Part 38
By Harith Ubaidah
“O sovereign ruler! First and foremost, hear my view and request. I speak openly and without hesitation: our hearts must resemble those of the Mujahideen who came before us. We must continue this struggle with the same resolve they possessed, without lethargy, without neglect. This battle is ours; we were the ones who initiated it, and therefore we must carry it to its conclusion. We must intensify and sharpen our attacks, detect new vulnerabilities in the enemy, and strike them with courage and strength. That is all I have to say; nothing remains beyond this.”
Hearing these words, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror’s face brightened, and his heart swelled with satisfaction. He looked toward Commander Tarkhan and sought his opinion. Tarkhan replied calmly and without hesitation: “What Zaganos Pasha has stated is correct, O Sultan. I fully endorse his judgment.”
The Sultan then turned to his trusted teachers, Sheikh Akshamsaddin and Molla Gurani, and requested their counsel, for his confidence in them was unwavering. They too supported Zaganos Pasha’s position, declaring: “Press forward with the war! This effort is essential. And if Allah Almighty wills, victory and triumph are drawing near.”
Their agreement ignited a surge of passion among all who were gathered. Resolve coursed through their veins. Sultan Mehmed was deeply pleased, and he expressed high praise to both scholars for their prayers and encouragement. From his heart escaped a remark filled with conviction: “Which of my ancestors ever possessed strength and determination equal to mine?”
With the scholars’ full endorsement, the continuation of the war was confirmed. The Sultan rejoiced, for he regarded himself as the executor of their vision. Everyone present supported moving forward. The council concluded at the Sultan’s direction. The night passed swiftly, and at dawn, Allah willing, the army would launch a devastating assault on the city. Every soldier was to be fully prepared for the next morning’s offensive.
Sultan Mehmed himself oversaw the preparations. On the eighteenth day of Jumada al-Awwal, corresponding to May 27, he addressed the army with solemn gravity: “Stand humble before Allah Almighty! Purify your hearts from satanic whispers and distractions! Perform your prayers, submit to His decree, call upon Him sincerely, and draw closer to Him so that He may bless you with victory!”
The Sultan’s words surged throughout the camp, stirring every Muslim present. After issuing his commands, he toured the army’s positions, inspecting the lines and ensuring readiness. He reviewed the intelligence that had been gathered about the city’s defenders, finalized the artillery placements, observed his troops firsthand, encouraged them, and urged them to spare nothing in the cause of defeating the enemy.
He then dispatched another message to the people of Galata: “As you have remained neutral until now, continue to do so. Honor your agreement with the Muslims firmly. Whatever damages you have suffered as a consequence of this conflict, the Muslims guarantee full compensation.”
That evening, the Ottoman army set ablaze massive piles of brushwood around the camp, and the booming echoes of takbir rolled across the air like thunder. The Byzantines at first assumed fire had broken out in the camp, but they soon realized the truth, this was a celebration of victory even before battle, a tradition the Ottomans embraced. That sight struck fear deep into their hearts, and their anxiety grew heavier than ever before.
At dawn the next day, May 28, the Ottoman army prepared for the final decisive assault. Their cannons rained shells upon the Byzantines. Sultan Mehmed, mounted on horseback, personally supervised every movement, guiding each contingent. His commanding voice spread across the field like a call to destiny: “O Muslims! This battle is for the pleasure of Allah Almighty! May He grant you victory! Give your lives in His cause! Carry the light of jihad to every corner of the world!”