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.