in his biography ""a muslim who became a christian"", aveteranian states to have been unaware of his descent from muhammad, until a trip with his father to erzurum. during the trip, aveteranian and his father had put on the green turbans, to which only the "sayyids" or descendants of muhammad are entitled. prior to this, he had only worn this once in his childhood. the green turban had been a gift which was presented to him by his maternal aunt. a local mullah was astonished to see the green turban, and inquired as to from where he had obtained it. then he requested aveteranian to ask whether his aunt was aware that only sayyids were entitled to wear green turbans. he did so, and the next day, his aunt went to the mullah and clarified the mullah's doubts as to their descent when she revealed her father's name. after this incident, aveteranian gained respect from the mullah, who would always defer to him, while in avetaranian's presence.