracks, packed his bags and returned straight home in bitter frustration and vowing not to perform this deceitful display again. It had become quite clear that he could not continue the extravagant trip he had planned in order to show off his expertise in other Arab and Islamic countries.

The Arab Muslim officer, Mohammad Amin, had been granted victory by Al'lah because he was the champion of the people who sought to save his comrades and to help them defeat their enemy.

As the noble saying goes, "And Al'lah helps him who helps his brother."

And the noble verse serves: "And they laid their plots, but their plots were (well) within the sight of Al'lah."[44]

## It Is Never Too Late to Learn

Being truthful in seeking what one wants is the basis of success as it is said, 'Be true, and you shall be given', also by means of truthfulness humanity learns and achieves.

Our venerable master was still a young child growing and developing day by day when death took his father, Hajji Ismael from this life, leaving behind him a poor widow and a fatherless child.

This little master was not allowed the freedom to go out of the neighbourhood after his father's death or even before it occurred.

His father had never allowed him to roam far from the quarter for he was still young, and after the father's death, this little child became the only one at home with his mother: his elder brother, Saleem having left the house to join the army. Thus, her worry and concern for him were so great which is why she did not permit him to venture away from the quarter as other boys did unless she accompanied him. She watched him constantly, her eyes never roamed: she took care of him, scolding him and reminding him again and again, 'My beloved son! May God protect you... don't leave the quarter... I'm afraid that something will happen to you, my son! I have nobody in this world but you, so please, let me have peace of mind and know that you are close by me and safe.' Being a dutiful and obedient child he always reassured his mother, saying, 'As you like Mother... I'll do as you ask!' He kept his word and never once left the neighbourhood unless he did so with his mother; and this was the way all through the years until he grew into a fine upstanding youth.

At that time, and when springtime blossomed, most young boys used to go along to the banks of the tributaries of the Barada River in the city of Damascus and other areas. Here they would learn how to swim in the crystal clear waters by the river banks and in the sparkling, babbling springs and streams: there were so many of them at that time that they could choose to swim in a different place every day! But because of his mother's loving concern Mohammad Amin was not given the opportunity to learn to swim in his early childhood as most boys do.

In his youth Mohammad Amin entered the Royal Ottoman College, and after some years he graduated from there with the rank of officer and was appointed to a fitting position in the Syrian security services[45].

One day, while he was sitting in his office pondering on the nature of his work and his qualifications for it, his thoughts alighted on the subject of swimming. He thought seriously about his need to be an accomplished swimmer. Discussing the matter with himself, he thought, 'I'm an officer who fights daily against criminality and villains; what would happen if just once during the course of a struggle with one of them, we fell into a river... what would I do?' Or, another thought,'If I were pursuing a wanted criminal and came up against a deep river that he was able to cross, how would I be able to follow him as I don't swim at all well?' Through this logical and positive train of thought he came to an important decision: 'It's simple... I should learn to swim. It's important for me to be proficient at it, so the sooner I start, the better.' With his mind made up he quickly decided on a day and went to a district near to al-Rabwa where the main stream of the Barada River flowed in full force. Nowadays the Sheraton Hotel occupies this area yet at that time the Barada was wide and deep all year round, whatever the season, but especially in the springtime.

The praiseworthy young man, Mohammad Amin, arrived at the riverbank and sat watching a crowd of boys and youths who were swimming and diving in the clear, flowing waters of the river. He observed their movements, the position they took as they dived into the river and the strokes they used to cross from one bank to the other. He saw them jump from high rocks, and plunge down through the abundant waters to the riverbed, then surface and swim quite some distance away to grasp a big, overhanging branch of a tree; here they would cling for a while to rest and regain their strength to continue swimming. After taking this break they resumed their swim towards the other side of the river where they got out of the water... and repeated the entire routine again and again.

The officer, Mohammad Amin, continued to watch in this way and observe each of their movements for nearly an hour until they all stopped swimming and left the riverside. Then, alone, he approached the river, took off his clothes and fastened a wrapper around his waist. He climbed up to the place from where the swimmers had been jumping into the river just a few minutes before, and he leaped into the river from that considerable height showing his usual great determination and strength, and as soon as he entered the water he began to move his arms and legs and cut through the strong current in exactly the same way as he had seen the youths do. He kept swimming until he reached the large branch where they had stopped temporarily and he grabbed hold of it to take a rest as they had done, and then resumed his swimming to the other bank with powerful, even strokes, where he got out of the river and repeated the exercise twice more with dazzling success and great skill. After the third dive he got out of the river, dried himself with a towel that he had brought with him, then dressed and, leaving the river behind, he went back home.

Next day, he went to meet his officer friends and told them what he had done and how he had learnt to swim within less than an hour, and had even dived from a height of many metres just like the professional divers and swimmers. They were astonished at his words and afraid for him as they loved him dearly. They found his dangerous adventure so odd but they greatly admired him for learning to swim so well within such a short space of time! They were particularly surprised because they knew for certain that he had never learnt to swim when he was a boy, so they said to him, 'Dear Aslan  We want to see you swim.'

He agreed and they all accompanied him to the same place where he had taught himself to swim. Once there he undressed, boldly climbed the high rocks and prepared to dive as he had done before when alone. At the very moment that he approached the edge he was stopped by the shouts of his friends, the officers, warning him, afraid that he might drown, 'Aslan, Aslan, wait! Don't jump until we say, "Go".' So, to please his friends Mohammad Amin stayed where he was on top of the rocks, and immediately they took off their clothes and four of them went down in to the river and went off in different directions to save their friend, Mohammad Amin, from being drowned. Until this very moment, they knew that he was a truthful man and did not doubt his word but they were still uncertain of how well he had mastered the ability to swim, given that until then he could not swim at all! They saw the deep river flowing rapidly, its waters abundant at that time, so it would not treat kindly anyone who was not a strong and powerful swimmer.

Once they had taken up their four separate positions in the river, one of them shouted, 'Aslan! Jump now!' When he heard the signal he immediately dived into the river like a professional with great strength and displaying perfect style, his strong arms then cut through the turbulent water until he reached the large bough where he took his usual rest before continuing to swim strongly followed by the amazed eyes of his four friends. He cut strongly through the water towards the other side of the river, yet barely two metres short of the bank, he felt that he had lost his momentum and was in danger of drowning. Seeing the potential danger his four friends hurried to save him from going under the water even though he was very close to the river bank. In fact, once he depended upon their support, his attention weakened and his ability waned and, he did almost sink. After that, through practice and determination, he went on to attain unrivalled proficiency in swimming, outdoing even the best of swimmers.

Thus, one comes to understand that by being honest in seeking to fulfill their aims, mankind can achieve whatever they wish; but truly, has anyone ever shown such candour in learning to swim as this noble officer, Mohammad Amin?

## How the Mighty Have Fallen

Mohammad Amin presented himself to the commander-in-chief of the Turkish army and its police as soon as he was summoned. The commander instructed Amin, a ranking officer in the police force, to lead a military parade for the inspector general of thearmies of the Ottoman Empire, the Envoy of the SublimePorte,[47] and some world-renowned, highly accomplished German officers who had shown themselves worthy of their high rank and reputation for military expertise.

The young officer listened to the details of the assignment and thanked his commanding officer for placing such trust in him, but protested, 'I don't know anything about parades! I am a policeman, not a soldier, and I have no experience with the pomp and precision of military parades. To direct such a presentation would require many months of training and practice. How can you possibly expect me to lead an appropriate display tomorrow when I have never organized such matters; in fact I've never taken a course or even a single lesson in how to do so?' Amin was upset at being asked to perform a task that he lacked the training to execute well; as an honourable and conscientious man, he consistently strived for perfection in all that he did, and he would never undertake to lead a parade that was lacking at any level.

This was not the reply that the general expected to hear and he was taken aback for a moment. Then, pensively, he looked at Amin and replied, 'Of course you are right. How could I have forgotten that you were never trained in military displays?' But, in truth, the general's admiration for the officer's character and accomplishments had caused him to overlook the fact that Amin was a security specialist with the police and not from a military background. His courage and unique abilities had earned Officer Mohammad Amin the complete confidence of all his superiors. Thus he was often asked to undertake extremely important tasks as his commanders were unwilling to entrust such responsibilities to anyone else. In fact, the commander explained to him that this parade was so critical to establishing the reputation of the Turkish army in Syria that the Turkish Prefect[48]himself had signed the authorization for the parade only after the commander had named Amin as its director.

So now it would be impossible for the commander to go back to the prefect and suggest another officer for the job.

With a look of determination, the honourable officer accepted the task and put his trust in God, the Doer who guides everything.

The following morning Officer Mohammad Amin rose early and prepared himself, donning the full uniform appropriate to a security officer, then made his way on horseback to the square where the parade would take place. The prefect, the inspector general, and the German officers in full military regalia were already seated on a specially prepared dais along with a group of VIPs and the high commander of the Turkish army. Everyone was waiting for the parade to begin. Mohammad Amin rode into view at the head of several divisions of armed cavalry. Entering the plaza, he dismounted, handed the reins of his horse to a waiting groom and took his place on the dais in front of the dignitaries. Ceremonially holding the army bugle, Amin began to direct the troops who had lined up facing him.

The solemn review began with precisely orchestrated military movements and impressive, faultless displays from every division. The soldiers performed with such accuracy of movement and timing that one can only compare the display to the strings of a musical instrument in the masterful hands of a virtuoso.

Indeed, the gathered dignitaries, most of whom were accustomed to attending such parades, had never before witnessed such a superb parade. The impeccable lines were so harmonious and the movements so ingenious that even if there had been a parade specialist drilling the troops for months beforehand, he could not possibly have achieved this level of perfection and pageantry. The German experts were so mesmerised by the novelty and magnificence of what they saw that they became distracted by a particularly complex routine, and when they came to focus on the final climactic manoeuvres orchestrated by Officer Mohammad Amin, the parade had already reached its superb finale.

However, despite the pomp and circumstance which had so dazzled the German experts and countless other onlookers, there was one observer who took no interest in the display, and actually paid it no attention whatsoever: this was the inspector general, who was, in fact, in charge of evaluating the parade. He regarded the show with disdain when he even bothered to notice it at all!

As Officer Mohammad Amin observed the inspector's diffidence, he became convinced that not only was the man not a specialist in military affairs, but was, in fact, an absolute stranger to military displays. Indeed, Amin suspected nepotism – could he be a relative of the Sultan, appointed for whom he knew rather than for what he knew? Clearly he had no interest at all in performing his official duty as, surely, even a man with no military training could not have failed to be moved by such a magnificent display. The honourable officer determined then and there that he would teach the arrogant ignoramus a lesson, and he appealed to his Provider for guidance as to how to go about it. When the finale began, Amin remounted his horse and gave her free rein. The creature galloped around the square at a terrifying pace, heading straight for the dais where the dignitaries were still seated, and where the inspector stood to review the troops as they paraded past. The horse galloped faster and faster, and the distance to the inspector general rapidly narrowed. As the galloping horse hurtled straight towards him, a look of horror crossed the inspector's face. He was clearly convinced that the horse was out of the rider's control and that he was in great danger of being trampled.

Fearing for his life, the inspector endeavoured to run backwards, trying to get out of the path of the charging horse – not a wise move, for in his haste he tripped over his own feet and landed on his back, trembling with terror in full view of the troops and dignitaries. Meanwhile Amin continued with his dramatic performance, charging ever faster. His leaders, recognizing the act as a traditional and rehearsed part of the display, stood their ground calmly and made no move to retreat as the supercilious inspector had done.

Officer Mohammad Amin not to be deterred, and intent on teaching the inspector a lesson, spurred his horse so strongly that he nearly drew blood. Then he dramatically reined in the charging beast, bringing it to a complete stop within only a few metres, and just in front of the gathered dignitaries.

The impetus created by the horse's sudden halt after her high-speed gallop catapulted Amin high into the air. He soared over its head and onto the dais, landing on strong, muscular legs. He snapped a salute at the trembling inspector who was struggling to get to his feet. That newly humbled man soon shed his arrogance and conceit as he staggered to his feet displaying unaccustomed humility and deference.

He had been taught a very hard lesson, and been set up as an example for every conceited, self-focused person who witnessed the incident.

Thus by his amazing leadership and skills of horsemanship Officer Mohammad Amin pulled off a marvellous feat that day, not only by leading a parade whose precision and showmanship would be legend, but by teaching the inspector a lesson he would not forget in a hurry and which had put him firmly in his proper place. Amin not only showed his courage and contempt for self- aggrandizing behaviour, but directed a stunning parade, the likes of which had rarely been seen by the assembled dignitaries.

That is because Al'lah is his ally and he is always withGod.

He who seeks might in any other than God will be forever humble indeed.

## A Show of Solidarity

During his reign, Djemal Pasha, known as the Assassin, had truly terrorized people with his tyrannical rule. He was determined to hold the reins of government in this area of the world and to break away from Turkey, using whatever means possible. He made it a rule that once a decision was made he never changed his mind. An example of this occurred during his time in power when he condemned a notable dignitary and his son to death despite the fact that most of the world's heads of state and presidents had tried to intercede on their behalf. However, despite their intercession he still refused to change his mind until some time later when, under heavy political and international coercion, he agreed that the death penalty should be upheld on only one of them, either the father or the son. Finally the son was hanged!

The majority of the Turkish officers were in awe of the Arabian officer M. A. Sheikho for his rank and exceptional ability in ridding the state of wide-ranging criminality and its perpetrators; this was in addition to his great wisdom in managing important matters as he never failed in any task entrusted to him throughout his life. As a result, he was greatly admired by the army commander and the majority of senior Turkish officers.

At that time the Turks used to banish all Arab officers to remote countries during the period when they occupied a large group of Arab countries including the state of [49]Sham.

Soon after Djemal Pasha's arrival at the government house in Damascus, he was told by some biased men that there was one remaining Arab officer still assigned to Damascus.

Djemal Pasha was surprised at this news and asked, 'Are you telling me that there's an Arab officer still here even after my arrival?' He promptly gave orders for the officer to be exiled to a remote country.

Our officer, Mohammad Amin, learnt of the order and immediately understood the consequences. He told his mother about the matter and asked her to pack his bags while he waited for the order to be executed.

Next day he went to the government house and once inside, he saw the general commander frowning angrily. Officer Mohammad Amin greeted him but the sullen-faced commander did not respond. Our officer took the commander's reaction to heart and remembered the proverb that says, 'When a cow falls, knives increase all around.'

He sat in his office, distressed, thinking the matter over, and didn't rouse himself from that state till a member of staff informed him that the high commander was holding a meeting with the officers. He went to join them at the main square but arrived late so he stood at the end of the line.

The army commander had ended his speech before Officer Mohammad Amin joined the line of officers, so he was just in time to hear him ordering them to commence marching. They set off at a fast pace but Amin still did not know why the meeting had been called or what had been announced to the officers; equally he did not know to where they were marching. Even more important was that he failed to realise that this meeting had been held for his sake: something that was of vital importance to him.

In fact, the commander of the Turkish Army had gathered the officers to discuss Djemal Pasha's unjust order to exile the excellent Arab officer, M. A. Sheikho. The commander said, 'This man may be an Arab but there is no better officer among you. He has given impressive loyal service to this army, and has perfectly executed every task which we have ordered him to undertake however difficult it might have been. And what is more we, ourselves, admit our own inability to meet his great performance. If the man who has served our state by loyally sacrificing everything that he holds dear were to be rewarded with such a dire fate, what would we face then, as we have not carried out a fraction of the great services that he has? What would our fate be?

'That's the reason I have held this meeting: it is for us to request that Djemal Pasha should retract his order to banish Officer Sheikho. Should he refuse I ask that all of us, myself included, should tender our joint resignation. To a man!

'So, what do you say?'

Every one of the officers agreed including those who envied Amin's superior ability; they found it difficult to disagree since their commander and the majority of the officers were whole-heartedly agreed on the proposal.

Actually, the march took the troops to the headquarters of Djemal Pasha. The Turkish army commander went up and presented him with a signed document stating that all the officers, including the general himself, were tendering their resignation, so that he might approve it.

The assassin was completely taken aback as he never would have believed that his entire body of officers would mutiny against him: he knew his reputation was well established and that everybody understood what kind of unforgiving man he was. Surely they couldn't be doing this for the sake of an Arab officer! His heart trembled and his face paled, but he considered the possible alternative. A ruler's power is only as strong as his relationship with his officers and soldiers... so, how could he maintain his hold on the people without them?

Then Djemal Pasha replied to the commander of his army: 'Are you truly going to tender your resignation for the sake of an Arab officer? All of you?! Is that why you are all here?'

The commander replied, 'Yes! This officer has served our state in the most exemplary fashion and has shown even greater loyalty than we have. If he is treated badly then the same will happen to us one day. That's why we would do better to leave with honour before then.'

At this, Djemal Pasha retracted his ruling instantly, for he was planning to lead a coup against the Turkish government then take up the reins of authority in this large area of the Ottoman Empire. Then, he addressed him saying, 'Since all of you are intent on keeping this Arab officer I will accept your request. As this is your overwhelming opinion it will be mine too. I'll never go against you.'

Djemal Pasha handed the resignation document back to the general. Then he accompanied the general to inspect the officers who were lined up in front of his headquarters. He strolled along the impressive lines, his sharp eyes taking in every detail, till he reached the Arab officer, M. A. Sheikho.

He did not need anyone to point him out for he recognized him immediately.

The proud, courageous officer greeted the ruler with a salute, while Djemal Pasha pressed the palm of his hand hard against a button on Amin's chest and twisted it until our officer felt such a sharp pain that he thought his ribs were about to be broken.

Here, the assassin said to him in a hoarse voice, 'Abu ham  You've been granted a great honour today!' Officer Sheikho replied, 'That is at your dispensation Excellency.' The tyrant replied, 'No, it's due to your own actions.' Thus, our Arab officer returned to pursue his work as a master to combat evil, and that was the first ruling ever rescinded by Djemal Pasha all during his time in power.

The Almighty says, "Al'lah will surely aid those who aid His Cause, as verily Al'lah is Almighty and Peerless."[51]

And Al'lah's Envoy (cpth) said, "Know (be sure) strictly that even if all creatures assemble to harm you, they cannot do so unless Al'lah has decreed it."

The maxim: 'Do as you would be done by' confirms the actions of our officer.

During his lifetime, this Arab officer, M. A. Sheikho always championed the truth and those who adhered to it, and fought against evil and its perpetrators. So how could Al'lah fail to help him as He certainly supports all those who aid His Cause?

After that, whenever Djemal Pasha met Officer Mohammad Amin, he always took the initiative to greet him with a smile, saying, 'Hello Abu Sham.'

So, our officer's prestige increased in the other officers' hearts because the ruler of the country always greeted him personally!

God says, "And Al'lah will surely help you withmatchless victory."[52]

## Modesty Is a Great Virtue

During one of Mohammad Amin's visits to his brother General Saleem Bey in Istanbul, (the capital city of Turkey), the two men were strolling together along a street when a woman passed them and said, 'Hey! Shame on you Arabs! You don't keep your word.' General Saleem was shocked at her words. He turned towards his brother, the honest, upright officer, and said, 'Isn't she Djemal Pasha's sister? Is she talking to us? But...what for?'

Just then Mohammad Amin smiled weakly and answered his brother saying, 'Yes, brother, she means me.'

'You? Why?'

'Ok Saleem, listen to me, I'll tell you why she said it.' And he began to recount what had happened when the prefect of the Sham [53] countries, Djemal Pasha (known as 'the Assassin' for his terrible deeds), had entrusted him with a high-level assignment...

This particular sister of Djemal Pasha came one day with her daughter from Istanbul, where they lived, to visit her brother, the ruler, who was living in Damascus. Then at the end of the visit, the mother and her daughter prepared to return to Istanbul by train, a lengthy journey.

So, Djemal Pasha gave his orders to prepare the entourage necessary for ladies of their position when travelling: cooks, servants, guards... etc. Finally every last thing was ready except for him to choose a suitable trustworthy officer to oversee the journey.

From among all his officers, the ruler, Djemal Pasha, selected the honest Arab officer, M. A. Sheikho. He charged him with the important task and signed the document to formalize the undertaking. Thus he was officially assigned to the task and there was no way to refuse it for he had been chosen by the prefect himself, a man who was known to be most decisive and never went back on his word. To kill a crowd of people for negligible reasons was, for this harsh ruler, the same as killing flies!

On the day of departure, our officer went to the headquarters to receive his orders. At the train station, the entire entourage, complete with all its baggage and trappings, was ready to leave, so our officer, the leader of the journey, went to the station and boarded the train. Then, the engine whistled three times to warn of its departure and slowly its wheels began to turn, becoming faster and faster until the train disappeared from view.

The scene inside the train:

Officer M. A. Sheikho, the officer chosen for his excellent level of competence to oversee the journey is watching over every single detail, however great or small. He neglects nothing, and according to his perfect standards, he has given instructions to all the members of staff. He even manages the running of the kitchen: for example, he supervises the general cleanliness and that of food hygiene in particular; he keeps his eye on the cooks and the servants for he wants everything to be perfect.

He is a leader who knows full well the heavy responsibility he bears and what punishment may be inflicted if he fails to satisfy both the mother and daughter. For their satisfaction will guarantee the satisfaction of Djemal Pasha!

He is in full command of the situation and ensuring that everything is progressing as planned: not only because Djemal Pasha is quick to punish for the least bit of negligence, but because our officer, by his very nature, does not accept any slackness or dereliction of duty in himself or others.

Thus, everything progressed smoothly inside the train and our officer was performing his duties perfectly as always. As for the two women, he does not sit with them, nor does he talk to them at all. He does not even enter their compartment out of his nobility and moral purity. He has maintained the appropriate distance from them but, nevertheless, he is able to accomplish his function as a journey-leader to an excellent standard. Time passed while the train was covering the long distances, travelling through beautiful scenic landscape, from one country to another, with pleasant weather until it passed through an area that was as verdant and beautiful as the most luxuriant garden. The flowers were of every colour of the rainbow and gave off their fragrant perfumes; pretty little songbirds perched on the branches of the broad shady trees filling the air with their sweet sound.

The natural beauty of the place had great appeal for both the daughter and her mother, so they decided to stop for a while to have a break in the tedious train journey.

The train came to a halt as they wished and the travellers got down. Then the servants set about pitching the tents: those for the two ladies, one for our officer, Mohammad Amin, and others for the gendarmes and the servants.

Everything was running smoothly! As for our officer, he kept himself away from the women, carrying out his job and avoiding any unnecessary contact with them.

However this happy state of affairs was about to come to an end!

He was informed that the mother was angry with him!... which came as quite a shock!

But he had to attend to the matter at once for if she was still angry on their arrival in Istanbul her journey report would not be favourable. This report would include details of all that had passed during the journey: the positive and negative aspects, as well as their estimation of the journey-leader, and whether he had accomplished his duties or not, whether he cared for their comfort or not... and other, similar matters.

This report, which the mother would send to her brother, would determine the fate of Mohammad Amin and accordingly he would be subjected to Djemal Pasha's satisfaction or his wrath. In the case of the latter the penalty would surely be most severe: the death sentence, imposed on him by the Assassin (the manslayer).

These thoughts were not far from the mind of the astute officer. So, to manage the situation as well as possible he went to meet them immediately to discuss the reason for the mother's anger. It transpired that it was because not only had he avoided sitting with them, but he had not even spoken to them or looked at them!

From a distance the daughter had become infatuated with our officer, with his green eyes and handsome profile. Quite clearly she adored him! She could find no way to attract him to her other than to complain to her mother until the woman felt she had to do something about it.

Our wise officer soon took stock of this developing situation so he resorted to the following scheme, and addressed the mother saying, 'Oh, Madam! One of our habits, we Arabs, is that when one of us proposes to marry a girl he should not see his fiancée till the night of the marriage. She must be veiled from him all during the engagement till the night of the wedding according to the saying, 'Forbidden fruit is sweet.' Thereby, desire between the couple will increase and the journey of marriage will be established on a strong basis of love at the first sexual encounter.'

When the daughter and her mother heard this justification for his behaviour they believed that his intentions were to become engaged to the young woman and then marry her. Their anger soon subsided and they were overwhelmed with pleasure and happiness. Thus, their dissatisfaction turned into satisfaction, the unfriendliness into friendliness, the distance into closeness. They became extremely pleased with the new fiancé, the handsome officer, the highly principled leader, Mohammad Amin.

On that day, when the shadow of night fell and all was calm and quiet everybody gave themselves up to sleep except the Turkish girl. She headed stealthily for Amin's tent, tip-toeing quietly between the tents afraid that somebody might wake up and see her. And it would be easy to distinguish her, even in the dark of the night as the Turks are known to be pale-skinned due to the weak sun in their cold countries; besides which, the girl was extremely beautiful and clothed in a style denoting her wealth and high rank.

She was advancing surely but quietly, her secretive movements preceded by her fragrant aristocratic perfume carried on the gentle breeze, until she entered the officer's tent. But our officer, alert even in sleep, sensed some movement at the entrance to his tent just as he caught a whiff of expensive perfume wafting in on the night air. In a flash he realised what was happening and turned to face the entrance; by then she was approaching his bed where she threw herself on to him. Our honest and pure officer soon threw himself off his bed from the opposite side, and then leaping up from the ground, he raced her to the door.

Still the girl did not give up! She jumped from the empty bed and ran after him out of his tent. But our man realised he could escape her amorous attack by hurrying towards the gendarmes' tents.

He walked quickly between the tents until he reached the one pitched furthest away. He entered and, rousing the soldier from his sleep, he gave his name and ordered him to go to sleep elsewhere.

The gendarme awakened astounded. He had no idea what was going on or what had happened. He knew only that his commander had woken him in the middle of the night!

As soon as the soldier left his bed, the officer buried himself completely under the bed covers! Oh! How foul it smelled... a mix of disgusting body odour and stale tobacco! It was the worst and most repugnant smell he had ever experienced. He was about to vomit, and could hardly breathe in the foul air, but he controlled himself and thought, 'Never mind, I prefer this foul smell and dirty bed to anything that this girl wants from me.'

So that is where he spent the night!

The next morning, the daughter was furious, and since the daughter was so angry, the mother became so too. Quick thinking yet again, Mohammad Amin found a different way to allay the anger of the two women, and so he joined them to play a game of cards. Thus, by his sitting with them and their wish to respect the Arabic tradition, they became happy with him and he had a place in their hearts as the prospective husband and son-in-law.

After this he often played cards with them. But prudently, he never once cast his eyes on the beauty of his fiancée. His modest behaviour made her even more enamoured of him and filled her heart with passion for him. Whenever she looked at him, she found him more bashful and handsome than ever, so she was looking forward eagerly to the day of her forthcoming wedding. As for the mother, she was so happy with her daughter's fiancé, the officer whom she saw as unlike any other officer, even superior to all of them. He was handsome and gentle, and a man of peerless modesty and discretion.

The journey continued in this fashion until they reached Istanbul where the mother, who was extremely pleased with her daughter's suitor, set about writing the journey report and filled it with statements of great praise and gratitude to her son-in-law, the leader of the trip, the dignified, high- born officer, Mohammad Amin. Then she signed it and handed it in to our officer.

As for Mohammad Amin, when he received the report, he soon took himself off to visit his brother, General Saleem, who was living in Istanbul, and had put the matter out of his mind.

'So, my brother...' our officer continued talking to his brother, 'did you understand now why that woman who passed us said, "Shame on you Arabs! You do not keep your word?" It's simply because she was angry that I didn't marry her daughter, the niece of the murderer Djemal Pasha, after I took her praiseworthy report and escaped from her trap. So Brother, I left them and thanked God wholeheartedly for He got me out of an awful predicament in a perfect way.'

Totally bewildered and full of wonder General Saleem Bey said to his brother, 'Djemal Pasha's niece offered herself to you and you refused her advances! Oh, Brother... Oh! How could you do such a thing? How could you refuse to marry her? Why? Don't you know that Djemal Pasha is the Prefect? Don't you know that he is now trying to separate his prefecture from the Porte?[54] Do you know what that means? It means that he will be the king of Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Hijaz and Yemen! How could you regard his authority with such disdain? How could you turn down the chance to establish a relationship with Djemal Pasha? How could you refuse to marry the girl whom everybody wishes to marry?

Wouldn't you like to have power and control over these countries?

Are you telling me that you would hate to be a person of great acclaim and a famous notable? Otherwise, why have you done it? Isn't she one of the most beautiful girls in Istanbul?'

With a full sense of honour, the virtuous officer replied, 'Listen Brother! Neither beauty, nor position nor glory means anything to me. You may have or you may not, so let me tell you that that girl unveiled her face in front of the servants and, in fact, before the entire entourage employed to be in her service. Thus, men saw her and that is completely unacceptable to me.

I do not want her nor do I seek any kind of power, distinction or dominion that I may acquire by marrying her. I care only for honour and chasteness.'

Faced with such a direct reply, Amin's brother, General Saleem, could not utter another word. He was stunned at his brother's high sense of honour, a man who refused to take a wife unless she were a pure, virtuous and honourable woman whom no man of marriageable age had ever seen or touched. To him the high rank of the Pasha's niece was of no consequence, because her morals did not match her rank!

General Saleem praised highly the pure and noble aim of his brother who was an image of chastity in its highest meaning when he dispensed with the youth and beauty of the young woman, and sacrificed instant glory and worldly power and wealth to maintain his perfect moral standards. He rejected the major desires of this life, seeking only God's Satisfaction.

General Saleem said, 'This is the story of the Prophet Joseph [55] (pth) [56]which took place during his time and is happening once again in this age. History does indeed repeat itself!'

## Justice Overrides an Order

One day, when he was serving in the Turkish army, the commander of the army ordered him to bear witness against one of the Armenians who was to be brought before the court on the next day. The commander said to him, 'You have to say these words, and only these words, "I saw him in the shop." This is your testimony and, as I said, nothing more!'

Our officer, Mohammad Amin, answered immediately, as he was accustomed to do, 'Yes Sir...' and saluted his commander and took his leave.

He never refused a command from his senior officer, but as he left the office his mind enquired, 'Which? What was he talking about? I don't know that, and it's against the law to bear false witness and to cause damage to an innocent person unjustly.'

So he turned around and went back to the office and said to the commander, 'Sir, I don't know where that is, or what it sells.' At this point the reason for our officer's seeming confusion should be explained: at that time the word 'shop' was used when talking about a night club, or house of ill repute, and due to his high level of morality he would have had no experience of such an establishment or understand the significance of what he was being told to say...

The commander replied, 'Never mind... everything is arranged with the judges at the court.'

After leaving the office of the high command he examined the nature of the case carefully and found that it was connected with destroying a man, unknown to him, by perjury. He returned to the commander surprising him with this abrupt statement, 'I refuse.'

The commander was thunderstruck and said, 'You refuse?'

The honest officer replied, 'Yes... I refuse... I refuse!' The commander was totally taken aback: before him stood an officer who always said, 'Yes sir', but now he was saying, 'I refuse!'

The commander flared up in rage and spat out the words, 'Get out then...'

Mohammad Amin went home expecting dire results following his refusal to carry out the unjust order. He told his mother about the case and said to her, 'Oh Mother... please pack my bags as I'm sure that I'll be severely punished because I refused to obey an order.' He was convinced that he would be deported from the country.

He was the only Arab officer remaining in government house after the Turk had banished all the Arab officers to a remote area in Turkey.

His mother tried hard to make him change his mind whereby he would agree to committing perjury; amongst other things in support of her argument she said, 'Oh my son... this man is a nonbeliever and polytheist, so why don't you just testify against him? They are the ones who schemed against him, not you... isn't it better than you being deported?'

Mohammad Amin answered, 'But Mother, I didn't see him... how can I stand witness against him? And the noble Prophet (cpth) said, "He who harms free non-Muslims under Muslim rule, indeed he harms me."'

Many Turkish officers envied him for his rank and the high esteem in which his leaders held him. Officer Sheikho's adjutant, a Turkish officer, was one of them. When our officer refused to testify as requested the adjutant seized the opportunity and happily testified against the Armenian after the commander had ordered him to do so; thus gaining the gratitude of the Turkish army.

The adjutant was actually awarded for giving false testimony!... and promoted to replace Mohammad Amin who was punished for being an honest man and refusing to commit perjury. At the same time our officer was waiting for the decision of his possible banishment... but...

God says, "For those who fear Al'lah, He (always) prepares a way out."[57]

Only a few days later, that same false witness, the adjutant, was arrested in the very act of committing high treason against his commanders, and since he had been unfaithful to his Provider and his own conscience previously, it should have come as no surprise that he might also betray those who had rewarded him.

Next day, our officer arrived at his place of work looking very sad.

Soon after entering his office, the commander followed and ordered him, 'Aslan Grab this duplicitous man and throw him into prison,' pointing at the Turkish officer who had given false testimony against the Armenian.

But our officer thought the matter was a trick contrived by the two against him and aimed at mocking him before his deportation. But what could he do? He was obliged to carry out an order. He approached the Turkish officer and said to him, 'Let's go...!' And he walked off with him in an amiable way. The commander pounced upon the Turkish adjutant from behind and shouted angrily, 'You don't take a criminal to prison like that!' Then, suddenly, he launched a resounding smack on the back of the adjutant causing him to fall face down on the floor, and shouted, 'This is the way a criminal is taken to prison... roughly... take him... you're not like him... you're an honest officer!'

Thereupon, our officer Mohammad Amin knew for certain that this was a serious matter and not a ploy to mock him.

He was reinstated to his previous position, having earned the appreciation and respect of his commanders for the high level of humanity he had demonstrated; he had been prepared to sacrifice everything that he held dear for the sake of his fellow man whether he was Muslim or not.

Our honourable officer is like him about whom the Prophet (cpth) said, "He who causes himself grief to gain Al'lah's Satisfaction, He (Al'lah) will make him independent of people's aid."

Whereas the Turkish officer, unfaithful to his morality and seeking only the satisfaction of his earthly masters, is like him about whom our Prophet (cpth) said, "He who pleases people by displeasing Al'lah, He will empower people over him."

## The Charlatan

One day, when M. A. Sheikho was a public security officer, he was walking along a particular street wearing his impressive military uniform, in his own inimitable way and displaying his usual seemly appearance. He was walking earnestly with his customary firmness of step, and such was his demeanour that he appeared to be surrounded by an incomparable halo of reverence, gentleness and dignity.

Suddenly, his attention was drawn by a crowd of people who had gathered together to look at something. He wondered what it could be. What could possibly be holding their attention? To find out, he approached them and asked the man closest to him, 'You...! Tell me what's going on here? Why are these people gathered together in a circle? What's going on?'

There was a look of utter amazement on the man's face as he replied, 'Oh Sir! There is a man here performing wonders! Can you believe, Sir, that he holds snakes and scorpions in his hands without being stung or bitten by them?! Take a look for yourself! Look he's holding a big scorpion in the palm of his hand!'

'Is that so? Okay, I'll take a look,' said Officer Sheikho, who then pushed into the crowd of people, and shouldered his way to the middle of the group. When people saw him, they recognized that it was the brave and honourable officer himself, M. A. Sheikho. They promptly cleared a path for him to pass through and he reached the middle of the throng, where he found the performer in front of him.

The performer was standing in a small space and surrounded by a great number of people, all of whom were jostling for space, and amazed by the unusual and extraordinary acts he was performing.

When Officer Sheikho looked at the man, he saw a large scorpion on the palm of his hand. He went closer and stood near him, examining the man's hand closely. He was certain that it was impossible for anyone to hold a scorpion in this way without being stung by it. He deduced that there must be some secret to the scorpion itself, rather than the man who was holding it. He addressed the fake superman, saying, 'Hey you, man! How can you hold that scorpion without being stung by it?'

With confidence and pride, the man answered, 'Oh Sir! I am the descendant of important ancestors. I am descended from Sheikh al-Rifa'i (his soul has been sanctified by Al'lah).'

At this point Amin opened his palm and stretched out his hand, saying, 'Put the scorpion on my hand.'

The man was shocked and clearly horrified! He replied immediately, 'No, no Sir! It will surely sting you!'

Officer Sheikho said to him, 'I'm also descended from a high ancestor, [59]my good man. I'm sure that I'll have the same protection as you. Come on! Put it in my hand.'

The man unwillingly stretched his hand towards our officer, and put the scorpion in the palm of his hand despite his better judgement. Officer Sheikho looked carefully at the scorpion. How odd! It failed to sting him, or even to affect him in any way, even though it appeared to be trying to do so.

However, the mystery was soon solved! Mohammad Amin quickly realised that the poisonous stinger had been removed from the scorpion: clearly the street performer had removed it from the end of the insect's tail. So it was that the scorpion had lost its weapon of deadly poison and could no longer harm anyone however hard it might try.

Thus the man's deception and guile were soon unmasked and he bowed his head in shame, especially when the crowd mocked him after his quackery had been exposed. Our bold and esteemed officer, along with all the people in the crowd, could see that the secret lay with the scorpion.

Although they had heard a lot about this man being descended from high ancestry and his ability to work wonders, these statements were of no consequence, for

Al'lah does not care about our line of descent. Even Sheikh al-Rifa'I [60]-himself (God had mercy upon him) would never have taken part in such misleading deeds, and he is absolutely innocent of any such things that may have been ascribed to him. These ideas are unacceptable according to logic and the process of sound thought. If descent or lineage could help people to escape punishment for their wrongdoing, then our master Noah (pth) would surely have delivered his son from the flood. So, too, our master Abraham (pth) would have rescued his father the idolater, and our master Mohammad (cpth) would have interceded for his uncle Abu-Lahab,[61] just as he would not have had to caution his daughter Fatima and his uncle al-Ab'bas against breaking Al'lah's Orders!

It is clear that no amount of intercession will help those who are disobedient, except their returning to obedience to God. Only in this way will they profit from the intercession of others.

## An Overwhelming Shock

Possibly the most important point on which our wisdom focuses through the story of our master Joseph (pth) and which draws one's attention, is the fact that it revolves around the purity of this noble master, as his illumination by God's Light made him pure, beyond reproach, and accepted by Al'lah. So, how would it be concerning prophecy, which is the highest degree of humanity and just like the ever-flowing polar water which completely cleanses and purifies all that it touches: as does prophecy when it floods the spirit so that it will never again thirst after anything that is lowly.

Viewing Godly Providence through the insight whereby the viewer witnesses just one of His Supreme Attributes, he will be turned away from searching out the worthless things of this lower life that are far beneath it, and which trouble the heart if one is absorbed in seeking these inanities.

So what about the perfect true belief which promotes mankind to constantly seek the Godly Attributes until the point where he eventually discerns them by the Greatest

Attribute of God, 'Al'lah' [62]-whereby his belief becomes perfect as shown when the Envoy said, "He who comprehends the Godly Names shall enter Paradise."

And what do you think of God's Envoys who constantly focused their minds on the Almighty since the beginning of creation and, too, during their voyage lasting many thousands of years, without turning away for even a moment?

Here is our master Joseph, who doesn't care about the external appearance, but rather, he sees by Al'lah's Light which refines one's heart. Similarly, Al'lah does not look at a man's physical body but He sees directly into his heart.Then, if you pursue his story with that dissolute woman[63] (the prime minister's wife) who offered herself to him when she was young and beautiful, you will find that she is far from obeying the Statutes of Al'lah. She did not love Joseph but she lusted after him so, her actions were no better than those of animals.

Then, what would he believe of her? Surely, there would be no need to think about it because the reality could be read clearly imprinted on her spirit and that reality was like a serpent slithering towards him ready to wind itself around him and give him a bite full of venom.

So, would he then embrace her without distinguishing between what was permissible and what was forbidden? Would he even draw near to her? Or would he push her away and distance himself as he was truly seeing the reality of her by Al'lah's Light?

This is the fact that is born of this illustrious story, as it revealed that seeing by Al'lah's Light protects its holder whatever corruption may surround him, and that is the recommendation of Al'lah's Envoy (cpth) concerning this time when man's religion could not be elevated unless he persisted in following the path which led to attainment of the true faith, which elevates the mind and provides the heart of its holder with certain witnessing of its realities and wisdom.

That is the essence of the religion obtained from Al'lah's Envoy: to spare people from the baseness of this lower life and the people who practise such depravity.

So what about the scholar M. A. Sheikho?

Was he ever deceived by false shapes or seduced by beauty, even though he strived to keep his heart pure and avoid being infatuated with superficial beauty? On the contrary, he was far removed from that, for he always bore witness to the realities and depth of the Godly Presence, His sublime Paradises, and luminous Revelations. He demonstrated this quality with which Prophets and their companions, and all true believers who have been illuminated by God's Light are characterized, and which raises their high position to an even higher level, the one to which the Angels eagerly aspired.

He was extremely brave, manly, and self-assured, nothing perturbed him and he feared no-one: he was possessed of oceans of equanimity and was never upset by difficult situations or criminal actions.

No doubt it is not as easy to be as brave as one might think, for it is the quality of true believers, as no creature could ever hold sway over the pure human being because it is Al'lah, the True and the Just, who conducts all matters and leads mankind along the straight path. Since our officer committed no fault nor trespass no-one could have a free hand to cause him ill: for Godly Justice ensures that if you cause harm to someone it will be returned to you. Equally good will always be recompensed with good. This type of person, who is a true believer, cares nothing at all for the forces of evil, however great their numbers or whatever weapons they might have.

That was the essence of Mohammad Amin's tactics against violent criminals, and which is why the state charged him with taking on all the most difficult tasks, which would normally require numerous forces to resolve; yet he could solve these problems within a short while between the thought arising in his mind and his solving the problem, because of his true determination and boundless amounts of mercy and compassion.

Yes, his Provider gave him the strength, yet he also needed a positive and productive thought process, as thinking is both fruitful and creative.

He was now faced with a completely new task which entailed his squad attacking the local brothel, a situation which he has never come up against before.

As is well known, towards the end of its era, the Ottoman Empire was still an Islamic state with its time- held traditions, and in general it was against all corruptive practices.

And yet corruption had begun to flow insidiously through its veins and the Devil established itself in its depths; as it was forbidden to commit any form of corruption openly these sins were committed in secret and kept hidden. Therefore the state established what they referred to as 'houses of deviation' and continued to preserve the ritual religious expressions but was lenient with these shocking matters with respect to their effects upon its youth.

'Houses of Ill Repute', or brothels as they are now known, is one example of that corruption. Once the Turks had established them corruption spread and their empire came to end, as "Al'lah does not like corruption."[64]

Due to his purity and virtue M. A. Sheikho had no previous knowledge of vice and the various natures of its practice, so no-one who knew anything whatsoever of these matters dared to mention them openly in his presence for they respected his chastity, high rank and perfection. Equally he was utterly ignorant of the low meaning of the word 'brothel', or of what might take place inside.

So, he had no knowledge of the existence of the local brothel, for his level of morality was far above being acquainted with such things. He thought it to be an illegal meeting place where ignorant men would frequently assemble to drink wine, which was forbidden by law at that time, in addition to its prohibition by statute. His mission was to arrest everyone he found in that 'meeting place' and have them imprisoned.

Throughout his life, he was certain that nothing was impossible as long as he resorted to His supporting Provider and asked for His Assistance.

Accordingly, he prepared his squad, dividing them into groups and allocated the various tasks of storming the house among them. As was his custom, he appointed himself as the spearhead in the attack, thinking (due to his moral purity and courage) that he should be the first to face any resistance and that there might be a dangerous exchange of fire.

In fact he expected it to be a tavern, one of the bars offering wine and bawdy song.

As previously stated, he was a broad-shouldered man of moderate stature, lithe body, fair hair and green eyes. The fullness of his face gave him a certain glow, emphasised by the redness of his cheeks. So, when he arrived with his squad at the illegal 'meeting place' or brothel, he was shocked at what he saw all around and about him because of his purity and the fact that he had never mingled with such low class people.

His men pointed at one of the brothels so, vigorously and strongly he smashed the door believing it to be the entrance to an illicit bar, yet suddenly he met a naked woman who, when she saw his handsome physique, shouted, 'Are you our officer my love?'... and she threw herself upon him without delay!

No sooner had she embraced him than he lost consciousness and fell down motionless!

Yes indeed, our staunch-hearted officer collapsed, overcome by the enormity of what had just happened to him... and appeared to be dead! They took him to the hospital thinking him to be lifeless, but they realised that he was alive, as he came round at the hands of the soldiers who were treating him as a matter of urgency, even though they had originally thought him to be dead. He recovered consciousness, but was slow to recall the recent incident and he wondered what had happened and where he was.

The commandant was amazed at his reaction! He thought, 'Truly, he is as pure as our master Joseph (pth), and certainly all those assigned to such missions previously, would have accepted this particular mission gladly and with a wicked smile, and evil thoughts would show clearly on their faces. If such a thing had happened to any other man, as happened to Mohammad Amin, he might well have responded to the devil's call, broken his own bounds of chastity and sunk further and further into a bottomless pit.

Thereafter, the commandant decided never to charge this chaste officer with such a mission in the most corrupt of places as through this one incident he had come to understand the superior level of Officer Sheikho's virtue and integrity.

## The Wrong Kind of Neighbour

Atall man came through the door, his features denoting a certain seriousness and a strong-willed character. He was remarkable not only for his demeanour but for his impressive military uniform with four stars affixed to the shoulders. This striking man is Officer M. A. Sheikho. He walked towards his office with determination, every regular step sounding like a tick being marked off firmly on the floor. Then, he stopped by the phone which was ringing as he came in.

It is the high commander and he wants to talk to Officer Sheikho!

With a firm, commanding voice our officer greeted the commander who returned his greeting and said to him directly, 'I want to live next to you in the district where you live, so try to find a suitable house for me.'

Our officer, Mohammad Amin, was taken aback for he would never have expected to receive such an odd request from his commanding officer.

It was quite a surprise and he foresaw a real problem behind the request. He had visions of all the excellent results of his recent efforts dissolving before his eyes! A quick comparison came to his mind of the way the area used to be and the way it was now. He remembered how it was once overrun with corruption, crime and vice, whereas security and peace now prevailed throughout the entire district.

Previously, no-one would have felt safe after sunset, for it was likely that he would be either killed or robbed. As for the present time, even if a woman were to walk alone at midnight carrying a purse filled with gold, no-one would bother her at all. What a wonderful change for the better!

Yet that current state of affairs was not achieved easily. It cost him effort and hard work, and many sleepless nights; how many difficult situations had he resolved, defying their dangers boldly and fearlessly? He was always ready to sacrifice himself in order to fight villains and the ringleaders of crime; and finally he had reaped the reward for all his efforts.

So, when his commander told him what he wanted, Officer Sheikho, through his agile mind and clarity of thought, soon realised that the district would quickly revert to its former situation if the commander were to live there. Therefore he boiled with anger and felt as if the earth shook beneath his feet as he understood that the house would be a centre for prostitution and debauchery.

Would his efforts have been in vain? Would it all come tumbling down around him?

For a few moments he was quite unsettled as he saw disaster looming before his eyes!

All of these thoughts flitted through Mohammad Amin's mind, and yet he remained as steadfast as the mountain which shrugs off even the strongest winds. So after he feigned his delight at the prospect of having his commander as his neighbour he answered him saying, 'Oh, Commander! But you know that most of the people who live in the area where my duties take me are poor and needy; and they hardly earn enough to feed themselves. So it's highly unlikely that they would be able to build a house for rent; and even if there is one, I don't think it would be fit for your high position.'

But the commander insisted that Amin should comply with his request despite all that he had been told. Therefore our officer had no choice but to reply, 'I am at your disposal Sir and will do everything possible to carry out your request.'

A few days later, the commander asked him whether he had found the house as asked, but he replied in a considerate tone that so far he had had no success.

