Molla Said and Mustafa Pasa

On approaching Mustafa Pasa's tent, Said learnt that he was elsewhere and took the opportunity to rest. A while later Mustafa Pasa returned to the encampment and entered his tent, whereupon all those present rose to their feet, except Molla Said, who did not so much as stir. This attracted Mustafa Pasa's attention, and he enquired who it was from Fettah Bey, a major in the militia. He informed him that it was the `Famous Molla Said'. Now, Mustafa Pasa did not care at all for the ulema, but he thought it wise to suppress his anger, and asked why he had come there. Molla Said replied as ordered in his dream:

"I have come to guide you to the right path. Either you give up your tyranny and start performing the obligatory prayers, or else I shall kill you!"

Mustafa Pasa was doubtless taken by surprise with this reply and left the tent to consider the situation. He returned after a while and again asked why he had come. Said repeated what he had said. After further exchanges, Mustafa Pasa thought of a solution; he would set up a contest between Molla Said and "his" religious scholars in Cizre. If Molla Said was victorious, he would do as he said, otherwise he would throw him in the river. Said was quite unperturbed. He told Mustafa Pasa:

"Just as it is beyond my power to silence all the ulema, so also is it beyond your power to throw me into the river. But on my answering them, I want one thing from you, and that is a Mauser rifle. And if you do not stick to your word, I shall kill you with it!"

After this exchange had taken place, they mounted their horses and rode down to Cizre from the high grazing grounds. Mustafa Pasa would in no way speak to Molla Said on the way. When they came to the place known as Bani Han on the banks of the Tigris, Said slept, entirely confident about his forthcoming trial. When he awoke, he saw that the scholars of the area had foregathered and were waiting books in hand. After introductions, tea was served. These ulema had heard of the Famous Molla Said, and as they prepared their questions in a state of some trepidation, Said drank not only his own tea, but some of their's as well. Mustafa Pasa noticed this and informed the scholars he was of the opinion that they would be defeated.

Molla Said told the Cizre scholars that he had taken a vow and asked no questions of anyone, but that he was ready for theirs. Whereupon they presented him with about forty Auestions, all of which Said answered satisfactorily. Except for one, which they did not realize was incorrect, and accepted. As the gathering was dispersing, Molla Said recalled this, and hurried back to inform them and give the correct answer. Upon which they admitted that they were well and truly defeated, and a number of them started to study under Molla Said. Mustafa Pasa also presented him with the promised rifle and began to perform the obligatory prayers.

Molla Said was physically fit and strong, just as he was intellectually. He particularly enjoyed wrestling, and used to wrestle with all the students in the medreses. And neither were they able to better him at it.

One day, he and Mustafa Pasa went out to race each other on horseback. Mustafa Pasa had ordered that an unbroken, uncontrollable horse be prepared, which he gave to Molla Said to ride. Molla Said wanted to gallop the rebellious horse after walking it round for a bit. Given some rein, the horse galloped off, away from the direction it had been pointed. Said tried to stop it with all his strength; he could not. Finally the horse careered towards a group of children. The son of one of the Cizre tribal leaders was standing right in its path. The horse reared up and struck the child between the shoulders wilh its forelegs. The child fell to the ground under the horse's hooves and began to struggle desperately. After some minutes, those watching reached them. When they saw the child, by then motionless as though dead, they wanted to kill Molla Said. On the tribal leader's servants pulling out their daggers, Molla Said immediately drew his revolver, and said to them:

"If you look at the reality of the matter, Allah killed the child. If you look at the cause, Kel Mustafa killed him, because it was he who gave me this horse. Wait, let me come and look at the child. If he is dead, we can i ht it out later. And dismounting, he picked up the child. When he saw no signs of life in him, he plunged him into cold water and immediately pulled him out. The child opened his eyes and smiled. All the people who had poured onto the spot to watch were dumbfounded.

Molla Said stayed a short time longer in Cizre after this strange incident, then set off with one of his students for some desert country and its homadic Arab tribes. He had not been there long when he heard that Mustafa Pasa had reverted to his former evil ways, and he returned to advise him to give them up. But it was more than Mustafa Pasa could bear to be dictated to in this way, and it was only on his son's intervention that he refrained from assaulting Molla Said, who then left at the son's request and retumed to the Biro desert, this time alone.

Said was attacked twice by bandit nomads in the desert. The second time he would have met his end, but they recognized him and regretting their attack, offered him their protection on the dangerous parts of the road. Molla Said rejected their offers of assistance, and continued on his way alone until several days later he reached Mardin. ¹