Syrian man finds his secret library untouched 15 years after he concealed it behind a wall and fled Assad and civil war

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 07:37 EDT, 18 September 2026 | Updated: 07:43 EDT, 18 September 2026 A man who fled the Syrian civil war over 15 years ago returned to find the secret library he had hidden behind a false wall intact. Abu Bilal had been living in exile in Kuwait ever since his country descended into a civil war. But now that dictator Bashar al-Assad's regime has been overthrown, Bilal finally returned to his home city of Homs and tore down the wall. In footage filmed by his son, Bilal is shown swinging a hammer and battering the structure as dust rises. When he finally knocks down the entire structure, he unpeels sheets of cardboard, revealing his vast collection of books.Among the leather-bound copies and intricate covers are biographies of the Prophet Mohammed and works of Sunni Islamic scholarship, as well as a complete set of Jami' al-Usul fi Ahadith al-Rasul – a medieval compendium of the sayings of the Prophet.'Thank God, everything is fine so far, apart from some dust,' he says, admiring his library. As he runs his fingers through his books, he stops as he discovers something tucked between the pages. Abu Bilal is shown in this video grab breaking a wall with a hammer as he tries to uncover his hidden library Sheets of cardboard begin to emerge as the Syrian man knocks down a wall When he finally knocks down the entire structure, he reveals his vast collection of books'And the money – we placed money here too,' he says, tugging out the brown cardboard he had wedged in to shield the cash. He adds: 'Thank God, it's still here and still in good condition. A thousand praises to God.'God bless us and allow us to return to our homeland.''Even in the smallest space, we found room for a book, making the most of it as we ran out of room,' Bilal says in awe.His son, Bilal Alloun, shared the video on social media, writing that his father had refused to leave Syria until he had 'secured' the library. 'The way my father took the books out tells stories we'll leave for another time,' he added. 'Praise God for this clear victory.' The clip, which has since gone viral, has resonated with Syrians, with many commenting that the library is a symbol of resilience. Under Assad, books were highly policed after the government banned works about the country's prisons, radical Islamic theology and politics. Among the leather-bound books from the hidden library are biographies of the Prophet Mohammed and works of Sunni Islamic scholarshipFollowing the fall of Assad's regime in 2024, scores of Syrians have flocked back to their homes. The country has been trying to rebuild and improve its economy after the lengthy civil war that killed nearly half a million people and caused widespread destruction. More than five million Syrians fled the country as refugees, most of them to neighbouring countries.