But one morning the commander rang him, and as soon as our officer picked up the receiver he heard an angry voice quivering with fury, saying, without the formality of a greeting, 'I have been told that there is an unoccupied house in your district that fulfills my requirements and it is for rent. So, I want you to meet the owner and rent it at once.'

The commander had heard of this house through the gossip of people who were envious of Officer Sheikho's position of trust with the commander. They had seized the opportunity to unsettle the confidence and the regard between the officer and his commander who was extremely pleased with Mohammad Amin and his marvelous achievements.

As for our officer, he soon hurried to the address given to him by the commander, and there he found the description to be true and the house waiting for its new occupier.

Without any delay, Officer Sheikho quickly set about finding a tenant for the house until, with the help of the mayor and some letting agents, he was successful. Within a few hours, our dedicated man himself was taking part in carrying the belongings and luggage of the new tenant and arranging it throughout the house; and when he finished hanging the curtains everything was finally in its proper place.

After that, he returned quickly to headquarters and telephoned his commander to advise him that somebody had already leased the house, and he had seen for himself that people were living there. The commander thanked him for his efforts and asked him to continue the search.

Yet Mohammad Amin's ill-wishers, having been thwarted in their plans, were not happy to leave matters as they were. They told the commander how the officer himself had brought a tenant for the house in question and had even lent a helping hand to hang the curtains as quickly as possible so that it would not be available for the commander.

The commander was shocked at what he was told and was quick to speak to Officer Sheikho. He asked him,

'Don't you want me to live in your area?'

Then Mohammad Amin stood up, drawing himself up to his full height and answered him proudly, 'Sir, if your Excellency is determined on such a request, I ask that you give the order for me to be transferred to work in another region.'

The commander opened his eyes wide in surprise as the single word, 'Why?' burst out of his mouth.

The wary officer answered, 'Your Excellency! You know how, since the first moment this district was put under my control, the massive mountains have heard the hoof-fall of the mounted police, and the vast valleys have resounded to their tramping feet, so that we have crossed and criss-crossed even the smallest area of the land. You know, Sir, how our nights turned into days because we went without sleep in pursuit of our duty. How many times did we face death and defy all difficulties until corruption and crime in this area were finally cast out and the law began to be applied strictly! Justice was reinstated and security prevailed everywhere; people could now sleep peacefully in their beds, free from any fear.

'So, if your Excellency came to live in our area, surely you would receive the highest echelons of society at receptions in your home. Some of those people are immoral and given to disturbing the peace and breaking the law. In that case, I would be placed in a very difficult situation, for I would have to enforce the law and could not turn a blind eye to their illicit actions... even as a special favour to you, Sir. On the other hand, if I overlooked their misdemeanours, I would lose my position of high standing with the people of this area as a representative of justice and law. They would see me as a hypocrite, for I would be, as it is said, a brave lion before them but an ostrich with its head in the sand, before others. Consequently, everything would become topsy-turvy. Order would be replaced by confusion, and corruption and crime would soon spread. So, it would be as if we had achieved nothing, and the area would return to its previous lawless situation. But if I am transferred away from this district, I would not have performed my duty.'

Before such astounding logic, amazing courage, and great consideration for morality, the high commander found nothing to support his personal request. He found himself thinking aloud, 'I have changed my mind and no longer want to live in your district. So stay where you are and enjoy your achievements. Continue with your successful efforts to maintain security and honour, and attending to the affairs of the nation.'

He then felt compelled to express his heart-felt appreciation of the glorious deeds and the noble intents of this man and his admiration for the sublimity of his spirit and self-esteem. God says, "Among the Believers there are men who have been true to their covenant with Al'lah, and in establishing the truth they have never been afraid of the censure of those who find fault."[65]

## The Compassionate Pasha

Al'lah's Envoy (cpth) said, "Truly, deeds are measured according to their intentions, and each man will be rewarded according to what he intended."

So, be sure that you act only out of the best of intentions and you will gain all that is good and pure, and achieve happiness on this earth and in the Hereafter.

An old woman went to work as a washerwoman in the house of the Turkish Pasha in Damascus, for an agreed amount; it was customary for women to do this menial work in the houses of rulers and rich people. One day, while this old woman was attending to her tasks at the Pasha's house, his wife sat beside the washerwoman aiming to amuse herself in idle chat. The woman was crying copious amounts of tears while washing the linen. The Pasha's wife asked her why she was crying so piteously, and the washerwoman wiped her eyes and told the Pasha's wife about her sadness and suffering, saying, 'My husband died a long time ago leaving behind our only son, so I surrounded him with the great love of a mother for her son; I treated him with the utmost compassion and kindness, and I worried about him every single day. As time went by I always hoped that he would help me during my life and be a support in my old age. Yet when he was an adolescent, in the prime of his youth, and I saw promising signs of the man he would become and his kindness and sympathy towards me, death took him away from me forever. And in the worst possible way! He was murdered, leaving me all alone, helpless and suffering from grief, and growing old. That's why I had to find work to provide food for myself in this life as there is no-one to help me except Al'lah.'

Letting out a long painful sigh, this poor childless woman wiped away her tears of sorrow. Yes, she wept and so too did the wife of the Pasha, the ruler of the state of Sham. [66]The Pasha's wife dried her tears and asked her,'Who were the killers?'

She replied, 'Nobody knows, even though many detective units were sent out to investigate his murder, but in vain. So my son's blood was spilled with impunity and I wasn't given any financial compensation as they didn't find the guilty killer. And I've been left to work for a subsistence just to keep body and soul together despite my feebleness and old age.'

After hearing of this sad situation the Pasha's wife went directly to her husband to tell him this old woman's story.

Out of her kindness and strong emotions for a fellow human being, she was moved to tears yet again as she related the story to her husband. He, in turn, became extremely upset on hearing of the plight of the poor washerwoman and promptly sent for the high commander of the army, ordering him to appear before him at once, and to bring some gendarmes along too!

When the commander presented himself, the Pasha addressed him angrily, 'Where are your men, the peace officers? What is this neglect and carelessness that I'm hearing about? Six months have passed since a serious crime was committed in a certain small village and the criminal has not been found! This is gross dereliction of duty on the part of the peace officers!'

Then, in a very stern voice he ordered him to go off to enquire about the matter he had been advised of, and he stressed that no effort should be spared to bring the murderer to justice.

The commander took his leave of the Pasha, and then went out thinking to himself, 'How can I resolve this? All traces of the crime were wiped out six months ago; and many squads of peace officers have investigated the matter but... all in vain... they...!'

At that very moment the commander's train of thought was interrupted as he remembered our experienced officer Mohammad Amin to whom they always used to turn in times of trouble and strife. Whenever this trusty officer was in charge, all complicated matters were quickly resolved, evil crimes were solved and villains were eliminated, as he believed that nothing was impossible with Al'lah's Aid. Instantly, the commander called him to report to his office. It was Friday, the weekend, and his customary day of rest from his demanding duties, but he came promptly as requested. The commander told him what had happened and explained that the Pasha had officially intervened to have this crime further investigated.

Officer Mohammad Amin said, 'Oh, your Excellency! Today is my day off; could we please delay discussing this subject till tomorrow?'

That is because our officer had intended to attend Friday prayers in the mosque but the commander refused and ordered him to go immediately and take along as many policemen as he needed to solve the crime.

The commander confirmed in writing that this was an official mission by which everybody would be at Mohammad Amin's command and cooperate with him even if they out- ranked him.

Our officer replied, 'Yes, Sir,' saluted his commanding officer and went out towards the headquarters in an unhappy frame of mind for his heart had been set on attending Friday prayers.

He decided on seven of the policemen and a guide, and headed off with them for Kafar Sosah village, near to the city of Damascus, where the unsolved crime had been committed.

On the way he asked the guide to inform him as soon as they reached the outer boundaries of the village orchards. Along the way he bowed his head mulling over the best way to resolve this crime, and with only the best of intentions in his heart he asked for Al'lah's Help.

When they reached the orchards' boundaries, the guide told Officer Sheikho that they had arrived at their destination, then our officer ordered the policemen to disperse in all directions and along the roads that led to the town. They were to advise everyone they might come across on the way to cooperate with the policemen from Damascus when they arrived, and that all the inhabitants of the village were to gather in the village square: but all men aged between 16 and 70 years were to gather in the coffee shop.

The policemen set about their task and performed it perfectly by gathering all the inhabitants in the square by the time Officer Mohammad Amin reached it. He told the crowd that he had come to solve the crime of the murdered youth, the son of the elderly woman, and he mentioned his name.

After then telling everyone to gather in the coffee house from where the chairs and tables had been removed, he called the sheikh (imam) of the village, the mayor, and the two village elders, as well as ordering the owners of four shops facing the coffee house to open their shops and then return to the coffee house.

He told the sheikh (imam), the mayor, and the two elders to sit, each one, behind the counter of a different shop and face outwards. Then, he set his plan in motion: his hand shot out and grabbed a chair which he put down suddenly in front of the sheikh who was seated, as ordered, behind the counter of one of the shops. Officer Sheikho sat there facing him, his back to the people of the village, and began to stare straight into the eyes of the sheikh, while the latter looked at him fearfully waiting for him to speak. But our officer did not utter a single word, which made the sheikh blink and avert his eyes. Our officer remained in that position for about five minutes then he grabbed the chair again and slammed it down before the mayor who was sitting in the next shop; now Mohammad Amin was looking quite smug, as though he had got the answer he was looking for. Again he sat, and this time stared at the mayor who expected our officer to fire a question at him. He began to stare at him while the mayor's eyes were fixed fearfully on those of the officer, anxiously waiting for a question that did not come. The wise officer did just as he had done with the sheikh! Five more minutes passed! Then he rapidly dragged his chair across to where one of the elders was sitting in the next shop and repeated the same performance he had given with the first two men, and so another five minutes passed. Finally, he carried his chair over to the second village elder. All the while the inhabitants of the village were looking on in amazement, and could only imagine the conversations taking place between them. Officer Mohammad Amin acted in the very same manner with the second elder and a further five minutes passed. Then he leapt to his feet and, turning to the people, he bellowed suddenly, 'Get out... I've found you!' At this moment a young lad said, 'Is it me sir?'

'Yes, get out you villain,' retorted Officer Sheikho!

The people turned their backs on the youngster, and as soon as he was outside, the policemen led him to one of the four shops and threw him on the ground as ordered by our bold officer, tying a rope around his ankles and raising his feet. Our officer, M. A. Sheikho, raised his whip and prepared to give the youngster fifty lashes on the soles of his feet. At this moment, the lad was sure that he was about to die, then, our officer said to him, 'Admit the truth, or else you'll die by the whip.'

The youngster then cried out, begging him, 'Oh, Sir! I swear by Al'lah that I didn't kill him... the mayor's son did it!'

Our officer called out to the mayor's son, but they replied that he was usually asleep at that time because he spent all night drinking wine. With no further delay our officer sent policemen to summon him from his father's house.

As they had been told, they found him asleep in his bed, so they woke him roughly, and led him, bound, to the village square where our officer and the local people were all gathered. When the mayor's son saw, to his dismay, what was happening and recognized the witness to his crime, and was also informed that a second witness would soon come to testify against him, he realised that there was no chance to deny it; he confessed the truth.

The witness said that they were sitting in one of the orchards with a third youngster from Daria village, talking and drinking wine, when the washerwoman's son came into view riding his mule. Then, the mayor's son started shouting obscenities at him, and since he was drunk and not in his right mind, he didn't settle for that, but stabbed the boy in the back, killing him instantly. Then, as though nothing untoward had happened, he went back to sitting with his friends and continued to enjoy himself...

Officer Sheikho immediately had him bound and dragged away along with his drinking companion as a witness; a squad of policemen was sent to fetch the other witness from Daria and told to follow them as fast as possible. When he arrived at the commander's office, he handed the criminal over to him along with a witness to the murder, and he informed him that the other witness would come soon. Needless to say, the commander was delighted as the mission had been completed and the crime solved, all within the space of just two and a half hours. Almost unbelievable, given that the crime had remained unsolved for so long!

Overwhelmed at this great success he immediately dashed off to advise the Pasha about the apprehension of the murderer and the details of the case.

But his elation was soon quashed by the unexpected reaction of the Pasha! Instead of being delighted that the crime had been solved the Pasha addressed the commander angrily, 'Are you telling me that a crime that had remained unsolved for months despite the best efforts of the police force has now been resolved within two and a half hours! You must have accepted a bribe from the mayor to provide a cover for his son until I forced your hand. Have you neglected the rights of the people for the sake of money? You're despicable and not worthy of being in the police force! Get out!'

The commander, who was in fact the head of both the army and the security forces, was shocked and confused at the Pasha's furious reaction. What he had thought to be good news was turned against him as he became the accused! So, he said, 'Oh, Sir! I doubt if you will believe what I have to say on this matter, but please, I've just one request: would you agree to hear the details of how the crime was solved directly from the officer responsible?'

Nonchalantly the Pasha said, 'Summon him!'

The commander took his leave and went off in search of our officer Mohammad Amin to tell him about what had occurred with the Pasha. He then asked him to go directly to the Pasha and relate the details of how the crime was solved.

With no hesitation our officer replied, 'Yes, of course!' Thus, they returned to the Pasha, and when Officer Sheikho began to relate the methods he had used to track down the perpetrator of the crime the Pasha seemed quite indifferent and not in the least bit interested in what he was saying. But when he described to him how he had gathered the people of the village in the public square and that he had summoned the sheikh, the mayor, and the village elders, and how he had behaved towards them, the Pasha began to pay attention to what he was saying. The more our officer spoke, the more the Pasha focused his attention on his words until the account was complete. At that point the Pasha turned to him with great interest and asked,

'Where did you get this great strategy from?' He added, 'I have studied criminology and methods of uncovering criminals, in Germany, yet I have never heard about such a creative plan in this field!'

Our officer answered him, 'From here,' and pointed at his head.

The Pasha said, 'Actually, such a strategy could be developed only through rational thought and through no other means.' The Pasha's appreciation for this officer grew more and more and they became very close. Then, our officer took his leave, and his commander was able to claim victory through the deeds of Officer Sheikho and raise his head again. The end result was that both men were favoured by the Pasha.

Our officer's original plan on that day had been to attend Friday prayers at the mosque, and he was still able to do so as the crime had been solved in a very timely fashion.

Such are the Arrangements of Al'lah, the Almighty, who always gives chances and eases the way for everyone that seeks to draw nearer to Him through communicating, and making sacrifices for the sake of people's comfort and happiness.

## Which Version of the Truth?

The Envoy of God (cpth) said, "Anyone who sees an abominable act, let him change it by his hand, if he cannot, let him resort to his tongue, if he cannot, let it be by his heart, and that is the weakest (degree of) belief."

One day some gendarmes entered the office of their commandant, Officer M. A. Sheikho, who was the head of the police station in al-Salhiyeh quarter. They told him that they had seen a drunken Turkish officer of the rank of first lieutenant with his two revolvers strapped to his hip. He was staggering in a very disorderly fashion along the streets of al-Salhiyeh, making improper advances to the women he passed and hitting out at anyone that stood in his way.

On hearing this Officer Sheikho immediately ordered his gendarmes to bring the drunken roisterer to the police- station even if they needed to do so by force.

They saluted their officer and left immediately to carry out the task and brought the drunken officer in by force while he was issuing a constant stream of threats and roaring with rage. Nevertheless our officer immediately set about punishing him, by applying God's Law rather than the law of mankind. So, to discipline him, he gave him a good beating and being very skilled at this he left no mark on his body; then he tied him tight to a pillar in the middle of the police-station. But the Turkish officer was furious at what he thought was wrongful behaviour towards him and started to swear and curse at Officer Sheikho. The Turk was a member of the ruling class at that time and believed that he was above the law, but our officer would not allow that fact to deter him from carrying out his purpose and continued to beat him until he calmed down.

Thus, whenever the Turk's anger flared up, as it did repeatedly, our officer punished him yet again to deter him until finally he cooled down and came to his senses.

The errant Turkish officer was left tied to the pillar all night, and the next morning our officer brought him some breakfast and undid the rope by which he was tied to the pillar all night, but the Turkish officer refused to eat. Then our officer, who was full of God's Grace, looked him straight in the eyes and said, 'You offensive man! If you want to get out of here safely, you had better eat something otherwise I'll punish you again. So stop behaving badly, calm down and accept the hospitality!'

Hence, the Turkish officer really had to accept the offer of breakfast though he was still boiling with rage. After that, our officer set him free and let him leave the police-station. Without delay the high born officer headed for his superiors to lodge a complaint about his beating and the insults rained on him by a Saracen[67]officer who had paid no attention to the fact that he was an officer of the Turkish ruling class.

But Officer Mohammad Amin had foreseen that the Turkish officer would react in this way, so he took his own appropriate measures. He advised all the policemen under his command to deny that he had beaten the Turk when they were questioned, as surely they would be: then he formulated an ingenious plan.

Actually, the high commander of the Turkish army came in person to enquire about such a serious matter which was, in fact, a breach of military law. For according to military custom it was not permitted to beat an officer for any reason whatsoever, especially if he was a member of the ruling class of that time.

So, when the high commander arrived and started to question the policemen of the station, they all denied the Turkish officer's complaint that he had been offended or hit, but they agreed that they had tied him to a pillar in the station since he was drunk and aggressive, and striking out at anyone who approached him; they said that they had tied him up for his own safety and until he could come to his senses. Then when he had sobered up by the morning, the head of the station treated him hospitably, ate breakfast with him and calmed him down.

That was the unanimous testimony of all the policemen in the station along with that of their hero, our officer, Mohammad Amin.

By the end of the enquiry, the high commander actually believed the 'lies' of the plaintiff, the drunken Turkish officer, and so, our officer, wise man that he was, entertained him and offered him an excellent meal. So they sat together eating and chatting in a contented and relaxed way, as two well-born officers would be accustomed to do.

Here, our officer, Mohammad Amin who was beloved and dear to the high commander, took advantage of his happy state and said to him, 'Would you like me to tell you a version of the truth as friends, or the lawful, military version?'

The general commander enquired, 'What is the 'friendly' truth and what is the 'lawful and military' one?'

Our officer replied, 'From the legal and military point of view the truth is that we found the Turkish officer drunk and disorderly; he was beating innocent people at random, intruding on their privacy, and making improper advances to women. He refused to listen to reason so we had no choice but to arrest him! He resisted and lashed out at me and other police officers so we were forced to tie him to a pillar in the station until he sobered up, then we offered him food and let him leave peacefully.'

The general commander of the Turkish army said, 'Well done! Your wise behaviour deserves our praise. Now, tell me, what is the 'friendly' one?'

Our officer replied, 'We found him drunk and disorderly, bothering women and beating men who approached him to try to calm him. So, when he resisted arrest and tried to hit us, we cornered him and forced him to the ground, then we tied his hands and disciplined him until he calmed down and stopped being so arrogant and obnoxious. But he flared up once again and began to curse and swear, so we struck him repeatedly and left him tied to the pillar all night. Finally, by this morning he had curbed his anger and calmed down. Then we treated him well and offered him breakfast, so he gave in and pretended to become reasonable, albeit somewhat reluctantly.'

Here, the general commander flared up and jumped to his feet, shouting, 'Have you dared to beat a Turkish officer?'

'No, Sir,' the officer replied, 'Nobody has beaten him or even offended him. We only tied him up because he wasn't in control of his actions because he had consumed an excessive amount of alcohol. But when he regained consciousness, we treated him well and brought him some food, thus, whatever we did was simply to keep him safe from harm.'

On hearing this the general calmed down and relaxed, so he sat down again. Then he asked, 'But didn't you tell me that you beat him and insulted him?'

'No, Sir,' our officer answered. 'That account was just a 'friendly' one. I told you that out of my love and respect for you. But when you got upset, I informed you of the legal and military version!'

Having reflected for a short while the high commander said to our officer, 'Ah now I understand, so I'll answer you from the legal perspective: you performed your duty perfectly when you tied him to avoid the consequences of his intoxication and then you entertained him when he sobered up. So, in fact, we should praise your behaviour and that of your men.'

Then he winked at Amin indicating his acceptance of the matter and that he sided with what was right, even if it went against his ruling compatriots. He continued, 'As for that evil miscreant he received his just reward and, definitely, after this harsh lesson he'll never dare to cause any harm to your region which has been cleansed by your wonderful deeds and excellent performance.'

And so the general left Amin wrestling with the broad smile on his face and his heart brimful of happiness.

God says, "If you help the Cause of] Al'lah, He will help you, and plant your feet firmly."[[68]

## The True Value of Almsgiving

The Almighty God created Man and brought him into this world so as to bless him and to overwhelm him with His Charity and Generosity in this life and the life to come.

Yet when Man came and was given the freedom of choice, he deviated from the path which leads to his happiness and gain, and followed 'the primrose path', leading a life of ease and pleasure, and immersing himself in animalistic instincts.

Nonetheless, out of His Mercy, the Almighty does not let that unmindful creature, who bases his hopes on what is transient, lose his dignity and benefits on the grounds of his base desires and loss, and allow his invaluable existence to be wasted. He keeps giving him small shocks so that he may wake from his deep sleep and follow the path of true happiness and meaningful, everlasting gains given by Him Who never makes a mistake, and forgets nothing.

Hence, the Almighty Al'lah deals with mankind sometimes by honouring him and giving, and sometimes by afflicting him with diseases, distress, and misfortune. All of that is simply the means that helps him to correct his wrongful path and to go forward on the way which will lead to great pleasure and blessings.

Now, we have before us a fact that took place in the last years of the Turkish rule over our lands.

At that time, people had turned their backs on God's Laws therefore He destroyed their farms and crops by sending a plague of locusts which left no green twig or leaf in any country of the empire. The locusts attacked in such large swarms that, as they flew from one place to another, a single swarm appeared as dense as dark storm clouds that shut out the light of the sun. They were a plague upon the land as they demolished every plant and twig, whether green or withered, and devoured even the bark of the trees.

As a result, a great famine prevailed in these countries because of the complete failure of all crops and fruits.

That extremely difficult and crucial period was referred to as the 'Time of Travel by Land', [69]for great numbers of soldiers were mobilized and driven overland to the Suez Canal to fight against the allies in World War I.

During that time, a certain farmer came from Daria (a village close to Damascus) and went into the government house where he lodged a complaint against a planter in his area. He claimed that the defendant had some sort of insecticide that could destroy the locusts but he did not give it to anyone else or advise the government about it so it could be produced for all the farmers to use.

The proof of what he was claiming was the green abundance of the planter's orchard which was full of strong, healthy trees, and grapevines bursting with fresh green leaves and abundant fruit. Clearly, they were untouched by the locusts: but why?

Our officer Mohammad Amin decided there and then to investigate the matter! He mounted his horse and set off followed by a squad of policemen to look into the villager's claim.

They all headed for the site of the healthy, untouched orchard, led by the informer; and there our officer saw for himself the green trees and the ripe, juicy fruits exactly as they had been described to him.

So he sent for the owner of the orchard, and when the man arrived, the inspector scolded him and held the whip in his hand so as to give him a taste of the lash if necessary. He said to him, 'You selfish man! Why do you hide this insecticide from the farmers and keep it to yourself? Why haven't you told the government about it so that they can get it too? You care only for your own gains and leave everyone else to their ravaged crops and fate... no food for the people! You will be so sorry when you have to answer to God for your deeds!'

'But Sir,' the planter replied, 'the medicine which I use is well known to them all, yet they do not use it, in fact they undervalue it.'

In the meantime, a crowd of the village people and its notables had gathered there. So when our officer looked at them, they all bowed their heads ashamed and humbled: they said nothing!

Then Amin lowered his whip and asked the defendant,

'What is this medicine?'

The planter answered, 'It's almsgiving, Sir. All my life I have been accustomed to giving alms of one tenth of my annual yield, and therefore Al'lah kept it for me.'

Our officer said to him, 'What did you say?'

'I said it's almsgiving, Sir.'

'Are you telling me that locusts can distinguish between the orchard for which alms were paid and one that wasn't?'

'Try for yourself, Sir! Throw some locusts onto the plants and you will see.'

There and then, our officer sprang from the back of his horse, landing nimbly on his strong legs, and grabbing some of the locusts in both hands he threw them into the orchard. What a miracle! No sooner had the locusts touched the earth of the orchard and its plants than they immediately took flight to go back out of the orchard. Not a single one of the pestilential insects remained where Mohammad Amin had thrown them!

Every last locust that Officer Sheikho had thrown into the orchard flew out without destroying even a single leaf. He repeated the experiment three times, but every time, the locusts fell back as if there was an invisible barrier preventing their access to the trees and greenery.

Just then our man remembered the saying of his beloved Prophet Mohammad (cpth) which states, "Fortify your possessions by almsgiving."

That is why the Almighty God directed us on the matter of charity.

Through giving alms, we can be sure of God's Satisfaction with us; and there, our spirits approach pale-faced to this Great and Perfect One relying on their own deeds, and take on the qualities of perfection from Him, the Almighty. In this way we become humanists and perform good deeds, and when we return to Him after this life, having received His Satisfaction (Glory to His Name) we will enter the Gardens

He promised us, "Enter the Gardens, because of the good which you did in the world."[70]

God, the Almighty, urges us to give alms, for in doing so it produces love, goodwill and sympathy among the members of society; thereby the poor man loves the rich man since he is the cause of his relief and provisions, and the rich man loves the poor as he gives him money willingly because he is seeking God's Satisfaction even though the money may be dear to his heart: by such donation the poor man is relieved of his distress and he becomes happy.

Truly, the Laws and Rules of the Almighty (Glory to His Name) are perfect and comprehensive. So if people apply them, they will enjoy happiness here and in the life to come. They will all live as one united family under the banner of humanity, and both they and their possessions will be protected from the evils of time.

The noble Prophet said, "Almsgiving does not let money grow less," whereby we understand that our almsgiving will always be rewarded.

He also said, "Initiate your days with charity, for affliction does not pass through charity."

Thus we understand that the statement, "Gains purified by almsgiving will never be burned or sunken" does in fact become true: for God keeps them safe from any calamity since all is in the Hands of Him, the Almighty.

## A Bolt from the Blue

One day our officer, Mohammad Amin, needed to go out of his house in civilian clothes to buy something his family needed after he had dismissed the soldier assigned to his service.

On his way towards the grocer, he had not gone far from his house when he caught sight of the massive head and huge muscular body of a well known and powerful criminal.

In fact, he was a felon like no other and instantly recognizable by his great height, heavy, brawny body, and powerful arms. He had killed many tens of policemen and civilians in the most painful ways. Even the powerful criminals were very wary of him, moreover they did not dare to mention his name without showing the utmost admiration for his vile deeds and respect for his appalling character.

Added to which, the government forces had tried to arrest him so many times but it always came to nothing, therefore he became famous, or should we say 'infamous' for being the criminal mastermind and was regarded as a hero by so many of the criminal fraternity.

It was the fearful 'Humo Jumo' himself with his monstrous, elephantine body, and he was armed to the teeth: a revolver, a cudgel with a tapered point which never left his hand, and a dagger which was as long as a short sword.

When that powerful and arrogant villain first caught sight of Officer Sheikho he was about to turn tail because he knew that he was the peace commandant responsible for apprehending all the criminals in that region. But when he noticed that the officer was wearing his civilian clothes, and was unarmed and without an escort, he changed his mind and decided to seize the opportunity. He decided to rush him and kill him for he thought it was an opportunity not to be missed!

He thought to himself: 'If I do that, it will make life so much easier for us criminals. Finally we'll be rid of him! He's followed us with no let-up and broken our hold on the area to the point that only a few of us have managed to escape his grip. But he doesn't give up... he still hunts us down, bent on stopping all our activities. I think this is my one chance in a lifetime to get rid of him.'

It seemed certain by the look of evil determination on his face that this was what was in the criminal's mind and what he planned to do...

But, his brain was no match for his brawn! He spent too long thinking about it and failed to act soon enough! He was dumbfounded when, like a bolt from the blue, our officer pounced upon him unexpectedly, taking full advantage of his agility and speed. The culprit was caught off guard which made him resort to his club instead of the revolver or the dagger. So he raised it to beat our officer, yet he was too slow, for our officer made a flying leap upon the criminal from a few metres away then gave a mighty punch to his face that paralysed his muscles and caused him to fall to the ground, powerless and stunned like a falling elephant. He pulverized his despotic pride, and high-handedness was reduced to nothing by one powerful blow.

When passers-by saw this, they hardly believed what they had seen with their own eyes: 'Is it possible!? It's Humo Jumo himself! But he's lying flat on his back unconscious. It's really amazing. In fact, it's a miracle that a single, unarmed man managed to knock out that heavily armed villain! How did he do it?'

Those questions occupied the minds of all those who witnessed the event or heard about it later.

Then our officer grabbed the criminal by the foot and dragged him along the ground until he reached the police- station.

So ended the criminal reign of that powerful felon at the hands of this honest officer who rid the people of a merciless and evil arch villain.

And it was Al'lah who helped Officer Sheikho to overcome him with His powerful help.

## Al'lah Provides the Cure

Al'lah's Envoy (cpth) said, "Truly, Al'lah never made a cure for my people in what He had forbidden to them."

A crucial period and a terrible disaster... the spectre of painful death spread over most of the families in Damascus, Syria: its citizens were afflicted with a far- reaching cholera epidemic.

It seemed as though a black, evil spirit had spread over the city, causing great alarm amongst all its people; their hearts were overcome at its terrible spectre as they felt its dark apparition lurking in every shadow. This was the grave and terrible calamity which befell the people of Damascus at the beginning of the twentieth century, when the cholera epidemic circulated and spread without mercy all over the city.

There could be no hope or discrimination where the disease was concerned; indeed no-one could know if or when the infection might reach him, and if it did he would surely be dead within a few days.

The catastrophe intensified till the average daily mortality figure resulting from this infection was nearly five hundred people a day, which is a large number if compared with the total population of Damascus at that time.

One day during this critical period, Officer M. A. Sheikho, who held a responsible position in the government house (the centre of the Home Office nowadays), left his house, as usual, in the early morning and headed for his office. While he was sitting there reviewing some records, a great weakness seemed to overcome his body and he realised that he was feeling quite unwell. He thought it very strange for he was usually in the best of health! 'What's wrong with me?' he wondered.

Within a few moments, his discomfort increased till he became sure that he was afflicted with some sickness... then, suddenly, he felt overwhelming dizziness and nausea accompanied by a strong colic in his stomach. 'Could it be cholera? Oh, my Provider! What shall I do?' Minutes later he began to vomit severely... it was so unnerving for him as this was the first time that he had vomited so forcibly, and the griping pains in his intestines showed no signs of easing.

Yes, indeed! Cholera had struck Mohammad Amin, the officer! Having noticed what had affected Aslan,[71] their strong, courageous leader, the other officers who worked with him became terrified as they thought the alarm bell was ringing for them too so, like cowards, they did nothing to help him and ran out of government house leaving their colleague to his fate. They feared the possibility of being infected and the prospect of a painful and undignified death which hovered closely around every citizen in Damascus.

'Oh, my Provider! What should I do? Please guide me... I had better go home at once before the diarrhea begins so no-one sees me in this state,' thought Officer Mohammad Amin.

With this aim in mind, he hurried from his office to his house which was in Sarujah, (one of the old quarters of Damascus) but he was forced to slow his customary fast pace as he was doubled over with the excruciating pain in his abdomen.

As, eventually, he neared his home a man in the street noticed him and stopped him saying, 'Take this bottle Sir, and drink the contents, for it fortifies the body.' Officer Mohammad Amin asked, 'What is this bottle? What's in it to strengthen my body against the deadly cholera disease?'

'It's arrack [72]Sir!' the man replied.

As soon as he heard what the bottle contained he knocked it from the man's hand so it fell to the ground and smashed, and he said to the man, 'Shame on you! Do you want me to drink alcohol and get drunk to meet my Provider in that state?'

He put his trust in Almighty Al'lah and then continued on his way, desperate to reach his house before the symptoms worsened. A few days later the Almighty God did indeed oblige him with a cure, whereby his immune system began to recover and was able to overcome this terrible, infectious illness.

It is clear that if a man's lifetime has not been decreed to be ended yet, he would not die whatever disease might afflict him. Even if the essence of man is strong and his truthfulness in obeying God is displayed, if in fearing for his ephemeral mortal life he rushes to use medicine even it is forbidden and entails disobeying Al'lah... he would fail and lose his way. Does he not know about the saying of Al'lah's Envoy (cpth) who is the doctor of all humanity, "Truly, Al'lah never made a cure for my people in what He had forbidden to them."

Yet, on the contrary, if he excludes from his life all that is forbidden by Al'lah he will succeed and win, since he whose life is not preordained to be over, will not be killed by a catastrophe however severe it may be.

# Par Three

## A Very Clever Ploy

Our man, Mohammad Amin was walking with the mayor, accompanied by the loyal gendarme Abu Mohammad just returned from carrying out one of his official tasks; just then they were passing the orchard of Mr.

Taleb A'rafa near which the River Tora – a branch of the Barada river – was flowing, and over which the mill of Abu Mahmood was built. The orchard was extensive with a small garden in the centre planted with the rarest and most expensive flowers and plants; extreme care was taken so that the surrounding orchard served as a fence or barrier to deter those who might decide to pick an exotic flower or two.

Suddenly, Mohammad Amin stopped and listened... the sound of music and song, raucous laughter and cries of frivolity and debauchery reached his ears! His face reddened with anger, his eyes gleamed with rage and his heart began to beat with sadness, then he shouted, saying, 'It's a gathering of criminals.'

As he looked all around he noticed, among the pack animals, some donkeys as large as mules which were mainly found in Halbon [74]country.

He soon realised that a large, mixed band of criminals were gathered together around a table for frivolity and corruption, and where 'cups of vulgarity and inhibitions' were being passed among them. They found strength in their numbers and so they did not even try to keep quiet about their criminal plans.

Officer Sheikho turned to the mayor saying, 'I'll arrest the whole lot of them!'

The mayor trembled and turned pale, becoming as white as a ghost, then he mumbled, 'Oh God! He can't possibly do that... he's just one man... there are many of them and they're armed criminals... accustomed to killing!' He was convinced that the officer was about to die!

As our officer headed for the door he met a youth of about eighteen years of age coming out. Quick as a flash Amin's hand struck his face delivering two strong slaps that knocked him to the ground. He pounced upon him and, seizing him by the collar, growled at him, 'What's going on here?'

The youth was so overwhelmed by this attack that seemed to have come from nowhere that he stuttered unconsciously,

'It's a gathering of criminals, Sir.'

Our officer asked him, 'How many?'

The youth replied, 'Between sixty and seventy...!' Then Amin released him and he ran away as fast as his legs would carry him.

Officer Amin Sheikho frowned, and a look of insistent determination was displayed clearly on his face: for a moment, he was lost in thought, then a smile spread slowly indicating that a clear plan was forming in his mind.

Our officer turned to the gendarme and asked, 'How good are you at giving military instructions Abu Mohammad?'

Abu Mohammad replied, 'As you like Sir, giving instructions is my hobby!'

Our officer retorted, 'Thank God! Imagine then that you have three military battalions and that you are issuing instructions for moving them. Make sure that some of the villains overhear you and will think that the orchard is surrounded by soldiers. Be careful not to start before the noise and clamour stop completely... understood?'

'Yes, Sir.'

Abu Mohammad was a gendarme who had derived courage and boldness from his leader, through his love for him and the great amount of time spent with him. He had a strong, pompous, bombastic voice that would make a sleeping man leap from his bed as if he had been stung... and this about to be put to good use.

The officer entered the orchard with his usual firm and steady step and headed for the area where the criminals were gathered, enjoying themselves seemingly without a care in the world. At that moment he saw the owner of the orchard bringing a large tray overflowing with fruits, nuts and drinks for his guests, and just before the man could recover from the shock of seeing our officer there in the orchard Mohammad Amin stunned him with a strong blow to his face that made his head spin, then he shouted,

'Where are the criminals?'... Although this was a pointless question as the raucous party had already given away their whereabouts.

He did not wait for a reply and thereby had given the host a chance to go and tell the criminals that he was there. Our officer, meanwhile, hurried off in the direction which the owner of the orchard had come from, that is away from where the criminals were gathered: this was a clever plan thought up by Mohammad Amin whereby he wanted the host to tell them that the security forces were raiding the place.

The direction in which our officer had walked led to a room where he found piles of fruit, nuts, and bottles of wine and other drinks. The parents of the orchard's owner were putting them on trays in preparation for them to be taken to the criminals.

He turned and went as fast as a flash of lightning to the garden where the criminals were eating, drinking and singing to their hearts' content.

The path leading to it sloped upwards. At the top of the path he found the owner of the orchard standing, motionless, and still holding the tray, having informed the criminals that the security forces had arrived. Officer Sheikho stopped still, landed him a strong kick that threw him down on his face, only for him to tumble back down the slope with the tray, broken glass, nuts and drinks scattered in all directions. The resultant clamour was followed by total calm and wondrous silence. The criminals were amazed and they all became instantly wary. They knew him... Aslan... with his pistol in his hand and his fiery looks he could cause trembling and terror in the hearts of even the strongest of men.

Absolute silence... an uneasy calm that heralded the storm!

At that moment a voice boomed out almost causing the orchard boundaries to quake by its very strength: a resonant voice which sowed dismay and ensured peace and calm... it was the voice of Abu Mohammad who was deploying his imaginary battalions around the orchard.

The officer seized this opportunity, the opportunity of fear, dismay and illusion being experienced by the criminals, and addressed them saying, 'The commander-in-chief has arrived in person with three battalions of soldiers, all heavily armed with the most modern weapons, and he is determined to burn down the orchard with all who are in it... whoever tries to run from the fire will not be safe, for the soldiers' guns will cut them down; but he swears that if anyone surrenders, he will be safe. Time is running out and you have no choice except to surrender or to be burnt or killed... so, decide!'

In fact their courage failed them, and they understood that they had been completely trapped. Suddenly, one of them, realising that his guilt would ensure a long term of imprisonment, rushed to the officer, threw himself at his feet, kissed them and begged in a quivering voice with tears running down his face: 'Please Abu Fathi[75]... I'm asking for your protection, I have children... I surrender,' and he laid down his arms.

Besides, this criminal could still remember the taste of the lash he had experienced at the hands of our officer, Mohammad Amin a few days ago and its mark had still not vanished.

Indeed, this criminal's tears tore at the heartstrings of the other criminals, and his genuine, humble request caused even the toughest spirits to weaken... they felt powerless and defeated, so they came to the officer one by one, cringing in fear, surrendering to him and proving their good intentions by laying down their arms and asking for mercy and forgiveness.

Thereupon he shouted in his strongest voice: 'Sir... Commander... all of them have surrendered and they ask for our mercy and pity, so send me only one soldier please... Abu Mohammad! They are all submissive and there is no need to shoot or set fire to the orchard.'

Then, Abu Mohammad hurried to Officer Sheikho and in a minute he stood before him stamping his foot firmly on the ground and saluting his superior: 'Yes, Sir!'

Our officer ordered Abu Mohammad: 'Collect up all their arms quickly and put them in the saddlebag. Look at these ropes tied to the trees... bring enough of them to tie all of the criminals. Get the mayor and the owner of the orchard to help you.'

'Yes Sir! At your command!'

Within no time at all, our officer, the mayor, Abu Mohammad and the orchard's owner were all working together to bind the criminals who had by now capitulated and laid down their weapons.

The scene was an amazing sight to behold... each criminal had his hands cuffed behind his back and was attached by rope to the villain following him so that they seemed like a long train of pack animals, but lacking a boy to lead it. Then the officer shouted an order at them, 'Take off your shoes... now!'

'You... orchard owner... collect them and put them in the other saddlebag!'

Within a minute every one of his orders had been carried out.

At that moment, as he turned around, he saw a trollop, a Jewish woman, who was participating in their debauched gathering by singing and playing on the lute. It is necessary for the one who wishes to enter the world of lowness and debauchery, 'the devils' world', to have the means to enter therein and the harlot is the guide and provides the means , and her services are the devil's traps.

The woman was trembling, horrified at what might happen to her, and copious tears were pouring from her eyes.

Officer Sheikho shouted at her, 'And you! Mount the donkey.'

She hurried to obey his order and prepared to mount the animal, but he said to her: 'Get on it and face backwards! Give her the drum!'

He asked her if she remembered the name of a particular song that was common among the people and sung to belittle and deride someone who was an object of scorn.

She said, 'Yes... yes...'

He ordered her to drum and sing it and he shouted at the criminals ordering them to repeat it after her.

Our officer was able to control the whole operation with his fearless command of the situation and by imposing upon the criminals an atmosphere of abject fear and terror.

And finally... the convoy set off from the orchard.

It was an extremely strange and astonishing sight to behold...:

\- An old woman mounted backwards on a donkey...

\- A long line of handcuffed men walking bare-footed behind the donkey repeating in unison what the dissolute woman sang to them...

\- And the same licentious woman laughing at them!

It was a picture that any artist would have loved to draw and by colouring it skilfully he would have a work of unique aesthetic style.

Anyone observing this bizarre scene would have stopped and stared in open-mouthed, amazement! No wonder! For they had never seen a huge gang of criminals being driven in that humiliating way.

Just one of them alone could cause terror and dismay in an entire neighbourhood, so how was it that so many of them had been captured and driven by one just one officer and his companion?

The criminals were stunned by disbelief, as though a great thunderbolt had struck each of them when they discovered that they had been arrested by just two people...

There were no commandos, no battalions, no forces! They were overwhelmed by anger and rage, to the extent that one of them raised his voice in fury and shouted out what they were all feeling, 'Are we little kittens? We were all arrested by only two people?

Officer Sheikho answered, 'No, you're less than that, you are dogs!' Then he cracked his lash on the man's body.

Our officer ordered the gendarme Abu Mohammad to walk at the back of the convoy and to fire immediately on any one of the convicts who created a disturbance or tried to escape.

In this fashion, the convoy walked across the most important main streets of the al-Akrad and al-Salhiyeh areas in Damascus, and whenever they met a gendarme of the security forces, our officer recruited him to the convoy to help maintain order and control matters until they arrived eventually at the appropriate destination... the prison!

This sight remained engraved in people's memory for a very long time; the elderly still mention it as a whimsical tale in their evening entertainment and recount it so that it will be an example for all of us whereby we learn about majesty, reverence and appreciation.

## It Is Never Too Late to Repent

This story will bring to mind the last years of the rule of the Ottoman Empire over our lands when people took the wrong turning and disregarded God's

Orders and religious obligations. Hence, the Wisdom of the Almighty decreed that He would limit His Benefits and His Granting of requests in favour of inflicting difficulties and disasters upon them so that they might pay attention to their wrongful ways and come back to their senses. Thus, confusion prevailed in the machinery of government, and consequently among the citizens.

This story takes place during the time of World War I and the particular period of time was called the 'Time of Travel by Land', for the Ottoman armies were driven overland to the Suez Canal to fight against the Western invading forces. Apart from the difficulties and shortages imposed by the war it was also a time marked by great famine because of the severe lack of food resulting from several years of drought and a plague of locusts.

So when the people began to suffer hunger and deprivation, the government imposed certain restrictions and issued special bread coupons for each family by means of which every family was entitled to a specified amount of bread every day, depending on the number of members in the family, and this amount could not be exceeded.

Now, let us, dear reader, come back to that period of time and share for a while, the life of Mohammad Amin when he came up against a difficult situation and was faced with a serious problem.

In a particular quarter of Damascus there was a bakery owned by an evil man who lacked all sense of courtesy and honour, and cared little for religion either.

That autocrat used to turn up his nose at ordinary people because, being a notable descendant of a wealthy family that held a high rank in the machinery of government, he believed it gave him the right to act with impunity and do whatever he wished. So, as he was the owner of the local bakery and the entire neighbourhood needed his bread, he lost no opportunity to trade upon this fact. He was afraid of no-one because he knew that his wealthy family was always there to support him.

He thought that all those people should be at his service since bread was a staple food and something they could not go without. So, according to his conceited point of view he decided that he would give bread or withhold it to suit his own evil purpose.

His overwhelming conceit even led him to believe that he could get the girl he desired. He forgot that Al'lah possesses all people, and they are within His Control, and in His Hand. So, He does not give a free hand to the oppressor except over another oppressor, nor does He let one adulterer practise his desires except over an adulteress who is following the same wrongful course as he is. As for his finding a chaste and pure woman, she would be absolutely out of his reach because Al'lah would never allow it.

One day, he heard through the gossip of some stupid women in the neighbourhood that the daughter of a certain elderly man was the most beautiful young girl in all the quarter and that her charm was beyond compare; besides which, she was in the prime of her youth. The news reached him through the women of his family, perhaps through his mother or sister...

On hearing this that sly old fox remembered that the girl they spoke about came to his bakery every day to get the bread for her family as they had no domestic help. Her father was elderly and infirm, and her brothers were still young children. As for her mother, she had died some years before. Thus, there was no-one to go out of the house to bring the food and other things the family needed except for this particular girl.

During that age, the veil was still worn by all Muslim women. So, whenever a woman left her home, no-one could know what she looked like: whether she was beautiful or ugly, or even if she were old or young; her outward appearance was just like a black column. But since the girl had the coupons in her father's name and she had to give them to the baker in order to get her family's share of bread, the wicked baker thought that he would have no problem in recognising her. Clearly, he harboured wicked intentions in his heart.

The next morning, as usual, the girl went to the bakery after sunrise to get her family's daily allowance of bread. She stood in front of the window assigned for women and when it was her turn to be served she stretched out her hand to give the baker the book of coupons. The baker looked at it to check the name of the owner, and when he read the name of the elderly man he knew that she was the beautiful young woman of his dreams, the victim whom he intended to ravish.

He ignored her outstretched hand and did not take the book. He planned not to give her the family's bread allowance.

The girl found his behaviour very strange! She did not know why he had acted this way with her, so she stood there waiting while the other women, one after the other, were given their bread as usual until finally she was the only person left standing at the bakery window when all others had been served and left. The poor helpless woman continued to stand by the window... completely perplexed!

She did not know what the problem was! She was shy and embarrassed at his behaviour and did not know what to do. She wanted to leave, but she could not for she had to bring bread for her elderly father and little siblings who were waiting for her to have their breakfast together.

At that time, with eyes filled with deceit and evil intent the wicked baker said to her: 'I won't give you any bread unless you agree to what I want from you.'

She could not bear to think about what he had said, her pure and chaste heart had received such a terrible shock, so too overwhelmed to utter a single word she turned her back on the lascivious baker and went home as fast as her feet would take her, her honour and purity intact. She cried inwardly: 'No... no... never!'

It is true that she did not get the bread allowance for her family, but she gained a high rank with God, for He Who sees all, knew what had happened to her.

Sadly, the innocent girl and her family spent that day fighting the pangs of hunger. Early on the following morning she set off again for the bakery, to get her family's share of bread, hoping that the baker might refrain from voicing his immoral intentions. But alas! What a terrible experience it was for the young virgin girl! For that miscreant repeated his actions of the previous day and made his lustful request once again. He asked her to relinquish her virginity in return for her rightful share of bread. How dare he!

Despite her hunger, and despite her deprivation, she left the bakery quickly mentally heaping scorn on that evil beast. She felt her heart suffer great sorrow for her father and the children who would go hungry for a second day; while the strength of her spirit enabled her to rebel honourably against his immoral request. She returned home with tears in her eyes, and as soon she entered the house, her brothers and sisters rushed towards her their stomachs suffering severe spasms of hunger. But when they saw no bread in her hands they burst into tears crying: 'Oh sister! Where's the bread? Where's the bread, sister?'

She embraced them and wiped away their tears, 'Oh... dear! Oh... dear!'... she replied while she could not help but add her own tears to theirs, 'Didn't I tell you that the bakery is still not working?'

