The Shadow of the Minaret: A Tale of Faith and Justice

Stranger in Mysterious Form In the bustling city of Baghdad, where merchants shouted in the bazaars and scholars debated in grand halls, there was a legend whispered among the people.

They spoke of a mysterious stranger who appeared only at night, cloaked in black, moving like a shadow across the rooftops.

They referred to him as Zaydan, the Phantom of Justice, even though no one knew his name. According to some, he was either a wandering scholar or a warrior seeking redemption. But all agreed on one thing—he fought for the oppressed and punished the corrupt.

The Wazir's oppression Ibn Rafiq, the Caliph of Baghdad at the time, was a good man, but his Wazir was a greedy and cruel man. He raised taxes on the poor, imprisoned innocent people, and silenced anyone who spoke against him. Beggars lined the streets, and the Wazir's palace was overflowing with gold. The people prayed for justice. And one night, justice came.

The Phantom's Signature The Wazir awoke to find a dagger pinned to his bedroom wall, piercing a piece of parchment.

It stated, "Your days of tyranny are numbered." Repent, or face judgment.” — Zaydan.”

The Wazir laughed. “A phantom? I fear no ghost!”

But fear found him soon enough.

That night, the guards’ weapons were stolen from the armory. The next morning, a corrupt judge disappeared. The merchants who overcharged the poor found their gold missing, replaced with a note: “Wealth gained through injustice shall not remain.”

The people of Baghdad rejoiced, whispering: “The Phantom of Justice is watching.”

The Wazir’s Trap

Enraged, the Wazir devised a plan. He declared a great feast, inviting nobles, scholars, and travelers from all lands. He made sure the news reached every ear, knowing Zaydan would not ignore an event where the rich feasted while the poor starved.

That night, disguised as a servant, Zaydan entered the palace. He moved through the shadows, listening, observing.

But as he reached for a stolen document proving the Wazir’s crimes, the doors slammed shut.

The Wazir’s guards surrounded him, spears pointed at his chest.

“You thought you could challenge me?” the Wazir sneered. “Now you will die.”

The Minaret’s Shadow

Zaydan was taken by the guards and dragged to the city square, where a scaffold stood in the shadow of the massive minaret. The Wazir addressed the crowd. “Behold your so-called savior! The Phantom of Justice is nothing more than a man who mistakenly believed he could defeat me. The people watched in silence. Zaydan had given them hope, and now that hope seemed lost.

But a voice came from the minaret as the executioner raised his sword. “Allahu Akbar!”

It was the muezzin, calling the adhan. The moment of prayer had arrived.

Zaydan closed his eyes and whispered a dua. The people, instead of watching in fear, fell to their knees and prayed.

And in that sacred moment, something changed.

From the crowd, hooded figures emerged, throwing off their cloaks—revealing themselves as warriors, scholars, and even former palace guards who had sworn loyalty to justice.

The square erupted in chaos. The Wazir’s guards, caught off guard, fell one by one. Zaydan's bravery inspired the people to rise. By the time the call to prayer ended, the Wazir’s reign was over.

The Vanishing Hero

When the dust settled, the people searched for Zaydan, but he was gone—vanished like a shadow at dawn.

Some say he became an advisor to the Caliph, guiding justice from behind the scenes. Others believe he traveled to distant lands, continuing his fight against oppression.

But in every mosque, every marketplace, and every whisper of the city, the legend of Zaydan, the Phantom of Justice, lived on.

Because justice never dies. It simply waits—for the right heart to rise again.