The Sheikh | الشّيخ

"عندما وصل زعيم قبيلة [العدوّ]، وصاح به أن ينزع عمامته لينجو بحياته، اختار الشّيخ ألّا يفعل ما سيلطّخ سمعته أمام العرب (طبقاً للأعراف البدويّة)، فردّ بعزم: "لست أنا الّذي يكشف رأسه لأعدائه"؛ فقُتل على الفور." رحلات في سورية و الاراضي المقدسة (لندن، 1822) - جون لويس بيركهارت "When the leader of the [enemy tribe] came up, and cried out to him to throw down his turban and his life should be spared. The Sheikh, rather than do what, according to Bedouin notions, would have stained his reputation ever after, exclaimed, “I shall not uncover my head before my enemies;” and was immediately killed with the thrust of a lance." Travels in Syria and the Holy Land (London, 1822) – John Lewis Burckhardt...View all