But what would she do? She could not go to the bakery in the next district as her coupons had been allocated for the bakery of her quarter only, so no other bakery could give her bread.

What was she going to do...?

On the third day, she went off to the same bakery with a broken heart. But that criminal was still determined to have his lascivious way with her. By now he was so overcome with desire for the young woman that he had become like a rapacious beast. He gave no thought to the small children who were desperately hungry. His despotic lack of human kindness was leading a poor family towards starvation and possibly death, only to fulfill his own base lusts.

Again she left the bakery with tears in her eyes and made her way home with uneven steps, swaying like a drunkard because she had been overcome by the terrible hunger that had overwhelmed her and made her seem powerless.

During those days, a kindly old man with the grey beard of age had noticed the situation that was developing day by day. He realised what the baker was up to and felt great sympathy for the state of that poor girl and her family. So he stopped her and said, 'Daughter! (for it was a customary form of address), go to the head of the police-station in our quarter and complain. He's the only man who can solve your problem and restore your rights. The police-station is opposite the bakery... go there immediately and tell him your story.'

At that time, the head of the police-station of the neighbourhood where this incident took place was our esteemed officer Mohammad Amin. The girl listened to what the old man said, so she dragged her exhausted feet towards the police-station to speak to the chief officer.

She entered the police-station veiled from top to toe by the clothes designed to protect her virtue and which fully concealed her wan and bewildered beauty which was brimful with honour. She knocked at the door of the chief's office and he answered in his usual strong voice, full of authority,

'Yes! Come in, please.'

She opened the door slowly and went in hesitantly.

She stepped inside the office with slow, wavering steps due to her extreme shyness and great desire for modesty: quite apart from her physical weakness and the fact that she was obviously on the point of collapse. The crying voices of the hungry children were still resounding in her ears, so she had to do something and Officer Sheikho was her last resort.

She approached the chief officer's desk but still she did not utter a word. It was hard for her to tell him about her problem for her tears were flowing abundantly and she was crying too much to be able to speak.

Mohammad Amin sensed that she was crying so he asked her, 'What is the matter, sister? Come on, tell me, please.'

At the sound of his kindly voice the girl cried even more! Our man realised that she must be in great distress, so he addressed her saying, 'Come on, sister! Come on, tell me! What's your problem? I'm here to help you.'

Finally she managed to blurt out a few words, 'Oh...oh... the baker... does not give me bread. Oh... oh... he wants fornication...'

At that moment, our officer fully understood the situation and instantly flew into a rage: like a whirlwind he leapt from his chair and grabbing his whip he said to himself, 'It's like that is it baker? You, despicable man! I'll show you! I'll give you what you deserve!'

He dashed out of his office, his feet barely touching the ground until he reached the bakery. The sight of his fury and extremely agitated behaviour made the people there quickly get out of his way, so he leaped over the serving counter and darted inside. It was a great shock for the baker as it had all happened so suddenly and he had no idea what to do; but when he regained his senses, he found himself being dragged out to the street by his hair and a shoulder.

And so it happened, in the middle of the street and in full view of everyone, that he quickly became humble and lowly. He could not put up any resistance under the justified lashing being dealt to him at the hands of Officer Mohammad Amin who was enforcing his need to bring about justice, and which caused him to forget his own strength.

Afterwards, back in the police-station, God's Wrath descended yet again on the baker when the honest officer, the defender of right, gave him a severe beating, and when he fell down he kicked him and trampled him underfoot. Then he began to lash him incessantly until the baker appeared as lifeless as a bloodied corpse, the blood flowing from every part of his body. Nobody would envy the terrible state the baker was in...! As for his feet, they were swollen beyond recognition because of the scourging and they too were covered with blood.

Indeed, he received a just punishment at the hands of the brave officer. He tasted the torment which the girl had suffered in her heart and the pains felt by her father and brothers. The baker had been prepared to let them die of hunger in his endeavour to exploit and tyrannise an innocent young woman!

Officer Sheikho finally stopped when he realised that he might kill the man so he ordered his soldiers to take the beast to the nearest medical centre to be given the necessary aid. And he said, 'If he dies, hellfire will be his fate; and it's a terrible destination.'

His anger did not stop there! He then stormed out of the police-station and went back to the bakery to get the bread allowance of the family for the past three days. And that was not all, for he also instructed one of the most honest and reliable policemen to bring the bread daily to the house of the young woman's family.

Thus, he enforced justice strongly and fearlessly when he stood up to the oppressive perpetrator and punished him. In fact he wiped out one of the worst types of crime and gave no thought to what the repercussions might be from that heroic deed. Nor did he stop to consider that the baker's family was wealthy and held high positions in the government. It did not even cross his mind that they would plot against him as a revenge for the baker's punishment. The overwhelming feeling of indignation which arose inside Officer Sheikho's spirit made him care only about one thing: to put justice back on to its proper course and to apply a severe penalty to the wrongdoer.

Thus, the arrogant oppressor received his punishment and was repaid for his wrongdoing and evil intentions towards that virtuous girl and her innocent young siblings. So, the severity of his injuries ensured that he remained in hospital for two months, suffering intense pains and unbearable anguish.

As for Mohammad Amin, the Turkish government, by

God's Arrangement, then sent him far away from that neighbourhood to undertake an urgent official task. As he was nowhere to be seen no-one could retaliate or take revenge for the baker's justified punishment.

Thus, God protected him from any plot that might be hatched against him.

The baker's recovery was slow and painful and the two months that he spent in hospital gave him time to stoke his anger against the officer. He could not forget how he had been degraded in front of all the people in the middle of the street with no thought given to the fact that he was noble and well-connected, and how he had been beaten in the police-station, causing terrible injury and unbearable pain which needed a long period of treatment in the hospital.

Whenever he remembered it, which was frequently throughout each day, he felt anger surge within him, so he kept trying to plot some way that might quench his thirst for revenge and help him pay the officer back twofold.

It was as if he was talking to himself, 'I don't have to give in to him. He's just a man and so am I. Anyway days are passing and surely I will regain my health and see you once again, officer; who do you think you are?... head of the police-station... that won't help you! Then, you will know who the real man is... you or I!'

He could not forget him for a single minute, whether awake or asleep, it seemed that every moment was taken up with thoughts of his degradation and what he would do to seek revenge.

This is what occupied him all during the two painful months. But something strange had happened by the time he left hospital! The baker felt that it was not only that his body had recovered from physical pain, but also that his heart had been cured of its emotional injury. He turned his thoughts inward to himself and as he examined his conscience he quickly came to understand that he, the noble born baker, was indeed an absolute criminal. The wonder is that he admitted that he had committed criminal acts towards the young woman!

How merciless he was when he behaved as he did to the girl and her family!

What dreadful punishment he was about to bring on himself from Al'lah!

At that moment he turned to God with sincere repentance. He spent long nights crying for he could not imagine to what immoral depths he had sunk. He gave thanks and praised God wholeheartedly for it was He Who had sent him that honest officer Mohammad Amin to punish him and help him to recover his senses and turn him away from his wrongdoing. He began to pray, to read the Qur'an and to treat people with heartfelt charity and respect.

He wanted to see that humane officer in order to kiss his hands, no, his feet, out of respect for the great favour he had done for him by ridding him of evil and ensuring that he returned to the right path, the path to God. He knew that our officer was the rescuer who had saved him from the Fire of the other world and the misery of this world to direct him towards the bliss and felicity of the nearness to God.

The baker thought about his repentance and our officer day after day, and month after month, until eventually many years had passed. But one day, Mohammad Amin (who had retired from his position by then) was crossing the road, when suddenly a solemn and reverent old man rushed towards him and started kissing his hand while abundant tears coursed over his bright cheeks, but Mohammad Amin pulled his hand away immediately.

That grave old gentleman had been sitting on a chair in front of the door of his house reading the Holy Qur'an after the noon prayer – which was a custom of the people of Sham [76]in the past. When he saw our officer, the memories came flooding back and he remembered him, whereas our officer had no idea who it could be.

It was the baker!

The old man raised his head, his eyes full of tears, and he looked at our man and said, 'Al'lah... Al'lah! Do not you remember me, Sir? By God, let me kiss your pure and magnanimous hands! Let me kiss your feet, for all my joys were brought about by you. I am the baker whom you beat most severely and thereby helped me turn to God in repentance and to follow the right and straight path. Your beating led me to Paradise, you compassionate disciplinarian and benefactor! May God reward you with the highest honour, you noble saviour.'

One must, therefore, show great appreciation for this kind-hearted, merciful man, who by beating someone for the Sake of God, led this same person to the Gardens of Paradise.

## A Brave Decision Saves Soldiers from Execution

It is a known fact that our officer, M. A. Sheikho held many high, official posts during the reign of the Ottoman State. Among the most notable is his appointment as director of the central prison of Damascus Castle and the head of the whole citadel including the section responsible for the arms and provisions for the Turkish army stationed in the castle.

In the meantime, World War I, which started in Europe, spread throughout much of the world, and since the Ottoman State was an ally of Germany, it too was brought into the war. The Empire sent many battalions of soldiers into the battlefields especially on the Egyptian front where the battle for the Suez Canal broke out against Great Britain. It was a time of great hardship for there was drought and crop failure, and plagues of locusts, which led to severe poverty among the people. The situation was worsened by discord among the leaders of the Turkish Empire, who failed to agree on ways to supply their front line troops with all the necessary provisions and ammunition to fight such a terrible war. As a result, through extreme hunger and dire thirst many of the soldiers had no choice but to leave their battle positions and withdraw to a place where they could find shelter, safety and food.

According to the laws in force in the state at that time, those soldiers were considered as deserters, and the punishment for fleeing during the course of military operations was death by firing squad.

While our officer was going about his usual duties of managing the affairs of the castle a column of about seventy men were led to him by the head of the party charged with guarding them and was told that these men had deserted the battlefield and had been sentenced to death by firing squad. The guard added, 'We have brought them to you for the order to be carried out at the prison as is the usual custom.'

We know that these are only about one-tenth of the deserters, as there are so many who fled that to execute them all would mean wiping out most units of the army. Therefore it was decided to carry out the punishment on just one-tenth of them as a lesson to the others in the hope that it would deter them from deserting, but it was no use.

After our officer had accepted responsibility for the deserters, according to the rules, he asked the men around him how his predecessor in this post dealt with such fugitives. He was told that a platform was put up where the predecessor would sit taking coffee and other refreshments, and relax with a narghile [77]while listening to the incessant crack of bullets as he watched the men fall dead to the ground, motionless and bloodstained.

He did this every day!

At once, our courageous officer took a brave decision but informed no-one about it. He had decided not to execute any of those soldiers though he knew full well what the consequences of such an act might be and what a high price he would have to pay. It would likely cost him his own life, but he said to himself, 'I'm just a man like any one of them, no more, no less and my life is of no greater value than theirs, so I should sacrifice my life in order to save all of them.' Then he announced that they would be executed away from the prison, but still within the citadel, and he led them to an area where he provided them with arms, ammunition and military uniforms. He then ordered them back to the battle front after he had listed them as reservist soldiers attached to the permanent army. These lists were sent to the high command with those of the other reservists normally attached to the army.

The matter of deserters did not stop there, for every day, between 60 and 70 men were brought to him to be executed. He acted with them the same way he had acted with the previous ones.

A period of about two months passed during which time the number of those he had saved reached about 4000 men who had been sentenced to death. It goes without saying that such a matter could not be kept indefinitely from the attention of the Ottoman authorities, especially given that many of them were people who envied him for his illustrious position and wished him to be removed so they could replace him.

The dumbfounding news of his deeds eventually reached the highest ranks in al-Sham State [78]and one day, while he was going about his usual tasks, the commander of the Turkish army entered his office in a state of extreme anger, which was most unusual for a man who was normally quite calm. Without offering any greeting he shouted, 'Aslan!' (This word means 'lion' in Turkish, and it was an apt title for Mohammad Amin because of his unparalleled success in bravely fulfilling all the commissions he had been charged with however difficult they might be). There was no-one to equal him among all the officers, so he had acquired the trust and appreciation of his leaders and his followers alike, and this was the reason for the well deserved epithet.

The commander continued to rant at Officer Sheikho, 'What did you do? How dare you go against the ruler's orders! During your entire military service I have stood by you against all opposition from everyone whoever he was, but now, I cannot defend you at all because if I did, it would be as though I were signing my own death warrant, and I'd be executed along with you.'

Until this moment, our officer Mohammad Amin had given no thought to preparing a plan to cover such a furious reaction, but, suddenly, he felt as if volcanoes had erupted in his chest and he flared up in anger, and answered him with unprecedented intensity. It was certainly the first time during his military career that Mohammad Amin's voice had risen above that of his commander! He shouted in a thunderous tone, 'If the unbelievers, the enemy, invaded our country and killed and disgraced us, what would you do then? You have another country... each one of you will pack your bags and go back to your own country. While we, who are in our own native land, have no place to go and will remain under the yoke of the invading forces and subjected to punishment and torture. Isn't that so, Sir...? Commander? What would our fate be then? They will surely destroy our most holy sanctuaries without any human or moral deterrent and by that we will most certainly be subjugated to degradation that you will not, as you will – at that time – pack your bags and leave for your own country, safe and sound, leaving us to face our horrible fate at the hands of the occupying forces.'

At that moment a look of utter astonishment and wonder crossed the commander's face and he answered him with overwhelming amazement, 'And what do you mean by these words?'

Officer Sheikho replied, 'I mean that until now I have returned an army of 4000 soldiers to fight and kill, or be killed. When one soldier is killed, another will take his place and kill an enemy soldier in return. This army constitutes now a striking force capable of repelling the enemy, but you and the authorities were going to have them put to death at your own hands instead of sending them back to kill the enemy. Now they're fighting Al'lah's enemy and yours... so why do you want to execute them?'

The commander replied, 'Because they deserted the battlefield.' Then he asked, 'But what do your words have to do with what I asked you about daring to release those who were going to be executed?'

Our officer, Mohammad Amin, answered, 'I repeat... those men you sent to me to be executed, about 4000 fighters until now (as an aside we add that the figure stated only covers our officer's tour of duty, so how many more might have been executed under the previous holder of the post?)... if we pardon them, equip them, and send them back to the battlefront, they will constitute an impregnable force that the infidel enemy will find almost impossible to penetrate.

'Suppose that each of those fighters kills one enemy soldier, this would eradicate an entire army of the enemy, which would cause a basic and decisive change in the course and progress of the military operations in favour of both you and us.

'Furthermore, if we enquire as to the reasons why those soldiers fled from the field of battle, we shall find that it is not due to cowardice or defeatism, but is motivated by hunger and the lack of whatever they need and deserve as they spend a long time far from their families.

'They are thrown into the thick of battle without your providing them with the food and other basic things they need. So on what grounds have they been found guilty and sentenced to death? Supply them with what they need and what is required for the progression of the war and you will see that they will more than compensate for the few slack and errant ones among them.'

Thereupon, and faced with this honest and logical reply, the commander pondered on the seriousness and rationality of Officer Sheikho's words, and he realised the truth of what he had said, then he thought to himself, 'Surely we are the ones in the wrong and what this lion of a man (Mohammad Amin) has done is really in favour of all of us.' He then asked him: 'Can you speak to the ruler as you have just spoken to me?'

Our officer, Mohammad Amin said, 'Yes... of course...why not?'

The commander said, 'Let's go to see him immediately and explain to him the shortcomings that take place without his majesty's knowledge.'

When in the presence of the ruler, he repeated what he had said to the commander. He spoke frankly and with courage, showing no sign of weakness, and explained in detail all that he had said to the commander.

When the ruler heard the figure (4000 executed) he was shocked and realised the magnitude of this crime because when that number is divided into daily figures (that is, about 60-70 men) it meant nothing for those leaders, but the total of these daily numbers added together over two months or more would produce a great, unjustified loss in their forces. At once, the ruler turned to the commander wanting to know who had issued such a destructive and foolish command.

He answered, saying, 'Djemal Pasha, Sir, the bloodletter.' Thereupon, the ruler flared up with rage and said, 'I'm the ruler here and are you telling me that the orders of Djemal Pasha are still in effect and practised in my state? With immediate effect this command is considered null and void and must never be put into practice again.'

He addressed the decree to the commander and ordered him to nullify the death penalty at once and to issue a circular to advise everyone about it. (It was well known at that time that every ruler disagreed with the politics of the preceding one and tried to belittle him especially as the previous one was Djemal Pasha, the oppressive tyrant, for whom this ruler had no love or appreciation at all.)

Our officer did not stop simply at bringing about the repeal of that unjust law but he addressed the ruler saying,

'Honourable Pasha... I would like to add that such unjust commands were not confined to the soldiers, but they were also directed at civilian citizens too, for there is a martial law under which many innocent citizens are daily sent to the gallows to be put to death by hanging even for the most trifling reasons and that is in accordance with current military law.'

The ruler asked the commander yet another question,'Who gave that order?' And he was told, yet again, that it had been Djemal Pasha.

The ruler issued a further decree that nullified all previous rules covering this situation and he charged our officer, Mohammad Amin with carrying out his wishes.

When our officer left the headquarters, he immediately took a party of security forces and set off to remove all the gallows which had been erected in most public squares in the districts of Damascus city. Thereafter all the gallows throughout al-Sham state as a whole were removed also. By this humane decree, thousands of citizens who would have died on the gallows were also spared: injustice and oppression were done away with, and no other Arab was executed up to the end of the Turkish Empire.

A nightmare of terror and injustice had predominated over the natives of al-Sham state for a period of time, where sadness overwhelmed their families, and the ghost of death hovered above their homes, and was ever present in their sight and within their hearing until our officer performed his magnificent deed and rushed to aid those who had no- one to defend or help them. He trusted in, and relied upon, the Provider of the worlds, and God supported him with a clear victory.

We must remember that all creatures are Al'lah's dependants and the one who is most beloved by Him is he who does most to help His dependents.

## A Trap Is Set for the Virtuous Officer

God said, "He Joseph] said, 'It was she that sought to seduce me'."[[79]

Many decades ago, Damascus was a worldly paradise renowned for the natural beauty of its surrounding countryside and clement weather. The River Barada, with his seven tributaries, provided water for every house in Damascus: these were built in the Arabian style around wide, shady courtyards, and the sparkling streams supplied fresh,

flowing water to all of its people and every one of its houses.

The installation for the al-Feejeh[80]spring, the drink of Prophets, had not been connected to the houses yet, so there were no domestic lavatories or bathrooms as there are now, which is the reason why the population of the city used to frequent the public bath-house from time to time.

That era was witness to great honour due to the humane, illustrious performances and sacrifices of a certain Arab officer who outshone all his peers amongst the ruling Turkish officers in the state of Sham.[80/2] This had led to his holding a matchless

level of prestige with the high commander of Sham's Armies and the other authorities; he gained too, the deep affection of his compatriots because of his unparalleled readiness to help them, and eventually his awesome reputation spread to every corner of the state of Sham.

We are talking of the officer M. A. Sheikho. He was a security officer in the government house, and the only Arab officer amongst all the Turks, since all other Arab men of rank had been exiled permanently to remote countries. As he was on his way to the al-Ward public baths, in the Saroojah market, he was intercepted by a group of people just a few metres before the bath-house. They were desperate for his help in a very serious matter and begged him saying, 'Oh Bey! Our son has been sentenced to death; this unjust judgement will be executed today. Oh Bey! We swear that he is innocent and this sentence has been passed unjustly and wrongfully against him.'

He stopped immediately to give his full attention to what they were saying in order to understand exactly the nature of their problem. After listening most carefully to what they had to say, he was convinced of the son's innocence and he said, 'If what you have told me about this is true, then your son is not responsible, and certainly not guilty!'

They replied, 'Yes, Sir! By God, everything occurred just as we have said and our son is innocent. He had nothing to do with it at all and truly he is innocent but has been charged and found guilty!'

The officer then excused himself explaining that he was about to have a bath; and removing a silver ring from his finger he gave it to them saying they should take it to the officer in charge of the castle prison and their son would be set free.

He then resumed his stroll towards the bath house, leaving them startled and bewildered. They stood looking at each other with eyes full of confusion and sadness, believing that their last hope for rescuing their poor innocent son from the noose had come to nothing. They wondered: 'Could a ring release a man condemned to death from the hangman's rope? We have never heard of such a thing before!'

They continued to stand there under a black cloud of distress and deep sadness, and after a stunned silence, the person who had guided them to the master spoke out. He was very familiar with the officer's reputation and that he was held in high esteem by members of the government, so he was inclined to believe his words. He broke the silence saying, 'Listen to me! We can do nothing ourselves and we don't have any other choice... let's do as he has advised and go immediately to the prison manager and hand him the ring... we have nothing to lose.'

With a terrible feeling of hopelessness overwhelming their hearts they fell silent again and headed for the office of the prison manager, where one of them presented him with the ring and told him their story. The manager grabbed the silver ring and scrutinised it carefully... he thought it was an odd story but was quite convinced that it belonged to Officer Sheikho. Then, he hurried to help them. He took out the lists of those who had been sentenced to death, where he found the name he was looking for and ordered the man's immediate release.

Really, the confidence that the ruling institution had in Officer Sheikho was so great, as was their affection for him, that any order issued by him carried great influence, which was clearly demonstrated with the prison manager.

Oh! A miracle had happened! It was certainly a miracle! The advice of that esteemed master had turned death into life, and replaced extreme desperation and deep sorrow with brilliant hope and incomparable happiness.

They found it incredible: they had been in the depths of despair and now they were overwhelmed with astonishment mixed with pleasure and joy. It was remarkable... beyond belief! A ring could secure the release of a person sentenced to death!

They set off to spread the story and celebrate the young man's reprieve: not only had he escaped the hangman's noose but he had been released from prison, so they celebrated by giving thanks to God and holding delightful receptions for their friends and family.

Since Damascus was a small city with a limited population the news was soon circulated in the main square, and that strange story eluded no-one, so it was repeated again and again every evening and at every gathering; it was on everybody's lips, till eventually it reached the ears of a wicked girl whose brother was a criminal serving a prison sentence.

She was exceptionally beautiful and had heard that our officer, Mohammad Amin, was able to release a man condemned to be hanged by the simple action of sending his ring to the prison manager, and without being present in person. She thought about this and secretly hatched a heinous plan. She wove her web of devilish snares and set off to carry out her scheme the next day when she went to the prison to ask for Mohammad Amin, the officer. She was accustomed to such places as she frequently went there to get her brother out and never missed an opportunity to display her hand of destruction to the Turkish officers.

In fact, our officer, Aslan,[81] held a very important position in government house, as he was highly respected by both his leaders and subordinates because of his exceptional deeds and achievements, in addition to his honesty and chastity,

and most of the Turkish officers regarded him with reverence, apart from a very few who were consumed with envy and vexed by his assuming this sensitive position at the government house.

The young woman was intent on carrying out her cunning plans so she found out the location of Aslan's place of work and set off to find it. At the government house, she asked for a meeting with Officer Mohammad Amin. One of Officer Sheikho's staff entered his office and advised him that there was a woman outside requesting a meeting with him and asked what he should do about it.

Distracted from the documents on the desk before him, Aslan replied, 'Tell her to come in.' His door was always open for everybody so that he could hear their grievances and listen to their troubles without any word of complaint or boredom from him.

With that a tall, slim, willowy girl came in dressed in black and veiled, since one would never find any unveiled woman at that time. As soon as she stood before his desk she began to talk, explaining her story to him and elaborating her lies that they were a poor and needy family, and her brother was jailed even though he was innocent, and that he was the only breadwinner for the family.

When she finished presenting her (false!) case, the officer, Mohammad Amin, pulled a docket from a shelf beside him, unfolded it on the desk and started to look for the criminal's name. A few minutes had passed when his eyes alighted on a name on one of the pages... the very name he was looking for. However he knew that this man was a hardened criminal who returned to his life of crime every time he was released from prison... only to be caught and sentenced yet again!

With that, he turned to her saying, 'But, sister,[82] your brother has committed a long list of crimes... and every time he was freed, he went back to his criminal actions. If I set him free now it will do him no good for he will inevitably revert to his delinquent nature and aggressive tendencies towards society... so how can I ask for his release... especially as the prison director is well aware of your brother's criminal history.'

With this he resumed his work, and applied himself to the papers he had been studying when the girl entered his office. She had listened to what he had to say and knew that her brother would never be released from prison by her lying as she had done; so she tried a different ploy and exposed her hands...! Our officer Aslan glanced at those white hands and found her action most odd! He looked up from his work to see what she was doing and found her lifting the veil from her face displaying eyes filled with malicious intent, and a cunning smile spreading slowly across her charming face. Was that a wink? He could scarcely believe what he saw before him... she was trying to seduce him and offering to have sex with him!

'So that's what she's up to, is it?' thought our officer. Aslan, the honest and virtuous man, gave her a look of such disdain, like that of a haughty falcon; a single glare from him was more than enough to cause horror and terror in the hearts of the most hardened criminals: men who instilled such fear that they were able to close an entire bazaar as people were so afraid of their violence and criminal actions. Nevertheless, when Aslan looked angrily at any one of these hardened criminals in this way, their bodies would tremble and their hearts would fill with awe.

So, what of this malicious harlot?

She was shocked by the look in his eyes as she had never had this reaction from any man before. On the contrary, all men had welcomed her with looks of tenderness and desire. All of a sudden she became alarmed and fear crept into her heart, especially when she saw that the honest officer had stood up behind his desk... and then... what a shock! He slapped her hard on her unveiled cheek causing her nose to bleed.

What an unexpected reaction!

Aslan, the honest officer and gentleman, did not stop there... he opened his office door (which she had cunningly closed when she entered), then he turned to her and kicked her so forcefully that she fell through the doorway and he slammed it shut behind her... with great pride and contempt!

At that moment, the aide of the virtuous Arab officer was coming upstairs; he was a Turkish officer and it so happened that he was related to the sultan: surely a man to be wary of! He soon saw her... she was, after all, a beautiful young woman who could quickly turn a man's head and captivate his heart!

He instantly became infatuated with her beauty and besotted by her wonderful charm though her face was stained with blood and she was bruised due to the hard slap on her cheek. She was dizzy and her heart was filled with horror and dismay, trying, but failing, to get up from the floor.

As for the aide, he had long been full of hidden malice in his spirit but dared not show it. He was constantly full of jealousy and rancour towards his boss, Officer Sheikho, for how was it that an officer, especially an Arab officer, who had the same rank as his, have authority and superiority over him, whereas he was his deputy and had to answer to him, having no right to give any order without Aslan's permission? Day after day envy and resentment fermented and bubbled in his heart... and surely one day it would overflow!

When he saw that beautiful yet cunning beauty thrown out of Aslan's office, blood flowing from her nose and smearing her face, far from being revolted, he admired her gracefulness and was lured by her charms. He stopped to think for a moment then he settled on a spiteful and vindictive course of action. He approached her, muttering to himself, 'Now... you're in my hands, Aslan! I've plotted so often against you and tried to destroy you, but I've always failed... and now it's my chance... surely I'll succeed this time and get rid of you, not only from Damascus, but I'll have you sent away to the place where Arab officers are deported. Yes... the time has come! I'll be appointed to your position and won't be taking orders from you any longer... Arab Officer Sheikho!'

He went closer to the girl his mouth watering as he looked at her with his eyes full of guile, intent on committing adultery. Since the two of them were equally sly, and had the same aims, she immediately discerned his intentions, so she wiped away her tears and returned his amorous glances. He approached her saying, 'Don't be afraid... stay calm... I'll help you... get up and come with me to wash your face and brush away your tears.'

Meanwhile she recounted the incident that had occurred with his boss, Officer Sheikho. In reply he told her that he would release her brother and take revenge on the officer who had treated her so badly; but she had to do exactly what he told her, as the matter needed some careful planning. Then, they decided on a time to meet when

Officer Sheikho would be leaving the government house after finishing his work for the day.

On the appointed day and at the agreed time, the Turkish officer set off on a horse-drawn wagon for the street where they had planned to meet. As he stopped beside her she climbed up and went with him towards a house that he had rented previously on behalf of Officer Sheikho, who was a first lieutenant. As Officer Sheikho was well known to the citizens, and the officer responsible for applying all regulations, there had been no need for the jealous officer to give proof of Mohammad Amin's identity, as normally would be the case. So our officer was now caught, unknowingly, in a trap.

In this same house, the bitter Turkish officer committed his unspeakable deed with that despicable harlot, and made sure to leave evidence of the crime behind them; then he instructed her how to bring a legal suit, and a formal protest against Officer Sheikho that she would have to submit to the ruler personally, not to anyone else. This sly man was well versed in uncovering crimes and showing how they can be solved by gathering evidence; in addition he knew well how to institute legal proceedings and claims since this was his speciality. Without delay the Turkish officer began to spread a malicious story among his fellow officers that a law suit had been brought against Aslan, the honest officer, for he had committed a dreadful crime.

'What do you mean? Is it true?' There was a general air of disbelief and stupefaction amongst all the other officers.

'Yes, it really happened as I've told you, and soon you will hear that he's to be prosecuted.'

Thus, the aide spread the awful, trumped up accusation until the news had infiltrated every corner and reached the ears of all who would listen. Oh! What a shocking affair! Would Aslan, that highly moral officer, do such a thing? That was the first thought to strike the minds of the majority of the officers because they all knew of his impeccable reputation.

The story did not escape the attention of Saleem Bey, Mohammad Amin's brother while our officer paid no attention to it at all. But, when Mohammad Amin returned to his house he overheard a conversation between his mother and his brother. The mother was addressing her son in a voice of utter disbelief, 'My son! Your brother could not possibly have done such a thing... not at all... never! He is certainly far above that, by Al'lah.'

Yet since Saleem Bey had seen the exquisite charm and matchless beauty of the girl, he said, 'Mother, my brother is a handsome young man, still not married, and she is a tempting and glamorous woman... '

Aslan took this conversation to heart and became deeply distressed. He felt as if the walls were closing in on him, and he could not bear to stay in the house because of the seriousness of what he had just heard. 'Even my own brother... ' he thought... 'the one who should truly know that I'm an honourable man, is deceived and has his doubts about my character! I would rather be dead and forgotten than have that happened!'

Then he thought to himself, 'I have to admit though that she is really beautiful, and I am in the prime of my youth, but I'm above committing such a forbidden act, my spirit feels revolted at the thought and my heart has escaped from it as I do from the flaming fire.' How difficult it was for that pure, untainted man to feel that even his beloved brother doubted his morality! This is the reality of the man and his ethics which is why he felt the gross injustice of the conversation he had heard at home. In fact, he had repeatedly been approached by women trying to seduce him, but he found that type of behaviour abhorrent which had led all his fellow officers to realise the extent of his pride and consummate chastity, and that he would never succumb to illicit acts.

The next day, he was unable to relax as his mind was still occupied with the grave situation that had arisen the day before. He put on his military uniform and headed for the government house where he met the commander. As usual he saluted him saying, 'Good morning, Sir!' But contrary to his usual habit, the commander failed to respond!

What a shock for Aslan for his terrible emotional pain intensified.

Extremely saddened, he thought to himself, 'Even you, Commander...! Even though you know full well how I have always avoided and abhorred every sort of forbidden deed! You... who know me and my character... and principles so well? Do you doubt me? Do you mistrust my honour and chastity? What a strange situation this is!'

He continued towards his office feeling heartbroken. He wanted the earth to open up and swallow him for the grave distress laid upon his heart when he found that all those around him did not stand up for him or even fend off the suspicions surrounding him, in spite of the honourable stance which he had previously maintained. On the contrary, they accused him on the mere say-so of a vicious girl who was a prostitute. The story spread far and wide until it reached the ears of the man who best knew Aslan for his chastity, purity and honour... the commander, his chief, who had time and again declared to all officers of every rank: 'Aslan is different from us, he is pure and honest.' And that is how he had always been regarded by all who knew him.

He found it most difficult to go to his office, but there he rested his elbows on the desk and laid his head in his hands, tears falling from his eyes... tears of purity... tears of unspoiled honour, tears of chastity and pride: he had been falsely accused and the hardest thing for an honest and pure man to bear is to have his honesty and purity defamed... to be accused wrongfully!

Whilst he was still in this desolate state he heard his commander's voice before him saying, 'Aslan! Tell me the truth... did you do it or not?' He raised his head with tears running from his innocent eyes, his heartfelt words of truth stirring the emotions and awaking the conscience as he raised his head and said, 'I've been accused but I swear that I'm innocent!' He bent again towards his desk, still shedding copious amounts of tears, while the commander said no more and stormed out of the office, his eyes sparkling with the terrible anger that had taken hold of him at his deep concern for his honest officer.

As soon as his eyes alighted on some gendarmes, he shouted out loudly, 'Come on! Summon her promptly... bring me that woman.' Soon afterwards the treacherous woman was brought before him. The commander said to her, 'Now, admit the truth and tell me the story.' She related the same tale which she had told when she was interrogated and claimed that she had asked Officer Sheikho to release her brother from prison... and in return he had asked her to have sex with him.

She claimed that Mohammad Amin was guilty of carrying out terrible and shocking deeds, and she used such defamatory words as would cause the earth to tremble and the sky to fall. The commander, however, was well aware that her words had brought shame and dishonour on the most honest and upright of his officers. He glared at her sharply while addressing her forcefully, 'I do not want to hear what you're telling me; I want to hear nothing but the truth or else you will be tied up and treated to your fair share of my lash!'

In spite of his threat she still insisted that her story was the truth and she changed nothing. So when he realised that she was persisting in her lies he ordered his men to dress her in trousers and tie her ready to be whipped. 'Lash her,' he said. 'Lash her to death if she won't admit the truth.'

Within minutes, the gendarmes began to carry out the commander's orders and started to flog her, but he was far from satisfied with the severity of the flogging so he took the scourge from them and set about whipping her with all his might, seeking revenge on behalf of the pure and honest officer, M. A. Sheikho.

Before long, she was certain that she was about to die as the commander used his full force in carrying out the punishment; the pain was agonising, so she cried out, begging him to stop, gasping through the intense pain that she would confess. 'Oh Sir! I'll confess the absolute truth... yes... I'll...!'

He released her as she began to tell the truth, giving all the details, 'By God, Sir, this officer is really honest. I offered myself to him in return for freeing my brother, yet he beat me and kicked me out of his office, with my face cut and bruised and bloodied. Truly, I did offer myself to him but he refused, even though all the officers were completely infatuated with my beauty and desired me, that is, all of them except this honest man.' She resumed telling the story in minute detail stating how the aide had rented a house in the name of Officer Sheikho.

Shortly after the commander had heard the truth from her he sent her away and called for Mohammad Amin's Turkish aide. With anger sparkling in his eyes, he said to him, 'Confess the truth.' He replied, 'Officer Aslan asked me to rent a house for him in a particular neighbourhood, which I did... and that's where he committed the deed you have heard about, and which is cited in the complaint brought against him.'

Threatening and menacing... like a predatory lion, the commandant roared at him, 'It's you, not he! The truth is out... the girl has admitted everything. I swear by God, if you keep denying and cheating I'll use a whip on you even if I have to lash you to death to make you confess the truth!' The cunning officer gazed at his commander's face and was instantly petrified with fear. He knew that there was no escape, so he confessed every last detail of the malicious plot he had hatched against Aslan the honest officer and righteous man.

Thus, Al'lah saw fit to reveal the truth in spite of the horrible scheme set up by the embittered aide. The malicious officer was stricken by the very same evil that he had tried to do to another man: his evil intentions had backfired on him. Thus the honour and purity of the honest man were displayed, and his sublimity and pride elevated with God and mankind as the news was soon widely circulated. And fortunately there still remained many ethical people who perceived that gold would remain gold whatever the circumstances and conditions surrounding it might be.

Truly! Pure spirits will always manifest themselves and display their most chaste and brightest aspects.

## Peerless Compassion Inspires a Gendarme

The quality of being humane is the most perfect and sublime attribute and is an indispensible necessity to make life fruitful and productive. It ensures prosperity and success, and the lack of it causes selfishness and a lowering of principles and manners which ultimately leads to endless failure and destructive loss. It is by loving God and feeling happiness in drawing near to His Presence: it is in loving a fellow human and soothing their loneliness, it is the heart pulsating with goodness and charity for the whole of mankind.

From the early years of his childhood and during his youth, this revered man, M. A. Sheikho, held all the attributes of real humanity in his heart and conduct. He was really and truly a man in the full sense of the word that expresses the absolute (abstract) reality of Al'lah's Aim in calling his creatures into being in order for them to attain His Satisfaction.

What extraordinary level of humaneness did this honourable man possess, even as a boy, that he was able to understand and empathise with the desperate plight of his widowed mother? Shortly after his father left this worldly life he realised, despite his tender years, that his mother could not earn money to give him the generous amounts of pocket money that his father had done. When considering this fact with his matchless and profound intuition, he decided to refuse the lavish amounts of pocket money which he was previously accustomed to receive from his father! He overcame the normal childhood wish to have plenty of pocket money, and preferred to go without for more than ten years, due to his clemency towards his mother, the poor widow; and rather than place an added burden on her he asked her for no pocket money whatsoever, not even the smallest amount: something which she found most strange!

She often felt sad for him and offered him money, despite the fact that he did all that he could to make her believe that he did not need it even though he had previously received daily pocket money far in excess of anything received by any of the children of the neighbourhood, from which he used to spend lavishly on his friends, buying them treats and giving them gifts.

Surely this is humaneness in one of its highest senses! He was just a little child in years, only seven... but displaying all the wisdom of a grown man who fully understood and sympathised with the situation and condition of his mother, the wretched widow, so that he denied himself all the usual treats and sweets that children normally like to have. This compassionate child revealed yet another side of his benevolence and understanding when, still just seven years of age, he refused to eat any foods that were costly and everything else that would have created an added financial burden for a poor family... he even refused to eat meat!

Through her concern and love for him his mother would ask, 'Oh, my dear child! What would you like me to cook today?'

Invariably he would ask for something simple but nourishing, 'An omelette please, Mummy... salad... or kushkeh  I love lentil soup too, it's delicious!' He always replied in this way telling her how much he liked food that was not expensive to buy or complicated to prepare.

'Oh my darling child... wouldn't you like some meat?' his mother would ask.

'No Mother, I don't like it any more!'

And so he remained true to his decision to help his mother in the best way he knew, and that was to make the sacrifice and deny himself many of the things he liked... for the next ten years!

At the age of seventeen he graduated as an officer from

Amber College[84] and was appointed to the position of security officer. As soon as he received his first salary he set off immediately for the market and having made a variety of purchases he went home carrying delicious foodstuffs...meat, fruits, sweets... all the tasty things that he and his mother had gone without for ten long years. And he lost no time in taking home his purchases where he asked his mother to cook the meat he had brought her.

She was astonished and said, 'But, my beloved son! I thought that you didn't like meat.' With his great sense of kindness and humanity he explained to his beloved mother that he did not like it when the price was too high for her purse, yet now it had become affordable because he had received his first salary as an officer.

Thus, he had demonstrated endless patience, the patience normally attributed to older men of great wisdom, and the true sensitivity of a superior mind and matchless human genius. Truly he had borne much deprivation for ten long years, with great patience, and achieved the highest levels of compassion. He was a real man both during difficult times and times of ease, a human being who sympathised with others, discerning their condition more than they did themselves!

Therefore how would he not be superior to all those around him and all his contemporaries? How would he not gain the love and respect of all those whose lives he touched as he went forth displaying his glorious humane conduct, treating the whole of creation with charity, friendship, mercy and compassion in their fullest sense.

A perfect example of Mohammad Amin's high level of humanity occurred when he was an officer serving in the security services of the state of al-Sham.[85] There was one particular officer who remained constantly by his side for long years, during which he experienced much of his humanity and unmatched benevolence he participated in some of his actions and witnessed his high levels of honour, purity, chastity, and compassion. This particular gendarme was so fond of his master and chief... wishing to stay by his side day and night and to carry out his every command for he felt his humaneness in the depths of his own spirit, which overwhelmed him with compassion, cordiality, tenderness and goodwill.

Due to his wholehearted love for this humane officer, Mohammad Amin, he enjoyed the most agreeable and happiest moments of his life when he was serving under this honourable leader. So if he found that his officer was tired he would stop whatever he was doing to massage his pure feet... such was his reverence for the officer that he would even have kissed his feet, though he was well aware that his master would be angry if he did, as he had been warned against it several times. However, it was meant only with the best of intentions for he was completely drawn to his master's exceptional benevolence and compassion, and he became exceedingly fond of his great and pure heart.

Once, during a lengthy battle in World War I, Mohammad Amin was extremely thirsty; within his view, there were fields of watermelons but they were clearly some distance from the front-line and unfortunately, they were beyond the enemy lines. In addition there was no drinking water as the enemy was between a spring of fresh water and the Turkish forces. The mere sight of those fruits only served to increase his thirst and his craving and he said, 'If only the enemy were not in that position we could quench our thirst with a delicious, juicy melon.' He had expressed these words merely as wishful thinking because of the heat and his raging thirst and, he did not expect them to be realised.

Several hours had passed, when to his great surprise Officer Mohammad Amin looked up to find his kindly gendarme before him carrying a large, juicy melon.

'Here you are... Sir! I hope this will quench your thirst!'

Oh! What is this great affection? What amazing inspiration had the gendarme received from his leader which had liberated him from his own self-love and egotism to become such a humane individual? It was through loving his lord, that revered man who had such empathy with all others and tried to make them happy though he might sacrifice his own comfort and even his life. For, truly, 'Man is a slave to charity.'

Indeed, that loyal gendarme placed his own life in severe danger when he decided to go behind the enemy's front lines to reach the fields where the melons were growing; then he picked one and sneaked back along the same way across the enemy's lines not caring about his own safety or life, dodging enemy fire, ending his devoted adventure only when he stood before his master and put the delicious fruit into his hands.

It was clear that all of Mohammad Amin's colleagues and peers, and all those who dealt and lived with him, held him in their hearts, feeling nothing but the greatest love and affection for him. This came about because of the peerless humanity with which he carried out his eternal glorious deeds so that he attained God's Satisfaction and sublime love, apart from the great love and satisfaction of all those who knew him.

## The Crooked Cleric

Al'lah (Glory to His Name) urged His servants to have faith and believe that there is no god but Al'lah. In the Holy Qur'an He says, "Know, therefore, that there is no god but Al'lah."[86]

But what is the essence of this faith which He says we should have?

In fact, the faith which God mentioned in His Book is not meant to be that faith which man hears about from others, or the student studies in his book or receives from his teacher, nor is it that which is transmitted to the son from his parents through legacy.

Such kind of faith is not to be desired as it is only personal opinion and blind acceptance.

The true faith is the sure knowledge that the spirit receives and a certain testimony that it attests to by itself which it then retains so that it becomes embedded within the spirit. Thus the two are never separated.

Faith is a moral thing that flows in the spirit as electricity flows through wires, water through branches and the life force in the human body. When faith rises in spirit, the spirit shines with light, knowledge and life. Whenever one sees a man characterized by virtuous attributes, good treatment of others, strong morals and the good deeds he does, know that he has true faith.

When man senses faith in the very depths of his being, then he feels at ease and his spirit becomes pleased too; equally, doubts and suspicions are cleared from his mind and all ambiguity is wiped out.

Faith is a personal form of research and testing associated with a contemplation of the universal signs. That is what our master Abraham (cpth) did. But before doing this, man should ponder on death and feel afraid of it. By that, the spirit realises the Existence of God and derives a torch of Al'lah's Light and His Supreme Attributes.

If man does not follow this way of belief, he will gloss over the matters necessary to his spirit and thereby delude it. He will depend on mere hopes and uncertainties as he will use ploys for himself and for others claiming that they conform to God's Legislation. Yet those tactics will deceive no-one but themselves and those who follow them.

The Almighty revealed the reason behind such acts when He says, "This is because they denied Our Signs and paid them no heed."[87] They failed to meditate on the universe and as a consequence they did not magnify Him, the Almighty.

No man will be on the correct and rightful path however much is shown to him in a logical and eloquent manner unless he applies his positive process of thought to all matters throughout his entire lifetime from his very beginning as a single drop of semen until the time of his death.

The Holy Qur'an tells us the state of the Israelites who resorted to duplicity for they neither followed this way of belief nor did they appreciate their Envoy, our master Moses (cpth) who told them that the Sabbath should be a day of abstention from work and for reflection. However, due to their love of the worldly life and desire for financial gain they paid no heed to his wise words. One Sabbath, when God had ensured a plentiful amount of fish swimming towards the sea shore they dug channels to let the fish swim into them and become trapped. Then, the following day, Sunday, they caught them.

In their duplicity they fooled no-one but themselves! If they had only believed that there is no god but Al'lah, they would have seen Him nearby, watching and assessing their actions, and then surely, they would have never acted in this way. God acquainted us with their clever tricks by His Saying, "Prophet Mohammad] ask them about the town [[88]by the sea: how its people broke the Sabbath when their fish surfaced for them only on that day, never on weekdays. We tested them in this way: because of their disobedience."[89] Since their spirits were evil-minded the Almighty gave them that test in order for them to cast off the malice settled within them; similarly, any man who does not acquire this belief for himself and through his own actions will surely follow in their steps.

As for those of the Israelites who set up this cunning plan, they were transformed into apes and swine, then they died after three days. This will be the fate of anyone that adopts the same lines. He will be destroyed for, by his actual deeds, his qualities will become debased and no better than those of apes, swine, and snakes (may God protect us from them).

Now here is a practical example of what we have mentioned which the undefiled man Mohammad Amin experienced one day.

A certain wealthy woman related to Mohammad Amin died, but just before her death she had charged her trustee Mohammad Amin, whose faithfulness she was sure of, to dispense a large amount of her money as alms to the poor and needy to gain grace for her pure soul that would bring her nearer to God and His Envoy.

Therefore, he decided to go to one of the clerics to request his assistance in donating the alms since he would know more about the needy families who deserved to receive this bounty.

He picked up the bag, heavy with golden liras, and headed off in search of one of the clerics to ask him to accompany him in order to apportion the money among the poor and needy people according to what he considered to be appropriate. But when the cleric held the bag of golden liras and heard how they rang out, he was so overcome that he could hardly swallow and had to make a great effort to speak. He said to Mohammad Amin with great wonder in his voice, 'Do you really want to donate all this money to the poor?'

'Yes,' replied our man, 'why not? Come on, let's go.'

Yet that unctuous hypocrite said, 'I know a way by which you can pay your money as alms, then you can get it back at the same time, and it will cost you only ten pounds. What do you say?'

Mohammad Amin was quite surprised at his words, so being cheerful and wanting to know more he asked him,

'How can this be?'

The cleric answered, 'I'll bring you a needy poor man who deserves alms, then you can give him the money saying, 'Take this money as a charitable donation for the soul of the late...' the needy man will take the money and say, 'I accept it from you, but I offer it back to you,' and in return for this, you have to give him only ten pounds[90] which will fulfill the needs of his family for many days. 'In this way', the man continued, 'you will have paid the obligatory amount of alms and you will have gained a great reward from God; but at the same time most of your money will have been returned to you.'

Our virtuous man was astonished at what he heard from the mouth of a man of religion, so he said to that deceitful man, 'Truly? But what about Him whom you try to deceive? Is He here present with us, or not? Is not His Majesty, Al'lah, everywhere, watching us and taking note of our trickery?'

The religious charlatan was shocked at Amin's reply and unable to utter a single word. So the honest man took back the bag of money as he had no faith in the cleric's honesty because of the cunning and devious plans that he had proposed. He decided to do away with his help and intended to allocate the money to needy people by himself and set about looking for the places where those people might be found. Indeed, some people pointed him towards the areas where destitute families, who were truly worthy of charity, were living and he dispensed the money by himself to the deserving people.

