And when the Hill stood still, he was never a whit abashed, but said; If the Hill will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet will go to the hill.
-Francis Bacon, Essays, 1625
Jabal al-Fās, Mountain of the Axe, was our landmark for making progress along the Wadi al-Milk. Monotonous was the sand track to which its rocky silhouette promised only slighter interest. Approaching the Jabal, I looked for but didn’t see the Axe. Passing it, no Fās yet. Leaving it behind, still no Axe. Then KhairAllah said, Jabal al-Fās is ahead and we will pass tomorrow, InshāAllah.