Title page
Stories of the Scholar Mohammad Amin Sheikho
Part One
His Life, His Deeds, His Way to Al’lah
(1890-1964)
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Checked and Introduced by
Prof. A. K. John Alias Al-Dayrani
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Copyright © Amin-sheikho.com
A Glimpse into the Life of the Eminent Scholar M. Amin Sheikho (His soul has been sanctified by Al’lah)
His Honourable Birth
A splendid full moon appeared over Damascus on a blessed night in 1890 when a baby son was born to a Damascene merchant and his wife… surely a portent of good news! The father loved his son very much because of his admirable and bright companionship, and because, for him, he resembled the full moon in all its heavenly beauty.
All during his young years, the son was an active, clever, and lively child; and his constant cheerfulness and joy radiated out to all those around him, creating a great sense of well-being in them too. Day by day he grew bigger and stronger, and showed an ever increasing level of intelligence and strength of personality, which led his devoted parents to become ever more deeply attached to him. They adored the child and cared for him with great love, affection and understanding. Sadly, however, his loving father died at a young age after suffering an exhausting and painful illness.
The entire family was greatly affected by the death of their husband and father, for he left behind a widow and two sons to grieve his passing. He was also sorely missed by his friends and colleagues for he was a good and honest man. The child, Mohammad Amin was not yet seven years of age when he took on the responsibility of protecting his mother and defending her against the difficulties which surrounded his family after the death of his father, and the departure of his brother Saleem to Turkey.
Even as the only child Mohammad Amin was distinguished for his serenity when faced with the many problems of life. Patiently he bore difficulties that powerful men might never have been able to deal with, because he was a member of a small, respectable family that had faced much adversity.
A Distinguished Young Man and a Glimpse at His Deeds
Because of his honourable lineage that is linked directly to the great Envoy [2]Mohammad (cpth)[3]he had direct access to the hierarchy of the ruling Turkish state of the time, which entitled his family to reside in Sarouja Quarter, known as ‘Little Istanbul’, a residential quarter reserved then for Turkish statesmen. This connection also enabled him to study at Amber, the Royal Ottoman Faculty for police officers in Damascus.
Mohammad Amin completed his studies when he was eighteen years old and graduated with the rank of police officer. He was far superior to his colleagues insomuch as he displayed extreme courage, trust, and integrity; also his perseverance and dedication to hard work led to distinction. Succesively, he became the commanding officer of many of the police stations in various districts of Damascus, thus eliminating the criminal and political chaos rampant in the city at that time. Thereafter he was
appointed as the chief of police in a succession of small towns away from the capital city, where, yet again he established law and order in his unfailing way. In recognition of his professional ability and success he was eventually appointed to the position of director of the citadel of Damascus where the central prison was located. He was a great example to all, for no sooner had he taken up each new position than peace and safety prevailed throughout the entire area under his administration.
By day and by night he was constantly alert and prepared to protect and defend his country.
Whenever the state was confronted by any lawlessness or atrocity, his assistance would be requested. When all manner of evil such as killing, corruption and criminality spread across a region, he was their hope, their saviour, the man they could always rely on to resolve a dangerous situation and liberate people from oppression.
When decay began to nibble at the body of the Turkish state, and the light of Islam was dimmed, corruption and chaos prevailed all over the country to the extent that the level of crime became overwhelming; life became difficult, the daytime was fraught with danger, and the darkness of the night covered many horrific crimes; except in Damascus! Damascus, its suburbs and surrounding countryside, was a haven of calm and safety under the ever watchful eye of the eminent officer Mohammad Amin, whose life was dedicated to peace.
In his work he dauntlessly faced numerous criminals, showing superior courage and audacity, besieging many guerrillas and arresting their leaders. All of the tasks he undertook in the line of duty culminated in success and further support and he was given the nickname Aslan, meaning ‘the Lion’, for his fearlessness in facing adversity. With the Help of God, he was the only officer possessing the courage to confront injustice and terrorism. Fearing his bravery, criminals would surrender to him, and beg for his mercy and compassion.
He rose through the ranks and was moved from one police station to another until eventually he was appointed director of the citadel of Damascus, which contained the city’s warehouses and prisons. He held this position for many years during which he achieved great distinction and demonstrated a level of bravery, the like of which Damascus had never seen before. He took audacious measures when, during the First World War, he freed thousands of prisoners facing the death sentence and put them in the army front lines to defend the country against the invading enemy. This singular decision was the reason that all gallows throughout the country could be demolished. These gallows had originally been constructed on the orders of Jamal Pasha, the Ottoman governor of Syria, known as ‘the Butcher’ for his brutal acts. They were placed prominently in marketplaces and neighbourhoods across the country and were used, rightly or wrongly, to snuff out the lives of hundreds of young men every day. For that reason he was frequently exposed to the threat of death. Thus, by His Greatness, His Mercy, and His Assistance, Al’lah saved Mohammad Amin by enabling him to have this innovative idea.
During the French mandate of Syria 1920–1946, as he was a trusted civil security officer, he was returned to his former position as the director of a district or the chief of a police station, until the great Syrian revolution took place. At this time, due to his love for God and his noble wish to serve his country, he became the incomparable driving force of the revolutionaries and the life blood of the revolution. In recognition of his sincerity and commitment to their cause the revolutionaries put the seal ring into his trustworthy hands. He unnerved the French forces with the astounding tactics that he employed to turn retreat into victory. The French forces were further infuriated when he showed his sympathy to the revolutionaries and arranged, to the benefit of the revolutionaries, the greatest arms transfer between France and Greater Syria.