As we see, anyone whose sole purpose is God's Satisfaction will certainly be supported by Him, led by Him and guided by Him to the paths of good and faultless right, as He will also protect him from the cunning of wrongdoers and people of unlawful behaviour.

## The Plot to Murder an Eminent Officer

The alarm bell should be ringing... the criminals have agreed unanimously to kill our officer, M. A. Sheikho!... Will it be the end for our officer?... Or will God defend and keep him?

Stay with us, dear reader, as this exciting story unfolds! Indeed, our courageous officer dedicated his life to getting rid of criminals and cleansing the state of al-Sham[91] of them and their evil actions and inhumane deeds.

He took an oath to his Provider once he had graduated from the military faculty of Amber as an officer. He swore that he would devote no time to himself as long as deception reared its evil head and prevailed. He would dedicate everything in his power to wipe it out and to support the truth and establish justice... and he set to work to achieve exactly that.

That period was the golden time for crime and criminals, when no man felt safe after sunset unless he were in his own home.

Once he took up his position as a security officer Mohammad Amin dedicated his life to obliterating vice and criminality. He slept rarely, going to his work early in the morning and not returning until dawn the following day just to snatch a few hours of much needed sleep. Both night and day his pursuit of criminals was relentless. He broke into their hiding places, thwarted their schemes and confounded their criminal deeds, until they were beaten into submission.

Eventually there remained no more than thirty criminals who were, by then, in prison and he punished them even further when he discovered that after he had arrested them and sent them to prison they resorted to bribes and intermediaries to arrange for the court to discharge them. It was clear that they had not repented for their crimes and consequently they were still afflicted by the evil that they imposed on other people.

For example, he prepared an ambush for one of the criminals as he returned one night, drunk and disorderly. The drunkard was surprised when the soldiers pounced upon him, threw him on the ground and tied up his feet, then Officer Sheikho lashed the soles of his feet until the blood flowed, then he had him untied and said, 'Listen to me you evil-minded drunkard! Carry on drinking wine every day and you'll find me waiting to give you a warm welcome every time!' The criminal groaned and pleaded but then thought better of it: it would be a high price to pay for the pleasure of drinking too much wine. And that put an end to this man's bouts of drunkenness!

This is just one simple example of our officer's approach when dealing with such criminals.

He was remorseless... he harassed them everywhere... closed every path open to them and plunged into their dens (taverns and such like places) until they were forced to disband and crushed them so that some of them fled to Iraq, others were imprisoned, and some others repented. However, the remaining few grouped together to discuss their situation as they realised how dangerous their lives of crime had now become, and to consider what the best solution might be.

During this get-together, the criminals spoke about their past days of glory and heroism which they could no longer even dream of! 'Do you remember,' they said, 'the days when the market would close if just one of us went there, and how people got off the roads if they saw us... Ah! What days of power and glory they were! Whereas now, we just want to be safe... should we put up with this situation? We should be ashamed of ourselves... ashamed!'

They wondered how it was that one man could break up their unity, destroy their power and overcome them. 'No,' they said, 'we don't believe what's happening... we have to find a solution and decide how to tackle it by tomorrow... we'll kill him whatever the cost may be... we're so desperate that we don't care if some of us go down while getting rid of him. The most important thing is to kill him even if a few of us are killed... there's just one of him but there are a lot of us... we've got to get rid of him now so we can get back to our previous position of power whereby we're not controlled by anyone but we control whoever we want.' They eventually reached their decision at midnight after much talking and scheming.

Remember! This evil crime was being planned to murder Officer Sheikho who had established peace, justice and safety in al-Sham, the place of the Prophet's descent and the cradle of Divine messages.

That particular evening, suspecting nothing untoward, Mohammad Amin went home and went to sleep. He reasoned that safety and security had been stabilised and there was no need to be alert all night as usual, as the criminal gang had been broken down and peace prevailed.

But... there was something strange... he felt an odd feeling as if a noose was being slowly tightened around his neck.

Our officer thought to himself, 'I hope it's nothing bad...maybe there's something wrong at the headquarters... I'd better go at once to check if all is well.'

He got up from bed, put on his military uniform again and, armed with his pistol, he left for the headquarters without telling his wife who was sleeping soundly, completely unaware of his absence.

On the way, he met a sluggish drunkard staggering across the road, colliding with one wall and scraping along another, reeling right and left and about to fall, then trying to stand up, but swaying like a leaf in the wind. It was the same drunken sot that he had disciplined a few days ago, so he slapped and cuffed him a couple of times to get him to sober up enough to understand what he, Officer Sheikho, had to say to him, and in the hope that he would remember his words of advice this time.

Immediately, the officer spoke to him in a stern voice, 'I thought you had repented your past behaviour and promised me that you wouldn't go back to your old ways! Have you become a drunkard again?' Then he left him and continued on his way to the headquarters, walking fast, as he felt a sense of unease and needed to monitor the situation there.

As for the criminals, they had finished their meeting and gone out to put their plan into action at whatever cost to themselves.

Officer Sheikho, their arch enemy, was only one man against their twenty-two, so even if one or two of them were killed in the process they didn't care. One of the criminals went off to look for him and to find out whether he was at the headquarters or not. If he was there, they would all attack and surely they would manage to kill him even if some of them were killed, and the rest could go back to enjoying their old life of crime happy in the knowledge that there was no longer anyone with the tenacity and courage to pursue them.

The criminal reached the headquarters before Officer Sheikho arrived, and when he did not find him there, he returned to his gang and told them that the officer must be at home. This was good news for them, for it would be much easier to kill him in his house where he would be alone and have no police back-up.

By God's Will they rushed off in a different direction to that which Officer Sheikho had followed... and when they reached his house, they drew their weapons and all attacked it, with their evil intentions seemingly written clearly across their faces.

In the meanwhile, as mentioned before, our officer had arrived at the headquarters. The criminals launched their united attack on the house of Mohammad Amin (as they thought!) but by God's Will they got the wrong door and smashed the door of his neighbour's house instead. And while all this was going on, that drunken sot whom Amin had just disciplined, arrived on the scene... where he flared up and shouted at the gang in the loudest voice possible (keep in mind, reader, that he was quite drunk!): You dogs...! What are you doing? You fools...! And he heaped abuse upon them – because of his drunken state – so the band of criminals thought that the drunkard was, in fact, their opponent, the noble officer, so they left the door and jumped upon him. They thought, in the darkness of the night, that he was the chief officer who rarely slept at night... and that it was he who was defending his own house... and that their prey had walked straight into their hands. How wrong they were! They fired at their target... and he fell down covered in blood. They fired, and fired again, until every part of his body was riddled with bullets: his feet, legs, head and chest, and then, their pistols empty, they had quenched their thirst for revenge. They quickly turned tail and left him where he was, on the ground, dead. In their eagerness to get rid of Officer Sheikho and to make a quick get away, they had failed to notice that the man was just a drunken passer-by.

After some time, our officer went home having visited the headquarters and checked the situation there: he saw that all was secure, calm and peaceful, and the unease that he had felt earlier was now dispelled. But then he was surprised at the terrible clamour that cut through the night... people were shouting... and he was astonished to see the drunkard whom he had disciplined, lying on the ground dead and blood-stained.

Fortunately none of this hubbub or sound of shooting reached the ears of Mohammad Amin's wife because God's Wisdom had ensured that she remained asleep and in blissful ignorance of the whole affair.

In fact, Al'lah the Merciful willed that because if she had woken up and not found her husband at home, she would have guessed that he was involved in a bad situation and been extremely concerned about his safety.

But it was God's Will that saved Officer Mohammad Amin, defender of the truth and destroyer of the pillars of evil and its supporters: "You who believe! If you help Al'lah, He will help you and make you stand firm."[92]

In fact it was Al'lah who turned the criminals towards the wrong direction so that they failed in their quest... they caused Officer Sheikho no harm and He spared him their attack, for "Whenever they kindle the fire of war, Al'lah will put it out. They try to spread corruption in the land, but Al'lah does not love those who corrupt."[93]

In his spirit Mohammad Amin always addressed all criminals by saying, 'You will perish because of your rage unless you turn away from your crimes... if not... woe betide all that is evil and the people who perpetrate it.'

## Appropriate Attire for a Woman

Anyone who contemplates the state of mankind in his own era will notice a decline in the levels of morality and virtue. This situation is ascribed to their negligence of a basic obligation which God enjoined us to observe.

Many communities in the world regard the veil, as used by women in Islamic societies, as a kind of trespass upon women's freedom and an externally imposed restraint on her. But the fact is that woman's veiling is the main foundation on which a strong society is based, and in fact ensures its longevity. This is because it preserves the family which is the foundation stone for the entire structure of society. Certainly, when a family is united, with a firm relationship based on love and respect among its members, and the deep emotional ties which the husband and wife commit to during the marriage ceremony, the structure of society will be firmly established and unassailable. On the contrary, when the bonds of love between wife and husband are weakened, and discontent and estrangement replace the former loving ties, and loyalty is replaced with a breach of trust, the ensuing negative emotions will then affect the children, and which will eventually filter through to the rest of society.

The following story illustrates the path that every believer should follow, sparing no effort within the family to avoid any trouble that may lead to damaging effects on him or on his household, and employing his power of logic and thought which is a precious gift granted by Al'lah for man to employ as appropriate, in order to find solutions to any problem that may face us during our lifetime.

Now let us tell the story:

He began to feel tired and hungry and, looking at his watch, he knew the reason why.

Work was over for the day and it was time to go home. The august officer, M. A. Sheikho, stood up and began to tidy away the papers and dossiers he was studying, and then put on his military hat, straightened his clothes and left the office. It was customary for him to work many long hours in his efforts to wipe out criminality, and so he needed to have some rest to be ready to work again in the evening.

He set off in a happy frame of mind to walk towards his home where an air of tranquillity, peace and happiness normally prevailed. The distinguished officer had got married just one week before and as he turned into the lane leading to his house he saw his mother and his wife together near the house, just about to enter it. It was the first time that he had seen his wife outside the home, and when he looked at her attire he was deeply shocked!

At that time women habitually covered their faces with a black veil and wore a loose cloak to cover the entire body from head to toe whenever they left the house. Such veiling ensured that they would not be open to temptation nor would they arouse the instinctive desire of men.

This was the legal form of dress which all women adhered to in previous times. Yet with the passage of time, and the influence of fashionable trends, some changes were made to the loose outer garment, or cloak. The cloak no longer covered the entire body but, instead, the hem might end at mid-calf, leaving the lower part of the legs to be covered with dark stockings or socks. What had shocked Mohammad Amin was the fact that his wife was there before him, in the company of his mother, wearing this new style. He felt himself boiling with anger. However, he managed to control his feelings and quickly moved backwards to hide behind a wall so that they could not see him.

So the two women entered the house without knowing that he was just a few metres away. The officer continued to stand there for a while, pondering the matter; indeed, it was a matter that had truly taken him aback..! It was nothing short of a terrible shock for him. However, he showed no emotional reaction at all, rather he continued to apply a rational process of thought in his search for an appropriate solution to the problem.

This situation was potentially serious. He felt that he should not speak out to his wife about his annoyance at her style of clothing and the fact that he was against it, for this might give rise to friction between them. They were still in the first week of their marriage, and any discord which might arise during this period would likely have a negative effect on their marital bond. This would then be weakened, becoming fragile, and therefore their life together would later be filled with disagreement and contention. It would not be farfetched to imagine that they might eventually resort to divorce as the only solution for a life which had become unbearable.

To avoid these possible outcomes, which he absolutely refused to consider, the humane husband decided not to say anything to his wife about her clothes, and turned to finding a way to manage this matter. He wished to devise a plan that would help him lead her back willingly to using the style of religious clothing which veils the body completely and make her spirit purer and cleaner. In this way the wife would not feel antipathy towards her husband, nor would she be heart-broken if he upbraided her.

Taking this important point into consideration and wishing to take the correct action in this serious situation, the officer returned to his work at the government house. He went directly to his office and sat at his desk, deep in thought, as he endeavoured to find a solution to this delicate situation, once the initial wave of anger had passed and he had calmed down. With true determination, the officer sat lost in thought, determined to come up with a plan that would make his wife conform once again by wearing the proper clothing that all women should wear in public.

More than two and a half hours had passed before a scheme, that pleased God and pleased our officer too, emerged in his mind. Thereupon he stood up and left his office. With a strong will and firm resolution, the officer went to the central market of the city, accompanied by two able-bodied young boys. He first visited butchers' shops and bought large quantities of different sorts of meat: roast meat, kebab, and other choice pieces. After that he moved on to the shops that sold fruits, sweets and candies, and then to others which stocked delicious titbits, where he bought a great selection of all of them. He purchased everything that he knew to be delicious and tasty in order to please the two women in his household. The two young boys gathered up all these purchases and followed in the steps of the officer as he returned to his home.

When they arrived there, the wise master knocked at the door to announce his arrival and then opened it. He brought in the purchases and gave a big tip to the two youths who were very happy to receive it and went off in a hurry to buy treats for themselves.

The young officer entered the house with a gentle smile on his bright face. He greeted his family and invited them to have lunch together. The two women sat at the table besides their man and began to eat while listening to his gentle words and pleasant conversation. They ate their food and then enjoyed the tasty fruits, sweets, and nuts.

All during the meal the officer regaled them with funny jokes and wonderful stories to the extent that the two women were so happy that they felt themselves raised to the seventh heaven. They could not stop laughing as one amusing story followed another, and they expressed how happy and cheerful they were. They felt as though they had left this earthly existence, as though their house had turned into paradise in the company of this noble angel, and kind and merciful master. They wished that time could be stopped for, indeed, they experienced the most wonderful moments of their life as they sat there. But all good things come to an end and, the time of his evening work was fast approaching so he had to leave them. And so, the officer said goodbye to his mother and wife and then went back to his office leaving them in a state of joyful exhilaration.

A few hours later the humane master returned home once again, but by this time his mood had changed completely! Neither his wife nor his mother could have ever imagined that he might return in such a horrible state! He arrived home with a face that would make men with the stoutest hearts shake in fright. This was the face he normally reserved for meeting with criminals. Indeed he had the expression of a savage lion which no-one would dare to challenge.

He struck the door violently; and when it was opened he stormed in with his face like thunder! His wife was the first to receive the shock. She felt as if the earth had trembled under her feet and thought she might even topple over. She had her heart in her boots; so she cried to herself, 'Oh my God... what has come over him? What can be wrong?'

Her husband pushed past her without saying a word and went straight into the sitting room, stepping on the precious carpets without first taking off his dusty shoes. He had never behaved in such an ill-mannered way before! He threw himself down on to the sofa as his overwhelming wrath was displayed clearly on his features. It was all so unexpected... a bewildering shock for the women of the house! The mother stood beside the wife in the same state of astonishment, both gazing at their man with questioning eyes, lacking the courage to utter a single word to him. They dared not ask what was troubling him! Ten minutes passed and nothing changed. Absolute silence prevailed throughout the house, interrupted only by his heavy, angry breathing.

In an attempt to break the awful silence, the wife hurried to the kitchen and then returned carrying a small table bearing some food. When she presented it to her husband, his mother, who was still looking at her son with bewildered eyes, said to him, 'My lovely son! Don't you want to eat?'

The two women could have anticipated any other kind of behaviour from their man except that which took place at that moment. His reaction was so strong that he kicked the table over, causing the soup and everything else that was on it to fly to the ground. The food was mixed together and scattered over the carpet, making a dreadful mess, while his voice boomed out, 'I have no appetite!' The two women, even more anxious and terrified at this further outburst, bent down hurriedly to clean the mess from the carpet, and by now were completely astounded at what master Mohammad Amin had done. When they had finished cleaning the carpet they sat down beside each other without uttering a single word. Once again silence prevailed all over the house, and there was no sign of a movement or of a sound between them!

The situation was too difficult and confusing for the women of the house to begin to comprehend. For it conflicted totally with the joyful situation they had experienced just a few hours earlier over lunch. They still carried the picture of his earlier return when he had arrived home in such a happy frame of mind, carrying delicious sorts of food, fruits and other tasty morsels. They had not yet forgotten his jokes and interesting words, his smiles and the pleasure which flew into their hearts and engulfed them with all-consuming cheerfulness.

As for his state of mind when he came home the second time, it was completely different... he seemed to be extremely overwrought. No longer sure what to do when faced with such an unfathomable situation, the mother stood up and started towards her room to sleep. Yet this caused her to feel even further consternation and confusion when her son made no move to follow her as he was accustomed to do.

Since the first day of his marriage, Officer Mohammad Amin had the habit of going to his mother's room when it was time to sleep. He used to pretend to his mother that he had no desire to sleep in his own room for he did not like his wife! Night after night, he would relate to her a false picture of the reality of his conjugal life, 'Oh Mother, please let me stay with you, please. I don't like my wife. She doesn't smell nice. I don't want her at all. I love no-one in this life, Mama, other than you. I want to be with you always, inhaling your pleasant scent. Oh, how sweet it is!' He would not leave his mother's room unless she pushed him out forcefully. She did not agree with this behaviour of his, for it would make people talk badly about them. Being an honourable woman she believed that other people's daughters were not merely toys to be played with and then discarded.

Through such wise and canny behaviour and many other ploys that he had resorted to since the first day of his marriage, Mohammad Amin was able to convince his mother that her son was still hers, and hers alone, and that the newcomer, his wife, would never be able to steal his heart from her. And so, the normal negative emotions towards the daughter-in-law did not arise after the marriage; as a result, there was no jealousy or discord between the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law. On the contrary, a firm bond of love and familiarity developed between the two and became stronger until it was like the relationship between a mother and her very own loving daughter.

But on this topsy-turvy day he went contrary to his own habit. He did not accompany his mother to her room when she went to bed. In this way, the two women had no doubt that their man really was inflamed with anger, and thus he was able to continue his play-acting in his plan to bring about the desired result.

The mother went upstairs to sleep while the wife remained in the sitting room, trembling with fear. Her heart was beating so rapidly and so strongly that she could feel and hear its every beat. She went through a few difficult moments before she dared to utter a few words, and she eventually addressed her husband, 'My dear, don't you want to sleep?'

Without giving her an answer, the solemn officer stood up and stormed off towards their bedroom. She followed in his steps until they entered the room and she closed the door but remained standing with her back to it. Then, she dared to ask him, 'What's the matter, my dear? What's wrong with you, my husband?' At last! Finally she had asked him the question he had been eagerly waiting for since he entered the house and which would enable him to embark on the plan he had drawn up to resolve the situation.

As she uttered the last word, he shrieked like a wild animal caught in a trap, a terrible sound which resounded throughout the entire house, 'Aaaah... aah...' and then reverberated once again, 'Aaah... aaah!'

The abrupt scream unnerved his wife and caused her whole body to shiver. She felt as if her head had split in half and she was about to lose consciousness. She moved backwards, her heart filled with a strange and terrible dread because of her husband's unfathomable behaviour, and her body smashed against the door and she bounced off it.

After that horrible cry, a flood of curses and abuses flew from his mouth: 'That mean man... that rascal, who lacks any sense of honour, was about to defame me and have everyone talk about me... oh... I wish I could kill him!' Then he began to tell her about an incident that was supposed to have happened between him and his alleged friend. He said,

'While we were walking in al-Hamidiyah Market, he suddenly left me and stepped aside to talk to a woman; this woman was wearing a black cloak as was proper, but it came only to her mid-calf! He said that she was his sister! His sister! Oh... really...? What a dog! He wants to make me the talk of the town... he wants to dishonour me! People will say: "See what kind of company Officer Aslan keeps! He associates with a man whose women are not fully covered! Ha... ha... a modern veil!... ha... modern women!" ' he mocked. 'When I saw this I couldn't bear it, I felt myself boiling as if a volcano was about to erupt inside me and, so I couldn't control myself. I drew out my gun and rushed towards him intending to kill him on the spot. But alas, the coward took to his heels and people stood in my way... I didn't manage to kill him.'

Then, suddenly, another scream, every bit as piercing and horrible as the previous ones, issued from the mouth of Officer Mohammad Amin that made his wife jump with fear, while her husband added, 'Ah... ah I must kill him, I must..., and I'll definitely do it...' He kept threatening and yelling in this way until it seemed that he could no longer contain himself because of his uncontrollable anger, so he sat on the bed without ceasing his cursing and abuse, finally overcome by so much emotion so forcefully released. And so, finally, he lay down having become exhausted by his ranting and raving and pretended to go to sleep.

Eventually as his emotional storm abated his poor wife, so petrified with fear that she was scarcely able to swallow, at last managed to release herself from the position where she had stood motionless all during her husband's seemingly crazy ranting. With slow steps she walked towards her bed without mentioning a word about the story she had just been told. She lay quietly on her bed trying to sleep, but how could her mind allow her to sleep when she had been so overwhelmed by such desperate feelings of fear and terror. She could not close off her thoughts, 'Oh my God! Oh my

God! It really is a disaster! If he behaved like this with his friend just because his sister wore a modern cape, what would he do to me if he knew that I'd changed my cloak too and begun to wear the same modern one?'

These thoughts were still running through her head and sleep could not have been further from her mind when suddenly another scream issued from her husband who, as she thought, should have been deeply asleep by then and served to increase her foreboding. She could hear him shouting, 'Hold that dog... I'll kill him... my gun, where's my gun...?'

At that moment the wife was terrified of what might happen to her, to the extent that she felt as if her body had been jolted up off the bed and then plopped back down on to it. Her husband repeated the charade of crying and threatening twice during the night as he was dropping off to sleep, but then he finally surrendered to sleep through sheer exhaustion after the huge amount of energy he had exerted.

As for his wife she was too afraid to even think about trying to sleep and was deeply anxious in case he found out about her modern garment and veil. 'What would he do to me if he saw it?' she asked herself, 'Oh God, what a horrible situation! If he asked me to show him my clothes what would I say? What will happen to me?'

At last, the darkness of night began to flee and the day dawned bright and clear. Officer Mohammad Amin woke up and immediately put on his military uniform and went towards the outer door. He left the house without having breakfast or even uttering one word. He went out showing uncontrollable annoyance and slammed the door violently behind him.

His wife made sure that her husband had left the house and she immediately rushed upstairs to the room of her mother-in-law.[94] She knocked at the door and then entered the room without waiting for a reply, clearly in a state of great agitation. She related to her mother-in-law all that had happened during that terrible, endless night when her heart had been full of terror and worry. 'Oh mother, please help me... what can I do? I'm so afraid that he may get to hear about my modern clothing... I'm sure that he will kill me when he sees it. Please help me, mother. What can I do?'

The mother knew that her son was totally inflexible when it came to religious affairs, therefore touched by her fear she answered her daughter-in-law, 'Oh my dear... what I certainly know about my son is that he obeys me in everything even if it costs him his life. However, concerning religious matters he has his own ideas and beliefs and no-one is able to influence him. He is blameless in all religious concerns, so I cannot speak to him on such matters at all. What I see, my daughter, is that we have no solution except to go to the market as soon as possible to buy a new, long cape for you.'

'No... no...', the wife cried fearfully, 'I daren't go out... by God, if he sees me in the street he'll shoot me... yes, I'm sure... I am sure he'll kill me if he sees me wearing my short cloak.' She sighed, wringing her hands in despair, and continued, 'No mother, I cannot go out wearing it.'

Faced with this situation, after some discussion the mother and her daughter-in-law decided to call the family of the young wife and ask them to buy a new, long cloak for their daughter and to send it to her as fast as possible. Without any further delay, the wife hurried towards the telephone and rang her family. After she explained to them that she wanted a garment covering all of her body from head to toe, she hung up the telephone receiver and immediately brought out the short cape and got rid of it.

When Officer Mohammad Amin returned home for lunch and to take his customary rest that afternoon it seemed that he had regained his usual good humour, so everything went smoothly as if nothing untoward had happened the day before.

He was convinced that his plan had achieved the desired effect and that it would lead to the change he wanted. Actually, it was to be six months before he saw his wife by accident in the street, for at that time women rarely left the house. This time she was putting on a new, long cloak, which covered her completely from head to toe. That was exactly what he wanted her to wear: the appropriate garment which pleases God and leaves no way for the devil to put evil thoughts in her mind or in those minds of the men who might have seen her in her previous cloak.

In this way the genius master Mohammad Amin had resolved this serious problem as he had resolved so many other problems, by resorting to his innate wisdom and thought process, and asking only for God's Satisfaction: thus God was always with him and supporting him with His Aid to achieve victory.

The moral of the story

Indeed, the humane scholar M. A. Sheikho avoided telling his wife openly that he had seen her wearing a short cloak, and that he did not want her to use it again, preferring her to wear the rightful, long garment. Instead he resorted to devising a scheme and plan which had been excellently woven, whereby she would reach the correct solution herself. This way, because he had given much thought to the matter, he realised that if he had declared to his wife his dissatisfaction with her clothing, then friction and discontent might arise between them while they were still enjoying the early days of their marriage. He was careful not to allow any problem to remain unresolved between them during the first six months of their marriage.

The fact is that during the early months of marriage the marital bond turns from being a mere physical tie into a spiritual tie that lasts forever. If, during these months, the couple does not allow any discord to arise between them, the spiritual bond between both of them will grow faster and become more firmly entrenched so that it will never be affected by any weakness or dissolution. It will be strong just as God wants it to be, and the worldly life between husband and wife will take its course without any altercation, disturbance or estrangement at all. When the spiritual tie is firmly established between husband and wife through the early months of their marriage, a happy life, filled with love and cordiality, will prevail over their house and family forever and it will be impossible for any serious argument, or feelings of aversion, or desire for divorce to come between them.

But if antagonism is allowed to disturb the early stages of marital life between man and woman this would undermine the foundations of their spiritual bond and cause it to be frail and cracked, likely to collapse in the face of any disagreement of opinion or other matters. Furthermore, this may cause the marital life of the couple to be charged with hatred and disinclination towards one another, which might pave the way for the emergence of heated conflicts that will lead to no solution. In this case most couples would resort to divorce as the only solution to the unbearable life they are living together. And although divorce is a legal measure it is still abhorrent to God.

And so, for every new husband who wants to achieve a happy conjugal life and wishes to attain God's Satisfaction the teachings of the solemn, humane master M. A. Sheikho give advice on how to maintain the bonds of love and cordiality with their spouses, and not give way to any discord between them. Men have to overlook the mistakes of their wives and apply their wisdom to devise the ways to reform the behaviour of their wives, avoiding any conduct that may sow the seeds of dissension, disunity or aversion between them and their spouses.

If they can live together in peace and harmony during the first six months of their marriage, their life will be crowned with love, felicity and harmony which will last forever, and definitely this will reflect positively on the lives of their children, and indeed on the whole of society.

## Saved by the Station Cleaner

'If Divine Care escorts you, fear nothing and safely sleep.'[95]

The Almighty says, "What would Al'lah gain by your punishment if you are grateful and you believe? Al'lah is Thankful and Omniscient."[96]

This universe and all the creatures it contains are wholly in the Hands of Al'lah the Compassionate, Who directs them with kindness and sublime wisdom as He pleases. No creature can move without His Permission and by His Might (Glory to Him), and no man can oppress another except by the Almighty's Omniscience, Will and His mighty and powerful Support according to what is suitable and what is deserved. His guiding Hand (Glory to Him) is extended over the whole of creation, so the charitable human being will receive charity and the evildoer will be punished.

Mohammad al-Taghlibi was a pure, modest and good- hearted man who had known the eminent M. A. Sheikho for many years. He found him to be a man of the highest ideals and brightest light so Officer al-Taghlibi created a firm, heartfelt bond with Mohammad Amin because of their shared love of Al'lah. In fact they had first known each other long ago during their school years, then Al'lah pleased them by arranging that they work together under special circumstances during their term of duty in the security service.

Once, when they were together in the same room, Officer Mohammad Amin was asleep, but his friend, Mohammad al-Taghlibi, was still awake looking at him as he slept, and saw him as a body of great light that radiated in all directions. He had never seen such a light before and he felt a sense of serene happiness and bliss flowing into him from this luminous scene and his heart was overwhelmed. Hence, he inwardly wondered, 'What is the secret of this man? He is so close to Al'lah his Provider! What a great link he has formed with his Lord, Glory to Him!' This vision occurred repeatedly... and that is why he remained close to him and his heart became attached to him.

One day, when Mohammad Amin was still an officer in the police force, he had to travel to Istanbul [97]in a hurry to attend to certain matters and conduct some business. When his friend heard of this he came at once, obviously very cheerful, 'Oh, Sir... I've already been told that you will travel to Istanbul this week, so I'd like to go with you and have the honour of your company for I, too, have some business there. I had decided to travel next week, but when I heard that you will go this week I advanced my trip to travel with you... if you agree.'

Officer Mohammad Amin replied, 'Of course, you're welcome Mohammad.' Mohammad al-Taghlibi knew the date and time they were to set off, so on the appointed day, the esteemed officer, Mohammad Amin met his friend and they went together to the railway station in Damascus to board the train which would take them to Aleppo where they would connect to the Eastern Express train to complete their journey to Istanbul. As Mohammad Amin and his friend waited at Aleppo railway station for the departure of the Eastern Express train to Istanbul, they were spotted by the station manager. He recognised them as two august officers, so he greeted them and invited them to his office where he received them most graciously.

They gladly accepted his considerate invitation, then Mohammad Amin asked him about the time of departure of the train to Istanbul, and he replied that it would be in half an hour.

They thanked him for his kind hospitality and took their leave of him to go to the train. They boarded the specific train and sat in the last carriage in order to have some privacy and to be away from other passengers and their noise, and they started to discuss various matters relating to religious doctrine. A half an hour passed and finally the train whistled to signal its departure, then set off, its wheels turning slowly and gradually picking up speed, pulling its line of carriages behind, one after another... but, what a surprise! The train departed the station with all its coaches except the last one, which stayed right where it was... motionless! They paused in their conversation and after a moment or two of confusion realised that their coach had not moved while the rest of the train had departed with all of its coaches but one. They got down from the carriage and stood watching the rear of the train as it disappeared from sight... rather puzzled as to what had happened!

The estimable officer looked at the coach, and soon found that it had been disconnected from the other coaches intentionally; he turned and looked around and saw only one other man there, the cleaner who worked at the station. Officer Mohammad Amin headed towards him and asked,

'Excuse me, do you know who separated this coach from the others?' Knowing nothing about what had happened and its result, the man replied, 'Me... I did it, Sir!' Mohammad Amin asked him, 'Who told you to do it?' The worker answered, 'Nobody sir.'

'So, why did you do that? I mean, why did you disconnect the last carriage from the train?' Our officer was now a little perplexed.

At this point the worker seemed distracted and soon became very uneasy; he remained silent for a while then he said, 'I don't know sir... I swear by God that I don't know why I did it!' Suddenly annoyed by the worker and with anger clearly showing on his face Officer Mohammad al- Taghlibi shouted at him, 'Who told you to uncouple the carriage? Why did you do it? Why?'

But displaying his usual patience, Mohammad Amin promptly intervened calming his friend's anger and saying,

'Take it easy... Mohammad... please... be kind to the man, don't be cruel to him.'

The worker began to say to them, 'It's my fault... oh! I've made a mistake. By God no one told me to do that... believe me. I truly don't know why I did it. Oh! There is no might, no power but by Al'lah! It is Al'lah who directs everything!'

In the meantime, the station manager came out of his office and saw the two officers standing and talking to the station cleaner and he wondered why they had not left as they were supposed to do. How strange! He headed towards them to enquire about the matter, and when he understood what had happened he turned to the worker asking him, 'Who told you to do that?' The latter said,

'No-one, sir! I did it spontaneously!'

The manager said, 'But, why did you disconnect it, you stupid man?'

The worker replied, 'Believe me sir, I have no idea why.'

Hence the manager flared up in anger and went to give the worker a severe beating, all the while heaping insults upon him. Fortunately the honourable Officer Mohammad Amin stood between them preventing the manager from hurting the poor worker and calming his nervousness, then he addressed the latter saying, 'Have you ever disconnected a carriage before?'

'No, Sir, it's the first time I've done so.'

'But, how did you know what you needed to do?'

'I watched the station workers while they uncoupled the wagons, so I learnt it from them. I tried it today... and found I could do it!'

Officer Mohammad Amin said nothing for a moment concerning this odd incident, then he said, 'There is no might or power except from Al'lah (Glory to Him), therefore this was done for a predetermined reason.'

Thereupon he turned to the station manager and addressed him, 'I am asking you not to punish this worker. Would you please promise me that?'

The station manager agreed and responded to the dignified officer, then he invited him, along with his friend Officer Taghlibi, to his office as guests pending the arrival of the next train. Officer Sheikho asked him about the time of arrival of the next train and what time it was due to depart, and he was informed that it would be in five, or maximum, seven hours.

Once back in his office, he sent for lunch to be brought for them, and they were offered grilled mutton and several other appetizing dishes, and he entertained them hospitably. They all ate well and passed a pleasant few hours in general conversation.

Meanwhile, and about two hours after the Eastern Express train had departed, the up-standing officer and his friend were still being entertained by the station manager in his office, when the telegraph rang, so the manager answered and held a short conversation.

During the call, the manager's countenance changed considerably. He turned very pale and looked both annoyed and horrified at the same time. He took leave of his guests for a little while and when he was outside his office, a strange commotion sprung up in the station... there was loud noise, the voices of the station officials increased as they shouted out orders, and they started to rush back and forth. Within minutes doctors and nurses had gathered and were packing a variety of medical equipment, including, instruments, bandages and cotton, and disinfectants. Then, he promptly ordered the standby train to be ready to leave. When he returned to his office the commendable officer asked him, 'what's wrong, Sir? What has happened?'

The manager replied, 'There's been a terrible accident... the train which left two hours ago...! It's the same train that you and your friend should have been on! A huge rock fell down from a point high on the Taurus Mountains and landed on a railway bridge where the track passes through a high, mountainous area. This bridge crosses a deep valley and connects a steep slope on either side... it's situated directly after a curve in the track so the driver was unable to see the rock and apply the brakes in time to stop the train... the engine collided with the rock and the entire train overturned and plunged into the valley...! There are many injured and a great loss of life...it's too terrible for words!'

Shortly after the station manager had finished speaking the imposing officer stood up and dashed off followed by his fellow traveller Mohammad Taghlibi in search of the station cleaner. When he found him he stopped him suddenly, so that the man became terrified and assumed that after all he was to be punished for his actions.

'Yes, Sir! What do you want?' he asked.

Officer Mohammad Amin asked his friend, 'Oh, Mohammad! Do you have enough money for a round-trip to Istanbul together?'

'Of course, Sir... I have more than enough.' Officer al- Taghlibi answered.

Mohammad Amin then put his hand in his pocket and emptied it of all the money and golden majeedis [99] it contained and gave them to the worker who stood there startled, his mouth wide open in amazement.

Officer Mohammad Amin addressed him saying, 'Come, take this... it's for you.'

'No... no, Sir!' the worker replied, 'I don't want any money.'

Yet he gave in before the determination of the honourable officer, so, he accepted all the money and gold coins that he was being offered... but still overwhelmed with surprise.

At that moment, Officer Mohammad Amin asked him,'Tell me, who really did tell you to separate the last carriage from the others? Surely someone did!'

The worker insisted, 'By Al'lah, no one did, Sir.'

Officer Mohammad Amin said, 'No... no... there is One, and only One, who ordered you to do that... he is Al'lah Almighty, the Provider of all worlds!'

The noble officer greatly praised his Lord for saving and preserving both him and his friend by His Kindness and the Eye of His Care and Mercy... Glory to Him.

A few hours passed then the second train arrived at the station: the time of its departure to Istanbul was announced and soon it left Aleppo station carrying Mohammad Amin and his friend Mohammad.

When the train reached the site of the accident the driver stopped for a short while to look at the debris of the terrible accident. Officer Sheikho looked down to the bottom of the valley and saw the wreckage of the train and its coaches lying like boxes of matches in the depths of the valley. Really, it was a terrible accident!

Officer Mohammad Amin thanked God anew for their rescue from this painful accident and for His Care, Protection and Clemency towards them.

## A Great Epic Against Deprivation and Inhumanity

Through many true stories, one comes to learn how the great man, M. A. Sheikho, was able to wipe out crime and the criminals who had perpetrated it. He removed the darkness that hovered over al-Sham [100]and changed it into a place of peace and tranquillity seeking no help but that of God Almighty. Some criminals even arranged a plot to get rid of this illustrious officer and planned to murder him. Those criminals were hardened murderers who had drifted into a life of crime from a young age, and had many lives and spirits on their conscience.

On the other hand, there were men who became criminals because there was little work for them, or perhaps they were victims of circumstance, whereby their standard of living was very low and hard times befell them. And so, deprivation and poverty, lack of food, the hunger pangs of their children, and their turning to alcohol as a means to dumb their emotional pain, were the reasons they gradually slipped into a life of crime. So how should he deal with them? What would be the best approach that he could adopt so as to distinguish them from the hardened criminals and to turn them away from their iniquitous life-style and also rescue their families and children from an obscure future?

How did this great reformer convert al-Sham's night into bright days that lasted for many years?[101]

The great miracle was that Officer Mohammad Amin enrolled seventy of the lesser criminals as security guards to protect the whole country, people's homes and man's honour, and so he brought joy not only to their lives but also to their families and their fellow countrymen.

After the Ottoman Empire had turned away from the teaching of God's Book and replaced it with temporal systems and laws written by man, the fortunes of the empire took a turn for the worse. Weakness started to erode the heart of the state till it was completely overcome and the West began to call it 'the sick man'. That was the situation in the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the twentieth century. So, it is no wonder that disorder spread and corruption prevailed in different parts of Greater Syria that were subject to the rule of the empire.

Security quickly deteriorated, reassurance was confused and people suffered unenviably difficult circumstances. Furthermore, poverty and deprivation, plundering, and theft increased. The citizens felt the encroaching danger to the extent that as the sun set and darkness fell, the doors of the houses were locked and the streets soon emptied especially in the two quarters, of al-Salihiya and al-Akrad, because the vicious chaos was worse than it had ever been. Anyone foolish enough to leave his house after sunset, could blame no-one but themselves if they became a prey for brigands and thieves or a target for others with criminal tendencies. It was not unusual for them to be set about and robbed, and often killed.

In the meantime, with regard to the status quo of this dreadful situation and as a security measure, the army commandant issued an urgent order that assigned our officer Mohammad Amin as director of the al-Akrad quarter in Damascus and granted him full authority to do whatever he felt necessary to restore law and order and reassure the people. The commandant appointed him to this formidable task because he recognised his exceptional conduct and heroic feats carried out in the cause of law and order.

Our officer received the official document and soon made his way to that area. He then went to the administrative offices of the department: namely, the police-station. There, he set about formulating his ingenious plans to clean up all the criminal elements till he eventually held the reins of power firmly in his hand. He steadily and surely got rid of all signs of neglect, disorder and aggression until he achieved a real sense of security as an outcome of his consistent efforts. He felt neither tired nor drowsy and his determination never deserted him. He spent many long sleepless nights in his efforts to stamp out criminality and transgression and remove evil-doing and vice whereby he pursued the wrongdoers, arrested them, and inflicted the severest punishment. He pursued them to their mountain hideouts and attacked them in their dens as he patrolled the two mountains Qasiyun and al-Arb'een on horseback accompanied by his squads of policemen. There was barely a night that passed without he undertook planned raids on the hiding-places of the criminals high on the two mountains. The criminals' dens no longer served as their safe havens for Officer Mohammad Amin pursued them relentlessly. These villains could never have imagined that one day an officer with such superior qualities of boldness, courage and strength, would be appointed to that position. The resultant misery he brought to their lives when he pursued them to their hiding places and captured them to face their punishment changed the lives of all of them, one way or another.

The lives of the people changed too, for they could now bask in safety, for he had restored the joys of life to them and brought a smile to the faces of their children.

He often went without sleep and was constantly alert, he spent his leisure time, and would have sacrificed his soul for people to sleep, safe and sound, in their homes. However, through his relentless efforts, Officer Mohammad Amin captured many of the criminals and put them into prison: for the most part they were hardened villains who insisted on adhering to their love of crime, iniquity, plundering and robbery. Some members of the same gang ran away abroad, never to return, for fear of being arrested and humiliated. Additionally, there was a further substantial number who repented at his hands and turned towards God, and so they did not dare to let their spirits be seduced into committing any further evil action due to the punishment that they would face.

In his office, Mohammad Amin drew up lists of all previously convicted criminals and classified them under various categories; one list specified defectors who had vanished from sight; a second list held names of unrepentant culprits convicted of a long list of crimes. After finishing their terms and being released from jail these men would soon revert to their criminal ways and their evil deeds. They would be caught yet again and taken to prison for further degrading punishment. A third list contained the names of those who willingly would have returned to a life of crime but were afraid to do so because of the impact and authority of our officer. These men were watched too, but to a lesser degree.

The last list contained those who had truly repented and whose conduct was now deemed to be safe: they numbered seventy men. With such efficiency and by having full knowledge of all of the criminal elements in the quarter he was able to purge the area of all the crimes that were prevalent at the time: robbery, plundering, violence and other violations which might escalate into serious offences or even murder. Ultimately safety prevailed and the whole of his area again basked in security and tranquillity was restored to people's hearts. Again they were able to go about their daily life freely and peacefully by both day and night: go to the mosques to pray, the markets to shop and out to fields and orchards to tend the produce and enjoy the fresh air. Eventually, this great champion of the people was able to sleep at his home for a few nights of the week. Finally, he had some respite from being continuously on duty at the police-station, when it was no longer necessary for him to go out to make raids on villains who had taken refuge in the mountains.

One night, after Officer Mohammad Amin had left the police-station and arrived at his house, someone knocked at the door at two o'clock in the morning. 'Strange!' he thought, 'Who's knocking at the door so late at night?' He took up a lamp and looked out from a small window above the street door and shouted, 'Who's there?' They replied,

'Oh Sir, we're robbers.' He was astonished at what he heard. And shouted again, but louder this time 'Who is it. What do you want?'

'Oh sir, we are thieves,' they answered.

'This is strange, altogether too strange!' Mohammad Amin said to himself. He quickly went back to his room, brought out his revolver from under his pillow and loaded a bullet into the chamber of the gun. Then, going back to the door, he pulled open the street door and leaped forward prepared to attack, levelling his revolver at them. What a bizarre scene: he saw three men standing before him all calm and peaceful, but their faces looked afraid. A mule could be seen behind them with a sack on its back.

'What happened, what's the matter with you?' He asked them.

'Sir, we'll tell you about our problem, and we hope you will help us; please, we have come to you trusting in your generosity and assistance,' one of them replied, trembling.

'So... let me know what's wrong... tell me about it.' Mohammad Amin said to them.

At this, the man took heart and began to relate their story, explaining why they had come to the police director's house at such a late hour. There were three men and each of them was a father with a family to support. They had wives and little children, but they had nothing to eat. Even the bread had run out from their impoverished houses. There was no money in their pockets and no food in their kitchens. During the winter when it was bitterly cold, they had no fire-wood to warm their homes. The children cried because of their hunger, their mothers wept, and their husbands' hearts were overcome with anguish at the sorry plight of their families.

Their teeth chattered from the cold and they rubbed their hands together to try to restore some warmth till finally they could stand it no longer and each of them went out into the neighbourhood. The first man went out intending to steal at all costs even if he were caught and severely punished. He walked along the street in a state of great anger and agitation and met with the second man who had gone out for the same reason and with the same purpose in mind. Once they realised that they had the same aim they joined up. Within a few minutes, they came across the third man who had also gone out for the very same purpose because he was also suffering under similar circumstances.

On the way, the three men agreed to break into the flour mill to steal a sack of flour and divide it between them so that it might keep their families' bodies and souls together. They continued on their way towards the mill while they planned how they would carry out the break-in. Of course, this was an easy task for them because they had spent many years doing such things.

They arrived at the mill, and immediately climbed the fence. Inside, over in a corner, there was a big mule used exclusively by the mill to carry sacks of flour. One of them hurried towards it and loosened its tether, while the other two men went into a room where sacks of flour were stored. They took just a single sack and loaded it onto the back of the mule. The three men walked quietly pulling the mule towards the outside gate of the mill. In the meantime and in the darkness of the night – remember there was no electricity at that time – the guard of the mill got to his feet when he heard the faint sound of footsteps breaking the stillness of the night. Quickly he rushed out of his room shouting, 'Who's there, what are you doing?'

At that moment, one of them pointed his gun and shot a single bullet in the direction that the voice had come from: all was quiet... not a sound could be heard. I wonder! Had he hit him? Was he dead? Then they ran away, stopping only to take the donkey with them.

On the way, they soon hid in a house to divide the flour; but one of them was delayed for he had something to do... it seems he had second thoughts. While he was walking along, he remembered how he was once caught by the head of the police station. He remembered the intense pain of the whip that hit every part of his body till it bled. He recalled the bitterness of that day when the officer punished him severely for a misdemeanour he had committed. That event had taken place some time ago and nothing would make him forget the pain and humiliation that he had suffered; but the suffering of his children, because of hunger and hardship, had prompted him to steal again. But by then, it was too late to go back after what had happened at the mill. He could only imagine what he would suffer for this crime. He was quite certain that the police officer would find him and he would be arrested. Finally, he realised that he was in a very precarious position.

He caught up with the men at the house while still thinking about what might become of him if he were caught. His horror increased a thousand-fold when he thought about the severe punishment inflicted on him in the past at the hands of the chief of the police station, who was a violent man, in his view, and he did not want to face such torture again. While the other two began to divide the flour, he felt a strong shiver pass through his body and he shouted. 'Don't get me into trouble... may God keep you safe... don't bring me any problems. I don't want my share of the flour. Keep it for yourselves. Forget about me... as if I didn't see you and you didn't see me... let's all go our separate ways... keep the sack of flour for yourselves... I'm not your partner in this robbery.'

The other two men were amazed at what they heard and their hearts were overcome with fear, and so they said,

'We're in this together. Whatever happens to us, will happen to you too.' As for him, he became even more horrified, still trying to get out of the situation, until his cowardice affected all of them.

'However, what's the solution once the deed is done and it's already too late? What can we do? What should we do after we have been involved in a murder and robbery? How can we get over this problem?' they wondered.

One of them said, 'What do you think? Should we go to the director of the police station? It's true that he's hard and tough, but he's compassionate and honourable and never denies those who ask a favour of him. By God, I've heard so much about his integrity, generosity, and the great support he gives to the needy people of the neighbourhood who go to him for help. What do you say about going to him now and telling him our story, and about the desperate circumstances of our families that have forced us to go back to stealing again? I'm sure he'll help us.' They all agreed to this plan and immediately went off to the police station as they knew that he often stayed there on duty at night.

As they got closer to the police station, they began to be afraid, which worsened when they thought of his awe- inspiring appearance and grave demeanour, though they still expected that he would help them. A short distance before the police station, they stopped and one of them went off to see whether Mohammad Amin was in his office or not. After a few moments, he came back in a happy frame of mind as he had not found the officer there; he would most likely be in his house. If they had found him in the police station, he might have arrested them on the spot and sent them to prison to be punished and humiliated for the crime they had just committed. As he was at home, it was more likely that he would help them, especially if they went there seeking help and mercy. So they set off towards the officer's house dragging the mule with the flour sack behind them.

Our officer quickly understood their story and why they had arrived at his house so late at night. Officer Mohammad Amin inwardly gave thanks to Al'lah for he realised that the fruit of his efforts and hard work had not been lost on the wind and he knew that criminals were always very apprehensive about him whether he was present or absent. 'Did the warden die?' Officer Mohammad Amin asked them. 'Sir, we shot him and we think that he fell to the ground and we heard no further sound from him... we don't know anything more,' they answered with voices shaking with fear.

