In this talk, Sheikh Bahauddin Adil tells a lesser-known episode from medieval history that carries a timeless spiritual lesson. In the time of the Mongol ruler Hulagu, the Pope regarded the steppe warriors as “godless” pagans who worshipped only sky and earth. Seeing their military strength as a possible asset, he sent missionaries to convert them to Christianity. One of them was a young Christian woman who became the beloved wife of a Mongol chieftain, an example of how conversion efforts were often bound up with personal alliances.
The story takes a dramatic turn when a senior cardinal arrives among the Mongols to preach. As he denounces Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, an unexpected guardian appears: a shepherd’s dog tied to a tree. Every insult makes the dog bark more fiercely, until the cardinal is bitten and dragged down by the very animal he provoked. The onlookers saw it as divine retribution, a sign that truth cannot be silenced by contempt.
Sheikh Bahauddin stresses that this story, though not part of mainstream historiography, points to a deeper reality: whenever Islam is attacked, whether through the burning of Qur’ans, the bombing of mosques or the vilification of the Prophet, the faith endures and often gains new attention. The dog in the story stands for the steadfast spirit of believers who protect the truth even when they are outnumbered.
Several spiritual lessons follow from the story:
- Fitna (discord) is inevitable, but it reveals the hidden strength of faith. The Sheikh warns against stirring up fitna deliberately; we should recognise its source and respond with calm conviction.
- Divine justice works beyond human schemes. Just as the cardinal’s arrogance was answered by an unexpected bite, aggressors today will find their actions turned back on them, often in ways not seen at first.
- The resilience of Islam testifies to its truth. Even in the face of powerful empires or hostile media, the message endures and draws more seekers to it.
The Sheikh also touches on current tensions: references to Norway, Denmark, Pakistan and Burma show how religious misunderstandings can quickly turn into economic boycotts or diplomatic disputes. Yet true resolution, he reminds us, lies not in retaliation but in holding fast to the Qur’an’s teachings of patience, compassion and justice.
For us as a community, the story is a call to inner vigilance and to support one another in living the values of our Sufi heritage in today’s complex world.
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