Syrian man finds his secret library untouched 15 years after he concealed it behind a wall and fled Assad and civil war
Abu Bilal, a Syrian man who fled the civil war more than 15 years ago, returned to Homs after Bashar al-Assad’s regime fell and uncovered a library he had concealed behind a false wall. The books and hidden cash were still intact, making the discovery a powerful symbol of perseverance and hope for Syrians returning home.
The collection includes biographies of the Prophet Mohammed, Sunni Islamic scholarship and a complete medieval compilation of prophetic sayings. Bilal’s son shared footage of the discovery online, where it attracted widespread attention. The library also highlights the risks surrounding books under Assad, while Syria continues rebuilding after a war that killed nearly 500,000 people and forced more than five million to flee.
- Syrian returnee finds his hidden library intact after 15 years.
- Rare Islamic books and concealed cash survived the war.
- The discovery became a symbol of Syrian resilience.