Letter written in 1554 by Safavid King Tahmasp I to Suleiman the Magnificent, after several failed Ottoman campaigns to capture Tabriz in Iranian territory: “The Roman came to the gate of Tabriz, shit himself, and left. He turned back from the gate of Tabriz, shitting and shitting.” [2048×2048]

I plugged this into GPT and it said nothing of the sort.

“After completing the Ḥajj (pilgrimage) and a six-month journey, the wasiyyah (last will) of al-Murtaḍā (ʿAlī, the Chosen One) was opened—like a scroll from the Kitāb al-Jannah (Book of Paradise). A decree had been issued by Shāh Ṭahmāsp under Sharīʿah (Islamic law), and a public statement was read about the heavenly Burūj (constellations).

Every test and hardship that came his way burned him like a darkened moon—still breathing, but the pain of being apart from the shaykh (spiritual guide) was even harder to bear. His jawhar (inner essence) wasn’t made of the same stuff as others; in a world full of illusions and appearances, time kept bringing up new reflections and meanings.

In the middle of the night, heavy with aḥwāl (spiritual states), he would rise—quiet, humbled, and full of shame. The sukkān (inhabitants) of both worlds search every yawm (day) for their share, and sooner or later, they find it.

Every time the thought of saying the Talbiyah (*“Labbayka Allāhumma Labbayk”*) crossed his mind, he pulled back—overwhelmed by haybah (awe) of the divine and the sense of ṭahārah (purity). And every time, he offered himself again in fidāʾ (sacrifice).

There was once a man from the Shīʿah (followers of ʿAlī) who carried deep kināh (resentment). He set out on a safar (journey) with two major stops. Along the way, he saw something in himself and turned back—only to see it again through two more abwāb (gates). He paused, moved on, and eventually reached the ḥaḍrah (Divine Presence), crying out to the Wahhāb al-ʿAṭāʾ (Giver of all gifts): “Yā Barakah!” (O Blessing!).”