The Most Important Pilgrim
The most notable person among all the pilgrims was Hadji Sheik Islam, who was the head of the Islamic church in Persia. He traveled with his son and three other important Persian religious leaders. When they arrived in Constantinople, they received a grand welcome. The Persian ambassador and the Sheik-ul-Islam of Constantinople met them with great ceremony and respect The Biblical Story of Hagar and Ishmael and the Sultan’s Religious Power.
Royal Hospitality
The Persian religious leaders stayed as honored guests at the Persian embassy. The Sultan of Turkey showed them special hospitality and gave them medals, badges, and other honors. As the head of the Islamic church, the Sultan also gave them his personal blessing. This was a sign of great respect and recognition of their important religious position.
Their Magnificent Appearance
The Persian religious leaders dressed in very beautiful and impressive clothing. They wore long white silk gowns with pleated fronts and flowing sleeves. Around their waists, they wrapped the finest cashmere shawls as sashes. Over their white gowns, they wore large brown robes made from camel’s hair. On their heads, they wore enormous white turbans that made them look even more dignified.
The Sheik and his group were men who looked noble and carried themselves with great dignity. When people saw them, they showed respect and honor as if these religious leaders were used to receiving such treatment from everyone they met Ephesus Sightseeing.
The Sultan’s Generous Offer
When a Turkish steamship was preparing to carry 1,400 pilgrims to Mecca, the Sultan made a generous announcement. He ordered that no passenger should pay more than $8 for their ticket. Even more surprisingly, he said that people who could not afford to pay anything should travel completely free of charge.
The Steamship Company’s Problem
The officers of the steamship company were not happy with this order. They complained to the Sultan because they would lose money. The Sultan calmly told them to send him the bill for the difference – meaning he would pay for the free passengers himself. This act of generosity amused many people who knew the Sultan’s reputation. Everyone knew that the Sultan of Turkey never actually paid for anything he promised to pay for.
A Clever Solution
The steamship company could not refuse the Sultan’s orders, but they found a clever way to solve their problem. After thinking about it, they came up with a plan to get their money back. When the steamer reached Beirut, it stopped and dropped anchor in the harbor.
Running Out of Coal
The ship’s officers told the pilgrimage managers that they could not continue the journey to Mecca. They claimed they had run out of coal for the ship’s engines and could not buy more coal because they had no money. They explained that the small amount of money collected from the pilgrims who could pay had already been used up.
The Sultan’s Solution
The desperate pilgrims sent a telegram to the Sultan asking for help. The Sultan responded by ordering the governor of Beirut to provide coal for the ship. However, the governor had no choice but to force the local people to pay extra taxes to cover the cost of the coal. This way, the governor could reimburse himself for the money he had to spend, but it meant that ordinary citizens ended up paying for the Sultan’s generous promise.
