The Silent City🔊

Far within the shimmering sands of the Sharqoui Depths, there lay a city. Its name was Ghaza, the Silent City.

Ghaza was no ordinary city. It was a place layered with an ancient magic that had the ability to hide the city from the mortal eyes. Only those pure of heart had the unusual privilege to witness its pureness, grandeur, and mystic appeal.

Many a traveler tried to find Ghaza, tempted by the tales of its splendor shared by the few lucky ones who had been its guests. However, only disappointment awaited them as they failed in their ventures. Ghaza was a paradise blessed to all but accessible only to the noble ones.

One among such rare people was a boy named Thabit. Thabit was a shepherd boy of the Thara Tribe, known for his honest and candid heart.

The elders of Thara Tribe often recited stories about Ghaza, of its golden lanes, grand palaces, and the king who ruled Ghaza with unparalleled wisdom, King Faisal. Thabit would listen in awe, dreaming of visiting the mystical city one day.

One windy afternoon, as Thabit was herding his sheep, a sparkling gust of wind blew across his path. He closed his eyes and shielded his face with his arm. When he dared to look again, there was the magnificent city of Ghaza, crystalline and resplendent, standing at a stone's throw distance.

He approached the city gates and was welcomed by an old guard. The guard informed King Faisal about Thabit and his pure heart.

King Faisal welcomed Thabit with a kind smile and a warm heart. He introduced him to the people of Ghaza and showed him the city's grandeur. It was more beautiful than all the descriptions Thabit had heard.

Towards the end of the day, King Faisal spoke softly, 'Thabit, Ghaza will be revealed to you every day at this hour. But there is a condition.' Thabit listened attentively. 'You have been able to see Ghaza because of your pure heart. Make sure you guard it just as fiercely.'

Thabit nodded and left the city as the sunset painted the sky in hues of copper. Every day, at the same hour, he visited Ghaza, blessed by the city's enchanting sight and King Faisal's inspiring wisdom.

However, Thabit's daily disappearance didn't go unnoticed for long. The Thara Tribe's envious chief, Saladin, followed Thabit one day and saw him disappearing into the air while walking towards the desert.

Out of jealousy and curiosity, he accused Thabit of practicing sorcery and exiled him from the Tribe. Saladin warned the tribe of the ominous outcomes of associating with the boy. He promised them riches like the ones Thabit presumably derived from his interactions with the ‘unknown’.

Now, banished from his tribe, Thabit could never return to his family and friends. However, he was still blessed to visit Ghaza every day. Though he missed his old life, Thabit cherished the time he spent in the city, for Ghaza was his solace, and its people, his new family.

But having his innocence questioned and being abandoned by his people stained Thabit's pure heart. The city of Ghaza sensed it and began to dim. Thabit noticed the change and was heartbroken.

The king, witnessing Thabit’s sadness, counseled, ‘Thabit, a pure heart is not one that has never been stained, but one which knows the value of purity even after being stained.'

Inspired by King Faisal's words, Thabit decided to forgive Saladin and his tribe. He let go of the resentment he had been harboring in his heart and forgave them for their hasty judgment.

From that day on, Ghaza shone brighter than ever, and its golden paths paved the way for a heart that had learned how to remain pure amidst life's crushing blows. Thabit’s story spread throughout the world, teaching everyone - purity isn’t merely about being unstained, but having the courage to hold on to innocence even after being tainted.