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.