'I hope to God that he is alive, and I shall help you as much as I can. God forbid that he is dead... anyhow, I promise to do my best to help you.' He said after a few moments of silence.

Officer Mohammad Amin continued, 'Now take the mule and the sack of flour into the stable at my house and tomorrow morning at about ten, one of you should take the mule and the sack of flour back to the mill and tether it to a tree and leave it there.'

They said, after they regained their senses and caught their breath, 'That will be easy, Sir.'

As they were about to leave, the officer asked them to wait for a while, then he said, 'Follow me.'

As for our officer, he entered the stockroom inside the house where sacks of flour were stored, with the three men following behind; then he pointed at a sack of flour and told them to take it, 'Eat that flour which I'm giving you legally, and don't break the law by eating the flour you stole from the mill.' Their high opinion of him was justified: he was truly compassionate and generous and did not deny those who asked a favour of him. They left after he had lessened all their hardship and suffering on that difficult night.

As for Officer Mohammad Amin, he went to his room after they left, performed a short prayer, and prostrated himself before God; he gave thanks and praised Him for He had dressed him as though in a cloak of reverence that made the likes of those brutes and villains come to him for help.

In the morning when Officer Mohammad Amin reached the police station, everything had happened as expected: there was the recorded complaint from the flour mill, detailed as follows:

- One or more men broke into the mill.

- One sack of flour and one mule were stolen.

- The watchman was shot, incurring a slight flesh wound to the ankle.

Then he gave heartfelt thanks to God because the guard at the flour mill had not been killed during the incident the previous evening. At once he started to write an unofficial report because he already knew all the details as they had been related to him.

When the prosecutors returned to the mill, they found the mule tethered to the tree and the sack of flour upon its back! Soon they came back to the police station to tell the officer that they had found the mule along with the sack of flour and also told him that they had dropped the claim. Then he tore the paper into pieces and the case was closed.

The results were good and he kept his promise exactly as he had told the three men. But that event and the confession which he had heard from the three men along with the details of the hunger, poverty and deprivation that their families were suffering made him realise the reality of a painful and unchanging situation. That situation had existed when they were criminals and remained the same after they gave up their life of crime. None of the hunger and deprivation had changed for them, and the flour he had given them from his own store was like a sedative for their misery and soon it would run out, and so they inevitably returned to a life of crime due to the hunger of themselves and their families.

That incident brought the situation of seventy families to the attention of that humane officer, Mohammad Amin; they, too, had suffered the same problems of unemployment, hunger and deprivation. He spent an entire night thinking of them and wondering what he could do to help them. His monthly salary was not enough to help more than a few of them, but what about the rest? He had seventy names written down on the list before him. They were criminals, but there were three men who had repented and it was only hunger and need that had turned them back to their criminal ways. At that time after they had abandoned the criminal life at his hands, how could they ensure the food of their families and keep their children barely alive after they ate the one sack of flour? They were talked about for the reason that they were known for their bad reputations and no-one wanted to employ them as workers or let them hold a lease on any property. In addition to their notoriety, time had not been kind to them either. Because of their hard lives and difficulties in providing food and lodging for their families they were ill-kempt and their faces were worn and lined so that they had the appearance of rascals or villains. As if it was not enough that time had worn their bodies out, but they were stamped with a look of abject misery that marked them out as, murderers and thieves.

Before Officer Mohammad Amin was appointed to that district people would run away from them in fear, but then how could people be familiar with them from day to day and still be safe from them? However, that was their situation and by studying and thinking of the matter this was the conclusion that Officer Mohammad Amin had arrived at after the event happened at the mill, which Al'lah (Glory to Him) had put into his hands. Hence the question still remained: How could they make a simple, honest living to meet the needs of their families?

He thought, 'If their circumstances stayed the same, and they received no help, they must sooner or later go back to the life of crime, driven by hunger. But driven by desperation I certainly believe that their crimes would be uglier and their hatred towards society would be greater... then, what is the solution?' Officer Mohammad Amin spent a long, sleepless night imploring Al'lah to lead him to an adequate and curative solution for them. So, he must keep them on the straight path, and protect them and others from their own evil. Finally, he found the solution and said to himself, 'I get it... I get it... it is the solution by God's Leave.'

He remembered that a few days earlier he had noticed a report issued by the sultan's palace on behalf of the commander of the gendarmerie of al-Sham[102]to the effect that were recruiting a large number of security guards because of the general disorder, and the great number of crimes committed in most areas of al-Sham.

Many men were eagerly dreaming about that being appointed to that position because gendarmes, guards and officers received a high salary at that time; and later when he retired he would also receive a big pension which would ensure a life of plenty and opulence for family however large it was. Furthermore, he would have a prestigious social position. At that time, the police-man (gendarme) was held in high esteem and respected by all people because he received certain entitlements from the government and other authorities that most people did not have.

Officer Mohammad Amin proceeded straightaway to the commander-in-chief (the commander of the army) of Greater Syria and knocked at the door of his office. When he heard the words 'Come in', he entered the office and gave the customary military salute, 'Greetings, Sir.'

On seeing him the commander-in-chief gladly stood up due to the affection and appreciation he held for him. He

A Great Epic Against Deprivation and Inhumanity returned the greeting saying, 'Welcome, Aslan, and have a seat.'[103] come in'Might I ask you something, Your Excellency? But before that, please let me give you some details.' Our officer said after he sat down.

The commander said, 'Please, let me know what is on your mind.'

'God forbid... God forbid... God forbid!' Our officer said.

The commander fixed his eyes on our officer in amazement; 'This must be a matter of some importance, he thought.'

Our officer continued, earnestly and steadily, to paint a graphic picture for the commander. 'God forbid... God forbid that one day the prefect might be angry with you and dismiss you from the service for some particular reason... Of course, you would have to leave your position of authority and become a civilian again. Then you would live like any man here in Damascus and use up all your savings and any spare money collected from your previous salaries... until eventually all that you possessed had been used up. You were formerly a policeman and chief of the army, and you have no other job or profession to practise in order to earn a living and provide for your family. And, of course, you are a person of considerable social rank known to all the people in al-Sham so you could never work in any mundane job such as a blacksmith or a carpenter...

'And then it happens! Your money has run out, there's no suitable work for you and your children are crying from the griping pains of hunger and deprivation, their beautiful eyes sunken from lack of sleep. There's no more food in the house not even a morsel of bread, and you stand completely powerless watching this desperate scene and you are smitten by its harshness. What would you do then? How would you behave? Would you leave them to die?'

The commander's eyes opened wide, his nerves were stretched and he trembled in every limb, then he shouted at the top of his voice, 'Aslan, do you want me to steal?'

Our officer replied, 'Far be it from you, God forbid... but I have a strong reason for giving you this scenario.' The high commander, still flabbergasted, cried out, 'I?...

steal?... and kill?'

Then our officer continued in a forceful voice, 'Your Excellency, High Commander, seventy families are suffering this bitter and painful situation. Seventy men who are trying to provide for their families have repented and turned away from their lives of crime and now due to the dire state of the country they can't provide even a single morsel of bread: their children weep from hunger and deprivation... cold and pain, and so their fathers are obliged to steal in order to feed them. Inevitably these men become felons and we arrest them, beat them and put them in prison.'

The commander-in-chief calmed down at these words and a look of amazement appeared on his face... and he said, 'But would my salary be enough for seventy families? Of course not, Aslan! I have no way to provide sustenance for seventy families. Surely they need far more than I can provide for them.'

Our officer added saying, 'Your Excellency, High Commander, I do not ask you to give them charity from your own pocket, but you know that there is an official order published by the sultan's palace on behalf of the gendarmerie of al-Sham by which they are looking for a number of security guards and gendarmes, and I think that those seventy would be enough to fulfil that order.'

The face of the high commander was again overcome with all kinds of emotions... amazement, anger, astonishment... and he shouted, 'Are you going to deliver the souls of good human beings into the hands of mere felons?'

Our officer replied in a voice that was equally heated, 'Your Excellency, Commander-in-Chief, those are criminals for precisely the same reason that would make you steal and kill. They stole only because of necessity. But they have now repented that crooked course. You know that no sooner had I taken over the leadership of the two sectors of al-Salihiya and al-Akrad than I brought peace and stability to that area. Along with my men, I left no stone unturned in my mission to purge the district of all crime and its associated dangers. My men and I did not rest until I had achieved my aim.

'Of course, the same cannot be said of the rest of al- Sham. However, you know that these two sectors were the most violent and dangerous and the situation there was chaotic. At any rate, there would be a further guarantee because if these seventy men remained in this present state of lack and deprivation, they would have to violate the law however severe the punishment might be because their condition of poverty and starvation which would drive them to this demeanour is more severe than the punishment itself. It is lack of food; yes, they will return to their life of crime if we do not provide them with the means to earn their living...'

Our officer went on saying, 'What's more, I think that they would be the best possible security guards because, having been criminals they would know all the ins and outs of the criminal's mind and how they go about planning robberies and killings. Nothing would escape them on their watch especially once they are appointed as guards, a position that they could never have dreamed of, nor of the salary they would receive, and the retirement pension which would surely provide security for their families. Thus, on taking up that post they would do their utmost to keep it; and for fear of losing it, they would be the most courageous and the best security guards: they would never be afraid of death and would face all situations however great or small.'

During the conversation, the high commander appeared to pay full attention to the words of our officer the like of which he had never heard before in his life. It must be added that while listening to the ingenious ideas of this noble and honest man all the signs of stress and excitement had finally left him.

However, our officer continued explaining his humane ideas adding, 'Oh your Excellency, Commander-in-Chief, I expect that the following things will be achieved: First, we ensure their repentance; second, we raise their families up to a better level and good reputation and so we save them from misery and deprivation; third, we ensure safety throughout Damascus and its people. There will be no more disorder, robbery or crime after we entrust them with this job, or rather, to tell the truth, this task. What do you think?'

The high commander became confused and said, 'But you know Aslan, I have no control over this matter. It's under the authority of the prefect, do you have the way get an appointment to meet him and convince him?'

Our officer replied, 'Well, I'll speak to him; why not?'

The commander-in-chief added, with signs of astonishment and wonder on his features, 'Aslan, what do you say? Are you definitely going to talk to the prefect about their case?'

Our officer said, 'Yes, I'll do it. I shall explain thesituation to him in full, exactly as I did to you.'

At that moment, the high commander stood up abruptly, put on his military hat, adjusted his clothes and walked out of his office; saying, 'If you are prepared to speak to the prefect, then follow me; let us go to him now.' Aslan stood up immediately and set out behind the high commander. He was determined to meet the prefect and complete this humanistic and ingenious action which he had set in motion.

Meeting the prefect was not easy for he was equal in status to the president who ruled over Greater Syria that comprised: Iskenderon Province, Cilicia, al-Mussel, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan. This was the personage he was about to meet. A personage that held such an exalted position of power which commanded great reverence, and meeting him would be deadly serious. The headquarters of the prefect was in the same place as those of the commander-in-chief; that is, in the government palace.

The high commander entered the office of the prefect to tell him that our officer, by the name of Aslan, would like to meet him on a matter of extreme urgency. A few moments passed, when he came out to tell our officer that he could go in. The commander-in-chief went back into the prefect's office and Aslan followed him with firm, steady steps until he came face to face with the prefect. Aslan had the appearance of a brave lion, courage radiating across his features... as he gave a firm military salute.

The prefect said, 'Welcome... welcome to you... welcome to the lion, your excellent reputation and brilliant deeds precede you and are held in high esteem by us. Please have a seat... what do you wish to discuss?'

Our officer sat down and began saying, 'Your Excellency, the Prefect, I have an important request for you but first of all I would like to give you an example to clarify what I will be asking of you.'

The prefect said, 'Please, continue.'

Our officer said, 'God forbid... God forbid... God forbid!'

Officer Mohammad Amin continued his speech with similar words to those he had used to address the high commander. He repeated the conversation without any sign of hesitation. But he started with the words: 'God forbid...

God forbid if the Grand Vizier you... '[104] were to be angry with

At these dramatic words all the senses and emotions of the prefect were entirely focused on what our officer was saying. Then, his eyes glowed as keenly and directly as the dark eyes of a rapacious falcon as he stared straight into the eyes of Aslan as he continued to deliver his speech steadily and firmly. He asked the prefect what he thought would become of him if he became an ordinary civilian in Damascus with no salary or financial resources. Our officer asked how he would fare once he had spent all the money he had saved during his working life... and there was nothing left to provide sustenance for his family. He also reminded him how he would no longer be a statesman and politician of the highest rank. What could he do to earn his living? 'Oh your Excellency, it would be impossible for a person such as you to work in any lowly job.'

Our officer then explained the raw truth of desperate hunger: he described how the day would come when his children would weep from the pain of hunger and the harshness of their life; unable to sleep for the spasms in their bellies and not even a morsel of food in the house.

'Oh Excellency, you would see the suffering of your children with your own eyes... their pain would be your pain too... in this case, what would you do?... leave them to starve to death?'

The prefect reacted as the commander had done earlier... he became nervous, began to tremble from head to foot, and then he shouted in a thunderous voice, 'Aslan, do you want me to steal?'

Our officer replied firmly and strongly, 'Certainly not! God forbid! You misunderstand my words.'

The prefect added in his firmest voice, 'Yes I would steal... I would steal and kill.'

Then Aslan continued with logic and stupefying ingenuity that crystallised his deep humanistic feeling, 'Your Excellency, seventy families are suffering this bitter unchanging situation. The heads of seventy families are sorry for their crimes and prepared to work to provide for their children, but right now they don't have even a crust of bread and those children are crying from hunger and cold.'

A kind of confused wonder spread over the prefect's face,

'But... Aslan! Would my salary be enough for seventy families? Would it support the daily life of seventy families? Of course not, Aslan. I couldn't possibly provide for seventy families.'

How strange that his reply is exactly the same as the high commander's!

Aslan added, 'Excellency, I am not asking you to do that, but an official order has been submitted by the sultan's palace on behalf of the gendarmerie of al-Sham. They have positions for a large number of security guards. I think that the seventy men I have mentioned would be enough to fulfil that order.'

Again, the prefect's reaction was similar to that of the commander: his eyes opened wide and he shouted 'Aslan!

Are you going to trust felons and criminals with the safekeeping of human beings and their souls?'

Our officer replied, 'Excellency, those men are not criminals by nature, but because of hunger and poverty. They turned to stealing simply because they are unable to provide basic sustenance for their families. If these seventy men were to remain in this state, they would surely break the law however serious the punishment might be, because they would be motivated by hunger and not because of a wish to commit crimes. If we fail to support them, or find work for them, they will turn to crime out of necessity. What is more, I think that they would be the best possible security guards, for once they have secure jobs there will be no further disorder, robbery or crime, Your Excellency.'

After the prefect had heard these irrefutable proofs and sound logic, he shook his head, filled with admiration and appreciation for the ingenuity of Aslan. He was hearing more and more often about, this officer's work, his ideas and plans... mere criminals were to become guards! What an innovative idea! This was something which he had never seen or heard about! Those felons were the most suitable and no-one else would match their competence for this job! Needless to say, this was an amazing idea and showed great ingenuity!

But in spite of all that the prefect had heard, and despite this confession and submission of those proofs and that sound logic, he was still not fully assured that the plan could succeed; he had to be completely sure because the responsibility was his, and his alone. However, he was afraid that the reality of the matter was not in accordance with the theoretical evidence however convincing it might be. For this reason, it was his duty not to commit himself to this plan before looking into it in more depth.

The prefect asked, 'Who would ensure that those seventy men would follow the proper path and be able to save people's souls?' The prefect looked at the commander-in- chief and asked him if he would assume the responsibility for them. With no hesitation at all, the high commander replied that he accepted the responsibility because the works, achievements and the wonderful successes he had seen from our officer during his lifelong convinced him that Aslan could be trusted completely to accomplish every mission or deed. When the prefect heard the confirmation of the commander-in-chief, he said, 'I agree Aslan, you may have what you want. We shall issue our order to appoint the seventy men.'

No sooner said than done! Our officer took an application from his pocket, opened it and handed it to the Pasha. He had been so hopeful of success that he had already prepared it! The application included an order for appointing the seventy men listed individually by name to the position of security guards. The prefect took the application, read it, signed and stamped it with the official seal. It had now become an official order to be executed. The prefect added, 'Take it Aslan and use it as your authority to complete the rest of the procedures.'

Aslan thanked the prefect, and asked for permission to take his leave; he saluted the prefect and set off in a hurry, followed by the high commander who was speechless and dazed by the officer's boldness, strength and ingenious planning. As soon as they reached the stairway of the palace, Officer Mohammad Amin stopped suddenly. The high commander asked him, 'What is the matter with you, Aslan?'

Our officer replied, 'I forgot a very important thing and I must go back at once to speak to the Pasha.' The commander-in-chief soon turned around and rushed back to the office of the prefect and asked for permission to be brought again into his presence. The prefect smiled, and seemed quite bemused – a few moments ago he had seemed to say, 'You (Aslan) turned us into thieves and criminals and now what will you make of us?' – and said, 'What is the matter, Aslan?'

Our officer replied, 'Your Excellency, those men are not criminals by nature but because of deprivation. Because they committed crimes they are now wanted men as they have been convicted of various crimes. Even though they are appointed to an official position, they will be arrested, brought to trial and convicted. For this reason, would you kindly add an article of general amnesty for these men. This should include all their previous convictions Excellency... so that they do not encounter any problems after their appointment.'

The prefect agreed and added an extra article of general amnesty including all their previous convictions and stamped it with the official seal. Again our officer thanked the prefect for his cooperation and asked him for permission to leave, saluted him and left with an air of great victory surrounding him..

Officer Mohammad Amin sent for the seventy men telling them to gather at a specific time that afternoon in the square of al-Juma market near the Sheikh Muhyiddin Mosque. They were all there waiting for him at the appointed time. Our officer arrived and began to give them the details of the plan and then read out to them the official order for their appointment. He made sure to point out that the amnesty order included all their previous crimes and had been signed and sealed by the prefect himself and now it was to be executed.

They were stupefied on hearing this news which would save them from the humility of want and disgrace and turn their lives into ones of affluence, happiness and plenty which they could never have dreamt of in their entire life. Their hearts were instantly overwhelmed with joy and their happiness was tangible: they all began to speak at once, almost unable to believe their good fortune, but celebrating anyway. They threw their hats and headbands into the air... and leapt up to begin frenzied dancing... Could they believe what they had heard? Was it true? Was it reasonable? In one strike they would be saved from all the complications of life. Even their previous convictions were included in the amnesty. They were about to get official positions which no one could have ever dreamt of. They would certainly be loyal guards, they would become respected and adorned with reverence and known for their steadiness by all people. Hunger and deprivation would be things of the past and their children would now be able to live safely and peacefully, and become respected by their neighbours. Finally, they would have every reason to receive all their rights in society.

While the seventy men were celebrating with unbridled merriment and the sound of their laughter filled the place, the voice of our officer rumbled above the hubbub saying,

'Listen men... Listen!' The clamour died away immediately and the men stood motionless on the spot, looking at him with awe and appreciation. His voice rumbled again, saying, 'Listen to me well: you will be responsible for protecting the souls of people that will be entrusted to your hands; and I must tell you that this will never come to pass unless you all perform your prayers. If you do not persevere in your communication with God, you will neither be appointed to these positions nor get your amnesty; do you understand? In the past you have committed atrocities and crimes which prevented you from praying and standing in God's Presence, but now you have repented these transgressions. So if you do not perform the daily prayers, how could I deliver the souls of people into your safe keeping? How could humanity be entrusted to your hands for you to keep them safe and protect them from all evil?'

Then, their voices resounded in unison saying, 'We promise you that we will pray... Yes, Sir we will definitely perform our prayers.' Our officer said, 'Then we will all gather today at the evening prayer in the mosque. Soon you should go to your homes, have a bath and wear clean clothes as far as possible, and then you must be at the mosque on time... understood?' They all replied, 'Oh Sir, we're all ready; we understand.' Sheikh Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi Mosque is well-known in all the cities of the state of al-Sham At that time, al-sheikh Amin Kharbutli was the preacher and imam of this well known mosque. He used to recite a daily religious lesson to his murids[105]between sunset prayer and evening prayer. On that particular day, while they were listening to the lesson after sunset prayer sitting around al-sheikh Amin Kharbutli, he noticed that the four doors of the mosque were crowded with men whose features and appearance indicated that they had a deep connection to the shady world of crime... between five and seven men trailed through each door, and were soon followed by seven more... and so on. Of course the sheikh was sitting at the pulpit with his face to the north, facing the four doors of the mosque, whereas his pupils were crowded round him their faces pointing to the south and looking at him attentively.

When the sheikh saw those men, he was shocked and filled with horror at their criminal appearance especially as he recogised and knew some of them. He was overcome at the scene unfolding before him, to the extent that he was struck dumb, he was unable to move and remained in that position, his eyes fixed on the doors and the men passing through them.

A terrible feeling of dread overwhelmed the sheikh and

he became afraid for the safety of his pupils around him for he was certain that they would be killed at the hands of those villains... surely those felons would attack his group and steal all the fine carpets of the mosque and the expensive pieces of furniture. These were the initial thoughts that passed through his mind from the very first moment he saw them. He was in an unenviably strange situation... his tongue was silenced, his eyes were fixed on the doors and he appeared to be overcome by such terrible fear that his mouth stayed open and fixed, unable to speak except to make an occasional sound.

His pupils witnessed his strange behaviour, but they could not see what was happening behind them. However, the predicament of their sheikh amazed them, for they were not aware of the reason: what was the matter with him? Had he had a seizure or could he see something behind them? They wondered what was happening. And so everyone turned around to see what was going on, and they, too, seemed to become fixed in that position, but with their necks twisted backward and overcome with shock as their sheikh had been. They were afraid to take their eyes off the men coming in for they were certain that they would soon be killed.

One question crossed the minds of all who saw what had happened at the inside doors of the mosque: What could bring those men into the mosque? They instilled fear wherever they went and if just one of those felons came into any street of a market, people would soon leave and run off in all directions. So what was about to happen with so many of them in one place? Were they about to attack the place? There could be no other reason for them to enter the mosque except theft and violence..

The sheikh was still in a shocked, miserable state when our beloved officer Mohammad Amin came in from behind that numerous crowed of horrible men whose ugly shapes matched their ugly past. At that moment, al-sheikh al- Kharbutli caught his breath and his soul was revived: he had caught sight of our officer and felt safe and reassured. He stood up at once and asked Officer Mohammad Amin,

'My son, what is the matter with those aggressive criminals? Why have these dreadful men entered our mosque?'

Officer Mohammad Amin replied, 'They have repented their life of crime.'

The sheikh was overcome with surprise and wonder and he said, 'My son, what are you saying? These are repentants? If Satan ever has the chance to repent, these men may then repent too... by God, even if the Prophet Mohammad (cpth) were to come here, they would not repent.'

Our officer said, 'I'll say it again. These men are true repentants and have attended the mosque in order to perform the evening prayer behind you.'

When the sheikh called for the prayer, they ranged themselves behind him and some of them had to copy him because they did not know even the formal movements of prayer: they looked right and left, and once they stared in wonder at the others who were praying, and sometimes some of them looked in surprise at the line of feet and noticed how they were upright throughout one line. They continued to observe all that was happening around them until the imam started the prayer with the statement 'Al'lah is Greater'. They began to imitate him in the prayers and that was possibly the first time that some of them had entered a mosque for tens of years. The only occasion they might have entered a mosque would be when little children were present.

And so, that prayer was one of the great, eternal achievements of Officer Mohammad Amin because it was the key to great good and a path to the Afterlife for seventy human beings and their families. He took them in hand and helped them to give up the life of sin and disobedience and begin again with a pure and honest life. This was the first great step.

For many years they had been disobedient criminals and aggressive, insolent thieves... now they had repented and were ready to perform their prayers at all the appointed times. In the past no-one had been able to control any one of them. No-one could affect their hearts nor turn them away from their frequent acts of violence however much they tried. And now, they had repented their previous life of crime and were thanking their Provider because of the supreme efforts of our great humane man, and there they were together performing prayer in a group at the mosque.

The prayer had finished and our officer went out to the courtyard of the mosque followed by the seventy men who stood around him in the yard which was covered with a beautiful layer of sparkling white snow. Then, he told them about the time and place of their next meeting the following morning where they would be given details of the training course they were to go on. This was for them to learn the principles and laws applicable to their new positions as security guards. They also would receive the essential instructions and basic guidelines of the job, and after that would follow the security training and finally they would receive their military uniforms and weapons.

Our officer then reminded them that it was of vital importance to attend every prayer in the mosque. He strongly urged them to perform their prayers even though some of them had already understood this when they tasted the bliss of prayer after their hearts opened to real life and happiness from Al'lah. They needed no further encouragement as they, themselves, persisted in their prayer and never wasted it. Furthermore, from that time on they maintained their obedience to all that had been asked of them and abandoned all forbidden actions.

As soon as they finished their training course, they received their arms and were posted to every quarter and street throughout Damascus. Eventually, small guard posts were built for their guard duties and they became brave and loyal guards. As a result disorder, robberies and crime had been wiped out and safety and peace spread throughout the city. If a woman went out at midnight carrying a large basket of gold, nobody would dare to touch her and she was able to walk safely and peacefully at any time, day or night.

This wise and merciful man, M. A. Sheikho, brought security and justice to Damascus after it had been full of injustice and tyranny. As for the actual situation of the seventy families, there was a radical change that was beyond their imagination. How wretched and miserable they had been! The torment they had suffered was beyond one's imagination! They suffered from cold, hunger, and used to eat stolen food and wear stolen clothes. As for their children, they lived with fathers who were felons and thieves... without the wonderful opportunity given to their fathers by the illustrious officer, Mohammad Amin, and the fathers' true repentance their destinies would also have been to follow their footsteps towards a life of crime.

And now, the present had changed and so had the future as their fathers had become loyal guards receiving a high salary which had changed their lives completely. They had gone from poverty to relative riches which was sufficient for all of them to lead a life of plenty and tranquillity. Apart from all other benefits they had reached a respectable social rank which they would participate in from that time on, as government officials merited great esteem at that time.

Thereafter, Damascus lived through a golden era, safely and securely, when there was little or no crime or danger for many decades.

This is the account of the great epic against correction, misery and anti-humanism that our humane officer M. A. Sheikho undertook with his great traits of benevolence and compassion.

It is the eternal career and those are the unique humanistic deeds. God said, "And let those who have aspirations emulate him and strive for this."[106]

# Par Four

## Killing a Cat Is Not a Joke

During the Turkish reign over the country, a certain pasha sat with a large group of notables who were gathered around listening attentively to him narrating the events of an incident that had taken place the previous day. He said, 'Gentlemen... yesterday I was incandescent with rage... do you know why? I put a pigeon on the roof of my house, and I took care of it not for one or two days, but for many months. I went up to check on it every day, and to feast my eyes on its beauty... it captivated my heart with its rapid little steps as it paraded right and left... to the extent that I became very attached to it. But, unfortunately, a sly cat came to our home yesterday and ate it. I caught it in the very act... ha... ha... ha...' he laughed, 'and I took a terrible revenge on it.

'This eased my anger... so do you know what I did? Ha... ha... ha,' he laughed again... 'I caught it and tied a rope around its neck... then... do you know what? Ha... ha... I hanged it from a tree in the garden and killed it!'

Thereupon all the guests laughed and started to make silly comments. Mohammad Amin was listening to this talk with great sadness and there was a look of grave concern in his eyes. His strong voice interrupted the pasha's wisecracks saying: 'Oh Pasha... Oh honourable Pasha... do you know that the cat you killed is a spirit... a living being, a creature with a soul... sensations... it feels... it suffers pain... and you killed it, you killed a spirit willfully by doing such a thing. When it ate your pigeon it was a normal action for a cat... for this is a universal law... and all breeders take precautions against such things happening and put their pigeons out of the reach of cats. Hunting is natural for cats... this is how they find food for themselves... they are naturally disposed to hunt birds and mice that are nearing the end of their lives.

'So you committed an offence, and you must repent and pay a penance as a proof of your true repentance and then Al'lah will accept it and wipe out the punishment you deserve, otherwise... I'm afraid that one day you may be subjected – God forbid – to the same fate as that cat, according to the proverb, "As you sow, so will you reap"; and what I'm telling you is very serious... believe me...!'

The pasha heard those sad, moving words and was momentarily affected by them so that he felt a sudden surge of fear in his very soul. He swallowed hard and shifted on his seat then he said, 'Aslan If what you say is correct...remember that I am not to be executed by hanging, but by firing squad... for I'm a member of the military, and according to the law – as you know – military men are executed by firing squad and not by hanging.'

Mohammad Amin, the officer, replied, 'But honourable Pasha... Al'lah's Justice is operative throughout this entire worldly existence; His Hand controls all creatures and His Rule is superior to all other rule.'

The commander thought about this for a moment then burst into laughter '... Ha... ha... ha...' and then said, while twiddling his moustache, 'My dear Aslan... you have exaggerated the whole incident so much and you've given the matter far too much importance. This cat is subject to our service and is ours to do with as we like, and what you have said – oh Aslan – does not happen and will never do so... ha... ha...!'The pasha laughed and all the guests laughed with him, turning the matter into a joke.

He had made fun of Al'lah's Law which is above all the laws of mankind. And that is no laughing matter!

It was not long before the gathering was adjourned and the notables left. Our officer went out feeling sad and sorry for the pasha's insensitivity to his admonition... that is, Al'lah's Warning to him. From the pasha's words it was clear that he had no intention of turning to Al'lah in repentance and would surely be chastised, a matter which saddened this humane officer, Mohammad Amin, as he liked the pasha.

Time passed by, day by day, and the Turkish Empire eventually came to its end. One day, the Turkish president, Mustafa Ataturk, issued an order (a firman) [109]which forbade the wearing of the red tarboosh, [110]and whoever broke the order had only himself to blame. It was indeed a very strange law and a most severe punishment would be imposed on those who broke it. All people observed it carefully and no man dared to wear the tarboosh however much he wanted to wear this style which was a prevalent fashion at the time.

But the pasha we are talking about continued to wear the tarboosh in a most arrogant way for no one could enforce any judgement against him, and no-one dared to even mention it to him as he was the mayor: he thought himself above the law and it was he who executed sentences against people when he became, during the rule of Mustafa Ataturk, the mayor of Istanbul.

One evening, when he was walking along a street in Istanbul – near the residence of the president of the Turkish state who had issued the order – he had the audacity to wear the tarboosh proudly, fully confident that no-one would dare to utter a single word against him as he was the mayor of Istanbul, and he and the president were old friends: in any case, he mistakenly thought, the law was followed only by the lower members of the hierarchy.

At that very moment, by the Will of Al'lah and His good Steering, the Turkish president was just coming out of a public building located on the same street, escorted by a great number of gendarmes surrounding him. He came out reeling right and left, giving orders this side and that in a shaky, slurred voice.

Surely he was drunk... yet even in his intoxicated state he managed to look along the street and spotted a man in the distance walking towards him and wearing a tarboosh. The president stopped at once and scrutinised him, then as a look of extreme anger appeared on his face he burst out angrily: 'Who is that despicable man who dares to break my order? Here? In the capital city? Execute him... now... at once... execute him here!'

The policemen escorting the president grabbed the man and how terrible his fate would be... the pasha's sentence was to be swift and sure! One minute the mayor was walking proudly along the street full of confidence and... suddenly... a number of policemen rushed to arrest him! They actually arrested the honourable governor! This was something he had never expected... but his greatest terror was wondering what sentence they were going to carry out against him!

They apprehended him and cared not one iota about his objections or who he was, and they tied him up while he was still shouting: 'Leave me... let go of me... you cowards... don't you know who I am? Leave me... I'm... I'm... the mayor...!'

But they paid no attention to his words at all (as the order had been issued strictly and in anger by the great president, the ruler of the whole country), and they did not dare to delay in carrying it out. One of them rushed off and soon returned with a rope in his hand. They looped it around his neck and hanged him unceremoniously from the nearest tree at the side of the street.

The noose tightened and cut off his words and copious tears poured forth and ran down his face... maybe his last thoughts were of the cat he had killed so cruelly, and the words of the kind officer 'Aslan'. He remembered, too late, his advice to repent to God and pay a penance, and how he had received the matter by laughing and joking, summarily dismissing the well-intentioned advice.

If only he had turned to his Provider in repentance and asked for his forgiveness! If only he had treated the advice seriously and not as a joke!

Within moments his face had turned a dark shade of blue as oxygen could no longer reach his lungs, his eyes had popped out, and foam frothed from his mouth... then he breathed his last... and died.

When the president sobered up, he looked at the hanged man, and realised, suddenly, that he knew him and thought: 'Oh... how terrible... he is...' and his thoughts tailed off as he realised what he had done in his drunken state. He then became extremely repentant and said with deep sorrow and regret: 'Oh what have I done? I wish I hadn't done it... ah... ah... if only I had stopped to think... I have killed my friend with my own hands.'

But what use are these words? What good will they do?

Will they bring the man back to life again? The die is cast and the wine had played its part!

In fact, the real Protagonist here is Al'lah, the Almighty, for it is His Hand that controls everything, and decides which one is paid in full and harvests the fruits of his own deeds, for Al'lah never oppresses people who do not deserve it.

All the officers who were present at the discussion between the pasha and Mohammad Amin concerning the hanged cat eventually heard of this strange occurrence, and they learnt a great lesson from it and knew for certain that Al'lah's Law and Rule supercede all other law and rule.

The rule of justice is operative among people; This worldly life is not an abode of settlement.

## Brilliant Tactics

This is the account of a certain situation in which Mohammad Amin undertook a particular course of action, out of his love for God, those who worship Him, and, indeed, all of mankind.

He experienced this incident when his brother, General Saleem Bey, went through some financial difficulties after he was wounded in battle and confined to his bed for many months.

So he asked Mohammad Amin to collect his accumulated salary by impersonating him and to use his, Saleem's, military identity card in order to simplify the matter.

Mohammad Amin was only too happy to help his brother through this difficult period but something quite unexpected happened!

After the end of World War I, the countries allied against Germany incited Greece to attack Turkey which was Germany's ally, and the bitter enemy of the Western allies. Those countries supported Greece by supplying arms and ammunition with the aim that Greece would bring down Turkey. Previously Greece was considered as one of the possessions of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, and Turkey was taken aback by this unanticipated attack.

General Saleem Bey, Mohammad Amin's brother, was the commander appointed to one of the forward Turkish military divisions in the vanguard of the Turkish Army. He fought valiantly, gained ground, and defended his position strongly. Unfortunately, however, he lost many men and his squad was almost destroyed, yet he managed to maintain his position before the enemy. He stayed the course though he was exposed to death several times, and even after he was wounded on the battle field, he still showed unmatched endurance, and his outstanding efforts surely helped to save Turkey from certain defeat as he fought off the first attack. In spite of all of that he was up against, he held the line until the Turkish backup forces arrived and pushed large columns of soldiers forwards into battle after he had halted the enemy's advance.

The fresh, advancing Turkish reinforcements forced the Greek Army to withdraw in defeat. If it were not for his steadfastness and stubborn resistance, the outcome of this battle might well have ended differently and history would have a different story to tell: the Greeks may well have entered Turkey and occupied the capital city.

With his outstanding bravery in battle General Saleem led his men to a great victory that raised Turkey's esteem in the eyes of the rest of the world and saved the last spark of its prestige amongst other countries after the collapse of its empire.

However, his courageous stance came at a high price to him personally: after this arduous 'do or die' battle, he had to spend six months of sick leave at home because of his injuries sustained during the war.

During this time Mohammad Amin was visiting his brother, the General, in Turkey. On one occasion Saleem Bey asked him if he would be so kind as to collect his salary. Saleem explained that there was an accrued amount which he needed as he was in debt, and gave his brother his identity card to facilitate the process.

Mohammad Amin went to collect Saleem's salary using his brother's military identity card and became involved in a very difficult situation, which was potentially dangerous as he was taken aback by the guard who addressed him saying: 'General Saleem Bey! Welcome!' All of a sudden, two doors were flung wide open in front of him and he was told that the sultan wanted to talk to him!

All at once he found himself standing face to face with the sultan whose very appearance was enough to put fear into the hearts of all those who saw him because of his grandeur and grave character, not to mention the fearful aspect of his impressive moustache!

How could he, Mohammad Amin, face him in a military capacity, pretending to be his brother the high ranking

General Saleem Bey, commander of a division of the Turkish army that had defeated the enemy? His position had suddenly become complicated!

Since the grand sultan was the actual ruler of the Turkish empire, our officer understood the potential seriousness of the situation, and knew full well that his position was not in the least bit simple: the grand sultan had assumed it was the indomitable commander himself, coming to collect his salary, as he, the sultan, had previously commanded the army's accountants to inform him when General Saleem came for it.

But with his usual alacrity and clarity of thought that had helped him through many a difficult situation, he instantly formulated a plan: he dashed towards the grand sultan, saluted him in military fashion, and gave his brother's name and military rank. To all intents and purposes he was now the general and commander who had saved the Turkish State!

Such a strong and positive introduction astonished the sultan and filled him with admiration, as (by our officer's quickness of intellect and appropriate behaviour) he did not have the slightest reason to believe that the man before him was impersonating General Saleem Bey.

There, the grand sultan said to him: 'You, my son, have given Turkey an overwhelming triumph and achieved a great honour for this country. Now, I want you to tell me all about the heroic battle you fought against the enemy.'

The major problem that arose here was that our officer had not yet heard any of the details from his brother, the general, and so he was now faced with an increasingly difficult situation but, "For those who see by Al'lah's Light, He always prepares a way out."[111]

Mohammad Amin thought to himself, 'By God! I know nothing about the battle except a few tidbits of news, but I'll just imagine what I would have done if I'd been the commander of the division and surprised by an attack.

'I'll start by describing an imaginary battle: how I outflanked the enemy and then launched an attack with my brigades of artillery and infantry, repelling their vehement attacks and several squads of their soldiers... of course, all of this is imaginary, and helped by my understanding of war and military tactics. So, whatever I tell him about my plan of action, he'll be so astounded and startled at the expertise of my manoeuvres... how I staved off the possibility of any side attack... drove back an attack from the front and foiled all attempts of the enemy to outflank us... that he'll believe it all to be true. I'll then say how we used small groups of men to engage large numbers of the enemy forces in numerous minor diversions so their front line forces were dispersed, and that's why the major attack was aborted until the regular squads of the Turkish Army arrived, and were able to destroy the enemy and drive them back.'

Having devised his ingenious plan Mohammad Amin continued to regale the sultan with so many imaginary details of the battle and his proficient defence tactics for more than an hour until the sultan felt as if he was actually experiencing the battle for himself as he listened intently, full of admiration for 'General Saleem' and his military strategy that had turned potential failure into victory.

After Mohammad Amin finished the description of the battle which was astounding and full of ingenious military tactics, the supreme ruler snapped back to the present, having been mesmerised and alarmed at what he had heard. He heaped praise upon the man before him and asked after his current state of health, wanting to know if he was making a rapid recovery.

Bravely and strongly, the General replied, 'I'm perfectly fit to fight and go back into battle.' Yet, on seeing his high level of morals, despite his many injuries, the supreme ruler said to him, 'No... no...! You must rest until the end of the convalescence period as prescribed by your doctors, for they are very competent and you should take their advice. Truly you have given us outstanding personal service, that's why we hold you in such high esteem.'

By these words, Mohammad Amin understood that the meeting was over and he was being dismissed from the presence of the sultan. He then took his leave of the supreme ruler by giving him a stiff military salute and hurried back to his brother's house to report on all that had taken place.

As Mohammad Amin related to him every little detail about the audience with the grand sultan his brother's face turned pale as he thought of the possible consequences of Amin's actions: his immense fear seemed written clearly on his face. Yet Mohammad Amin resumed his speech saying,

'Don't worry, there's nothing to be afraid of! My plan and role-play succeeded before the grand Sultan as I described to him all the details of the imaginary battle and the plans of attack, defence and retreat by one side or the other, and so on... that is, after I had sought Al'lah's Help.'

Startled at what he had heard from his brother, Saleem Bey said, 'By God! I didn't carry out even one percent of the heroic performance and military genius you have related to me!'

## An Old Woman Finds a Safe Haven

Al'lah the Almighty brought man into being for a supreme and illustrious aim. He brought him to this lower world in order that he should treat his fellow man with humanity, in fact, to treat all creatures with compassion, so that these deeds will count as capital towards his gaining Paradise and the Afterlife. The Almighty says, "Such is the Paradise you have inherited by virtue of your good deeds."[112]

Aiming to inspire the man who has achieved intellectual belief in his Creator, Provider, and Conductor, so that he might witness that certain faith which generates the performing of eminent deeds in order to gain Paradise, the Almighty has firstly urged him to overcome any obstruction when He says, "Let him break through the obstacle. If only you knew what the obstacle is! It is 'Freeing of a neck'."[2\112] The 'obstacle' is the good deed which seems to be difficult for one's spirit at first, but if it does not hesitate in its execution, this deed will find great goodness lying beyond it in this world and before reaching the Hereafter; hence the spirit will rush tirelessly and anxiously to carry out these good works.

So, what is this 'obstacle'? It is referred to as 'freeing of a neck'. The following is what is intended by the 'neck': Man and every creature that has a soul possesses the ability to rescue and offer help. Then, 'freeing of a neck' serves that man should give help to every creature inflicted with troubles that feel like a rope around its neck. If you save him, you have, in reality, released the seeming constriction around his neck and rid him of the noose and the bond. Then, if you found someone grieving and relieved him of that grief, or quenched the pain of thirst by offering him water, you will have broken the obstacle and released the constriction around his neck.

The phrase 'freeing of a neck' is wide ranging as it implies every form of work including saving, offering assistance, and magnanimity, and covers all living creatures, even a kitten, or a minute insect or a wilted plant. Yet the most noble of these deeds is to find a man who has strayed from the path of true faith and is on the path which leads to misery and Hell, so, you exhaust yourself doing your utmost to rid him of his faithlessness and shift him towards real faith through your altruistic, positive treatment and wise guidance with which you reveal to him his own goodness and his wickedness.

Such a deed is considered to be of the highest level by Al'lah, may you be helped by Him to reach it as these, too, are the deeds of the Prophets and Envoys (ptt). [113]

By this action you become an actual living example, though it was never an obstacle to our man, that true believer who has great faith and piety, because he finds absolute goodness in such deeds, and in leading all creatures to drink from the source of Godly Love through his charitable actions, so that they, too, will be amongst those who truly love God.

There was an elderly woman, in the twilight of her years, who lacked the wherewithal to provide any of life's pleasures, or even necessities, because she was destitute: she had no money, no prestige in society, and any beauty she might have had was long gone. She was a pauper with little but the patched rags and single pair of shoes she stood in, and a few meagre possessions. The origins of her story are lost in the mists of time but it seemed that great misfortune had overcome her at some point in her life and now there was no-one to help her or offer her shelter. Being old and weak she had no choice but to give some of her last few coins to hire a mule to carry her measly few belongings. She was obliged to trudge the roads seeking any corner that might offer her some kind of shelter... she was exhausted, her feet sore and blistered from endlessly moving from one place to another. No help was forthcoming for an old tramp such as she because society is hard-hearted, and yet this was not to be wondered at, as society had become demoralised and controlled by selfish people, who thought only of themselves. They sought only this lower life and its dubious pleasures and forgot the Hereafter, so they considered forbidden acts to be positive aspects in their life and to be pursued, while virtuous and good acts were lost from their sight. They withdrew from God, the Source of Mercy and Goodness and indulged in this world and its passing desires: they followed the whims of their spirits, stripping their humanity layer by layer till their hearts became as hard as rock or iron, feeling no sympathy with anyone, even a helpless pauper or a defenceless animal.

This poor woman walked endlessly, overwhelmed with anxiety, as the disloyal lower life spares none, and the young man in his prime will also grow old and weak, deprived of all the gifts and pleasures which once surrounded him. He may not lack their physical existence, yet he may become enfeebled and unable to enjoy them even if they were available. He may forfeit them both, being a pauper and resigned to his condition after his previous prestige and wealth; yet one day, he will inevitably leave it. But where would he go? As no man will remain in this lower life forever.

She followed one lane after another... she walked and walked, not knowing where she would stop or what her fate would be. She was so overcome with fear that her face turned pale and sallow and her confusion only served to weaken her further, until she was no longer able to control her feelings of helplessness. As chance, or the Will of God, would have it her exhausted legs eventually took her to the street where Mohammad Amin lived.

By now it was approaching 4 o'clock in the afternoon and our noble officer was getting ready to return to work having eaten his lunch. He put on his military uniform then he donned his military cap. Full of energy after his customary afternoon rest he headed for the door at the very moment that fate brought this poor old woman not only into this street, but to the door of his house... As she knocked, he opened the door to find this sad, piteous sight before him... a miserable specimen of dreadful suffering.

'Oh, my God!' he thought. 'What suffering has she gone through to be in such a state... what does the future hold for her? What's in store for this poor woman? She seems grief-stricken... She looks like one of the living dead.' He was looking at a picture of abject misery, while she gazed at him and saw that handsome, dignified and honourable young officer with his bright and radiant face. Perhaps it was his soothing, merciful glances that drove her to unburden her embarrassment to no-one but him, as she felt the compassion and tenderness emanating from his heart. Seeing this radiant young man standing before her gave her hope and the courage to ask in a sad voice trembling with exhaustion, 'My son! Do you have a room for rent? I have no money now, but I promise to pay you as soon as I have some!'

She said nothing more, but lowered her head slowly till her chin settled on her chest, seemingly too exhausted to hold it up. She did not look up again but waited for a reply as the earth thirsts for the blessings of heaven! It seemed that he breathed life and tranquillity back into her heart with words overflowing with mercy and compassion, when he replied without any hesitation, 'Welcome mother! My house is your house, to share!'

She had been so prepared for rejection that she could not believe her ears... but these kind and merciful words were in fact a true expression of what she saw and felt when her eyes first lit upon this generous humane man whose words did not contradict her thoughts, 'Can this be true? Am I seeing things? Surely he must be a guardian angel come to earth! What is this kindness? What tenderness and compassion flow from his heart.' She felt instantly uplifted, as if these words had removed her rags and dressed her in the leaves of Paradise and she was instantly overwhelmed by the oceans of compassion and generosity directed towards her. This peerless human being had completely captured her heart, especially, when she saw him carrying her belongings into the house with his own pure hands. He put them down, then he took out some coins and paid off the owner of the donkey.

Our officer, Mohammad Amin, turned to her saying,

'Come in to your new home!'

She looked at him wondering whether it was real or a dream... would she wake to find nothing but the harsh reality of her poverty? 'What is this great Godly Favour bestowed upon me by this perfect, virtuous man?'

She crossed the threshold with slow, faltering steps denoting her overwhelming exhaustion. Then he said to her, in a voice denoting great kindness and tenderness, 'Mother! I'm going to my work now, do you need anything?' [As his wife Um Fathi was visiting her family and there was nobody else at home].

Seemingly overcome with astonishment and amazement, Hanifa, the old woman said, 'No... no my son! I don't want anything but your safety. Goodbye, may Al'lah be pleased with you and help you!'

He left the house and closed the door, leaving the old pauper in a state of indescribable happiness, but still unable to believe her good fortune. She stood there, as if rooted to the spot, looking around her at the house... at the door which separated her from the street... and her few belongings lying in the courtyard.

Truly it was as if a river of tranquillity flowed through her heart, so she became absorbed in praising, thanking, and invoking God for this merciful officer. She felt as though He had bestowed upon her a merciful, good- hearted and faithful son in her old age. Then she praised God wholeheartedly. That's why life flowed again in her heart, as he had revitalised her and raised her morale. With newly found energy she wasted no more time and set to cleaning the house, and doing the laundry, and then she headed to the kitchen to prepare food since her heavy burdens and suffering which had almost destroyed her had now been taken away.

