Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-08-27
THE BEBAWAY'S PROMISE.

from Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the
Time of the Early Khalifahs."1
Sharaf-ed-din husein, the son of Ri
yam, relates: Marvellous are the anec-
dotes which [ collected and wonderful
are my "reminiscences Of the excellent
things which [ noted down from one who
was present at the council, and heard the
words of 'Omari bn ell Khattab, the Khali-
fab of el-Islam."
He stated that one day, while the Imam
was sitting in council with some of the
- chief of the Associates and others to whom
q he referred for jud gment and advice, and
+ - while he was giving his decisions in caus-
es, and issuing his commands among his
subjects, young man of comely appear
ance, and in clean attire, appeared in the
80 s... grasp of two other young men, also well
favored and we'll dressed, who dragged
and pulled him until they brought him in,
and placed him before the Amir Muma-
saE- min. And, when they thus stood in his
presence, the Amir looked at the two
young men and at the other, and then
commanded them to take their hands off
him. Upon this they drew near, and said :
60 Commander of the Faithful we are
brethren, sons of the same mother and ia
ther and are accustomed to speak strictly
the truth. Our father was shekh adj
80 e-s yanced in years. excellent in administra-
/. ! ton, respected among his tribes free from
81 IS vice. known by his virtues When we
were children, he educated us; when we
grew older he treated us with considera-
ton, and amassed for us a large inher-
lance. As is said
Had there lived among other father like
our father,
The world would have grown rich in virtues
Is e. = This morning he went out into his garden
to enjoy himself among the trees; and
while he there gathered the ripe fruits
this youth killed him, and turned from the
way OF Righteousness. And ask from
s you the retaliatory retribution for his
.. "a crime and the decree for the same accor-
ding to that whiclas God has revealed to
40 you" ii. e., in the Kuran).
[Willful murder, though one of the most
enormous crimes that can be committed,
4 is yet allowed to be compounded for, on
.5E 8 the payment of fine to the family of the
deceased, and freeing Muslin from cap
tivity. The next of kin, however-or, in
the language of the Bible, "the revenger
of blood has the option of accepting
or refusing such satisfaction, and may in
sist on having the murderer delivered into
his hands to be put to death.
The historian then relates that Omar
looked upon the young man. and said to
him:
''Verily you have heard. What is your
answer?n
And at this the youths heart was calm
and void of apprehension. Truly, he flung
off the garment of fear, and cast aside the
mantle of trepidation. Then he smiled
like pearl, THAT is, he opened his mouth
slightly to laugh, and exposed white teeth
like pearls and, speaking with most
eloquent tongue, saluted the prince in
beautiful language Then he went on,
saying:
90 Commander of the Faithful! by
Allah they have well recollected in ma
king their plant; and have spoken truly
in what they have said; and have made
known that which took place; and have
described that which occurred. And l
will now recount my story before you,
and Judgment thereupon rests with you
Know, 0 Commander of the Faithful
that | am an Arab of the Arabs THAT is
~ an Arab of Arab DESCENT | was reared
in the dwellings of the desert, and years
of misfortune darkened my life So |
came to the outskirts of this city with my
household, and my goods and my chill
dren. followed one of its roads, which
led me between gardens, having with me
she-camels, beloved by me, dear to me; ;
and among Thorn he-camel of noble
race and of beautiful form, who walked
in their midst like crowned monarch
. Ts-e One of the she-camels approached gar
den, over the wall of which trees were
visible that she could reach with her lips.
So drove her away from that garden,
when lol an old man appeared, painting
with rage; and, mounting on the wall, he
presented himself carrying in his right
nand stone, and raving like furious
non Then he struck the he camel with
the stone, and killed hint fell on fatal
spot But, when | saw the camel fall on
ms she and roll over, live Goals of rage
were kindled within me- I seized the