Sultan Suleiman ‘The Magnificent’
This is a conversation which is known to be have happened between Yahya efendi (a well-known Islamic scholar of the time; ‘Efendi’ means ‘respected master’ in Turkish) and Sultan Suleiman ‘The Magnificent’ (Ottoman sultan):
During Sultan Suleiman’s reign, the Ottomans were undoubtedly ‘the superpower’ at the time. However he was also curious about the future of the state (I do not like calling the Ottomans an ’empire’ so I will keep calling them ‘state’) and wonders whether the Ottomans will also decline just like all the other great civilisations, states and/or empires before it.
He always asked scholars for their opinions if he had a question, so he took the matters to Yahya efendi through his messengers. Some time later he received an answer through his messenger and it was very short:
Oh Sultan, “I don’t care” is the answer
The Sultan was shocked. However he knew that Yahya efendi was a man of wisdom, so he travelled to his place to learn the meaning of his answer.
Brother, please do take my question seriously. I am curious about the answer.
Another short answer from Yahya efendi:
Oh my Sultan. How can I ignore you? I did give you an answer. And it was “I don’t care”
However the Sultan still couldn’t make sense of his answers.
I still don’t understand
Well my Sultan. Whenever corruption, oppression/cruelty and thievery runs loose within a society; and the ones who see it turn a blind eye towards them and say “I don’t care”, this will be end of that state and society.
Great lessons to be learnt from the past… I hope the politicians in our countries take notice; if they ‘care’ that is!
Turkcesi icin buraya tiklayin
An ordinary blog by an ordinary bloke 