That night, when the generous, impeccable master came home, he was surprised to find the newly rejuvenated mother immersed in the household chores which she had almost finished... and she was as bright as a button and full of newly found energy.

Giving praise and thanks to his Provider, our man addressed Him saying, 'Oh my God! What is this?... everything is so clean and tidy. The food smells delicious and the clothes are ironed and folded, even the socks are washed and ironed! Glory to You, God of all! Glory to You, oh Grand Provider! It is You alone Who turns weakness into strength, hardship into ease, and death into life. Praise is to You, unreservedly!'

In a kind, gentle voice he asked her, 'What is this?... what is this immaculate house, and these appetising smells? Thank you, for your wonderful hands mother, for Al'lah has really sent you as a blessing... praise is to Him for He has compensated me with a second mother after the death of my own (may Al'lah have mercy upon her).'

Old Hanifa, for that was her name, replied, 'I praise Him too for granting me a kindhearted, benevolent, and merciful son in my old age, who is so kind to me and treats me with such compassion.'

A few minutes later, she called him with newfound strength in her voice, 'My son! Come in, your dinner is prepared... I have cooked something for you and I pray to God that you will enjoy it.'

Soothing her heart, he replied, 'I'm sure I will! For it was made by your own loving hands, so, I'm sure to like it.'

He sat at the table and set about eating every last morsel saying, 'Oh, my God what tasty, delicious food,' then he took another bite saying, 'What wonderful flavours!' And he kept praising her and thanking her for her efforts while, in turn, her affection and attachment to him became even deeper.

With such a noble, humane attitude he overwhelmed her with his kindness and great compassion and tenderness, till she was able to forget her times of suffering, and put the bitter memories of her past behind her. Oceans of joy and happiness washed over her as she became increasingly attached to him, loving him more day by day. She looked on him as her own faithful merciful son, a gift from God, as she had never expected that she might, one day, be given a son with such sublime and perfect attributes and morals, but it had happened... and here, she was living and basking in his sympathy and wonderful, kind treatment. And he, too, felt most fortunate, as he was fond of her for the Sake of Al'lah, therefore, he treated her with exceptional kindness and generosity.

God says, "And they feed, for the love of Al'lah, the indigent, the orphan, and the captive." [114]

Through this supreme and lofty virtuous relationship he attracted her to His beloved Al'lah, to Whom he was so attached, and led her to drink from the fount of Godly Love, so she also became pure-hearted and came to love the Provider. No wonder! As man often follows the faith of his fellow man.

As one day followed another, she was still ensconced in happiness. But, as is well known, this lower life is not eternal. It had pleased the Wise, Omniscient God to purify and cleanse her of every impurity, to upgrade her because, just as good health is a mercy and blessing from God, similarly, so is disease, whereby the spirit becomes cleansed of its corruption and confusion. This is aimed at removing this lower life from the heart, since this is where man resorts to Al'lah , so that the Godly Light can flow to every part of his spirit and the sites of moral ailments within his heart, to purify him and change it into a state of perfection and bliss, that is, his sins are forgiven.

Similarly, old Hanifa became afflicted with an infectious disease which had spread widely throughout the country at that time. The government immediately made all the necessary arrangements to control the outbreak through implementing an order to quarantine and isolate all those whom it had affected.

As a way of expediting this process the department responsible for managing the epidemic ordered the general public to disclose to the appropriate authority the name of anyone afflicted with this disease. In the interests of the health of unaffected citizens the patient had to report to the sanatorium where he would be quarantined, and cared for.

Yet Officer Mohammad Amin, that man of firm, true faith was well aware of the saying of Al'lah's Envoy: "The infection is untrue, but the evil-eye is true according to one's worthiness]." As he always witnesses that Al'lah is the Only Doer and there is no god but Him. Then, disease, mishap and trouble will only ever affect him who deserves it, whether as punishment for a bad deed he had committed previously, for which Al'lah punishes him so as to cleanse his heart of the moral ailments and disease (caused by his being fond of the lowly desires that caused him to turn from the right path); or to raise the man from one state to a higher one, since all of the Almighty's Behaviour is aimed at achieving goodness (amongst other Attributes) for this man, for which He is always praised. Al'lah says, "Say, God, Holder of all control'." [[115]

Concerning infection, one wonders, who transmitted the disease to the first patient to become infected? This is a thought-provoking question.

So, all matters to do with the germs that cause disease are in the Hands of Al'lah, the Almighty; He is the Only Disposer of the affairs of this universe from the tiniest atom to the greatest galaxy. This is why Officer Mohammad Amin did not worry that he might be infected by this disease which had afflicted many people, causing them great fear and anxiety, because the matter lay entirely in the Hands of Al'lah.

Mohammad Amin had disciplined and educated his wife,

refining her true, steady faith in Al'lah, so she did not fear .the disease either. Yet poor Hanifa was seriously stricken and she was confined to bed, too weak to get up. So the compassionate officer and his wife started to take care of her. They fed her by their own hands and washed her: he would hold her while his perfect wife changed the soiled linen beneath her without voicing a single word of complaint or disgust; in fact she did it willingly and with good grace, yearning for the reward of the Almighty as Mohammad Amin had developed her under his illustrious tutoring which implanted supreme principles in her spirit: loving God and seeking Him, aiming at the Afterlife, not at this world, aspiring to Paradise through carrying out good deeds which make one draw nearer to Al'lah. They continued to treat the stricken old woman in this way for quite some time and concealed the matter of her illness for fear that the authorities might hear about it and place her in quarantine.

But, unfortunately, the news somehow slipped out to the neighbours and somebody reported her case. So the medical assistants, accompanied by some gendarmes, came to Mohammad Amin's house and knocked at the door. Al'lah had arranged that he should be away from the house, so his wife called from behind the door to ask who was there. The gendarmes identified themselves and ordered her to open the door. The wife assumed that her husband, Officer Mohammad Amin had sent them with some supplies for the house as usual, so she opened the door and hurried to her room so that no-one might see her before she put on her veil (according to Al'lah's Command), but alas, it was not as she had thought! They were hygiene assistants and gendarmes come to take the poor old woman. They went into her room and took her out to the vehicle which was to transport them to the sanatorium where she would be quarantined. It was a heartbreaking situation for the virtuous wife; she wept floods of tears and was so sorry for what had happened. But it was out of her hands and no- one could blame her because there was nothing she could have done to prevent it.

That night, the merciful and generous officer came back from his work, and as he was accustomed to do, he went directly to Hanifa's room to be reassured that her health was improving, and he received such a shock when he failed to find her there: 'Where is she then? I'm afraid that... I'm afraid...' were the thoughts that passed through Mohammad Amin's mind. He called his wife immediately and asked brusquely, 'Where's our mother Hanifa?' She said nothing, her eyes bathed in tears, then showing great distress she said,

'The medics came with some gendarmes and took her to be quarantined... the cruelty of them... they're so hard- hearted......!' Angrily, he replied, 'Did they...! I'll go immediately to talk to the man responsible for this and bring her back, with God's Will. I'll bring her back home.' Then, looking at the clock he saw that it was late and the offices would be closed. Unfortunately, he had to wait until the next day to deal with the problem. He went to his room, so upset that he could eat nothing at all that evening, but he lay on his bed deeply affected by what had happened.

He fell asleep with tears in his eyes, then he saw a vision:he saw our master, Umar Ibn al-Khattab,[116] displaying great solemnity, sitting under a palm tree and leaning against the trunk. He cried out in a grave voice: 'Oh Muhyiddin! Oh Ibn Arabi!' [117]

– As the faithful soldier stands before his brave commander Ibn Arabi stood showing absolute respect and replied: 'I hear and obey, oh Prince of Believers.' Our master

Umar said, 'Summon Hanifa from Damascus, as the procession of Al'lah's Envoy (cpth) [118]and the entire company of companions are ready to welcome her!'

At precisely that moment, Aslan the brave officer woke from his fitful sleep as the day dawned with the vision still in his memory; as he opened his eyes he thought to himself,

'I hope it means good news, by God's Will.' At once, he got up from his bed, dressed, and dashed out to allay his concerns about poor Hanifa's health. He arrived at the sanatorium and asked about her, but she had already given up her soul! He asked when it had happened, and the time they gave him coincided with the very time which Al'lah had sent him this true vision. Despite his sadness he immediately felt reassured and understood the aim and sense of the vision: it had presaged Hanifa's escape to Paradise where she would spend eternity with those of the highest ranks.

That was the story of poor old Hanifa and the compassionate man: he treated her with charity and addressed her with the kindest words enriching her soul with the noblest traits, whilst all other people grumbled and turned away from her, as they found it shameful to have her in their midst; whereas Al'lah had sent her as a second mother for Mohammad Amin who had honoured her for His Sake.

Was she not a living creature... a human spirit created by Al'lah, who had provided her with life and taken care of her? Does Al'lah not love her? Why should He not, since it was He Who had called her into being? If one plants a seed, he will surely tend to it as it grows and feel sad if anyone harms it; how would it be then, if we talk about Al'lah the most Merciful, Whom all creatures serve: to Him, the most beloved one will be he who renders the most benefits to His creatures. Mohammad Amin kept treating her with charity, compassion and sympathy till she drank the Godly Love from his venerable, illustrious and supreme source due to her loving and clinging to him. He made her feel as though she were truly his mother and she believed this feeling by the honour and kindness he showed her. So she left this world pure-hearted and immaculate and entered the eternity of Paradise where she would live forever. Truly, because of his exalted company, she became one of those who have been promoted and ascended to the heavens of Godly Love to where the close companion would eventually follow. Indeed, her spirit had been elevated by his honourable, virtuous and immaculate spirit through the Paradises of the chosen Envoy, Mohammad (cpth) and his noble and faithful companions, and up to the highest heavens.

This man, M. A. Sheikho was merciful and compassionate in the extreme! His love had led Hanifa to this venerable position whereby her heart was cured and well restored.

May Al'lah enrich us with His Love and Reverence that uplift our hearts to the sublime Paradise. Amen!

## The Reasons for Corporeal Decay

The night had spread its black cloak over the whole city: darkness prevailed and all was quiet. It was after midnight. All good people were in their beds and had surrendered to sleep. Suddenly, the silence was broken.

There could be heard the sound of footsteps coming along the street! A man was walking with regular, even steps towards the mosque of the great Sheikh Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi. He stopped at the entrance then raised his hands and his lips began to move in prayer, the gentle murmuring continuing quietly for a little while. He recited the first chapter of the Qur'an, the Opening (al-Fatiha Surah) for the sheikh's soul according to the custom of the people of Sham.[119] But when he finished and uttered the statement: 'I offer this Fatiha Surah for Sultan...' he soon sank into deep thought. A question came into his mind, 'I wonder why he was called: "The Sultan of those who know God"... and how did he attain this sultanate?'

His thoughts ran on quickly as he pondered the matter and weighed the various possibilities until a particular idea flashed into his mind and satisfied him. The man, M. A. Sheikho came to the conclusion that the sheikh had become a sultan by virtue of the fact that he followed the way of the Prophet Mohammad (cpth) who was descended from the sons of Adam. This sultan acquired great wisdom and benefits from the words of the Prophet (cpth), and put these wise words into practice, thus becoming a leader of those who know God.

At that moment a great desire was generated in his spirit, filled with aspiration, and without even a moment's hesitation he took a momentous decision. He made a promise to his Provider in secret, saying: 'I shall, by God's Will, follow in the steps of our master Mohammad (cpth).'

At that time, our officer was head of the police station of al-Salhiyeh quarter which included the Kurdish area. One day, as he was sitting in his office he heard loud voices and quite a commotion outside! Some of his gendarmes entered his office having arrested a man that was saying repeatedly in a proud and confident manner, 'You must not beat me.'

The gendarmes said to their commander, 'This man has assaulted someone in the street and beaten him, moreover he swore about the government. Despite this, he kept threatening us and saying repeatedly that he must not be beaten.'

Officer Sheikho, the head of the station at that time, said to him, 'You say you should not be beaten but I, personally, will beat you.'

Whereupon Officer Sheikho indicated by the merest movement of his finger that the gendarmes should push the man to the floor and tie his feet. Then our officer picked up his lash and raised it above his head. He was about to whip the man when a deputation of notables and elders of the quarter led by Sheikh Mohammad Amin Kharbutli, the imam of the Sheikh Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi Mosque, came in begging with heartfelt emotion for the man to be forgiven and released. But what made our officer wonder was that these men said the very same words which the man was repeating.

They said to Officer Sheikho, 'This man must not be beaten.'

'But he assaulted someone in the street!' our officer told them.

Their answer was simply: 'This is the man who was assaulted. He has come with us to forego his right to have the guilty man punished.'

Thereupon Officer Sheikho smiled and said that as they had forgiven the guilty man, he, as a representative of the government would overlook the other man's misdemeanour of swearing at the government, for their sake. He then said it was his pleasure to give them permission to leave the station and accompanied them to the door. However, there was a certain look of confusion etched clearly across his face. He wanted to know the secret of this man whom everybody loved and insisted should not be beaten!

The following day two men of impressive appearance, and obviously very wealthy, asked permission to enter his office. They greeted him and asked him most politely to accompany them and accept an invitation from the pasha to visit him in his palace.

Our officer was astonished! He thought to himself, 'Is there a pasha in this area where I live and work, and I don't know anything about him?'

It is not difficult to understand Officer Sheikho's confusion since the title of 'Pasha' signified a person of high rank in the political system of the Ottoman Empire and usually would be granted to governors, such as the prefects of Iraq or Sham, or generals and other dignitaries.

As he gave more thought to the matter he came to the conclusion that this pasha must be retired, otherwise he would have known about him. In fact this particular pasha seemed to be very powerful and to hold a lot of influence as he had resigned from his official position even though he was at the height of power and thereby retained not only his high rank but also his dignity.

He set off with the two gentlemen and the small group of riders soon reached the pasha's residence: Mohammad Amin was stunned at the incredible, breath-taking sight before him!

To give the reader an idea of the magnificence of the pasha's abode a short description must be given:

The towering walls were of a height rarely seen, and in the centre of one wall was a massive door made of wood with exquisite, complex, arabesque designs that were truly breathtaking, carved into it.

When the door was opened, the scene within seemed to be of one of the gardens of paradise.

There was a long, open corridor, its floor paved with expensive flagstones, so highly polished that you could see your face reflected from them. Trees trimmed into wonderful geometric shapes grew along both sides and a trellis bearing grapevines had been trained over the top of the passage and bunches of grapes hung down in golden clusters. Wherever the gaze alighted in the garden there were flowers that seemed to reflect the brilliance of the sun and gave off their delicate perfume. A wide pond was set into the middle of the garden where water flowed from a central fountain, the mist from the falling water touching the face as a reminder of the beauty surrounding them. And there, the birds perched on the branches all around, safe in their own paradise, singing and warbling their harmonious songs.

When the men entered the house, they saw before them a large entrance hall displaying the excellence of its architecture and the splendour of its ornaments.

Mohammad Amin later related the story as follows:

'We entered the reception room... it was like something from a fairy tale to see the lights all around, reflecting off the exquisite ornaments, creating a splendid fusion of colours and shades; and arranged along the sides of the room were chairs of oriental wood inlaid with brilliant precious stones of every hue.

'As for the floor, it was covered by many types of smooth, silken Persian carpets while superb paintings covered the walls... And the exquisite small fountain in the middle of the room with the calming sound of its tinkling water seemed to reflect all the colours of the rainbow! Not to mention the enormous, unique, regal chandeliers made of pure crystals. The sight of such beauty... such magnificence, the myriad of colours, the dancing reflections... were both dazzling to the eye and overwhelming to the mind.

'At the back of the reception salon, there was a high, wide seat on which a man sat surrounded by many well- dressed gentlemen. As soon as he saw us he stood up and rushed forwards to welcome us.'

Officer Mohammad Amin was almost transfixed as he thought, 'Oh God! Is this man the pasha?' For he was the very same man whom the gendarmes had pushed to the floor and whose legs they had shackled! He was the very man whom he had been about to lash! Could this man really be the pasha?

'So,' said the pasha in a loud voice to our man while shaking him firmly by the hand, 'You are the man they call"Aslan"!' [120]

I have heard so often about your daring deeds and courage! How many times have I been told of your noble spirit and magnanimity! I am so glad that you have come to visit me in my home.'

In his usual tactful way, Mohammad Amin reciprocated the pasha's hearty reception with words that were equally pleasing to him. Then demonstrating his extreme pleasure, the pasha accompanied our officer and asked him to sit beside him. An air of cordiality and mutual understanding prevailed in the atmosphere between the two men and a peerless sense of inspired poetic language coloured the conversation because of the admiration, reverence and appreciation which the pasha held in his heart and mind for that brave lion of a man, 'Aslan'.

After a short time, a servant entered the hall to tell the pasha that the dining table had been prepared and that food was waiting for him and his guest. The pasha then invited his solemn visitor to accompany him with a smile that expressed his great happiness and did not once leave his lips. As they made their way towards the dining room, the most appetizing aromas reached them that made the mouth water in eager anticipation of the feast awaiting them. Then, the moment they passed through the door, abundant amounts of food appeared as a feast to the eyes, arranged most decoratively on the dining tables and spread in a matchless artistic fashion.

Whatever kind of food one could bring to mind was there on the tables: every type of meat and fish and other savoury dishes, colourful vegetables and salads and delicious sauces were there in abundance. Every platter was full of the most delicious foods, their appetizing aromas wafting in the vapours rising above them... and all laid out in such wonderful order and coordination that made the beholder want to consume every last morsel.

It was indeed a feast for the eyes as well as for the stomach!

There appeared to be very few guests, yet the food was so abundant that it could easily feed four hundred hungry men. So, as soon as they heard the statement 'Enjoy your meal', they sat at the table in eager anticipation of the culinary delights they were about to taste.

Oh! What delicious flavours! What wonderful tastes! What superb spicy aromas! Every morsel was tastier than the one before and every dish so delicious that it was almost impossible to decide whether to eat more of that same dish or sample yet another one.

After that delicious and healthy meal, they passed through to another dining hall where, yet again, the eyes were transfixed by the display before them. Indeed, one might say that what they saw there could be found only in the imagination! The table was filled with every type of fruits one might imagine, all of the highest quality and many of them very rare. It was a beautiful, colourful, edible tableau and highly appealing to the appetite. Besides the superb array of fruits, there was an abundance of excellent oriental sweets arranged side by side in intricate patterns, soaked in syrup and covered with nuts.

All of this was followed by many trays of different kinds of sherbets that were passed around, thus the flavours mingled and it became impossible to take even one more morsel.

The pasha employed only the world's most famous and skilful chefs in his kitchen and paid them high salaries. He also chose the most proficient men to decorate his dining table that was fit for a sultan, in the most pleasing and eye catching way. All of that was in order to prepare the food in an excellent and superior way and present it in the most attractive way so that it became an utter joy to those who were fortunate enough to dine at the pasha's table.

The gathered guests, led by the pasha, returned to the reception room delighted and thoroughly sated with the splendid meal they had just consumed: their contentment showing clearly on their faces as each one took his seat. Then, the pasha made a discreet sign whereupon every one of those gentlemen of pompous and grand appearance stretched his arm to his side and drew from the corner of his own, individual couch a musical instrument, 'Aha!'... thought Mohammad Amin, 'they're craftsmen!'

One held a flute, another embraced a lute; one raised a violin, another placed a drum in his lap. Thus, the musical ensemble was complete and the entertainment began. The music they played captivated the hearts which responded with their own beats of ecstasy. At these heavenly sounds all those present were about to forget their bodily existence and be transported to a place of bliss... to live in worlds of ecstasy... as their emotions and passions grew more and more intense.

Indeed, each musician was a genius in the timbre of his playing, and unique in his tone of voice. It was not long before the language of the music, having enraptured their hearts, began to encompass their spirits as the wonders of the intricate rhythms floated to their ears. He thought that any man who had never been fortunate enough to experience such an occasion, a moment so rarely given, had failed to experience the utmost bliss that life has to offer.

Suddenly, the music stopped but its memory lingered, controlling the spirit and captivating the hearts of all present.

Then, one of the men stood up and approached them. He was a comedian, skilled at entertaining with funny words and witty sayings. He started telling jokes, choosing the most amusing and whimsical tales and anecdotes. And he acted the parts too, sometimes crying or laughing, waving his hands at times, or his legs, and waggling his ears as befitted the tale. They laughed so much that their loud outbursts of laughter echoed around the room and tears of happiness began to flow.

Some weeks later, as Mohammad Amin was relating the details of this special day, he said, 'I was sure that if there was a man among us whose mother was no longer in this world, within less than twenty minutes, he would forget her (even if he had no-one else in this world except her) and all the difficulties and suffering he had passed through. Really, that clown had a magnetic effect on the heart. He turned towards each one of us and entertained him personally with what was pleasant and appropriate to him alone. It seemed as if he had a magic act in the spirit for anyone that he turned to soon found himself in stitches, feeling so happy and cheerful and completely free from any sense of distress or grief.'

It was a dreamlike session where the lights harmonised and the smells of incense, fragrant musk and pure ambergris surged and mingled with the balmy air. Really, it was one of the most spectacular and memorable times of his life, and a night similar to the captivating nights of Andalus. [121]

Nonetheless, when it was time for prayer, everything stopped for them to pray and give praise to Al'lah. How wonderful it is to combine religion and one's daily life: "May Al'lah not bless a life far from religion."

In the midst of this, Mohammad Amin caught sight of the clock and was amazed at the time it showed. It was two hours after midnight!

'Oh God! How could that be?' he thought.

Had he really spent eight hours at the pasha's mansion? How could such a long time feel so short?

It felt like only a few minutes!

The pasha noticed the officer's astonishment so he yawned as a sign that those present should take their leave.

They began to leave immediately in the most polite way and showing their great respect for the pasha. Thereupon, our officer also stood up and stretched his hand towards the pasha to say goodbye. But the pasha kept his hand in his and said to him, 'Arslan, I will expect you tomorrow.'

He tried to politely refuse the request, but the pasha said decisively, 'If you do not come by yourself, I will come myself in order to fetch you here.'

So Mohammad Amin promised that he would do his best.

From that day on, he became an intimate of the pasha and did not leave him alone for even a single night. So, as the days passed the pasha began to tell his friend about his own, personal affairs. Through their conversations, our officer perceived that the pasha had given up the political life and resigned from his position after he became so wealthy that he was able to live a life of great ease and comfort, far removed from the competitiveness of politics and its machinations. Thus, he came out from the showplace of public life even though he was still at its peak, and hence he retained his prestige, rank and huge fortune.

He preferred the life of tranquillity and peacefulness; and to accomplish this, he retained the cooks, the musicians, and the servants who were in his employ during his rule, and he gave them the same salaries they had been accustomed to.

As for his marital life, there were always four wives close to him. Whenever he wanted to marry, he would choose a girl of eighteen years of age. As she became twenty-two years old he divorced her after settling an overwhelming amount of money on her.

At that time the vast majority of people were living in privation and penury. So, how fortunate was the girl whom the pasha took as a wife! He would save her from misery and unhappiness, as his benefaction and generosity would be extended to her family also. Then when he divorced her, she would leave his house taking a fortune that no amount of luxurious living or lavish expenditure could consume.

Whenever the pasha left the house he was accompanied by an African slave of enormous stature who immediately inspired fear in all who saw him. This slave accompanied him whenever and wherever he went for a ride. During the pasha's excursions, if one of nature's many beautiful sights caught his eye and enchanted his heart, he would give an order to the driver of the carriage to stop. There, the giant slave would prepare the narghile [122]for him to smoke and then stand respectfully by the side of the carriage while the pasha remained sitting in his comfortable seat, smoking and feasting his eyes on the beauty, splendour and perfection that was created by God's powerful Hands. On returning to his towering palace, four muscular men awaited him, their sole purpose being to massage the muscles of the pasha's body and remove any sign of stress!

Thus was the life of the pasha: a mixture of hedonistic delights and endless enjoyment as he had free rein to all the pleasures this worldly life has to offer.

So far this tale has dwelt on the sybaritic life of the pasha so to dispel any thoughts that one might have that he cared nothing for the less fortunate it is vital to mention that the surplus food from his sultanic dining table was dispersed daily among many poor families, in addition to certain salaries which he dispensed monthly to needy families. This was all apart from the alms and monetary gifts he used to pay, and the deeds of generosity and charity he performed. Not for a single day did he fail to perform the above acts of charity, nor did he neglect any of the obligatory religious duties. His only slight divergence from his religious obligations was because he always slept late at night he was unable to perform the dawn prayer at the appointed hour, so he did so a little later just after sunrise.

Two years went by while our officer and the pasha passed the nights together in this manner: eating and drinking, listening to music and anecdotes and spending times full of pleasure and delight... until one fateful day!

Our officer Mohammad Amin was sitting in his office in the police station when he was informed of the news of the pasha's death!

The news came to his ears like a bolt from the blue!

The pasha had died! The man who owned that magnificent palace that man of such high standing! The master of all those servants! The owner of wealth and wives, luxury and enjoyment!

Thoughts were buzzing around his mind: 'Oh my God! I don't believe it! Just a few hours ago, I left him lively and active, moving briskly, seemingly in the best of health! He was full of golden dreams and rose tinted schemes... bursting with the exuberance of life! But how did he die?'

On enquiring he was told that when the pasha returned to his palace as usual after his daily outing in his regal carriage, he felt a slight dizziness, so he asked for a cup of hot flower tea to be brought to him, but when they brought the tea, they found him dead.

The ceremonies of escorting the deceased to his final resting place had been accomplished in the usual way, and an imposing procession was walking behind the coffin. Everyone was crying, yet their tears were not necessarily due to the passing of the pasha as a man but to the fact that he was no longer there to continue his overwhelming benevolence and almsgiving. Each one of them was weeping for himself, and bemoaning his own bad fortune.

After the pasha's mortal remains were placed in his everlasting home, our officer returned directly to his office. He closed the door and sat at his desk. His features showed that he was deep in thought and his eyes seemed focused on serious matters. He sat in contemplation, putting many questions to himself while many thoughts about the future began to cross his mind: he rejected some, and studied others, comparing them with known facts and events.

The death of the pasha was just the start of many questions that would give him sleepless nights:

'Oh God! Oh God! Is this the meaning of fate? Is the future of everyone restricted to this hole in the ground where hopes and plans all come to nothing?

'Oh God! What a bitter loneliness! Total darkness: When might it be driven away? Where are the close friends? Where are the companions? Where have the sessions of pleasure and nightly conversations gone? Where have the lights and lamps disappeared to? Where are the palaces? What is the purpose beyond this life? Where is its fascinating brightness which entirely captivates the heart?

'How can we escape? Where is the refuge?

'There is no way back! The pasha has died!

'Sultans and kings, even Prophets and Envoys also die.

'Does anybody doubt his own death? Will you not die?

'Who can escape when the angel of death comes to take the soul? Is there any escape from death?'

The certainty is that one day you will leave this world:

Be sure to take along provisions, in the form of good deeds.

Be sure that you will meet death... for it will come to claim you!

Never forget that you, too, will be wrapped in a shroud and placed in your tomb beneath the soil

Never forget that gloomy day when those spirits who failed to see the Light of Al'lah will tremble at the very thought of death.

It was only one week after the pasha's death when two men accompanied by the mayor of al-Salhiyeh quarter entered the station to speak with Officer Sheikho. One of them was a physician and the other was one of his assistants.

The mayor asked our officer to send a few of his policemen to accompany them to the cemetery in order to carry out a post-mortem examination on the pasha's corpse. For the investigations done by the security authorities according to a complaint lodged by his relatives showed that the pasha might have been murdered. And they wanted proof!

The indictment was directed towards one of his wives whom the pasha had been about to divorce. They thought she might have poisoned him in order to get a share of his great wealth. For there would have been a huge difference between her share if the pasha had divorced her and what she would have expected on his death, especially as the pasha had no children.

But our officer said that he would go with them himself for the pasha was his close friend.

They then set off together to the graveyard. The gravedigger had already removed the soil from above the grave when they arrived there, and the entrance of the grave seemed to be closed by a big slab. So, they asked him to remove it.

When the grave was opened there came a most abominable stench from the corpse that permeated the entire graveyard. It nauseated the people there and caused them to run away. Then when the sunlight entered the grave-hole, it showed a horrible and dreadful sight. The pasha appeared misshapen and in such a state of decay that even the most courageous of men would have been terrified and felt the blood curdling in their bodies.

All eyes stared at the hole, fixed on what they saw before them, as the men craned their necks unable to believe what they saw: the face of the pasha was distorted beyond recognition, there were no eyes in the sockets, the nose was so mutilated that nothing remained except two openings, the mouth gaped wide but no tongue could be seen. The abdomen and legs were swollen and the shins black and blotched. Worst of all, his body was covered with swarms of large white maggots that were feasting tirelessly on the pasha's flesh: the columns did not stop, as one file entered his nose, another came out of his eyes... and so it continued.

Despite all those attackers, the pasha remained still, offering no resistance!

In a hurry, the physician gave pieces of cotton to his assistant who used them to cover his nose and mouth until they finished their task. Then he brought out a scalpel and used it to scrape away some of the waves of maggots. He scraped them right and left, and at a certain point of the abdomen, he plunged the scalpel in thus causing it to burst and emit a loud popping sound. Then he slashed the abdomen and a white liquid came bubbling out. The physician took up a spoonful using his medical spoon and put it in a special box. He gave an order to the gravedigger to fill up the grave with earth. Some days later the doctor's report stated: 'It was proved that the pasha's death was normal and there was no murder.'

As soon as the harrowing task was finished, our officer returned directly to his office. He sat at his desk and gave free rein to his thoughts. The sight of the putrefaction of his close friend made him go deep within himself to the very core of his being, his intellect holding a virtual discussion with his spirit. This opened up new avenues of thought for him and created many questions to which he had no immediate answers, and he called on Al'lah from the depths of his spirit:

'Oh my God! Will I too have such a horrible end? No...no... I don't want such a repulsive and frightful fate.'

As he got to this point, his spirit loathed everything and relinquished all that had occupied it. Now an onerous matter had filled every part of it!

This turbulent state of mind kept his entire attention for many days until one day some of his policemen came into the station in a hurry and said to him, 'Sir... Sir... a crowd of people have got into a heated argument in the graveyard and are about to come to blows: the fight could become serious and threaten security; it could cause trouble in the region.' He jumped from his seat and rushed towards the door holding his lash but forgetting his hat. He leaped down the five steps outside the station with one bound and his policemen followed quickly trying to catch up with him.

When he reached the cemetery, he saw the people in question divided into two groups gathered around a coffin and shouting at one another. A sound like a roar came from his mouth and reverberated across the entire cemetery. Instantly, the people became alarmed and immediately stopped arguing. So silence prevailed and not a word could be heard. He moved towards them and asked them about the cause of such a quarrel which was rapidly deteriorating into a fight. Just then some of the people shouted, 'Let us bury the dead!' But the others answered, 'No, we shall not bury him here. It's not allowed.' Once again they started to shout and raised their fists at each other. Again, the voice of our officer bellowed ordering them to keep silent. Then he said to them, 'One of you come forward and tell me the reason behind this wrangle.'

An old man advanced a few steps and spoke to our officer, 'Sir! This is the corpse of a man whose father died forty years ago; so now they want to bury him with his father in the same grave.'

'What's the problem in that?... since his father died so long ago.'

Then, another elderly man, but from the other party, moved forward a few steps. He seemed to be of good heart and solemn nature. He addressed Officer Sheikho saying,

'Sir! This man whose body lies in this coffin had an evil reputation and behaved disgracefully. He had no morals at all. He never prayed to God, not on any day, nor did he fast or feel in his heart the joy of doing good deeds or acts of charity. He was a miserable criminal. He spent his life committing bad deeds and filling his spirit with evil. On the contrary, his father (may God have mercy upon him) was a pious and God-fearing man. He was always the first to lend a helping hand and was never happier than when he was able to do a favour for someone. Wherever he went, he spread happiness and blessings all around. He was never slow to mention God. He suffered no illness and had no enemies. Truly, he was the ideal man in his perfection, humanity, magnanimity and generosity. He was loving and good, and always helped the helpless and supported the weak.'

'So,' continued the man, 'how can we bury this man in the same tomb as the father, Sir?'

The officer answered, 'But why not? What is the problem if this man is buried with the remains of his father?'

At this, the old man could not control himself any longer. He was clearly very upset and his face became red with emotion, then he uttered these shocking words, 'But Sir... his father's body has not decomposed or become dust as is usual. His body is still as fresh as it was when we buried him!'

A look of amazement came over the officer's face as he could not believe what he had just heard. So he asked the old man, 'How can you claim that you buried him forty years ago, and now you say that he still has not perished to this day? Are you mocking me?' As he said these words the picture of the pasha in his miserable state only one week after his death was passing through his mind.

In a quivering voice reflecting his emotions, the old man replied, 'Please Sir, come on! Please, come and look at him for yourself. You can... you can...'

He was unable to say another word for he was overcome by emotion and burst into tears. The sight of that pure man had made a great impression on Mohammad Amin. Then the old man controlled himself and continued while tears flowed from his eyes, 'Please sir... You can make sure of that yourself. I swear by God that this man died forty years

ago. I still remember him well: his appearance, speech and movements until this very day. If I had not been present when he was buried, I would have said that he died just now.'

Indeed, the officer did not delay a moment longer and he climbed quickly into the floor of the tomb of hashimite[123] style. There he saw a man lying with a distinct smile on his face. He even thought that he might be alive but pretending to be dead. He noticed that the burial cloths were worn out, and in fact they had turned into dust over the course of years.

He squatted, then he held the dead man's hand. What a miracle! He found it as soft as if it were still filled with life! He moved it, and it responded to his touch! When he spread out the fingers, the shroud turned to dust and floated down. He gazed at the dead man's face and saw it seeming to express pleasure and happiness. By now Officer Sheikho was inclined to believe that he was alive, but closing his eyes as some kind of joke!

He could not decide whether he was really dead or still alive!

When he looked at him, he seemed to be sleeping, but when he examined his body, he found no sign of his breathing nor of a heart-beat; so he must be dead!

He stood up and looked out from the grave. He was still uncertain of the man's death, so he shouted at the old man who was still weeping, 'Is it true that this man died forty years ago as you claim? I think you're lying. I think that he died today and you buried him earlier.'

An awful silence fell over the crowd who stood motionless. Then, the kind-hearted old man cried, 'If you do not believe me, Sir, then ask the notable men of the quarter and others who are as old as I am. Ask them to verify that this is really the pure and virtuous man who departed this life forty years ago.'

The old men of the quarter passed one by one before the grave and looked at the radiant face of the dead man. As the first one saw the face, he began to cry. Out of reverence for that sight, they were all overwhelmed, their hearts submitted, and their eyes flooded with tears. Suddenly, the voice of the aged man broke the terrible silence to say, 'Sir, look at his tombstone and see the date of his burial (may God be merciful towards him).'

The officer looked at the gravestone which finally helped him to be sure of the truth of the old man's words. He climbed out of the grave and pushed through the crowd that made way for him to leave the graveside. He was completely shocked and overcome at what he had just seen.

'Is this possible? Yes! But how? His great friend the pasha had turned into rotting flesh, a horrible sight giving off a terrible smell... and within only one week... whereas this pure man remained as he was at the time of his death without any change! His body is unblemished, and even seems to exude a most beautiful perfume; and this is apart from his bright radiant face which indicates a serene spirit!'

'But sir...' a man said in a loud voice that brought our officer back to the present, 'you have left us without giving us your decision. Can we bury him in his father's grave or not?'

Officer Sheikho replied firmly, 'No. Bury him in another tomb.'

Then he left engrossed in his bewilderment and confusion. Here were two facts that he had witnessed with his own eyes and senses. They could not be doubted and yet they were inexplicable. He decided to search for an explanation that might uncover the secret behind it.

Dissolution and non-dissolution.

He first resorted to scientific and medical ideas. So he consulted a famous accomplished doctor, the head of the physicians in his country, and asked him a question. Yet the doctor answered him, 'Oh, young man! Actually, many corpses have been found unblemished as you say, though this happens rarely, but I'll be honest with you and tell you the truth: Science and medicine have still not made sufficient advances to deal with such a matter. So, definitely, we are far from understanding the reason it happens. The technology we have is in its early stages. We are trying to get to the truth but so far we have not had much success.'

Our officer asked the same question of many other eminent doctors in the country but he could not find the answer he sought. Science and medicine gave him nothing, but his thirst and aspiration to know the truth grew more, so he became more insistent and determined to get to the bottom of it.

His desire to know the truth drove him to meet with some men of religion, perhaps they might be able to quench his thirst and give him a cogent answer. He went to their meetings, their offices and places they gathered to discuss these matters. He left not a single one of them without putting the question to him: 'Tell me, by God, how could his body be preserved all during these years?'

All of them gave him the same answer: 'Oh young man! It is because he was a friend of Al'lah. He was a pious man and had done many good deeds.'

'But, do maggots, insects, and mice have the ability to discriminate between the good man and the evil one so that they eat only the body of the man who committed bad deeds and leave the other one safe without touching it?'

At this question they all invariably became wide-eyed with bewilderment, and appeared deeply confused; then turned away to avoid answering that difficult question!

The question caused him so much confusion that he was about to fall victim to deep anxiety.

One day he met one of his acquaintances, so he talked to him about his quest to try to resolve the question that had taken up so much of his mind.

The friend advised him to seek out a certain sheikh called Amin Keftarou. But he told him that his residence was simple and not fitting for Amin's high rank. Yet our officer said to him, 'Tell me exactly where he lives. I don't care and never will care about anything as inconsequential as a lowly dwelling.'

As soon as the man gave him the address of the sheikh, he went home where he changed his military uniform for civilian clothes then headed directly for Abu Nur Nook in the Kurdish quarter to find the sheikh. When he arrived, he knocked at the door and asked permission to enter.

The room was rather dark, so it was lit by means of a few candles spread here and there and a simple oil-lamp which enabled our officer to see the sheikh sitting surrounded by three men. The men were fully engrossed in his recitation and interpretation of the Qur'an. The features of the Sheikh showed nobility and loyalty and his speech was quiet yet perfectly clear. This small mosque was lower than ground level so there was a staircase leading down to it; there were no windows, so it was no surprise that candles were lit even though the sun was shining brightly outside.

The three men seemed to be living in abject poverty and dire need. Two of them were scavengers, trying to earn their living in an honest way, and they were all sitting on an old worn out mat and a tattered sheepskin. Such was the state of the noble sheikh and his followers when our officer saw them for the first time.

When the lesson finished, the three devotees took their leave and went on their way. Then the sheikh turned towards our officer and addressed him asking, 'Yes, my son! Have you come here to gain knowledge or do you have a question?'

'I have a question.'

'Then, what is it?'

Our man began speaking to the sheikh and was soon relating the details of the two events he had seen for himself: the condition of two bodies buried many years apart. He described to him how the pasha had turned into a rich pasture for countless maggots within only one week of his death, and the foul smell and dreadful sight of his corpse were beyond description; while the corpse of the other man was perfectly preserved though he had died forty years previously, and not only that, but his body gave off a pleasant smell and his face appeared radiant.

A bland smile appeared on the sheikh's face as he replied: 'Oh, my son! It's obvious. The sinful deeds of the pasha led to his body decomposing while the other man seems to be pious, so his good acts are the reason he hasn't decomposed.'

Mohammad Amin replied, 'I have been given a similar answer by many sheikhs. I want to know: do maggots and insects have an ability to distinguish between a wrongdoer and a man who does good deeds?

'What made them eat the body of the pasha, although I know that he has done countless kind and generous deeds, but keep away from the other one?'

Sheikh Amin Keftarou remained silent for a short while, deep in thought, then he said, 'Now I can see what is behind your request. You are seeking a logical and convincing answer that is irrefutable and about which there can be no element of doubt.'

'Exactly, your Honour.'

The sheikh sat straight and a look filled with trust and belief in God mixed with love for His Envoy (cpth) flashed into his eyes, then he started his explanation saying: 'Listen my son! Let's suppose that you are walking along a street when suddenly you see a fetid, stinking corpse teeming with worms and dirt. What would you do?'

'I would hold my breath and turn my face away, and walk faster to get away from it.'

'And if you pass by a lush garden filled with shade cast by wide spreading trees and roses of every delicate hue, and sweet-smelling, beautiful flowers that refresh the spirits and enrich the heart... how would you act in this case?'

Mohammad Amin replied, 'I would stop there, feeling a sense of awe for the splendour, beauty and majesty, inhale the perfumes as deeply as possible, and gaze at the perfect creation and faultless shapes; I'd be overcome and enthralled by the perfection of its creation.'

For you, the reader, to give more clarity to this matter, we shall give further examples as explained by the sheikh:

He said, 'Firstly, let's take a loaf of bread and put it in a sunny spot. Although it will become dry it will still be edible if dampened with a little water. Similarly, when man believes in God, his belief and the good deeds he performs, as well as his spiritual attachment to His Envoy (cpth), allow the Godly Light to flow into his spirit. This light will cling to his spirit during the interval world (the time between death and Doomsday when a body lies in the tomb) and the world to come thereafter. In the world of realities this light is far brighter than the light of the sun which shines on our world and which we see every day. This world begins at the time of death and lasts forever: it indicates the reason for mankind coming to this earthly life, whereby his life is assessed to be a success or a failure. This world also exists in the worldly life, but only a true believer is aware of it. Ultimately it is the responsibility of every individual to reach this world of realities.

'In the holy Qur'an God says, "Their light will go forward before them, according to what they deserve." [124]'And He says in another Fortress: [125]"You who believe! See by Al'lah's Light and believe in His Envoy: He will give you a double share of His Mercy and He will provide a light to help you walk." [126]'Now, for comparison, let us put another loaf in a damp, dark room which has no window for the sunlight to enter; undoubtedly it will become hard and eventually decompose and crumble to dust.

'Now, the second example concerns a student who has considered the matter carefully and seen that failing to achieve good grades will bring him humiliation and disgrace; so because he is afraid of what his fate might be and does not want to spoil his future, he devoted himself fervently to his studies in order to achieve the desired results. In this way he passed the final examination easily, got good marks and was highly praised by his family, friends and teachers. When this student receives his certificate showing his marks, I wonder: will he hide it? Of course not! On the contrary, he will display it for all to see for he feels proud of his achievement and boasts of it. He will hang it in the entrance hall of his home so that everyone will be able to see it and share his happiness.

'As the spirit of the hard-working student flaunts his certificate, so it is with the believer. His spirit will observe the certificate of his good deeds written on its flawless body by God's Light, so it will keep this vision in mind. His body reminds him of his good deeds and acts of charity, so his spirit becomes confident of God's Satisfaction with it, and consequently it draws nearer to Him, since it will be always with God, and there is no way to dare to attack His belongings.

'Another student has failed to give the matter any thought and preferred to spend his time engaged in amusing pastimes and having fun, regardless of the outcome and his future. Suddenly, he finds himself at the doors of the examination room without having prepared himself for the task before him. At that moment, he will realise his folly as his heart starts to beat faster and he trembles nervously; so he will not be successful and will achieve nothing but failure. I wonder, when such a student receives his certificate, will he show it to anyone? I doubt it! Absolutely not! He will keep his failure to himself and will destroy the certificate, feeling ashamed of it.

'When you keep your eye on your possessions, and respect what you have, do you think a thief could steal them from you, or hide them or even use them without your knowledge? Of course not!... as long as you are watchful and keep your eye on them.

'So, let us talk about the state of the faithful spirit after death: maggots, vermin and mice will not dare to approach the pure, unblemished body of the true believer since the spirit of its owner is ever watchful and keeps looking at it: this spirit will enjoy an Afterlife of happiness and pleasure as it rises from one level of Paradise to another, gained by the good deeds carried out by its body in the temporal life.

'All the noble Prophets and Envoys (ptt) are holy bodies, and God does not allow the earth to eradicate them. You can say the same for the martyrs of the noble companions[127] who, through their own sacrifice, brought nations out from the depths of darkness into the light and knowledge of Al'lah, and in doing so they saved themselves from torment in this life and from Fire in the life to come. By virtue of their actions and good deeds they gained brilliant lights that covered up the wrong deeds they had committed in pre-Islamic times, before the time of our Prophet Mohammad (cpth). Therefore they do not see them. Moreover, the good deeds performed by the men of those countries they conquered will be added to their own and will increase their trust and make them closer to their Creator; consequently they will derive greater levels of illumination. That is why their bodies will not perish.

'And it will be the same with any man that comes of age and follows the straight path alongside those people who act in the right way and do good deeds, so that none of his senses will be induced to commit a sin: if he continues in this way until he dies nothing will make him lack confidence before God; on the contrary, his good deeds will uplift him. The body of such a man will not perish either.

'But the fact is, only a few people will ascend to such a high rank, and when corruption prevails on this mortal earth, the survival of the body, after death, is almost impossible because of the liability of sins and faults committed during its lifetime. Hence, the wholesome soil purifies these bodies by bringing about the process whereby the body begins to decay and finally decomposes.

'One might ask about a man who is blind or does not care about his belongings, or perhaps is distracted from them by some matter: would they not be easily stolen or hidden from him? Certainly, yes, they would. For the popular proverb states, "Exposed money teaches people to steal."

'I say that when a man is brought into this earthly existence as a child, his spirit is like a clean, white page. Day by day, his senses grow and his perception and awareness of all that he sees and hears increase so that he begins to understand and derive knowledge from all that surrounds him. When he reaches sixteen years of age, his body will be completely able and his brain fully developed. He is at the peak of his intellectual readiness and at this age a man's body is bursting with health and very active, and since the mechanism of the brain is a part of the mechanism of the whole body, it too will be at the height of its ability and effectiveness.

'At this age, man stands at the door of a new era: he either ascends the ladder of sublimity and attains time- honoured glory, and the endless joy and benefits of Paradise, or descends to the lower levels and falls into bad ways. Such a matter depends on man's own conduct and his free will in choosing between following the right paths with the people of true guidance, or taking the wrong turning with the people of misguidance who will lead him astray.

'If he adopts the straight ways, taking the people of right as his ideal and role model, his spirit will be illuminated by the light of the Prophet (cpth), "The Shining Lamp", and this light will keep flowing into his spirit even after death, when his body is buried in the earth.

'Now, since the body is the certificate on which the spirit's humane and good deeds are written it will continue to look at it, as the conscientious student did with his certificate: thus allowing this light of the Prophet (cpth) to reach it. And so, for the spirit, this body will be like a luxuriant garden giving off pleasant perfumes. But if man gives free rein to his spirit and follows the primrose path, that is, living a life of nothing but ease and pleasure, so that he fails to make use of his intellectual gifts and the power of his thought, he will become entirely embroiled in the lowly life, drinking from its quagmire and guzzling from its cup of mean, carnal desires. Thus, it will be as though he is clothed in a garment made of all the worst of human characteristics: abject depravity, dishonour, vileness, cowardice and stinginess. That is what his vessel, that is, his spirit, will be filled with; and since this vessel can give off only what it contains this man will do nothing but wrongful deeds. And his life will continue in this way until death knocks at his door to take him and throw him into the depths of darkness, where he will see nothing. A terrible shame for him!

'Then, and only then, will he will understand that he has taken the wrong path. He will see his wrongdoing for himself and will witness the realities of his bad deeds by his heart's eye. He will then find his body as an abhorrent record of all his misdeeds that makes his shame and humiliation increase more and more. It will give off a rotten, loathsome stench which will make his spirit turn away from it.

