Nida
13-02-2003, 17:40
Set in the 14th century AD in Central Asia....
In the beginning of his career of conquest, Taimur once invaded theterritory of the powerful Prince named Sultan Muhammad. Taimur crossed theconfinesof the Prince's kingdom and took posession of a large villagesituated in the middle of the province. Sultan Muhammad stoutly resisted andunltimately Taimur was utterly defeated and forced to disguise himself as apoor traveller in order to get back to his country, begging alms as he went.
Arriving at a certain village, Taimur prayed to an old woman to give himsomething to eat. The woman moved by the piteous appeal of the traveller,brought him a full and hot dish. As Taimur was hungry, he thrust his hand into the very middleof the plate and burnt his fingers.
The old woman laughed and said, 'You are like the greedy Taimur who did not know how to take this country, for he came right into the midle of it and had to go out again defeated. If he had begun by attacking the borders, he could in time make himself master of the whole. It is the same with you. If you had avoided the middleand begun at the edge you could have eaten the whole dish without burning your fingers'.
Some time later...
Taimur was on a war path. Mighty empires fell to pieces before his
conquering army. In the course of his victorious campaigns,Taimur reached the frontier of the Turkish Empire, then ruled by the valiant Sultan Bayazid.
Bayazid and Taimur quickly picked up a quarrel and the quarrel ended in a sanguinary battle. The Turks fought bravely but could not hold their ground before the Tartar onslaught. Taimur won a clear victory and took a large number of Turks prisoner.
The Turks thus captured by teh Tartars were under order of execution. Among these prisoners was a young officer who had attracted the attention of many by his dauntless courage and exceptional skill in the battle. He sent a prayer to the Emperor Taimur for an interview and the Emperor condescended to grantit.
Heavily chained at the waist and feet, the officer was conducted before Taimur. Even the bravest warriors and the proudest soverigns cowered before the mighty conqueror. But the young officer looked straight into his face and sought permission to speak. The Emperor felt curious at the arrogance of this petty lieutenant and granted his prayer.
With his head held high the officer said:
'O Emperor, you have attacked Bayazid without any excuse and you have shedthe blood of thousands of the noblest of Allah's creatures. You have notonly killed the Turks but you have done grevious harm to the devoted servants of Islam. And you have penetrated your misdeeds only to support your arrogant claims as the world conqueror.
O Emperor, I am in your hands in chains, helpless. I have but a few moments more to live.But the cup of your wickedness will be full to overflowing and you will have to start for the same region to which you are sending us (i.e.the hereafter). There you will have to meet the MIghtiest of the Mighty, the Lord of countless hordes (i.e. God). What account will you give to Him of your cruel deeds?'
The tense emotion seemed to tire the officer. He paused for amoment. There was a pin drop silence in the entire court of Taimur. Tartar nobles never before in their life heard their Emperor similarly addressed by anybody inAllah's world. They were trembling to think of the terrible fate that the thoughtless young man was inviting on himself by his rash and impudent words. They felt sincerly sorry for so fair and brave a youth.
The prisoner took breath and looked up and suddenly pulled off the helmet fromhis head and threw it to the ground. And lo behold! She was a young woman with her profuse hair falling in the waves down her back even beyond her knees!
The whole court, even the great Taimur, gasped in surprise.
Hamida Banu, for that was the name of the brave woman, continued,
'O Emperor, just look at me: I am a mere woman- weak and helpless. Now think of the brave race that you are determined to crush, a race that can produce women like me'
Taimur felt pentinent and bent down his head in shame. At once he set all the prisoners free.
(Short stories from Islamic history, Dozy) ..
(farrukh)
May Allah have mercy and guide us all, ameen.
regds-Nida
In the beginning of his career of conquest, Taimur once invaded theterritory of the powerful Prince named Sultan Muhammad. Taimur crossed theconfinesof the Prince's kingdom and took posession of a large villagesituated in the middle of the province. Sultan Muhammad stoutly resisted andunltimately Taimur was utterly defeated and forced to disguise himself as apoor traveller in order to get back to his country, begging alms as he went.
Arriving at a certain village, Taimur prayed to an old woman to give himsomething to eat. The woman moved by the piteous appeal of the traveller,brought him a full and hot dish. As Taimur was hungry, he thrust his hand into the very middleof the plate and burnt his fingers.
The old woman laughed and said, 'You are like the greedy Taimur who did not know how to take this country, for he came right into the midle of it and had to go out again defeated. If he had begun by attacking the borders, he could in time make himself master of the whole. It is the same with you. If you had avoided the middleand begun at the edge you could have eaten the whole dish without burning your fingers'.
Some time later...
Taimur was on a war path. Mighty empires fell to pieces before his
conquering army. In the course of his victorious campaigns,Taimur reached the frontier of the Turkish Empire, then ruled by the valiant Sultan Bayazid.
Bayazid and Taimur quickly picked up a quarrel and the quarrel ended in a sanguinary battle. The Turks fought bravely but could not hold their ground before the Tartar onslaught. Taimur won a clear victory and took a large number of Turks prisoner.
The Turks thus captured by teh Tartars were under order of execution. Among these prisoners was a young officer who had attracted the attention of many by his dauntless courage and exceptional skill in the battle. He sent a prayer to the Emperor Taimur for an interview and the Emperor condescended to grantit.
Heavily chained at the waist and feet, the officer was conducted before Taimur. Even the bravest warriors and the proudest soverigns cowered before the mighty conqueror. But the young officer looked straight into his face and sought permission to speak. The Emperor felt curious at the arrogance of this petty lieutenant and granted his prayer.
With his head held high the officer said:
'O Emperor, you have attacked Bayazid without any excuse and you have shedthe blood of thousands of the noblest of Allah's creatures. You have notonly killed the Turks but you have done grevious harm to the devoted servants of Islam. And you have penetrated your misdeeds only to support your arrogant claims as the world conqueror.
O Emperor, I am in your hands in chains, helpless. I have but a few moments more to live.But the cup of your wickedness will be full to overflowing and you will have to start for the same region to which you are sending us (i.e.the hereafter). There you will have to meet the MIghtiest of the Mighty, the Lord of countless hordes (i.e. God). What account will you give to Him of your cruel deeds?'
The tense emotion seemed to tire the officer. He paused for amoment. There was a pin drop silence in the entire court of Taimur. Tartar nobles never before in their life heard their Emperor similarly addressed by anybody inAllah's world. They were trembling to think of the terrible fate that the thoughtless young man was inviting on himself by his rash and impudent words. They felt sincerly sorry for so fair and brave a youth.
The prisoner took breath and looked up and suddenly pulled off the helmet fromhis head and threw it to the ground. And lo behold! She was a young woman with her profuse hair falling in the waves down her back even beyond her knees!
The whole court, even the great Taimur, gasped in surprise.
Hamida Banu, for that was the name of the brave woman, continued,
'O Emperor, just look at me: I am a mere woman- weak and helpless. Now think of the brave race that you are determined to crush, a race that can produce women like me'
Taimur felt pentinent and bent down his head in shame. At once he set all the prisoners free.
(Short stories from Islamic history, Dozy) ..
(farrukh)
May Allah have mercy and guide us all, ameen.
regds-Nida