THE MARTYR'S IDENTITY:

NAME : M.Tawfik
RANK : Senior Captain
POSITION : Company Commander
FATHER'S NAME : Ali Riza
DATE of BIRTH : 1296 (1881)
PLACE of BIRTH : Istanbul

On June 2, 1916, he was wounded by a British bullet and attained martyrdom in the Military Hospital in Chanakkale (Dardanelles).

My Dear Father and Mother, the sources of my life, the lightsome guides of my life:

In the first combat I joined a Ariburnu, a nefarious British bullet pierced through the right cuff of my trousers. Hamd (thanks and praise) be (to Allahu ta'ala), I escaped it. But because I do not expect to survive the next series of battles I am going to fight in, I am writing the following lines as a keepsake for you: Hamd-u-thena (thanks, praise and laud) be to Allahu ta'ala, He made me attain this rank. Again, as a requirement of His Divine Decree. He predestinated that I should chose a military career. And you, my parents, brought me up in such a manner as I should serve our sacred religion, our country, our nation. You were the causes and the lightsome guides of my life. I offer my infinite thanks to Janab-i-Haqq (Allahu ta'ala) and to you.

This is the time to deserve the money my nation has paid me up until now. I am exerting myself to perform my sacred religious and patriotic duty. If I should attain the rank of martyrdom, I shall consider myself to be a born servant most beloved to Allahu ta'ala. Being a soldier, this is always very possible for me, my dear father and mother. I entrust my wife Munevver, the apple of my eye, and my dearest sonny. Nezeeh, firstly to the protection of Allahu ta'ala, and secondly to your care. Please do all you can do for them! Please help my spouse educate my son as a Salih (pious, devoted) Muslim, and please do your best to bring him up in due manner. You know we are not wealthy. I could not ask for more than possible. For it would be futile. Enclosed is a letter which I wrote to my spouse; please hand it to her! Yet she will be very sorry. Give it to her in such a manner as will alleviate her sorrow. Naturally, she will weep and deplore; please console her. Allahu ta'ala predestined it be so. Please be extra scrupulous concerning the list of my dues and debts which I have appended to my letter to my spouse! The debts which Munevver has kept in her mind or wrote in her note-book are accurate, too. The letter I wrote to Munevver contains the details. Please ask her.

My dear father and mother! I may have offended you many times, though inadvertently. Please forgive me! Please waive the rights you have had over me. Please pray so that my soul attain happiness. Help my spouse in the clearing up of my dues and debts.

My dearest sister, Lutfiye,

You know I always loved you very much. I would always do my best for you. I may have inadvertently offended you, too. Please forgive me; so this is our destiny preordained by Allahu ta'ala. Please forgive me my having trespassed your rights, if ever, and pray so that my soul attain felicity. And please, you, too, help my spouse Munevver Hanim and my son Nezih!

Do perform the five daily prayers of namaz, you all, please! Be extra careful not to omit any prayer time. Make me happy by (often) reciting the (sura) Fatiha for my soul! I entrust you, too, to the Divine Kindness and Protection of Allahu ta'ala.

O my beloved kins, relatives, friends; farewell to you all! Please, you all, forgive me your rights over me! And I forgive you all my rights over you. Farewell, farewell! I entrust you all to Allahu ta'ala. I entrust you to His care eternally. My dearest father and mother.