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![50]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]