The Man Who Escaped Death Founded a State That Lasted 800 Years

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Young Abd al-Rahman ibn Muawiya fled from Syria.

Abbasid soldiers pursued the Umayyad princes to eliminate them.

His brother, Yahya, trusted the guarantee of safety given to him, and the soldiers killed him.

Badr, the loyal supporter of Ibn Muawiya, gathered an army for him and entered Al-Andalus.

Abu Ja’far al-Mansur: This is the Falcon of Quraysh, who established a state.

The US Ambassador in Paris fell in love with the widow of a philosopher.

Your intention to remain a widow until you join your husband was a harsh blow.

Historians agree that it is the most charming love letter in history.

He concluded his letter by saying: "Come, my dear, let us take revenge on them together."

Determination creates men, who in turn create miracles. Among these men is the Falcon of Quraysh, who was fleeing from the Abbasids and watched his brother being killed before his eyes. But instead of surrendering, he fled and later worked to reach Al-Andalus, where he established a state that lasted for about 800 years. The following lines tell the story of this man, as well as a tale about the most beautiful writing on love.

In the year 132 AH, the Abbasids succeeded in overthrowing the Umayyad state, and the pursuit of the princes of Banu Umayya began everywhere. At that time, Abd al-Rahman ibn Muawiya was a young man in his twenties. He fled from Syria, accompanied by his brother Yahya and some of his loyal supporters. The Abbasid cavalry pursued them until they reached the Euphrates River.

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On the riverbank, Abbasid soldiers stood while the fugitives stood in the middle of the river. The soldiers announced safety to them, saying, "We will not kill you; just return."

However, Abd al-Rahman ibn Muawiya sensed a deception. He continued swimming, while his brother returned to them with reassurance. When he was captured, he was killed in front of his brother’s eyes.

From here began the great escape of Abd al-Rahman ibn Muawiya. He moved among tribes, fleeing from place to place, until he reached North Africa, hiding. He remained in this state for a period until his loyal supporter, named Badr, reached him. During this time, Badr heard people expressing their hatred for the Banu Abbas, so he secretly gathered supporters for Abd al-Rahman.

At that time, Al-Andalus was engulfed in struggles for power, while the people desired the return of the Umayyads. Thus, he began calling for his prince, who managed to take refuge in Al-Andalus. When he found that the supporters with him had increased in number, he began to gather a large army. However, at the same time, he lacked the money for this army. Despite this, he worked to defeat his opponents by entering Cordoba and achieving his first victory in the year 138 AH, thereby re-establishing an Umayyad state in Al-Andalus.

For this reason, the Abbasid Caliph Abu Ja’far al-Mansur himself said about him: "This is the Falcon of Quraysh." The man they pursued to kill him fled alone and established a state in Al-Andalus.

This Falcon of Quraysh established a state that lasted for about 800 years.

The Most Charming Love Letter in History

In 1776, the US Ambassador in Paris, Benjamin Franklin, met the widow of the renowned philosopher Helvétius. He fell in love with her and proposed marriage, but she refused, remaining faithful to her husband's memory.

This was a shock to Franklin, which prompted him to write her a letter that historians agree is the most charming and brilliant love letter in the history of love.

He wrote to her: "My dear lady..."

Your frankness in telling me of your intention to remain a widow until you join your husband was a harsh blow. I could not withstand it; I was left stunned and agitated, moving from bitter sorrow to deadly despair. I was unable to sleep, so I took a strong sedative and collapsed onto the bed to escape the bitter truth. In my dreams, I saw myself having moved to the other world, wandering there in confusion and longing, like someone searching for a beloved they have lost.

Suddenly, I saw a beautiful angel approaching and asking me about my destination. I told him I wanted the Philosophers' Corner. He said: "There, at the edge of the garden, live two philosophers: Socrates and Helvétius."

The kind angel led me to the residence of your husband, Helvetius, who welcomed me with a smile and hospitality, and began asking me about the war, religion, and freedom. I answered him, though I was eager for him to stop his questions so I could pose the very question I had come to ask. Finally, I asked him: “You have shown great interest in asking about all people, yet you have not asked me about your life partner.”

He let out a sigh and said, “You are dragging me back to memories of the past, which a person must forget here in order to live happily.”

“Circumstances here forced me to forget her and marry Jamila, who strives with all her might to make me happy.”

“I was deeply moved by your fidelity to him, sir,” I said. “I told him that your wife on earth is more faithful than you are, because she does not wish for any man to touch her after you. I loved her and asked for her hand, but she refused me out of loyalty to your memory.”

At this, I saw Mr. Helvetius smile with pity, saying, “I pity both your situation and hers.”

The door opened, and his wife from the other world entered. How astonished I was when I realized she was my late wife, who had passed away from this world.

I rubbed my eyes, denying what I saw, and then asked her, “Did you not swear to be mine alone?”

She replied coldly, “I was your good wife for twenty-nine years in this world. But here, we are in another realm. I have met a man to whom the heavens have bound my fate.”

I must admit, I was stunned by her cold response. I lunged to strike her, but I awoke from my dream. However… I can still take revenge on her while awake. Indeed, you too can take revenge on your husband.

Come, my dear, let us take revenge on them together.