'Here, the limitless Mercy and amazing Clemency of God and His great Love for this evil man will engulf him, despite his disobedience, ungratefulness and impiety which denoted his mortal life, when He sends the germs and insects of the earth to consume his body in order to spare him the sight of it because it reminds him of his wrongful acts and causes him unbearable pain.

'This is the deep wisdom behind the putrefaction of these sinful bodies. The wickedness of his body in this life will be like an odious smell for his spirit thus making it flee from the body which reminds him of his evil actions, and therefore the body perishes.

'As for the man who spends his lifetime carrying out good deeds, his charity will turn into light for him for every good deed brings in more of the light of life. So, when he meets God after his death, his face will appear bright and flawless because of his good conduct. He will draw nearer to God and his spirit will be illuminated by His Light which will flow from Him, the Almighty, through this spirit to its body, just as the sunlight flows to the dry loaf and keeps it edible. This spirit will keep looking at its body since it can be compared to a certificate which records the good deeds which help it to rise in the Gardens of Al'lah. In this case, unlike the situation with the spirit of the sinful man, the spirits of insects or any other creature will not dare to approach its body to eat it and demolish it.

'The body which contained this spirit was the means by which the spirit performed good deeds. So, it will be like a beautiful garden with fragrant perfumes which makes the spirit enjoy looking at it and want to cling to it. This example can be applied to the man whose body has not perished.'

Having heard that impressive explanation about the wisdom behind decay and non-decay, Mohammed Amin left the sheikh, his mind astounded by the example of the garden and the corpse, and overwhelmed by wonder at his wise words.

He thought about what he had heard, and as he absorbed all that the sufi had told him, he was thankful to Al'lah for His Hand that led him there. His heart was flooded with waves of holy Godly Love and pulsing with endless appreciation for the Compassionate Grand God. Following this awe-inspiring experience Mohammad Amin vowed to himself to reach the supreme Honour and the everlasting Presence which generated matchless integrity and great determination in his spirit. He continued to strive whole- heartedly for God's Sake and sought to be ever nearer to Him by making full use of his power of thought until he found himself swimming in the seas of Divine Beauty and Favour and scooping up from the Source of all perfection.

Furthermore, he wanted all people to gain the same level of bliss that his spirit had gained. So God taught him the ways of guidance and he became an important leader, indeed, he became the scholar of all scholars and the master of all active scientists, spreading his wisdom and knowledge far and wide.

## A Spirited Horse Is Tamed

He sat on the sofa, his face in repose, but still denoting his physical and moral strength. Drops of sweat glistened on his forehead, seeming like pearls as they reflected the gentle light in the shady room. Officer Sheikho had just arrived home after spending many hours, since before sunrise, displaying his customary sacrifice and selflessness working in the pursuit of all that is right.

The blistering midday sun was beating down as he headed for his house where he sat down on the sofa, dragged off his heavy jackboots and put his feet into a basin of cold water, hoping to shake off some of the weariness that had overcome him.

But it seems his rest was soon to be interrupted when there was a knock on the door! It was an old friend who wanted to ask a special favour from Mohammad Amin and begged him, saying, 'Oh Bey I've seen an excellent horse in the horse market. Its beauty captures the mind and when it prances around it makes one's heart beat at its unabashed coquetry; you have a lot of experience and knowledge about horses so please would you come and use your expertise to examine it before I buy it... for you're the only person I trust.'

Mohammad Amin was absolutely exhausted, so what should he do? Would he give an excuse? But it was a request for help from a friend... and after all it would be a good deed... could he refuse? No, in all conscience he could not! He would do the right thing even though he was exhausted and would have liked to rest, so he quickly decided to make the sacrifice, forgo his rest, and accompany his friend to the market.

He donned his military uniform once again and set off with him while the sun was still blazing. As they arrived at the market he spotted the horse immediately: it was really an outstanding animal, a rare horse with a beautiful symmetrical body, a wide chest, long neck, strong straight legs and narrow flanks.

Mohammad Amin mounted the horse, and as soon as he urged it on, it galloped ahead, as though racing against time, and yet, the moment that he tightened the reins, it came to an immediate halt. He dismounted with signs of admiration and astonishment showing clearly on his face. He asked the vendor for the price, and was told, 'Forty golden pounds'!

Thereupon he turned to his friend and advised him sincerely saying, 'I don't think you should buy it... the price is far too low for a horse of that calibre... there must be something wrong with it that isn't evident at the moment; such a horse normally costs more than a hundred golden pounds.' He turned to the vendor and asked him, 'Will you refund the purchase price if any defect appears later?'

The seller replied, 'No, once it's sold, it's sold, and becomes your responsibility! You can try it again now and ride it from here as far as the Barada River; after the sale is completed I accept no further responsibility.'

Mohammad Amin said to his friend once again, 'I advise you not to buy it, the price doesn't make sense... anything less than a hundred golden pounds means there must be something wrong with it and that's why he's set the price so low.'

But with his voice clearly full of desire, the friend said, 'I understand what you're saying but... please agree that I should buy it because... because I love it...!'

However, one should always keep in mind that 'Having such an overwhelming desire for something makes one blind and deaf (in spirit).'

Mohammad Amin said to him, 'I've advised you and that's enough! You must now decide for yourself.'

And so, against Amin's best advice, his friend bought the horse, and paid cash to the seller. He was overwhelmed with happiness and felt as though the world was not big enough to contain his joy. His advisor, his friend Amin, left him to his euphoria and went home, and it must be added that he was astonished at his friend's decision.

A mere half an hour had passed when there was a prolonged knocking at his door. It was his friend, the new owner of the horse, with his face as white as a ghost and his eyes burning red with anger.

At first he had found the horse to be really wonderful! He was so full of excitement that as soon as he had completed the purchase, he mounted the horse and gave it free rein until he reached the quarter known as White Bridge, where there was a street that sloped up to the grassy slopes of Qassyoun mountain. But his joy was short lived! As he neared this area a tram happened to rush by causing a great amount of noise and startling the horse, whereupon it became very agitated, snorted and neighed, and reared up, raising its forelegs high in the air, and standing only on its hind legs.

The poor man was overcome by fear and threw himself from the back of the horse believing that the only way he could escape death would be to set foot on the ground.

The reason for the low price had just been made very clear to him!

It was perfectly obvious that this is how the horse would react if spooked, and if it fell it would, no doubt, kill its rider. He went straight to the house of Mohammad Amin and when the door was opened he spat out the words, 'You tricked me!'

Amin was dumbfounded and said, 'What? Did I? Stop...! Don't say another word!' He left him at the door and went back into the house; within moments he returned, bringing out a small bag. He thrust the bag into the man's hands and said, 'Take it!' He had only forty golden pounds, money which he had saved, and gave the whole amount to his friend. Yes! He sacrificed the gold and took the horse unwillingly from him, and then he led it to the stable.

Mohammad Amin had no need of this horse at all, for he was an officer and the government provided him with excellent horses and whatever stabling and fodder the animal needed. But he thought it was in his own best interests to preserve his dignity which led him to sacrifice the money, and to have a clear conscience and avoid any repercussions from the friend.

In the afternoon, our officer left his house leading the high spirited horse behind him and accompanied by his aide-de-camp. He started to think about the matter, and just then his face brightened and he began to smile. He turned to his aide asking him, 'Do you know those clay vials that are made in Aleppo?... the lower part of the container's shaped like a swelling belly and has a long neck... go and bring me four of them while I go ahead to al-Hashish meadow. Join me there.'

At that time, people were still kindly disposed towards one another and were accustomed to doing good deeds: civilization had not yet left the stamp of cruelty, stinginess, and selfishness on them. If one of their animals grew old or lacked the strength to work, they felt sorry for it and took it to al-Hashish meadow which lay on the banks of the River Barada, on the same site where the Damascus International Exhibition is situated today.

Higher up lay the River Banyas, and below it the River Barada. Fresh green grass covered the area all year round, and moreover, whenever the people of al-Sham [129]were afflicted with difficult times, they brought sacks bursting with barley and fed it to the old and debilitated animals: this wonderful gesture of almsgiving helped to drive away their misfortunes.

These generous human actions ensured that the animals had a comfortable life and were well fed, until the day they died. The cavalry also used al-Hashish meadow as the area where they trained in riding skills as it was a vast field where they found a chance for acquiring experience and advanced riding skills.

Our officer saw his aide coming and carrying the four vials, then he called out to him, 'Half fill each of them with water from the river.' This done, our officer fixed them just in front of him on the horse's neck, and no sooner had he prodded the horse than it galloped off at full speed seemingly intent on flying!... And the more it galloped, the faster it seemed to want to go!

The onlookers were amazed and overcome with admiration; their eyes followed every movement of the horse and the brave rider on its back. Their hearts beat in time with the sound of the horse's hoofs, showing their appreciation of the rider's skills and his beautiful horse. Suddenly, the horse stopped short! Our horseman grasped the reins firmly and sat squarely on its back, as it whinnied and snorted, and reared high into the air as if it would reach the sky.

That was the moment our horseman was waiting for: he held up a vial from the neck of the horse and banged it on its head between the ears, The animal heard a sound like a loud clap of thunder and was deafened, this was followed by drops of water falling on its head as if it was raining. The result was instantaneous! It lowered its forelegs to the ground, terrified!

But as soon as the reins were loosened it galloped off once again like a bullet from a gun... and the moment that it tried to repeat this behaviour, it was subjected to the same treatment with the second vial. It was beginning to understand: this time it submitted and set off once again without rearing, but still it galloped ahead quickly as if escaping from a pack of wild animals. And for the third time, as soon as it started to repeat the same behaviour as before, another vial landed on its head with the same clamour and water cascading over its face, leaving no chance for it to try to throw its rider once again.

After that, our officer continued to gallop back and forth for a long time until he was sure that the horse had overcome its habitual bad habit which resulted from fear. Officer Mohammad Amin was extremely happy with the amazing results which had been brought about by his ability to assess the situation and take the appropriate measures. He turned to his aide and gave him the fourth vial with a smile of confidence, knowing that it was the Creator of heaven and earth who guided him to such a solution, for had it not been for the Guidance of Al'lah, he could never have resolved the problem.

A few days later, he took the horse to the market and offered it for sale, and within a very short time it was sold for 100 golden pounds, so he thanked God and praised Him.

When he met his friend he said to him, 'May Al'lah forgive you! Why did you lie and say that I had deceived you? Indeed Al'lah inspired me so that I found the problem with the horse and fixed it by imposing the correct methods of discipline; then I sold it for 100 gold pounds and made a profit of 60 gold pounds within a week. With that, the face of his ungrateful friend turned pale... he was furious and extremely upset at his loss.

## Animals Are God's Creatures Too

Officer Mohammad Amin was invited by one of his acquaintances, a pasha, [130]to a banquet in his palace in the al-Zabadani region. He was of Turkish origin, very prestigious, and held a high position in the Turkish government during the Ottoman era.

The pasha was well acquainted with Officer Sheikho's deeds which were most important to the hierarchy of the Turkish government and they had nicknamed him 'Aslan' (lion), for he truly feared no-one and he was greatly admired and respected by his followers and leaders, especially the high commander of the Turkish army who had great affection for him and had made him one of his closest confidants. This incited jealousy among some of the Turkish officers and led them to hold grudges against him because, despite his Arabic origin, he was regarded with the greatest respect by those at the highest level of the government machine. But those low people could not harm him, and Allah raised him to higher levels of dignity and eminence because of his nobility and goodness.

M. A. Sheikho had many acquaintances and all of them revered him greatly for his excellent ability to achieve the best possible outcome for all problems and to perform whatever duties he was charged with to the best of his ability. He amazed everyone with his wonderful ideas and amazing deeds so they all held him in high esteem.

Officer Sheikho travelled on horseback from Damascus to the pasha's palace in the al-Zabadani region, a journey which took from early morning till noon. When he arrived, he was received by the pasha who had retired from public and political life, but still remembered what he had learnt about this officer and how he had dedicated his life to serving people and supporting the truth in all matters, and so, he had great affection for him, admired him, and appreciated him highly.

After he had welcomed him in a hospitable fashion he praised him for his actions and accomplishments and chatted to him in the most pleasant fashion, then our beloved officer took up the conversation and the joyful session lasted till very late, in fact till well after midnight. When it was time for sleep, and after the pasha had ordered the servants to prepare a room with the greatest comforts where his honourable guest would stay overnight, he said that he, personally, would like to show Mohammad Amin to the Animals Are God's Creatures Too comfortable room specially prepared for him, but the officer halted for a moment and said, 'I would first like to check my horse.'

The pasha told him not to worry about it as he would order the servants to take care of it. But his guest thanked him and said that he always checked his horse himself and that way he would be relaxed and sleep easily.

The pasha thought that Amin's insistence on going to the stable was rather strange, so he said again, 'Don't worry about it...' and taking him by the arm he led him towards the bedroom. Thereupon, our officer turned to him saying politely, 'I'm sorry, but if you don't let me I'll go back to Damascus at once.'

It was late, long after midnight, so the pasha asked him,

'Would you leave now? And for the sake of a horse?'

He replied, 'Yes, by God!... I'll leave for Damascus immediately if you do not let me go to the stables.'

The pasha was astonished at his insistence to look after the horse himself and, as the good host, he felt compelled to comply with his request, so he ordered the servants to bring a lantern to light the way to the stables. Mohammad Amin went to the stables where he found that the ground was paved with cobblestones, some of which had slightly pointed tips which would likely be most uncomfortable for the horses and probably prevent them sleeping comfortably. They would have to stand all during the night and if they sat, they would not be able to move for it would be very painful. When he reached the stables he did, indeed, find weary horses standing up and not able to sleep properly.

When he saw this, he was very upset and felt sad, for the poor animals were suffering. At once he asked the servants to bring a sack of hay, then he set about spreading it on the ground so that his horse could lie down to sleep but the pasha held his arm trying to prevent him from doing such menial work and insisted that he should let the servants do it.

But Amin insisted on completing the work of tending to his horse himself.

The pasha said, 'Oh God! Do you take all this trouble and tire yourself for the sake of a horse? Leave it alone... and even if it dies, I'll offer you a better one...choose whatever one you like from these thoroughbreds.'

But the officer did not accept the offer, even though it was well meant, for he always showed great mercy to animals as well as to mankind.

After he had prepared a place for his horse to rest, he asked the servants to bring him a quantity of fodder and a sieve for sifting out small stones, so he could feed his horse.

The pasha was astonished at such strange behaviour as people of his exalted rank were unfamiliar with such kind treatment of animals, and he had never seen such a high ranking officer to be so concerned about them: feeding them himself and caring about their rest. It was something odd in his view, and the strangest thing, as he had offered the officer any one of his many beautiful purebred horses which were bred from the highest lineage, in place of his own; but he refused.

The servants brought a sieve to clean the fodder as he had requested, he then put the hay and barley into the sieve and sifted it, then removed a great number of small stones which would have caused his horse a lot of pain while chewing its food and would probably break its teeth. And, it is a fact, that the pasha's thoroughbred horses did not like it when they chewed on the small stones in the fodder and they did in fact suffer a lot of pain.

After he had prepared food, water and a place for his horse to rest, our officer, Mohammad Amin said, 'Now I can go to sleep happy and untroubled.'

A great feeling of mercy overwhelmed his heart and became transformed into words of advice for the pasha that he should give orders to the stablemen to take care of all the animals' food, drink, and the place for them to sleep; and to take care that these instructions were carried out.

He emphasized to the pasha that he should not take these recommendations lightly otherwise Allah would punish him by sending him afflictions and misfortunes in the present worldly life before he could go to the life Hereafter. On the other hand, Mohammad Amin told him, he would receive great benefits if he paid proper attention to the matter even though it would cost him nothing except to give the appropriate kind orders.

He told him that these creatures will ask God, on the Day of Resurrection, to call him to account and punish him if he wrongs them and causes them harm. But the pasha did not believe these words, nor did he care about such matters, and his reply was simply: 'Is it possible that Allah would punish me for the sake of a horse? It's worthless and even if it dies, we can get another one... its only purpose is to serve us.'

In the morning our officer, Mohammad Amin, took leave of his friend and was very sad for him because of his cruelty and because he failed to listen to the advice he was offered: the same advice which has the power to lift man's spirit towards happiness in this life and the life to come.

Sometime after this visit, the pasha fell ill and the condition lasted for many years, and our officer understood full well the painful condition that had afflicted him. He was not able to lie on any side of his suffering body... all during the night he groaned and turned from side to side, his body wracked with pain.

He could not sleep by night or by day... except for the occasional short nap, but even that was with great difficulty... and however he moved, the pain was always present. He could hardly eat, taking only a very little food out of necessity. He suffered unbearable spasms in his jaws and teeth so that he was unable to chew anything, and after every bite, he cried out because of the severe pain.

He had no respite from that wretched situation until the day he died. It was his poor treatment of animals that caused this painful illness to be inflicted on him so that he would experience something of their suffering before finally leaving this earthly life.

This must surely be a lesson to all mankind: there is a price to pay for every wrong deed one commits irrespective of however long he lives.

The pasha was buried in al-Zabadani region close to the border with Lebanon. This region was called al-Jirjaniyeh, and his tomb can still be seen in front of his palace, the al- Jirjaniyeh palace. How fitting that the tomb lies in front of the palace to remind all that death surely follows life.

Let this be a lesson for anyone who has a heart and mind or who listens and earnestly witnesses the truth.

## Two Giants in a Struggle to the Death

The following is an account of a true story which took place during the Ottoman Rule in Syria, and relates the tale of what took place between two giants of that time and led to a positive outcome.

When the details of this event reached the ears of the humane officer M. A. Sheikho, (known as 'Aslan', the lion, for his bravery) he was touched by it and gave his wise judgement so that it would be a message for everybody who seeks to learn from the lessons of this life.

On one side this story concerns one of the gendarmes (policemen) who was under the leadership of our great officer 'Aslan'. This gendarme had been endowed with a huge muscular body and he was known as the powerful giant of his time and he was thought of as a hero. But at the same time, many people were afraid of this muscular monster because of his reputation for brutality and violence, and they took great care not to upset him due to the merciless brutality he might resort to. Indeed, he was a human giant with a colossal stature that was rarely seen and a physical strength that was almost beyond the imagination. At the same time, there was another giant equal in physical stature to the herculean gendarme, both in bulk and height, and with a similar pugnacious personality. Both of them were indomitable and brutal and displayed equal amounts of insolence and conceit.

Therefore each regarded the other as an enemy, and despised opponent, and hoped that he might disappear, or even die so that he would remain the only hero and the one great giant in the eyes of the people who would look at him with awe. He would then live his life feeling that he was all powerful and free from any feelings of annoyance or bitterness.

Eventually the feelings of concealed malevolence and intense hatred that existed between them festered in the hearts of the two giants to the extent that they took every opportunity to abuse each other and to give vent to all the feelings of aversion and hostility they held for one another. Eventually this flood of swearwords and cursing developed into a bloody, merciless struggle and savage fighting that was no different from the struggle of a predatory animal on its prey. Neither one of them ever gave in to the other however badly he was injured. Once started neither one would withdraw from their regular death-defying struggles until the policemen came and fired into the air in order to frighten them and convince them to call a halt. This was the only way their ferocious bouts would end, with no winner or loser, otherwise it would likely go from bad to worse until eventually one of them would surely kill the other.

The terrible skirmishes between these two monsters happened frequently, and every time they met it was just like a confrontation between two great mammoths, each one vying to establish control and superiority over the other.

However, the Hand of Godly Potency was also present during the clashes of these two titans and He always sent policemen to put an end to their savage confrontations, until the day came when the two opponents, having responded to the cursed call of Satan, the enemy of all mankind, met for what proved to be their final bloody bout. The flames of spite and repugnance were clearly apparent on the distorted faces of both men and became translated into vicious, taunting words and malevolent glares. As for their hearts, only God could know what was going on therein!

On this day one challenged the other to meet in distant fields, well away from the eyes of both people and policemen, and a ferocious fight took place between the two giants, their hearts overflowing with blind rage and hatred towards each other. Neither of them displayed the least sign of mercy towards his opponent, each vying to use his incredible, brute force to destroy the other. They set about poking and shoving each other wantonly with painful, relentless blows until it escalated into a full scale fight, ending when one went down and the other walked away victorious. In point of fact, anyone who had witnessed one of these inhuman battles in the past would realise that it might well lead to tragedy.

Anyone who had a conscience would have been stricken with the deepest sorrow and pain if they had been there, at the fighting ground, watching these two brutes trying to kill each other.

Both faces were bloodied, one had a broken nose, the other had lost some teeth, both bodies were slippery from the blood which flowed abundantly from their heads and the multitude of cuts on their bodies. They were streaked with the shades of criminality, wickedness and inhumanity that denoted the influence of Satan, their real enemy. The bloodcurdling battle became even more intense until they were both utterly exhausted; still neither one was prepared to give in and call a halt... they kept on fighting and tusselling, barely able to breathe... gasping for air... the breath rasping in their throats...

Finally, exhausted and staggering from side to side, one of them gained the advantage and with a single blow he knocked his opponent to the ground, where he lay utterly defenceless, his body broken and covered with blood. The victor stood over his fallen adversary looking down on him, feasting his eyes on his fallen enemy... watching him lying in the dust, moaning and gasping as if every breath was his last. Only then did he feel that he had vanquished his opponent and his black heart became satisfied with the taste of victory.

So, he turned his back on his victim who was lying there seriously injured and began to stagger back towards the city, for the effort expended in downing his opponent had temporarily weakened him. He was convinced that he had defeated his opponent and given him a lesson that he would never forget.

But the downed giant was not done for yet! The victor had gone no more than a few steps when he heard the broken voice of his defeated foe, gasping threats, 'I'll recover... and be stronger... you'll see what I'll do to you... So, watch your back...!'

The victorious giant stopped in his tracks, turned, and went back to his beaten opponent, still lying on the ground in a severely weakened state 'Really... do you really think so? You'll come back to challenge me when you're strong again... when you've recovered?'

'Yeh... yeh...! You've got no idea what I'm going to do to you.'

Hearing this, the victor stood motionless for a while, lost in thought and staring at his beaten opponent who was afraid to make any move to get up. It was clear that he had come to a decision as he lumbered off and came back with large quantities of brushwood and firewood and piled it up; then he brought a long rough piece of wood and stood it upright in the middle, pushing it into the ground. After that he walked towards his powerless opponent and started to drag him by his leg towards the pile of wood. There he pulled him to his feet, pushed and pulled him until he had him lined up against the stake, and bound him to it. In cold blood, he set fire to the wood!

It may seem unbelievable to any right thinking man, but that is exactly what he did, without any hesitation or second thoughts. Not content with beating his foe to a bloody pulp he committed a savage crime and burnt him to death, getting rid of him once and for all! He burnt his sworn enemy at the stake and without any sign of mercy or compassion.

This was the fate of that implacable giant: what an outrageous end! What a dreadful tragedy! What barbarity... what terrible brutality!

The news of this crime soon reached the ears of the humane officer Mohammad Amin, and he was given full details of the events of the struggle between the two giants. So when he heard the final words of the defeated giant and the threats against his killer, he felt his heart break, and said, with a voice full of sorrow and grief, 'Why did the fallen man say such a thing in the hearing of his enemy? He was responsible for his own death. He was stupid to voice his thoughts. He should have kept his plans to himself and waited until he regained his health; then he could have done whatever he wanted and taken his revenge. But by declaring his intentions in this way he virtually committed suicide. Yes, his very own act was tantamount to killing himself: for the Almighty Al'lah had granted him the power of cogent thought to use it appropriately, but he failed to use it at all. Actually he is responsible for his own death.'

Oh Mankind, stop what you are doing to your brother in humanity! Is it for this that you were created? Did God send you to this world to kill your brethren? Where is your humanity? What caused you to wipe it out and discard it? The state of those who withdraw from Al'lah, the Almighty, is very strange indeed!

## Never Rely on Sorcery

The great scholar M. A. Sheikho, was lying on his bed in a simply furnished room groaning softly, breathing deeply from time to time, and then seeming to stop breathing for a while. His face was flushed with fever, and sweat ran from his forehead to his pillow. He had a high fever, which had become so severe that he lost consciousness.

An extremely precious and luxurious Persian carpet lay in a corner of the room still wrapped up, just as it had been when Mohammad Amin had bought it a few days previously, before he fell ill and was confined to bed.

The honourable officer remained unconscious for several days and all those about him were concerned for his health, but then, finally, his temperature began to decrease, and his face gradually returned to a more natural colour. He slowly started to eat small portions of food which would help him to recover his strength.

Although he had overcome the fever, it was clear that he was still weak as an after effect of the illness. But he grew stronger with each passing day whereby he was able not only to sit up but to walk a few steps. Showing his customary strength he quickly returned to living his life as usual.

A few days later, while sitting on his bed having a light breakfast, he noticed that the new carpet, which he had left in the corner of the room before he fell sick, had gone. He wondered where it might be! It had disappeared! Could his kindly, upright wife have taken it to put it down on the floor of another room in the house?

If not, where could it have gone?!

After finishing his breakfast he took the tray with his breakfast dishes down to the kitchen where his wife was still cleaning. He handed her the tray and then asked her, 'Oh, [131]Um Fathi, where have you put the new carpet?'

She asked in astonishment, 'Isn't it in the corner of your room?'

Amin replied in bewilderment, 'No, I've looked around the room and I can't find it.'

She replied, 'The last thing I knew about it, it was on the floor in the corner of your room.'

He said, 'Yes, that's true... I remember that it was there before I became ill, but I can't find it now. Where could it be?'

He and his wife started searching everywhere for the carpet, but they were unable to find it.

It seemed that it had simply disappeared or even been stolen... but how?

And who would dare to steal a carpet from under the very nose of the director of the citadel and the prison...?

Our officer, M. A. Sheikho, was feeling worried as he put on his uniform. He then hurried to his office in Damascus Citadel, where he looked through the lists he always maintained detailing the names of many criminals and people who had been convicted in the past. He brought in each of these suspects one by one and interrogated them. However, this investigation failed to achieve its desired result.

Officer Mohammad Amin became steadily more absorbed in the case. His concern was not for the carpet itself; rather, the main focus of his interest was to find out exactly how the thief had been able to enter his house and steal the carpet without being seen by anyone! He was bored and exasperated by this case and there was still no sign of a positive result.

One day, a man told him that he could reveal the identity of the thief by using sorcery. Our officer asked,

'How could this be?'

(At that time, one should note, God had not yet revealed His lofty Guidance or His Holy Qur'anic Revelations to Mohammad Amin.)

The man said, 'Oh, honourable officer! Just go to this sorcerer (and he gave him a name) and he will discover the identity of the robber. What's more, he'll tell you how somebody was able to carry out this theft by using his powers of divination.

Needless to say, our officer was extremely interested, so he asked the man to show him the way to the sorcerer and they then set off together. When they arrived, Officer Sheikho entered and gave the sorcerer the details of the theft, and in turn he was soon told not to worry for his problem would be quickly solved. He called a boy who was playing in the courtyard and asked him to come inside. The boy did as the sorcerer directed him: he sat with his face bent over a container filled with water, concentrating on what he might see on the surface. The sorcerer covered the boy's small head with a towel and then sat close to him, murmuring gibberish, 'Hary... Bary... You, appear! Jai... Mai... I abjure you; you... Ahdoosh! Tawoosh!'

A few minutes passed and the man stopped his murmuring, and asked the boy, 'What do you see now?'

The boy replied, 'I can see the market, Souq al-Hamidiyah.'[132] Then he started describing what he could see, 'I am passing the entrance of Souq al-Hamidiyah, and going towards a lane called Souq al-Taweel that leads to a shrine.'

The boy continued, '...this is the shrine of al-Say'yeda Jabiyah. [133]Now, here's another lane that starts from Souq al- Souf stretching before me... and on the right side of the entrance to this lane there are many houses with wooden doors. The sixth door is a wicket door [134] (bab khokha in Arabic).

The boy continued to describe the images he could see before him on the surface of the water. 'This wicket door belongs to a Damascus house with a wide courtyard, and an old, unused well, lying to the left of the wicket. Opposite this there is an old staircase leading to a big room on the upper floor... inside this room there's a big wooden chest... adorned and inlaid with white shells.

'There it is... there it is! A new carpet, all wrapped up... with fresh, bright colours showing that it's new.'

The sorcerer asked, 'What else do you see, boy? Do you see anything else?'

The boy replied, 'No, now I see nothing but the carpet inside the box.'

When the boy's vision ended with this image of the carpet, the sorcerer removed the cloth from the boy's head.

At this point our officer, Mohammad Amin, said with joy and astonishment, 'So, is that my stolen carpet inside this box?'

'Yes Sir! Yes, it is,' replied the sorcerer.'

Mohammad Amin felt a growing sense of optimism at what he had been told, and whispered to the sorcerer, 'Let's go! Bring what you need to practise your divining and come with me to the place in question.'

All of them got up and set off together. They walked along the same path that the boy had just seen while under the influence of clairvoyance. They progressed as the boy had seen in his vision from one place to another, and from one lane to another, until they reached the lane that was their goal. There, sure enough, just as in the boy's vision, they saw before them the lane with the wooden doors, with the sixth one being a wicket door.

Hence, so far all that the boy had said was true, and it would seem that sorcery does not lie. However, it is most important to ask oneself did this young boy truly have such powers of divination or was his mind controlled by the sorcerer?

M. A. Sheikho sent for the mayor of the quarter and ordered him to search the house, and specifically the chest in the upstairs room.

At that time, the mayor of the quarter, a good man, had been given, unofficially, a broad remit by the inhabitants of the quarter, as most of them liked him and thought of him as a kindly father to them all.

The mayor introduced himself to the great officer, and then they all headed for the house in question. The group was composed of the officer, two policemen, the mayor, the sorcerer and the boy. When they reached the house, the mayor, who was standing to the right of the door close to Officer Sheikho, knocked loudly to ask to be let in.

The door opened just a little, and from behind it, a woman's voice answered the mayor's knock: 'Who is knocking?' She remained behind the door in order not to be seen by anyone, for this was a time when women were completely veiled.

The mayor answered, 'I am the mayor, we want to come in, my daughter,[135] so open the door for us and step aside.'

In the meantime, our officer was looking through the opening and saw the well situated to the left of the door. This told him for certain that it was the same house that had been seen by the boy in his vision. He was worried that the woman would close the door and refuse to open it again when she realised that an officer and two policemen had come to search the premises. So, to ensure their uninhibited access, Officer Sheikho put his foot in the opening between the bottom of the door and the step as the mayor continued talking to the woman. Then she withdrew to a nearby room to join the other women of the house, while the mayor, respecting her modesty, waited for a few moments before entering the house with the other members of the group.

Mohammad Amin was longing to uncover the rest of the details that the boy had foreseen, so after the door was opened, he rushed towards the well, and then saw the old wooden staircase just opposite, lying in the same place as described. It was indeed old, just as the boy had told them. The mayor and the rest of the group rushed in behind the officer without knowing the reason for his haste, but they kept apace with our officer.

As for Mohammad Amin, he was becoming ever more certain of the truth and the great revelation contained in this sorcery for whichever way he turned, he saw that everything corresponded to the details that had been described by the boy. They entered the room the boy had described, and there they found the decorated wooden chest, locked as they expected it to be.

The mayor went back to the room where the women had taken refuge, and called from outside the door, 'We want to open the wooden chest. Is there any objection to this, or anything inside which we should not see?'

The woman said, 'No, no... do as you wish; it contains only some winter clothes. Here is the key.' She then opened the door slightly and threw out a big key. The mayor took a few steps forward, stooped to pick it up, and then returned to the room to open the chest. However, when he raised the lid, the mayor was amazed. Alas! The box contained only some winter clothes as the woman had said, and there was no carpet inside. Clearly, the boy's vision had come to nothing!... Was this because of the dubious powers of magic?

Officer Sheikho had been convinced that he was about to recover his carpet as all the details previously given by the boy had been correct until then. So, the carpet was not there, but how could such a thing have happened?... How could the boy have been so sure?

Thereupon, he turned to the magician, saying, 'Come on, be quick... practise your magic again, so we can discover the whereabouts of the carpet.' Whereupon the magician followed his order immediately.

He hastily arranged for the boy to bend his face over the container of water again, and started his magical muttering and then asked the boy, 'What can you see now?'

The boy said, '...the market of Souq al-Hamidiyah.' The sorcerer continued to press him, 'What else?'

The boy continued describing his vision, '...a large store filled with different kinds of carpets... laid lengthwise...stacked in rows along the walls.' 'Can you see anything else?' asked the sorcerer.

The boy replied, 'No, it's just a store for selling carpets...the upper floor is filled with them.'

When Mohammad Amin heard this, many thoughts crowded his mind, he then made some quick calculations, and rapidly reached a conclusion; he asked the mayor, 'Is the owner of the house a carpet merchant?'

The mayor said, 'Oh Sir! I really don't remember, but wait a moment.'

He hurried down to the women's room, and called out to them from outside the closed door, 'What is the business of the householder? Is he a carpet merchant?'

One woman answered, 'Yes, he is... And his store is located in the market of Souq al-Hamidiyah.'

The mayor came back with an answer that confirmed Amin's train of thought as it became clear to him that he had fully understood the situation. He had discovered the secret of this devious carpet merchant. He would sell a carpet, and then send someone to follow the buyer home, in order to know the exact address of their house. Then that same night, or whenever he had the chance, he would send his thieves to steal the carpet and bring it back to his store.

The mayor looked at the chief officer who was deep in thought, and appeared to be totally preoccupied. The mayor then asked him, 'What will you do now, Sir?'

The officer turned slowly to the mayor who had interrupted his train of thought, and said in a drawn out voice, 'Nooow... nooow...' Then he sprang into action, ordering the two gendarmes and the rest of the group to follow him quickly. He rushed down the stairs, with the two gendarmes running alongside him, and followed by the mayor. The sorcerer and the boy were also close behind, having poured the water out of the bowl and taken note of the merchant's name.

Officer Sheikho strode along a lane leading into Souq al-Hamidiyah, where he headed for the largest carpet store, first asking the name of the owner of the store, the man from whom he remembered buying the carpet. When he arrived, he found that the store was exactly as described by the boy. It was clear that the owner of the house was one and the same as the owner of this carpet store. There he was, seated behind an impressive desk and drinking a cup of green tea.

When he saw Officer Sheikho and the rest of the party behind him, he stood up quickly and approached our officer, who began to address him, clearly annoyed, 'Do you think it right to do such things? You sell your carpet to a customer, and then you send someone to steal it from his house! Is this legal business? What kind of trade is this?! And why did you steal my carpet after you had sold it to me?'

The merchant faltered and his face turned as white as a corpse, and then he stammered, 'I am... no... no sir... I did not steal anything... I don't steal.'

Our officer replied forcefully, 'And yet you did... you stole my carpet, and this was confirmed by divination... do you say that it's mistaken?'

The merchant could not do anything except swear by God and deny that he had ever been involved with such nefarious deeds. Nonetheless, officer Sheikho was sure that this merchant was a thief since divination had asserted that this was the case; otherwise, had the boy's vision and his revelation of the theft come out of thin air? Should he disbelieve what the innocent little boy had seen with his own eyes?

Surely this merchant was the thief; otherwise, why had the boy revealed this man in particular? Our officer shouted to his men, 'Come on! Grab him, tie him up.' Then he took his whip and prepared to thrash the thief, the leading merchant, and chastise him for his illicit act. Within moments, the important merchant had been thrown to the ground, with his legs bound and held in the air.

Meanwhile, just before the lashing was to start, a group of merchants who had heard the hubbub and raised voices came in. They had been told of the arrival of the police and decided to come to investigate as quickly as they could to see what was going on. When they saw their leader lying down on the ground, his legs bound, they were utterly astonished and blurted out in unison, 'What's the matter... what's the matter, master?'

Officer Sheikho delayed the beating, then lowered the hand holding the lash and turned to them, exposing the carpet merchant as a thief by saying, 'He's a thief. He sold me a carpet and within a few days he had stolen it from my house... what impudence!'

The merchants said, 'What do you want now, Sir? Do you want a carpet to replace the one that he stole? Take any carpet you want, but please release the merchant.' The gendarmes then released the merchant, and he got up, dusting off his clothes.

He had never expected to face such a fate whereby a sorcerer would be able to uncover his illegal tricks and tell an officer about him.

The merchant gave Officer Sheikho a carpet similar to the one he had lost. It was so similar that it could have been, in fact, the self-same carpet! He ordered the gendarmes to carry it away and he left the store, followed by the sorcerer and his two men carrying the carpet.

Our officer then decided that he wished to recover the goods of all of those people who had been swindled by this merchant and decided to start an official investigation into the matter. The problem was that the government did not accept divination as a legal source of evidence so he could do nothing but regain his own belongings. However, by doing this he ensured that the merchant's spirit would never again allow him to enter the house of M. A. Sheikho; and surely that same merchant would be deterred from doing the same to anyone else in the future.

Outside the store, the happiness that he was feeling was expressed clearly on his face. It would have been impossible to achieve these results without the use of sorcery, and the outcome pleased him greatly. Because he was so impressed, he asked the sorcerer to teach him how to use this power to expose criminals and thieves, and he, of course, agreed.

They continued walking side by side as the magician taught Officer Sheikho the rules of practising the art, and then he gave him his container, saying, 'This is for you, and I will get another one for myself.' Mohammad Amin then bid him farewell, and they separated after our officer had paid him a generous fee for his services. Then our officer continued on towards his house, with the two policemen carrying the carpet behind him.

Days and months passed, then a year, and then a second year. Eventually, one day, one of the convicts in the prison asked for a meeting with the director of the citadel prison, Officer Sheikho. The criminal told the officer in his coarse voice, 'Sir... sir... I want to tell you about something that happened... two years ago, a criminal (and here he named the man) stole a carpet from your house... he broke into your house and took it.'

Officer Sheikho was astonished at what he had just heard and said with great interest, 'Are you sure of what you are saying?'

The inmate said, 'By God sir, I'm telling you the absolute truth, and the proof of my honesty is that I know that you were sick at that time, and that you were unconscious because of a high fever.'

The carpet thief had related his secret to this man because these two criminals had been friends, but when a violent quarrel took place between them, the latter came to inform the director of the prison, Officer Sheikho, against his former friend.

This story astonished the officer to the point that he asked himself, 'Did this divination deceive us? But how? How could the boy have seen all that he described? What's more, all the witnesses agreed with the facts, and now from this new information it seems that they all were wrong!'

Was it possible? But facts are facts!

Officer Sheikho sent for the criminal who had recently been accused of stealing his carpet and interrogated him,

'Two years ago, you stole a carpet from my house, did you not?'

The criminal replied: (in utter amazement, as he did not believe that his crime would be revealed after such a long time), 'No sir, I did not.'

Officer Sheikho said, 'You! Admit the truth! You're the culprit and I have witnesses that can swear to it.'

When the man still did not confess, our officer ordered the gendarmes to throw him down, and then he gave him fifty lashes of his whip. He followed this up by threatening that the lashing would be repeated three times a day, at breakfast, lunch, and dinner time, and warned that he would be imprisoned in the prison dungeon underground. This punishment would continue until the man confessed the truth. At once the criminal begged him not to do it and promised to tell the truth. The officer stopped whipping him, and had the gendarmes release him. Although in terrible pain from the lashing he managed to get off the floor and sat there, defeated. He then spoke quietly, 'It is true sir. Two years ago I stole a carpet from your house.'

Officer Sheikho asked how he had managed to do it.

The criminal continued his story, saying, 'Once, while I was at home I suddenly came under attack by a large patrol of gendarmes, so I quickly made my way to the roof of my house. From there I ran from one rooftop to another fleeing from your patrol, Sir. I continued in this way going from one roof to the next until I came to a building with a lemon tree beside it. This tree was tall enough to reach the roof, so I climbed down the tree until I was opposite an open window. I looked inside the room and saw a man sleeping, so I jumped from the tree to the window, and sneaked through the window and into the room as quietly as I could. All the while, the sleeping man didn't wake up. I crept along quietly, on the tips of my toes, and then – what a surprise! 'The sleeping man was you sir, so my heart beat with fright at first, but I pulled myself together when I saw that your face was flushed red with fever. It was clear that you were suffering from a high fever that had made you unconscious... it was only then that I realised that the patrol which was chasing me was not being led by you.

'I noticed the handle of a pistol poking out from under the edge of your pillow, and quickly stretched out my hand and snatched it away. I then loaded it, aimed it at your head and pulled the trigger, but it didn't fire, so I tried to fire again and again but nothing happened, the firing pin was stuck. As I was trying to think of a way out of the mess I was in I saw a new carpet, still wrapped, lying in the corner, so I picked it up and went out, and once I got to the street I began shouting, "Carpets! Carpets!" When I was far enough away from your house and had reached the fields, I took the pistol out and pulled the trigger again, and this time the gun fired at the first attempt. It was a very strange thing Sir. I don't know why the pistol didn't fire when it was aimed at you, but when I was outside, it fired the first time I tried.'

It should be mentioned here that the house of M. A. Sheikho was built in the style of an Arabic building and had two floors, an upper and a lower one. It was located in the quarter of al-Muhajireen. Since this area is on the slope of the mountain, the upper floor of the house opened directly onto the street via the main door of the house, whereas the lower floor was below the level of the street and a staircase lay behind the main door and led down to it. So, the thief had entered the room of Officer Sheikho through a window on the upper floor, and when he left, he went directly from this room to the main door leading out into the street. Because of this, nobody had noticed him sneaking into the house.

At this point, Mohammad Amin remembered the mystery of the vanishing pistol, but he had not realised that it had vanished at the time that the carpet had also disappeared. Officer Sheikho was responsible for the arsenal in the citadel, and could choose whatever arms he wanted. Because of this, when he could not find his pistol, he thought that he had simply forgotten to bring his spare one. However, now he knew what had really happened to it.

'Where's the carpet now?' asked Officer Sheikho.

The criminal told him that it was at his sister's house, in the village of Douma.

Our officer then took the criminal with him, along with a couple of gendarmes for backup, and they went to his sister's house where they found the carpet still wrapped as it had been when it was stolen. She had not dared to spread it out in case her brother came to collect it one day; if he saw it laid on the ground and covered in dust he would likely be angry with her and possibly beat her.

The gendarmes picked up the carpet and took it back to the house of Officer Sheikho. After he had given the pistol back to its owner, the criminal was sent to face another trial in the citadel prison.

So it had become clear that sorcery and its practitioners tell lies, and he who believes an astrologer has failed to believe the Prophets.

With immense enthusiasm our great officer, M. A. Sheikho, immediately began to invite some of the big merchants in the market of Souq al-Hamidiyah to a lunchtime banquet, and he stressed that the merchants he invited should bring the leading carpet merchant to the banquet with them. At the appointed time the merchants arrived, bringing the particular guest with them. Officer Sheikho received them with great hospitality and asked them to sit down; then, to the surprise of all, and guided by the principle of fairness for all on which his noble spirit rested, he sat on the floor, raised his legs onto a chair and tied them together with a rope. He then threw his lash to the carpet merchant and called to him:

'Come on! Get up and beat me, because you are an innocent man and I unjustly accused you of theft. Your innocence has become clear to me, and the deceptiveness of sorcery and its practitioner, the astrologer, have been revealed.'

The guests were astonished at what they saw: the mighty officer, the commander of Damascus Citadel and its prison, lying down with his legs raised, asking the merchant to beat him! The merchant was also amazed and refused to beat him, and so Officer Sheikho said to him, 'If you don't beat me, I'll beat you. Come on, it's an order... beat me!'

Thereupon, a merchant interrupted him, saying, 'But sir, we remember well that you threw him down, so that his position was just like yours now, but you did not beat him; and here you are now lying on the ground as he was, so why do you want him to beat you?'

The carpet merchant said, 'That's true sir, you did not beat me, and so I will not beat you.'

Officer Sheikho then got up and apologised to the merchant, once again announcing his innocence before all the guests.

Then all of them went on to enjoy their lunch happily and joyfully, as the honour of the carpet merchant had been fully restored in the best possible way. Mohammad Amin then gave the merchant the price of the carpet which he had taken from the store two years ago and everyone left the house pleased and satisfied, especially the leading carpet merchant.

Thereafter M. A. Sheikho fully understood that anything based on conjuring or magic is mere deception and has nothing to do with reality or truth. If one persists in following the devious ways of conjurers, who are no better than devils, then the results may well be evil and cause harm to innocent people.

## The Officer's Ingenuity Saves His Men

This incident is based on true facts which demonstrate great alertness of mind, planning and ability to resolve difficult situations. It reveals that

Officer M. A. Sheikho was constantly trying to solve problems and overcome various trials with rational thinking and significant powers of reasoning, illuminated by the Light of the Grand God. Everyone who had ever known him recognised his great power of thought unmatched by any other man in that era, and his ingenuity in devising a plan in order to achieve success and for the greater good.

Once, when he was instructing his pupils during a guidance assembly he said, 'My son! We should use our strong powers of reasoning and take logical steps to avoid becoming distressed or even worse, yet, if it should befall us even after we have done our best to avoid it, we should accept it with a steady heart as there would surely be something positive about it, so, we should still praise God first and last.'

At the end of the Ottoman Rule over the Arab countries, this Great Empire was affected by weakness and strife. Ultimately it collapsed when decay sneaked into its heart because of transgressions, ungodliness, and the corruption that gnawed at its bones as a result of its going beyond Al'lah's Statutes and turning away from truth and justice.

At that time, our fathers and grandfathers were overtaken by hard times... when poverty, deprivation, and famine such as they had never experienced before, befell them and our country suffered. During World War I, destitution and hunger prevailed in all regions of the former empire and, successively, one disaster after another came over the people (according to their bad deeds): a plague of locusts followed by a severe outbreak of lice were just two that afflicted them at that time. This tiny insect became like a deadly, evil spirit; it was like a curse that came on the people causing great terror and anxiety. How could it not, since the ghost of death hung over their heads awaiting the strike of yet another deadly outbreak?

In the face of these bitter and terrible circumstances, the Ottoman State issued an arbitrary decree which sentenced to death everyone who entered Istanbul, the capital and residence of the sultan, smitten by, or even carrying, this harmful insect. Such harsh, protective measures were imposed as they feared for the lives of the sultan and his court because if the infection was transmitted to him, he would be inflicted with something that, until then, had only been hovering about him. That is why he issued a precautionary firman (a decree) which condemned to death anyone found to be carrying a single louse on his body or clothing when he entered Istanbul. He was to be executed immediately!

With this in mind, in the suburbs and at all the main gates of the city of Istanbul, the government established centres that enabled those who came into the capital, whether travellers or residents, to cleanse and disinfect their bodies, clothes, and all their baggage against this insect before entering the capital. These centres were called 'quarantine stations'. If any infested person or carrier was discovered trying to pass through the city gates, which were supervised and inspected by the gendarmes, they would promptly kill the afflicted person whoever he was.

During that period, Officer Sheikho was charged with an important mission that required him to travel urgently to Istanbul with a group of his men (security officers). Accordingly, the day after receiving his orders, he left with them on the train which connected Damascus with Istanbul. On the way, Aslan [136]felt tired and the need to sleep, so, he told one of his men, 'My son, I'd like to take a nap now, but wake me up when we arrive at the quarantine station in order to fumigate our bodies, clothes and other belongings together before entering Istanbul.'

The gendarme said, 'Ok Sir! I will... you can sleep...trust me.'

Yet, it pleased Al'lah to let the gendarme sleep a little also, before the train's arrival at the quarantine and sterilisation area, so his master, Aslan, stayed asleep too, blissfully unaware! Then, the train departed and continued on its way without the officer and his men having carried out the required procedures.