At that time the French had appointed him to the prestigious position of director of Anjar Castle (in Lebanon) where they had stored a great amount of arms. One dark night, Officer Sheikho handed over these arms to the revolutionaries. General Catroux, the governor of Syria at that time, was totally enraged and ordered that Mohammad Amin be executed, but the Almighty God saved him and his accomplice through His Complete Words, and the French came to trust and respect him again despite their original error of judgement.
Guidance and Invitation to Al’lah
When Mohammad was forty years old, God revealed to him the full knowledge of all things, that is, His Omniscience.
He began to envision and to hear the Prophet’s recitation of al-Fatiha (the Opening) Fortress[4]while he waspraying to God. After that he started to guide his disciples, undertaking this great task with unparalleled strength andgreat worthiness. He used to be called ‘Amin Bey’ for ‘Bey’[5]is a Turkish word meaning ‘the pure’. His salon attracted the flower of the youth of Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq, who came asking tobathe in his Mohammadan well of wisdom. Here they found a rich, dignified and generous spiritual sanctuary.
‘It is sufficient that your noble deeds are mentioned, for us to know that you are the shining example to all of us.’
A Glimpse of Mohammad Amin’s Invitation to Al’lah – His Revelation
Mohammad Amin’s blessed gatherings were distinguished by his captivating and unique revelations which he explained perfectly with plain and realistic meanings. His words flew like an arrow that always hit the target and fell peacefully on the hearts of the listeners, and was like a light that charmed them into allowing their spirits to soar higher and higher.
He drove away darkness, ripped apart all contradiction, and finally obliterated the schools of intrigue and empty debate which created a mental chasm between the people and their God. He made them aware of the reality of God, and the consummation of His Qualities: a Merciful God, Compassionate, Wise, Fair, Conferrer of benefit, Giver, and that He deserved to be worshipped for Himself for He is the Owner of Beauty and Consummation. He should be praised even if a man suffers something harmful because this harm results in a cure and assistance from God. Al’lah has no need of any part of creation nor of man’s allegiance and obedience, because He is Rich and we are poor; our obedience to Him is solely for our own good and benefit. We need to enter His Presence through prayer and good deeds in order to enter the shining stronghold of faith, and to be protected from misfortune and adversity.
The history of Mohammad Amin’s acclaimed life is full of meaning and is a perfect structure for the wonderful revelation that he brought: a revelation which contained facts at which heads bowed in great respect. The reality of his life was like a light: his own behaviour was proof and his true practical application of God’s Word was a guide. His revelation was without equal in world civilizations and the positive laws of contemporary life.
Why are we created?
What is this universe for?
What is the use of religious rituals?
What is the reason for fasting, followed by eating in Ramadan?
What does prayer achieve? And what are its benefits?
Why go on pilgrimage to a dry and barren desert?
Why were we brought into existence?
Where were we before coming to this earth?
What is death for? And what really comes after it? What is the spirit?
What is the soul?
What is the mind? What is Paradise? What is Hell?
What about the question of fate?
What is the pre-material world (the world of spirits)?
People have not allowed themselves to ask these questions because they were taken up with the temptations and deceptions of this human world, and they forgot to search in the files of existence to discover the secrets it holds.
In one of his meetings with other Western scientists, the famous English scientist, Sir John Bennett, a contemporary of Mohammad Amin, said, ‘Indeed, all the sciences that we have obtained do not equal the sea of sciences of that great scholar in the Orient.’
His invitation to follow God’s Path is based on a course of action that never fails, “Say, ‘This is my way: I, and whoever follows me, invite you to Al’lah with certainty, for Al’lah is Glorified and Exalted. And I am not one of those who worship many gods.’ ”[6] After Mohammad Amin received such a message through this honourable Ayah (verse), he began to ask for God’s Guidance for all mankind and continued to do so for a period lasting more than thirty years, concentrating on the following points:
1 Advising people how to achieve consummation with the Almighty God; demonstrating His Mercy to His servants; and His Justice towards His creation.
2 He discredited all the immorality that remained in the minds of humans, and whatever else that acted against Godly Justice, Clemency, Mercy, and all Godly Perfection. In all things M. A. Sheikho was guided by the Word of God, “And all the most Beautiful Names (Attributes) belong to Al’lah, so call on Him by these Names, and do not keep company with those who deny His Names. They will be paid back for what they have done.”[7]
3 Revealing the fulfillments of the Envoys (ptt), [8]whose purity and flawless spirits God guaranteed in His Glorious Book (the Qur’an), and He made them the ultimate role models and guides for all the worlds [9]as mentioned in Mohammad Amin’s book, Impeccability of Prophets, the like of which could only have come
through God and could never have been written by his predecessors. He refuted all falsehood or interpretation that disagreed with the Envoys’ high spiritual worth and their flawless adherence to the Word of God, relying on the Qur’anic verse, “They are the ones who are guided by Al’lah, so follow their guidance.” [10]
4 Calling people to adhere to the highest principles and truly to attain the devotion to God (as witnessed by Al’lah’s Light), besides warning people not to let their spirits follow their capricious whims, nor to depend upon worthless wishes but turn to the Word of God, “It will not be according to your desires, nor to those of the people of the scripture; whoever does evil, will receive the appropriate payment, and he will find no one except God to protect or help.”[11]
And also calling on the tradition of the Envoy (cpth), “The discerning person is one who knows his own faults and works towards what comes after death; and the disabled person is one who follows his own whims and asks God to grant whatever he wishes for.”
5 Guiding people to the steps of true faith that the Envoy (cpth) showed to his noble companions: steps which were derived from the Book of God. No person’s heart can be full of the joy of faith unless they follow God’s Order and are self-disciplined so as not to commit sins. God
Impressum
Verlag: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG
Texte: Amin-sheikho.com
Lektorat: Prof. A. K. John Alias Al-Dayrani
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 27.06.2014
ISBN: 978-3-7368-2259-7
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