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.