“Is it possible to be brave and intelligent at the same time?” Ali asked mom, as she weeded her flowerbed.
“Why not?” Mom turned around looking surprised.
“Well… because I always notice that kids who talk smart never really do much, and those who do something are not that bright,” Ali explained sitting on a nearby step, thinking of his classmates.
“Hmmm…” mom thought for a while, staring into space, and then mumbled to herself, “there was someone who did both.” She paused to look into Ali’s eyes. “He was a man who revived Islam in the seventh century by his incredible learning, writings, reading, teaching and preaching; yet, he was able to stand up against the darkest of enemies face to face with an unsheathed sword.”
“Really?” Ali was surprised and a bit skeptical. “Who was he?”
Mom took off her gloves and walked over to sit next to Ali with a gleam in her eyes. “His name was Ahmad. He was born in Harran, a city in Syria. Ahmad was only six years old when his city was attacked by Tartars.”
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