Promise of paradise
October 9, 2008 Once convinced about the promise of paradise, these fidayeen were ready to die at command of the master of paradise. The group continued the reign of terror for several generations. Even the great Salahuddin Ayubi had to take special personal protection to escape attacks by fidayeen. Marco Polo visited Almut, the fortress constructed by Hasan and has narrated the story of Hasan Bin Saba and his paradise in his travelogue. It is said Hasan bin Sabah and Omar Khayam were friends in their youth but went their different ways. Omer Khayam wrote about eternal love in poetry of heavenly eloquence and music. Hasan spewed hatred against princes of his time and shed innocent blood using the allure of his magical paradise as a weapon. -KHALID A., London, UK, via e-mail, September 25.
