ABSTRACT
In March 1853 Shamil wrote to the Ottoman sultān, Abdül-Mecid:
Gracious and Great khalīfa. We, your subjects, having for a very long time fought the enemies of our Faith, have lost our strength. Furthermore, we, your subjects, have been [continuously] hard-pressed year after year [to such an extent that] now we have no force to furnish against our enemies. We are deprived of [Alī] means and are now in a disastrous position. 1