After a while Officer Mohammad Amin woke up and realised that he was in serious trouble and potentially faced with a disastrous situation when seeing that the train had already passed the appointed place to disembark. Immediately, he called the gendarme wondering why he had failed to wake him as requested, 'Oh, my son! Why didn't you awake me when the train stopped at the quarantine centre as I told you?' Feeling afraid and confused, the gendarme replied, 'Oh, Sir... oh, Sir! I swear by God, that I fell asleep Sir.'

By virtue of his great qualities and mercifulness he did not blame or punish the gendarme for this unexpected situation: it was the Will of Al'lah which had been carried out, and he knew that there was no might nor power except apart from that which came from Al'lah.

But, what would he do now?

Officer Mohammad Amin remained silent for a while, wondering what to do; then he lifted the collar of his uniform and saw countless lice... 'Oh... no!' he thought. What a difficult and dangerous problem, since if the quarantine authorities found even a single louse he would probably be executed without any further ado, and with so many of them on his jacket he would certainly be condemned to death. Just a moment spent thinking of that unforeseen dangerous situation, and through his intelligence and quick wittedness when faced with nasty surprises, he soon came up with a plan.

He headed for his brigade saying to them, 'Do what I do... quickly! Watch what I do and copy me!' In a flash he prepared his suitcase and so did they, as quickly as he had, then with greatly agility and grace he got down on to the step of the train and they followed without wasting a single moment. He stood there and said, 'Listen to me carefully, we shall come to a long bend where the train will have to slow down as it goes round it... watch me carefully and do whatever I do.'

Actually, just before reaching the bend a few minutes later, Officer Mohammad Amin stood at the open door of the carriage and the members of his group followed his steps. When the train approached the bend, it gradually began to slow down and reached its slowest speed. There, and within a moment, Officer Sheikho jumped down to the ground and they all did the same, landing safe and sound.

He called out to them immediately, 'Follow me!' He led them to the nearby village as evening was falling. When they arrived there, they headed to the mayor's office and asked him to guide them to the village bath house. Naturally, the mayor would not refuse a request from an officer of the security forces so straight away he accompanied them to the owner of the bath house whom they took along with them. Our officer said, 'Oh, master we want to bathe now, before we enter Istanbul early in the morning, if God Pleases.' 'At your command Sir,' Said the bath house proprietor, and went to light the fire to heat the water.

Then Officer Mohammad Amin gathered his company and addressed them saying, 'Hurry! Wash yourself thoroughly, and if I find a single louse on any one of you after you have finished......' – he pulled out and loaded his hand gun, and continued – 'I'll kill you myself... and save the border guards a job.' He used harsh words and a menacing and threatening tone with them because he cared for their safety, as well as his own, and did not want them exposed to the danger of summary execution.

All of them bathed again and again, and washed their clothes and belongings and spread them around the fireplace all night long till they were completely dry. In the morning they abandoned their suitcases, then dressed and left the bath house, every one of them as clean as it was possible to be. He told them to line up so, that he could inspect them in the bright light of the sun's rays, but they were all clean and deloused. Satisfied that he had found nothing untoward he gave the order for them to march ahead.

The column advanced at a regular walking pace and he led them in military style to the entrance to Istanbul which was about five kilometres away, so they appeared as soldiers who were carrying out their customary military training, nothing more. And there was not even the slightest suspicion that they were travelers or that they should pass through supervision and inspection for their cleanliness. They kept marching till they reached the barracks to which they were headed. So, the wise officer and his company entered the barracks and a feeling of tranquillity came over him because he and his men were safe.

Afterwards, Officer Mohammad Amin went to visit his brother, General Saleem Bey, who was living in Istanbul. He welcomed him and asked after his health and what news he had brought. So Officer Mohammad Amin related to him the details of the exciting and dangerous trials through which he had passed with his company, and how he managed to avoid – by Al'lah's Inspiration – a disaster which would have led to summary excution. In spite of all that, his brother trembled with fear, and his face became deathly pale as he knew that only one louse was sufficient to warrant the execution of its carrier. Here, Mohammad Amin, the wise man, said to him, 'Don't be afraid, brother, for I'm really much cleaner than you!'

He raised his jacket to his face and inhaled the fragrance of cleanliness scented with hints of purity, which restored pleasure, tranquillity and happiness to his heart.

## The Destitute Are Saved from Starvation

One day, our officer Mohammad Amin met up with his friend Mohammad al-Taghlibi who was also an officer in the military but held a higher rank than our officer; however, the latter yielded to Mohammad Amin because of his sublime morals, his bravery, fearlessness and innate goodness that he had observed throughout their friendship, and for his consummate approach to his Provider.

Mohammad Amin said to his friend, 'I'm involved in a business proposition which I'm sure will prosper. I'm going to put all of my money into it, but that won't be enough, so I'll be looking for partners.' Nervously, Mohammad al- Taghlibi replied, 'I do have... I've got a certain amount of money... I'd like to finance you!'

The trustworthy master said, 'First of all wouldn't you like to know what kind of business it will be?'

His friend replied, 'For me, I defer to you wholeheartedly as I'm quite sure that it's impossible for whoever goes into partnership with you to lose; in fact I'm certain that he will profit. He will gain also in the Hereafter, for those who have a similar essence to yours wouldn't invest anything in this lower life unless they do so in order to seek the Afterlife. As I've always been aware of your deeds, it must surely be a charitable project aiming at attaining greater closeness to the Almighty Al'lah.' Mohammad Amin answered him, 'May God bless you my friend! I intend to buy a full ship-load of Egyptian rice and store it in the empty stores and houses which belonged to my father and keep it for a considerable period of time. It may be one year... less or more... at any rate we'll need partners as the money we have now is not enough.'

Mohammad al-Taghlibi said, 'Leave it to me. I'll try to find some more investors.'

Once they had come to an agreement, they settled for two traders known for their honesty, and as Mohammad al- Taghlibi had done, they placed their absolute trust in Mohammad Amin for all the same reasons that he had: his forbearance, complete honesty and faithfulness to His Provider.

Within a few days, they drew up agreements with the traders after they had expressed their wholehearted approval for the project. Mohammad Amin showed them the details and the target of the proposed business, so, they concurred and managed to gather the full amount of financing required for the business.

After some weeks, the highly respected master was able to buy a ship-load of Egyptian rice and set about distributing it to the stores, warehouses and vacant houses that he and his three partners owned.

All the essential precautions were taken as the load was safely stored so that it would not be affected by humidity or rodents, or be spoiled in any other way.

Days and months went by, while Mohammad Amin did not sell even a grain of rice in spite of the huge profits which were offered to him by Damascus traders; his partners did not question him at all about the investment because of the complete trust they had placed in him.

Matters stayed as they were for a whole year, and during this long period the sacks were inspected and rearranged several times, to ensure ventilation, so that the rice would not deteriorate.

At that time, people were still living in safety and going about their daily lives free from worry: opening their shops, buying and selling, living normally and fearing nothing... but Mohammad Amin remained cautious and guarded about his valuable wares, for it was still not the time to do anything with it.

Then, the disaster occurred!

This was the situation for which that honourable master had provided, by his prudence and foresight. World War I flared up and the Ottoman State entered it and began to apply compulsory military recruitment, calling up many able-bodied men to go into battle.

The Ottoman forces were making enquiries in the villages to recruit youths and men to send to the raging battle front, and so, there were no men left to work in the fields and farms. In addition to the outbreak of the war there were princes of war who aspired to gain supreme influence over the state, so they had their own, lesser battles to fight. They began to transfer much of the available victuals and and fresh foodstuff to their own camps, and there was no longer any nourishing basic foodstuff to feed the inhabitants of many of the cities and villages in Syria. Moreover, the situation worsened because the country was afflicted with a serious drought and swarms of locusts destroyed the remainder of the crops. Famine prevailed and thousands and thousands of Syrian citizens starved. Many families suffered from lack of food and children groaned with the hunger pangs in their bellies. People were forced to sell their furniture and whatever else they had of value to be able to buy bread.

It was a terrible situation and one could relate so many desperate stories which would make hearts bleed!

A great number of men left the country looking for food and sustenance for their families; sadly, they failed to find any and were not able to return home. That situation sparked off a further grave and tragic situation: thousands of children, women and old people were badly affected, firstly in the outlying villages, and then it reached the big cities. Moreover, the greed of the big traders during those crucial days escalated the dreadful situation, when they raised the prices of the vital basic foods. There were crowds of hungry paupers and desperate needy men outside their offices and residences, calling for food and provisions. However, they refused to give them anything and scornfully sent them away because most of these poor people had no income at all, except the people of Damascus... but why?

Meanwhile, in dealing with this urgent need for food Mohammad Amin's business began to flourish, and rightfully so. He decided that the time was right to offer the Egyptian rice for sale when food was extremely rare, and so, the profits were high!

Mohammad Amin put up a signboard to advertise his commodity, on it he wrote: 'For sale, decayed and mouldy rice, being sold for a tenth of the price of the best quality rice.'

When the crisis began and was still in its early stages, people laughed at this commodity for it was rotten and inedible, but day after day the big traders' monopoly and high prices of foodstuff restricted them to influential men and those people fortunate enough to have ample funds. On the other hand, the masses were likely to die because of hunger and poverty while they were witness to the unspeakable avarice of those inhumane traders in people's souls.

Hence, faced with such a harrowing fact they had no choice but to go unwillingly to buy rice from Mohammad Amin. They were compelled by the severe and cruel hunger that their families were suffering and thought that decayed and mouldy rice was better than nothing at all, and at any rate, the price was reasonable and could be afforded, albeit with difficulty!

Then... what a surprise!

Imagining all kinds of things, and able only to guess what their families would say about it, people turned to buying the mouldy rice. Anyhow... it was dire need which had forced them to this, since there was nothing else, and if one is hungry and desperate enough even rotten food is better than nothing to allay that hunger... however bad it may look or disgusting it might taste.

As soon as an impoverished buyer stood before Mohammad Amin or one of his partners at the store, he would be astonished at what he saw and heard! They would present to him a copy of the Holy Qur'an to swear by God, the Great, and take a serious oath that he would never inform anyone, whatever the degree of kinship, friendship, or any other link with him might be, where he had bought the rice or what he had paid for it.

After taking this oath, and being puzzled by those conditions which had been made as a condition of the purchase, they would be asked for details of the number and ages of their family members. What was this? What kind of idea could be occupying the minds of Mohammad Amin and his partners, who had become well known for their Godly-inspired benevolence and bounty.

After taking this oath and supplying the information about the number of people in his family, the buyer's astonishment would grow increasingly when his eyes feasted on the incredible sight of sacks of Egyptian rice of the best, unspoilt quality; he would not be able to contain his unutterable joy, and at that moment Mohammad Amin and his partners would remind him again of the oath he had taken after they had recognised his honesty. They would say to him, 'Here's your allocation... take it, it's free... we don't want anything from you, and if you keep your oath and never break it, you will have a monthly allowance for every one of your family members.' This would ensure that he kept this secret in the same way as if he had found a treasure... and why not? Since his secrecy would ensure him a monthly ration to maintain him and his entire family and keep them, by Al'lah's Will, at the time that many people might starve.

Through these steps taken by the virtuous scholar (his soul has been sanctified by Al'lah) no-one except the very needy pauper and those on the brink of starvation came to receive the portion of rice for them and their families.

Thus, this wise venerable master remained as the best aide, and support who stood up to those who hid their malicious intentions by foiling their aims and frustrating their plans. He fed the citizens of Damascus all during that period according to Al'lah's Inspiration and Instruction and established fairness among the poor and destitute when he dealt with them in his wise and gentle manner.

By virtue of the Sublime Wisdom and Estimation of Almighty Al'lah, this assistance to the poor was never in danger of running out, since the crisis came to an end just as the rice in his stores was exhausted. Clearly this was as a result of Great Godly Management, and so Mohammad Amin saved many Muslims... both body and soul.

## Funds Await the Return of Master Messiah (pth) [137]

When the Ottoman State abandoned following Al'lah's Law (the Holy Qur'an) and relied only on mankind's temporal laws, the state eventually collapsed. It is known that the laws written by man never agree with Al'lah's Satisfaction as they are unable to bring about happiness either here or in the Hereafter, since they were enacted by mankind and not by their Provider. They would be, therefore, imperfect, and their insufficiency would affect mankind in both this life and the Afterlife. That's why this great empire was afflicted with calamity, weakness and ignominy, to the point where it became totally insolvent. The state was bankrupt after being one of the wealthiest in former times.

Urgent stringent proceedings were put in place to try to ward off its desperate situation and stop this terrible economic crash. As part of these measures the government began to seize money from its population. No-one was spared and merchants had their fortunes confiscated; so too did the money dealers who had immense financial power, for they controlled the circulation of currency and trade development throughout the country, or even further. Moreover, it imposed stringent taxes and prevented gold or cash from leaving the country. Severe penalties were imposed on everyone who was caught contravening the regulations and attempting to smuggle gold or money out of the Turkish state, thereby attempting to stop the financial crash and strengthen the economy. They hoped that these harsh measures would achieve that aim.

Such an extreme financial situation and the severe laws applied to halt the slump caused great suffering and hardship. The group of Syrian traders living and trading in Turkey were very badly affected and they would be forced to leave the country because of the collapse. The matter had escalated beyond their worst possible expectation. No wonder! Because it was likely they would lose the financial gains and wealth they had worked for and accumulated during their lifetime. What could they do? They would not be allowed to take their fortunes with them when they left for their homeland. How would they be able to transmit it to Syria since their financial affairs would be subject to close inspection by the authorities and anyone who contravened the laws would face capital punishment?

If they submitted to the fait accompli imposed by the Turkish state and left behind all the property and wealth that they had earned during their lives, it would definitely be expropriated by the Turkish government at the earliest opportunity. During these critical times, the eminent scholar Mohammad Amin was visiting his brother Saleem Bey, who was living in Turkey. The Will of Almighty God arranged for the significant Syrian business men, the owners of notable companies and large factories, to assemble at the home of retired general, Saleem Bey, in the presence of his venerable brother, Mohammad Amin, where they explained their troubles to him expressing their distress and bitterness at the fate of their fortunes at the hands of the oppressive Turkish Empire. They complained saying, 'Oh Saleem Bey! We have suffered many difficulties and worked hard all our lives and exerted ourselves to earn our fortunes. How could they extort it from us? How could they take it all away? They have even gone so far as to impose the death penalty on anyone who fails to declare their gold to the government... Oh, it's all so unjust!'

The eminent, exalted master, M. A. Sheikho listened to their complaints, and after recognising the seriousness of the situation he began to formulate a plan that would ensure the transportion of the gold to Damascus. He soon settled on a brilliant course of action and rushed off to try it out. Then convinced that it would succeed he called them together again and said, 'I can help you to get the gold out of Turkey and transported to Damascus safely and without any problems.' He explained his simple but clever plan to smuggle the golden liras by hiding them in the hollowed out struts of the wooden boxes used to transport their everyday household goods.

The traders agreed to his offer after he had explained how he would do it and they became fully convinced that it would succeed. Due to their great confidence in the virtuous master and their belief in his unquestionable integrity they readily brought their entire fortunes of golden liras and placed them in his honest hands to be transported to their country, Syria. They allocated to him thirty golden liras from every hundred he could get out of Turkey and deliver to Damascus: a high proportion because of the extreme danger of this transaction.

The ethical master accepted the thirty percent they offered him because he had a very special reason for shouldering the burden of this particular task: the ample amount gold he would receive was to be reserved for a most important cause, the time when our master Jesus (pth) was to return. Mohammad Amin was expecting his appearance at that time, and by then, it had been made known to him that our master Jesus would need money and gold in preparation for his worldwide sovereignty. Thus, for the sake of this illustrious intention Al'lah had inspired him to think up the extremely clever and inventive idea for concealing the gold and sending it out of Turkey.

He set to the task and brought in a number of wooden crates and drilled out a circular tube through the centre of each of the support struts: this was the same diameter as a golden lira. He started to put the gold coins inside them, inserting a layer of sawdust between each of them as he wanted to avoid the possibility of them touching each other and making a noise. He then closed the top of the circular hole and made them appear just like their original state, so as not to arouse any suspicion. He continued to work in this manner until all the coins were completely concealed and the fortunes of the Syrian traders and wealthy men were sealed inside the struts of the wooden boxes and ready for their illicit journey.

And so he left on the first train heading from Istanbul to Damascus with a pile of wooden boxes which were filled with his belongings and such like. On the way the train stopped at the customs post where a group of Turkish officials accompanied by experienced German inspectors got on the train aiming to carry out a strict examination of all goods and baggage destined for Syria.

They set about searching the passengers and their belongings looking for gold or other contraband money. As they came closer to the place where Mohammad Amin was sitting, he glanced at them and he became deeply afraid, because the situation was potentially extremely serious. Hence, and before anyone could pay him any attention, he calmly stood up and went off to to the compartment which had been designated for higher military ranks and important officials only. On this particular journey it was occupied by four high ranking German dignitaries ranking.

As soon as Mohammad Amin entered this compartment,

displaying intelligence and superior self-assurance he moved as quick as a wink up to one of those Germans and swiftly snatched off his hat and put it on his own head, then he handed him a cigarette, and as soon it was between the man's lips he lit it for him. They were merely light, rapid and astonishing motions which caused looks of wonder and curiosity to appear on their faces and remove the weariness of the long journey which had tired them. Indeed they felt revived and enlivened by this quirky behaviour and liveliness, and even gave out a hearty chuckle at his antics. Then, Mohammad Amin sat with them just as an old friend would... a fair, handsome Syrian, albeit an officer in the Turkish army, sitting amongst them with the hat of a high-ranking German on his head! They were four chiefs, and now they were five!

Just moments later, the inspecting commission reached the compartment where Mohammad Amin was sitting happily with the Germans... how odd! Those German chiefs had been four, how had they become five? One of the members of the commission, who was a German expert, glared at the five chiefs and he thought he recognised the new face among them, so he asked him a question in German, which caused great dread in the heart of the venerable master. As a reaction, he said spontaneously,

'Ya... ya... ya,' trying to say, 'Ya Al'lah.' [138]But with Godly

Disposal and His Will to save him, he could not say the words 'Ya Al'lah', and in fact he loudly uttered the German words for 'Yes'... 'Ya... ya... ya' which came out with a certain guttural tone of voice because of his terror, so, he sounded as natural a German, as the Germans themselves. [139]

And his fair skin, tone and hair colour helped to convince the inspectors that he was in fact a member of the German group.

The inspector stared at Mohammad Amin's features and stature, and he did not suspect at all that he did not belong to the group in this carriage, especially when the four great chiefs burst out laughing for the astonishing, forceful reply he had made and which excited much mirth. By then all the members of the inspection group and the experts had joined in the laughter and then left to get on with their mission to search the other sections of the train and its passengers.

So this honourable master escaped! The Almighty had rescued him due to his noble intention and great love for Al'lah's Envoy, our master Jesus Christ (pth), when the inspectors and experts left him without searching his belongings at all as they thought him to be one of the high level German group. So he managed to get the gold out of Turkey and into Syria after suffering certain difficulties during that long journey.

Immediately after Mohammad Amin arrived at Damascus, he took the wooden crates and headed immediately for one of his unoccupied houses (which he had inherited from his late father and had still not been sold). There, he took all the gold from the boxes and started to divide it into individual lots of one hundred golden liras. He took thirty liras from each hundred, which was his agreed share, then he placed all of his own share in one heap and did the same with the traders' gold, placing it in another, bigger heap. He stared at both golden piles... and saw his own as a brilliant and luminous object as if there was real light shining from it, whereas the traders' pile seemed to him dull and alarming as if shades of darkness emanated from it.

After this august master had divided the money for its Syrian owners according to what they had entrusted to him he delivered it to their respective families and obtained receipts from each of them.

As for his share of the golden coins, it remained well hidden and he never once used any of it, because he always kept in mind the second coming of our master Jesus (pth), [140]who might need it as soon as he returned, preparing for his kingdom. No-one had been informed of the place where these golden liras were hidden except this grand master's son-in-law Abdul-Hadi al-Bani (may god have mercy upon him) who kept it a secret till the imposing master M. A. Sheikho left this world to be near to his Provider. At that time Mr. Abdul-Hadi assembled the sons and daughters of his virtuous father-in-law and gave them their father's golden liras in full as they were his legal inheritors.

So, since the time of our great guide the signs indicating the coming of our master the Christ have regularly appeared and still do, but the entire world is still waiting for the coming of this grand man (pth) that he might wipe out the terrible aggression to which this world is increasingly subjected; to establish justice; and to stand up for the truth everywhere in order to spread and maintain the Word of Al'lah.

May God expedite his appearance.

## The Magician's Deceit Is Exposed

Once, M. A. Sheikho and his brother, General Saleem Bey, who had come from Istanbul to visit him in Damascus, were invited to attend an official festival, along with many leaders of society, officers, and wealthy gentlemen who were also present at the gathering.

The two brothers sat together, with Mohammad Amin's son between them. Although his son was a young child of only ten years of age when he witnessed this incident, it made such an impression on him that he will never forget it.

At that time, especially on such an occasion attended by the rich, a great and famous magician, who was well known throughout the Middle East, would usually be invited to perform there. Due to his great repertoire of illusory shows and clever artifice he became widely known in Damascus although he was not of Syrian origin. The old men of our time might even remember this magician if they were to be reminded of his name, al-Hawi (or al-Gawi).

On this particular occasion, the festivities were well underway and the magician was due to arrive at any moment. As soon as the invited guests saw him, some of them asked, 'What are you going to perform for us today, magician?'

He told them, in reply, 'Tonight I will demonstrate something you haven't seen before... let us start. I want each of you to take out one golden lira and hold it in your hand... close your fist as tightly as possible; then I am going to come to each of you in turn... I'll focus my gaze on your hand and use my power to try to open it without touching it. There will be no force or touching involved... simply my own spellbinding powers. So, if I succeed, I'll take the lira for myself. Do you agree?'

'Yes, we do!' most of them answered, but it must be said that a few of them were slightly sceptical and were reluctant to participate. The golden lira was a type of currency in circulation at that time which most people used, especially the wealthy, and most of the men there were very rich indeed.

They were at this gathering to enjoy themselves and to pass their time by playing and having fun: so, watching these spectacles which they knew nothing about and without understanding their secrets was the ideal distraction. The game began and one of the wealthy guests took a golden lira out of his pocket. With a certain amount of showmanship he stood up, showed the coin to the assembled company and then enclosed it tightly in his fist.

The magician then walked towards him... slowly... his eyes focused on the man's fist, an enigmatic expression on his face, and then started his mystical motions and murmurings. It was no more than a few minutes before all present saw how the man's hand began to open despite his struggle to keep it closed. The man had begun to tighten his fingers around the coin as strongly as he could, endeavouring to keep it closed but he failed. His hand continued to open slowly but surely, as if there were some great, unseen force exerting its strong and steady pressure.

Nevertheless, the man did not give up. He continued to resist, trying to keep his hand tightly closed. But, alas! Despite his very best efforts the matter was no longer under his control. The guests were astonished by what they had just seen, but the victim was the most bewildered of all. He knew that he had spared no effort in trying to stop his hand from opening, but all of his exertions had come to nothing, and his hand was forced open as if by a powerful unseen being. At last, he yielded to the fait accompli. The nefarious magician then stretched out his hand, took the lira and put it in his pocket as his mouth salivated at the prospect of all that he might gain from this gathering.

It was clear to see that he had won the first round, and on this day he planned to earn a lot of money through his mischievous magic and cunning artifice.

It was theft of a new kind but with a license from the audience: it was theft that had been agreed upon by the participants!

Now, it was the turn of the second challenger, but would he change his mind after seeing the previous result? He was the richest man in Damascus at that time and had many factories in various foreign countries like Turkey, Italy, France and Switzerland, so a single golden lira was as nothing to him.

He took the coin out of his pocket, put it in his fist and closed it tightly, proudly convinced that because of his impressive, muscular physique he would prove to be more than a match for the magician. He exerted every bit of his strength and tightened his hand until the knuckles turned white, the veins protruded on the back of his hand, and his muscles swelled.

As before, the magician approached the man, staring at his closed fist, and started his strange gesticulations and recitation of mystical mutterings.

Yet again, the closed hand began to open little by little as if by some force that could not be seen, but that surely did exist. This hidden force was opening the hand and overcoming the strong clenched grip of its owner. The man tightened his hand even further, calling up every last bit of his energy so that he might defeat the invisible power which was forcing his hand to open.

His face became red and his temperature certainly rose due to the great pressure he was exerting. But he couldn't maintain it and began to tire without getting any result from his labours. So he, too, failed and his hand opened up, clearly showing the golden lira lying on his palm.

The audacious magician then took the second lira and put it in his pocket with his lips curled into the semblance of a smile that was filled with guile. His eyes were as dark as a moonless night and were sending sharp, stabbing glances around the room. Now! Who would he choose as his next victim?

Mohammad Amin was keeping a very watchful eye on the situation. He was well aware of the secret behind the magician's tricks, due to his deep belief in God. He realised that the magician had no power except over those people who were far from observing God's Word, and therefore deserved to be outwitted. If only those men had truly turned to God and sought His Protection, the consorts of the devil would have fled the scene without affecting their spirits. They would not have been able to disable them by making them lose control of the power and strength of their own bodies, nor would they have been capable of enabling the devil's brother, the magician, to take the golden coins from their hands, their very own hands which were no longer under their control.

Before the third man could put his hand in his pocket and get caught up in the wiles of this artful thief, as had happened with his friends, and before the magician could continue his fraudulent round of all those present, Mohammad Amin acted. He was far from happy to let that nefarious magician carry on as this was an act that would be disapproved of by anyone who had a free conscience. He turned towards the magician and said to him, 'Come on! I accept your challenge. Come here! I want a turn to face up to you.'

The magician then left the person whose turn it was and made his way towards Mohammad Amin, swaggering proudly in front of all those present. The magician did not doubt for a single moment that he would repeat his success as he thought that there were no true believers in existence at that time.

He stood in front of Mohammad Amin who addressed him, saying: 'I accept your challenge on one condition: if you can open my hand and take the lira, I will give you ten more liras in addition to that one, but if you cannot, I want you to stop what you're doing, as this magic causes you nothing but further spiritual destruction.'

'Do you agree?'

With full confidence, the magician accepted, as his insatiable greed for the eleven golden liras had blinded his heart to all else. He could think of nothing except for the great profit he would make that day, for he knew that it would usually take many months to collect such a sum through his quackery.

General Saleem, Mohammad Amin's brother, was surprised at what his brother offered the magician. He had seen what had happened with the two men who were duped before him, so he thought that his brother would definitely lose eleven golden liras instead of only one.

So, why did he decide to get caught up in this game?

What for? What was wrong with him?

Trying to dissuade his brother from this course of action, he nudged him lightly and secretly expressed his advice to him with a certain look, as if he had said, 'Stop! What's the matter with you? Why would you want to throw away eleven golden liras?'

Salah al-Din, Mohammad Amin's son, who was still sitting between his father and his uncle, noticed his uncle's gestures of admonishment towards his father and his attempts to turn him away from this challenge.

Yet Amin paid no attention to his brother, and he took out his lira.

Failing to deter his brother General Saleem paused in his efforts and remained quiet and still, and then began to watch as his brother placed the lira on the palm of his hand and closed his fist over it as the other men had done... but the difference was that he exerted no particular force.

The magician drew close and stood facing him, and then started his attack with his motions and murmurs.

How strange... nothing happened!

The hand before him was still closed in the normal way and clearly not too tightly yet all the while the magician was still murmuring and making different signs with his hands. The magician persisted for quite some time, but still nothing changed. He tried and tried, murmuring, gesticulating, and making more and different motions with his hands... but it was all in vain!

Indeed, nothing had changed! Although about twenty minutes had passed, the magician did not despair. He did his utmost until eventually he became tired and frustrated at his lack of success. The magician had used all his so-called knowledge and skills but, this time he did not succeed!

What the boy Salah al-Din saw, and still remembers until this day, was that the magician was sweating with the great effort, and his disgusting, stinking sweat glistened all over his face, and then began to drip from his loathsome chin... drop by stinking drop.

Suddenly, the magician's shifty gaze went towards the window and then to the door and flickered back and forth between them as if he was calling for outside help or support!

Whose help was he seeking?

Who was he calling upon for support?

At this point his behaviour became very odd indeed: he began to mutter some strange and obscure words in a most confused fashion, and his movements became erratic. It seemed as if fear had filled his heart and he was totally overcome by it.

But M. A. Sheikho remained in front of him, his hand still closed gently around the golden lira, a gentle smile playing on his lips. He sat there, full of calm satisfaction: his face bright and shining and displaying complete confidence that he had thwarted the sorcerer.

The situation had become unbearable for the magician, so he seemed to erupt and began to shout in a most irregular voice as if he had entered a struggle to the death. He started yelling at Mohammad Amin, 'You, Bey! A secret power must be helping you!'

'It is none but Al'lah!' he replied in a voice more forceful and distinct than the magician's, that struck him and all those present as if it were the sound of rumbling thunder.

'I hold the Name of Al'lah!'

Those words rattled around the room and echoed from the walls... the ensuing silence was profound and mingled with the astonishment and stupefaction, which had overcome all those present. Yet there was also a strange and unusual feeling of delighted relief and happiness.

Actually, the magician had failed and what an outstanding failure it was!

He was overcome with angry emotions: he was agitated, hot and bothered, enraged; and what had he gained?... nothing but two liras and total stress.

Yes, he had definitely lost that round!

When he heard the words of Mohammad Amin – which had blasted his ears and uncovered his depravity and deceit – he uttered not a single word more. Then he walked out of the place, leaving it with his spirit debased, dragging behind him the remnants of his failure and huge defeat. He was reeling, his steps faltering, his head bowed in shame. But a certain thought was growing in his mind: 'That man seems to have a strange secret. He really is a true believer.' And that thought remained uppermost in his mind for quite some time!

Some time later, a similar gathering took place in a wonderful park in a suburb of Damascus: at Abu Shafeek Park on al-Rabwa hill. Again, many rich and important men were invited to attend the celebration, and once more our virtuous man M. A. Sheikho was one of those present.

So it was that when the magician arrived there to practise his quackery and sorcery, he was surprised to see our compassionate scholar, and so his villainy and duplicity were immediately defeated in the face of the truth. He was exasperated as he realised he would not be able to perform his tricks and magic that day, so he adopted a humble attitude when he saw Mohammad Amin.

In a begging and lowly manner he approached him and in a pleading voice said, 'Oh Bey! Please, for the sake of your beloved Al'lah! Please... Let me work... Let me earn my livelihood today... oh Bey! Look at all the guests, one by one: do you see a single iota of goodness in any one of them? All of them are far from God, and the devil is their companion... please, leave me alone so I can earn my living.' It was clear that the magician wanted him to leave the place so that he would be able to control the men there with his magic.

However, Mohammad Amin paid him no attention at all, and as he looked at those present, he felt that all of them wanted the magician to stay. They wanted to laugh, to have fun and to enjoy his magical machinations. He said to himself, 'Since they all want the magician to perform, I'll leave them to it... it's their own business.'

Thereafter, whenever the magician came across our righteous, compassionate officer he knew that this meant failure for him, so either he walked away from him or approached him humbly, grovelling and begging that he should be allowed to earn his dubious living.

In his wisdom Mohammad Amin left the magician and his audience alone as religion should never be used to force anyone against their will.

The End

Praise is to God, the Provider of the world

* * *

[1] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 17, The Night Journey (al-Isra'), verse 105.

[2] The word 'Envoy' also means 'Messenger'.

[3] (cpth) is an acronym for 'communication with Al'lah and peace

[4] Fortress' means a Surah, or section, of the Holy Qur'an which is not divided into chapters, a word which implies only organizational divisions of a book, instead its 114 sections are referred to as Surahs. The Arabic word Surah is equivalent to the English word 'Fortress' and has the same meaning. Every Qur'anic Fortress (Surah) has a certain number of verses.

If the believer reads, listens to, and takes a Fortress to heart and then puts it into action, they will see and fully take into their mind the sublime meaning of its holy and divine words and sentences, which are verses illuminated by the Light of God. This Light surrounds their heart just as securely as the walls that surround a fort.

This means that entering into God's Presence through attentive reading will surround the spirit with His Light.

God's Light stands as a rampart between the true faithful spirit and the malicious devil, should he try to break through this Light. If this happens, the malignant devil will burn and perish. By paying full attention to the sublime meanings of the words of any Fortress – or Surah in Arabic – you will fortify yourself and those whom you love against the evil and harm of your enemy, the devil.

[5] 'Bey' is a word of Turkish origin, originally equivalent to the English title 'Lord'. It is still used informally as a social title for men (like the English word 'Mister'), however, it follows the name and is used generally with first names and not with last names.

[6] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 12, Joseph (Yusuf), verse 108.

[7] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 7, The Heights (al-A'raf), verse 180.

[8] (ptt): an acronym for 'peace is through them.'

[9] This refers to the earthly world and the heavenly world including the minutest particle and the greatest galaxy, and mainly

[10] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 6, Livestock (al-An'am), verse 90.

[11] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 4, Women (al-Nisa'), verse 123.

[12] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 64, The Apparent Loss (al-Taghabun), verse 11.

[13] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 7, The Heights (al-A'raf), verse 157.

[14] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 41, Explained (Fussilat), verse 33

[15] A hajji is someone who has made a pilgrimage to Mecca.

[16] -This is an Arabic way of referring to a mother. Here it means 'mother of Saleem', her eldest son.

[17] Majeedi was a coin of Turkish currency which was in circulation at this time. It was equal to half a golden lira.

[18] 'Great': occupying a high position with Al'lah

[19] A guide is one who leads people to Al'lah.

[20] A 'genie' is a supernatural being who does one's bidding when summoned as it was wrongly believed.

[21] Bishli and majeedi were coins of Turkish currency which were in circulation at this time.

[22] Al-Ward Quarter was one of the quarters of Sarujah Market, which was the residence of the heads of the Turkish administration at that time. For this reason, Sarujah Market was regarded as Mini-Istanbul during the period of Ottoman rule.

[23] Kindly, see the Book of the scholar M. A. Sheikho: Impeccability of Prophets, chapter: the Effect of Yearning in the Elevation of the Spirit.

[24] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 79, Sun Rays (al-Nazi'at), verses 40-41.

[25] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 35, Originator (Fatir), verse 43.

[26] A water pipe used for smoking; also known as a shisha or 'hookah

[27] A muezzin is the crier who calls faithful Muslims to prayer five times a day.

[28] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 17, The Night Journey (al-Isra'), verse 36.

[29] The word 'Lunatic' in Arabic means someone who has been attracted to God due to witnessing something of His Beauty to the point that his spirit found it unbearable.

[30] A 'djinn' (or 'genie') is a spirit wrongly believed to be capable of assuming human or animal form and with the power to grant wishes.

[31] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 31, Luqman (Luqman), verse 14.

[33] Th e Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 5, Th e Feast (al-Ma'ida), verse 45.

[34] 'Bey' is a word of Turkish origin which means 'the pure', originally equivalent to the English title 'Lord'. It is still used informally as a social title for men (like the English word "Mister"), however, it follows the name and is used generally with first names and not with last names.

[35] In Syria, the game is called kattf al-rummanah, that is to say 'picking the pomegranate'; while in Egypt it is called hattah-nattah which means 'bow- leap'. This game is popular and widespread in the Arab countries, especially in Egypt. It is practised in villages, towns and in the squares of the cities. It requires no pitch, nor referee or official contest. Simply, the players must have good manners and dedication in order to let the game progress.

The method of playing depends on jumping over a bowed back. There is no limit to the number of players, but seven is best. The game starts by drawing lots to choose the player who should bend over first. Then, this player stands at the beginning of the playground and bows his back putting his hands on his knees. After that the second player, who is usually the head of the team, jumps over the back of the one who is bowing, and then he stands two metres ahead of his bent friend and bows his back like him. Similarly, the next player jumps over the first bent one then over the second one then he takes his place to bend over, leaving the same distance between him and the second player.

This game goes on in a continuous loop, as when a player finds all of his friends have leapfrogged over him he takes his place at the front to jump again, jumping over every player in turn before taking his place at the end of the row, and so the children can stop playing whenever they want.

The game is not confined to the playground either, since grownups also practise it when undertaking a long walk in order not to feel the distance. As for our inspired officer, he used this game to escape, and probably saved their lives by ordering them to lie down when they reached the end of the row to avoid the Kurd's gunfire

[36] 'Druze' is the name of a small Middle Eastern religious sect

[37] This is an Arabic proverb. It means that when you offer someone a gift as an inducement to do something for you, they will feel obliged to do your bidding and return the favour.

[38] 'Bullets' in this context is an Arabic idiom and means something like 'shut up'

[39] This Qur'anic verse means that Al'lah is alone the Provider of human feelings. He controls all feelings and sensations of humanity. He provides people with courage or cowardice where needed and according to the required situation. When a human seeks belief and perfection, they will be guided.

After that, Al'lah will change their feelings into perfect, lofty and human ones, by way of his drinking from the Source of Perfect Beauty and all feelings. Al'lah makes us feel suitable sensations and emotions of love, hatred, admiration, submission and such, according to the necessity of a certain situation.

[40] Th e Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 53, Th e Star (al-Najm), verse 49.

[41] Lebanon, in the time of the Ottomans, was a weak country. For this reason, the League of Nations chose France, a European country to mandate and protect it against the Ottomans

[42] (cpth) is an acronym for 'communication with Al'lah and peace are through him.'

[43] During the time in which these events take place the Turkish Army was the term used to include both military and police personnel

[44] Th e Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 14, Abraham (Ibrahim), verse 46.

[45] The terms 'security service', 'police force', and 'gendarmerie' were interchangeable in that era

[46] 'Aslan' means 'lion' is the nickname by which he was known because of his fearlessness

[47] The title of the deputy of the Ottoman Sultan.

[48] The Turkish Prefect was tantamount to a president

[49] 'Sham' (Bilad al-Sham) or Greater Syria, included, at that time: Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine.

[50] These words indicate his Arabian personality.

[51] Th e Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 22, Th e Pilgrimage (al-Hajj), verse 40.

[52] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 48, Explained Opening (al-Fath), verse 33.

[53] Greater Syria including Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine.

[54] The central government of the Ottoman Empire

[55] The epic of M. A. Sheikho is similar to that of Joseph: Joseph was taken from his father's care at a young age and the father of Mohammad Amin died when he was a young child. Throughout their lives Al'lah sent both of them many trials in order to bring them closer to Him and so they could show mankind the truth path to God. An important similarity in the lives of both of them is that Joseph rejected the advances of the prime minister's wife in Egypt as Mohammad Amin later rejected the advances of the Prefect's niece in this story.

[56] (pth) is an acronym for 'peace is through him.'

[57] Th e Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 65, Divorce (al-Talaq), verse 2

[58] Aslan is a Turkish word that means 'the lion'. The Turkish high commanders gave this epithet to officer M. A. Sheikho because of the great qualities of boldness, bravery, and fearlessness that he constantly displayed... From that day on, this title was used whenever they referred to him

[59] The fact established here is that the eminent scholar was truly descended from the progeny of his high ancestor, our master Mohammad (cpth). However, people are estimated according to their own deeds rather than by their lineage

[60] Ahmed al-Rifa'i (1118-1181) was a Muslim imam and considered as the founder of the Rifa'i Sufi order. He was born in Wasit, Iraq.

[61] Abu Lahab is an uncle of the Prophet Mohammad (cpth) who opposed him fiercely and he is mentioned in the Qur'anic Fortress (Surah) concerning his great loss.

[62] 'God'means 'the Steerer' and is one of the ninety-nine names of Al'lah.

[63] Joseph was adopted into a high-ranking family in Egypt when he was a child. As he grew into a fine man the wife of the prime minister, who had adopted him, lusted after him but he rejected her advances; as did Mohammad Amin when he rejected the pasha's niece in another episode

[64] Th e Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 2, Th e Cow (al-Baqara), verse 205

[65] Th e Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 33, Th e Combined Clans (al-Ahzab), verse 23

[66] The state of Sham was Greater Syria and comprised: Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine.

[67] Saracen was a term for Muslims widely used in Europe during the later medieval era

[68] Th e Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 47, Mohammad (Muhammad), verse 7

[69] This is a reference to the famine and plague of locusts that took place during

World War I where Turkey was involved in a long land war. The Turkish state sent all men of all Arab countries on foot to participate in the war at the Suez Canal and most of them perished.

[70] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 16, The Bees (al-Nahl), verse 32.

[71] Aslan means 'lion' in Turkish and was the nickname given to Officer

M. A. Sheikho because of his bravery

[72] Arrack (Arak) is a fermented alcoholic drink traditionally made from grain, sap or sugar-cane.

[74] Halbon is the name of a village near Damascus towards the north-west. This village sits within a valley with high, jagged sides and the western end leads to a very rugged narrow track over the anti-Lebanon mountains

[75] Abu Fathi is the title of Officer M. A. Sheikho which means the father of Fathi, his elder son.

[76] Greater Syria, comprising Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine

[77] A water pipe commonly smoked for relaxation throughout the countries of the Middle East.

[78] Al-Sham State covered Greater Syria and was comprised of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine.

[79] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 12, Joseph (Yusuf), verse 26.

[80] The state of Sham, Greater Syria, was comprised of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine

[80/2] Al-Feejeh spring is the biggest and most abundant spring in Damascus. To this day it provides fresh water to the city and surrounding countryside, and feeds the River Barada. It is referred to as the drink of the Prophets because most of them lived there.

[81] Aslan is the Turkish word for 'lion' and was the nickname given to Officer Sheikho because of his bravery

[82] Although the woman was not his sister it was a usual form of address to a young woman at that time

[83] A Syrian soup made of a mixture of dried bulgur and leban.

[84] Amber College was one of the colleges of the Turkish Military Academy.

[85] The State of al-Sham, Greater Syria, was comprised of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine.

[86] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 47, Mohammad (Muhammad), verse 19

[87] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 7, The Heights (al-A'raf), verse 146

[88] The town is 'Jaffa', a coastal city in Palestine

[89] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 7, The Heights (al-A'raf), verse 163

[90] Ten pounds at that time were equal to two golden liras; currency then was far more valuable than it is now.

[91] Al Sham state (Greater Syria), which was comprised of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine

[92] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 47, Mohammad (Muhammad), verse 7.

[93] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 5, The Feast (al-Ma'ida), verse 64

[94] In Arabic the statement 'mother-in-law' is Hamat which means the woman who protects her daughter-in-law and defends her

[95] An Arabic proverb.

[96] Th e Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 4, Women (al-Nisa'), verse 147.

[97] The capital of the Ottoman Empire at that time

[99] A majeedi was a valuable gold coin in use at that time

[100] At this time al-Sham was comprised of Damascus and its suburbs and the surrounding countryside

[101] Kindly refer to the book Stories of the Scholar which contains some of the great feats of the humane scholar M. A. Sheikho (his soul has been sanctified by Al'lah).

[102] Greater Syria which included Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine

[103] Aslan is a Turkish word that means 'the lion'. The Turkish commanders gave Officer Mohammad Amin this nickname because of his boldness, bravery and intrepidity.

[104] The Grand Vizier is the title of the Sultan in the Ottoman Empire

[105] Murid is a Sufi term meaning 'committed one'.

[106] Th e Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 83, Dealers in Fraud (al-Mutaffifin), verse 26

[108] Aslan means 'lion' in Turkish and was the nickname given to Officer Sheikho for bravery in the security services.

[109] A Firman was a royal mandate or decree issued by a sovereign in certain historical Islamic states, including the Ottoman Empire.

[110] A tarboosh, sometimes called a 'fez' is a brimless, usually red, felt hat with a silk tassel, worn by some Middle Eastern Muslim men.

[111] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 65, Divorce (al-Talaq), verse 2

[112] Th e Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 43, Ornaments of Luxury (al-Zukhruf), verse 72.

[2\112] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 90, Th e Universe (al-Balad), verses 11-13.

[113] (ptt): an acronym for 'peace is through them

[114] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 76, Humane Man (al-Insan), verse 8.

[115] Th e Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 3, Th e Family of 'Imran (Al 'Imran), verse 26

[116] One of the most influential Muslim caliphs in history, a companion of Prophet Mohammad (cpth).

[117] Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi was an Arab Andalusian Sufi mystic and philosopher. He was born in Murcia, Taifa of Murcia on 561 AH (1165 AD). He is renowned by some practitioners of Sufism as 'the greatest Sheikh' and also as a genuine saint.

[118] (cpth) is an acronym for 'communication with Al'lah and peace are through him.'

[119] The state of Sham, Greater Syria, which included Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine.

[120] This is the Turkish word for 'lion' and was the nickname given to Officer Sheikho on account of his bravery.

[121] Al-Andalus was a medieval Islamic state which occupied, at its peak, today's Spain, Portugal and Southern France between 711 and 1492.

[122] A type of water pipe for smoking that originated in the Near East.

[123] A tomb of hashimite style is bigger and deeper than others: it is meant to hold many corpses, usually of the same family, as long as there is a period of some years between burials.

[124] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 66, Prohibition (al-Tahrim), verse 8.

[125] Fortress' means a Surah, or section, of the Holy Qur'an which is not divided into chapters, a word which implies only organizational divisions of a book, instead its 114 sections are referred to as Surahs. The Arabic word Surah is equivalent to the English word 'Fortress' and has the same meaning. Every Qur'anic Fortress (Surah) has a certain number of verses.

If the believer reads, listens to, and takes a Fortress to heart and then puts it into action, they will see and fully take into their mind the sublime meaning of its holy and divine words and sentences, which are verses illuminated by the Light of God. This Light surrounds their heart just as securely as the walls that surround a fort.

This means that entering into God's Presence through attentive reading will surround the spirit with His Light.

God's Light stands as a rampart between the true faithful spirit and the malicious devil, should he try to break through this Light. If this happens, the malignant devil will burn and perish. By paying full attention to the sublime meanings of the words of any Fortress – or Surah in Arabic – you will fortify yourself and those whom you love against the evil and harm of your enemy, the devil.

[126] The Holy Qur'an, Fortress (Surah) 57, Iron (al-Hadid), verse 28

[127] The martyrs of the noble companions are the martyrs who lived during the time of Prophet Mohammad (cpth) and sacrificed themselves for God's Cause and to save humanity.

[128] A word of Turkish origin, originally equivalent to the English title 'Lord'. It is still used informally as a social title for men (like the English word 'Mister'), however, it follows the name and is used generally with first names and not with last names.

[129] Al Sham, or Greater Syria, was comprised of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine

[130] Pasha is a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors, generals and dignitaries.

[131] This is an Arabic way of referring to a wife. Here it means 'mother of Fathi', her eldest son

[132] The Souq al-Hamidiyah market is the main commercial market of the city of Damascus, and is in the city centre.

[133] Bab al-Jabiyah is one of the eight ancient city-gates of Damascus, Syria. Bab al-Jabiyah was the main entrance on the city's west side, and near to this gate lies the shrine of Mrs. Jabiyah who is believed to have been a good and virtuous woman. It is now the name of a quarter in the centre of Damascus and contains many markets.

[134] In the past, the word 'wicket' (bab khokha in Arabic) indicated a big door that was designed for the use of large animals such as camels and cows, with a small door set within it that was used to allow people to pass through.

[135] At that time it was customary to address a young woman in this way even though she was not his daughter.

[136] Aslan means lion in Arabic, and was the nickname for Mohammad Amin because of his bravery

[137] (pth): an acronym for 'peace is through him

[138] An Arabic expression which means: 'Oh Al'lah'.

[139] At that time Germany was the most powerful state in Europe.

[140] Jesus Christ is one of the noble Prophets and Envoys of Al'lah whom all Muslims believe in. Prophet Mohammad (cpth) prophesied that Jesus would return during our era to bring peace and justice to the world.
