Chapter XXII
"So," Guy challenged me over breakfast the following morning. "I hear that you brought all the pilgrims home safe and sound last night."
"Al-hamdu-lillah," I told him. "It was as God willed."
"And you disobeyed my instructions that the guards must always be ready for action."
"Sidi," I told him. "I am at fault. Nevertheless, I could not leave an old woman alone in the wilderness. If it was my mother, I would not be concerned, for I know that she understands the ways of the desert, but this woman is a stranger. How should she know what to do?"
Guy looked steadily at me for a long moment and I felt my face growing black with shame. I rose to my feet, prepared to leave and return to my tents, but Guy motioned me to be seated again.
"You know, Fuad, I think more highly of you all the time. You have shown yourself a true guard. There is a time to obey and a time to disobey. Hamed knows this very well, but he was under orders to test you if the opportunity should arise."
He rose up, clapped me on the shoulder and went out while the other squires gathered round me to congratulate me.
"What would have happened if I had left the old woman?" I asked Hamed.
Hamed shrugged and laughed. "I would have had to go back for her myself, so you have saved me a long and tiring walk. Shukran, Fuad."
As soon as breakfast was over, some of the other squires and I returned to the valley of Hinnom for more practice fighting. We spent the morning there and though I was still tired, I felt stronger than before. Also for the first time I noticed that fewer blows were reaching me - though just as I thought this Charles managed to land a very painful one on my side.
"Concentrate, Fuad," he laughed as I gasped with pain and rubbed the spot where the blow landed. "Come on, in a real battle you can't stop fighting just because you have been hurt."
He aimed a blow at my head and I had to take up my stick and defend myself as best I could until the pain in my side went away and I could move freely again. Despite his hard words, Charles was easy with me while I recovered, for which I was grateful.
When we returned to the house at mid-day Hilmi had a message for me from Trudy, to say that I was to go up to see her as soon as I had eaten. I ate hurriedly, therefore, and then washed myself and put on clean clothes before climbing the stairs to Guy's appartment.
Both Guy and Trudy were sitting at the table, glasses of wine in front of them. On the other side of the table, also with a glass of wine, was the figure of Brother Hildebrandt, the Nasrani priest from Bethlehem. All three looked up as I approached and Guy smiled welcomingly.
"Come in, Fuad. Brother Hildebrandt tells me that you were interrupted in your conversation with him and begs leave to speak with you some more. If you are willing, come and sit down, for we are nearly finished our conversation."
"As you wish, Sidi," I said, coming forward and sliding onto the bench beside Brother Hildebrandt.
"No," Guy shook his head. "It is as you wish. You are a Muslim and I must warn you that Brother Hildebrandt will do his best to persuade you of the truth of our religion. If you are willing to listen to him, then you are welcome, but if you do not wish to listen to him, then you are free to go. I do not compel anyone in matters of religion."
Brother Hildebrandt smiled at me. "I agree with your lord, Fuad. By the mouth of the prophet Isaiah God says, 'Come now and let us reason together.' No one here will compel you or seek to tempt you to forsake your religion, but persuasion is a different matter. After all, it is open to you to try and persuade me to become a Muslim!"
I looked at the two men and at Trudy, who was smiling a small, private smile. "I am willing to talk and to listen, but there is one thing I request."
"What is that?" Guy asked.
"I am not an expert in matters of religion. I affirm the unity of God, I pray five times a day when I have opportunity; some day, if Allah wills it, I will go on Haj to Mecca; but I am only a bedu, not a learned man. If I cannot answer your questions, I wish leave to consult with those who are wiser than I."
"But of course," Brother Hildebrandt broke in. "Never let it be said that I took unfair advantage of any man's innocence. You are free to consult whom you will or even to bring them to speak with me face to face in your presence. Is that fair?"
"Your kindness," I said, laying my hand on my heart and bowing to him.
"Good, we are agreed. Now Guy, as Fuad will not touch your infidel wine, perhaps we can have some water while we talk."
"Of course."
Guy rose from the table and then, to my surprise, came round and knelt in front of Brother Hildebrandt and bowed his head.
"Bless me, brother," he said.
Brother Hildebrandt raised his right hand with his thumb and the first two fingers raised, and said some words which I did not understand while moving his hand in the air. When he had finished Guy rose and left the room and a moment later I heard him outside yelling for the cook to bring water.
Trudy leaned forward and smiled at me. "Fuad, I have some embroidery to do in this room. Would you mind if I stayed here and listened while I work?"
"Ya Sitt," I exlaimed. "This is your house. It is not for me to command here!"
"Good," Trudy rose from the table and crossed over to the window. "I shan't disturb you in any way." She sat down in the window seat, picked up some cloth and began to work at it with needle and thread.
"Now," Brother Hildebrandt faced me. "If I remember correctly, when we were interrupted by those bells, you had just asked me why it was important that the Prophet Isa should not be different from other men."
I thought back to that day and tried to recall the conversation. "Yes, I remember that," I told him.
"Do you also remember that I told you that the Prophet Isa was more than just an ordinary man? According to Nasrani belief, He was the Son of God."
"Yes, but I don't believe this," I said. "How can God have a son?"
"Remember that I explained that the word 'son' can mean a relationship as well as referring to fathers and sons?"
"Oh, yes." I sounded doubtful.
"In fact, a Nasrani holy man by the name of Paul wrote that Jesus was 'proclaimed to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection.' Tell me, where is the Prophet Mohammed buried?"
"In Medina, of course," I exclaimed. "Everyone knows that."
"And where is the Prophet Moses buried?"
"Not far from our tents," I told him.
"Exactly. And where is the Prophet Isa buried?"
"Here, in al-Quds. I have seen your Church of the Tomb."
Brother Hildebrandt shook his head. "No. Have you not been inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?"
"Not yet," I glanced across at Trudy, who seemed to be engrossed in her sewing. "I have been so busy learning how to use my sword that I have had no time for visiting other churches."
"If that is all," Trudy interrupted, looking up, "I'll take you there myself this afternoon."
"Thank you, Madamoiselle," Brother Hildebrandt replied. "but only if Fuad wishes it. You see, Fuad, the Prophet Isa was buried in the tomb which is beneath that church, but the tomb is empty now."
"Why?" I demanded. "Has someone stolen his body?"
"No, no," Brother Hildebrandt smiled at me. "He rose from the dead. God raised Him up. That is why His body is not there."
"But," I objected, "in the Holy Qur'an we are told that the Prophet Isa, on whom be peace, did not really die. He only appeared to die."
"Ah," Brother Hildebrandt raised his finger. "But we must distinguish between the divine part of Jesus - I mean, the Prophet Isa - and the human part. If the Qur'an acknowledges that the Prophet Isa did not die, then it also acknowledges that He was in part divine because there can be no doubt that the human part of the prophet Isa did die."
"How can you say that?" I demanded. "You were not there."
"No, but one who was there and who saw it all left a writing, a book. We call it the Injil of John."
I nodded. "Yes, I have heard of the Injil of the Nasranis."
"Actually, there are four injils, but those who wrote the other three were not present when the Prophet Isa was crucified, for they fled in fear and hid themselves. Only John remained faithful to his salt and stood by the cross as the Prophet Isa died. He records that after the Prophet Isa died, a soldier took up a spear and thrust it through his heart and at once both blood and water flowed out. This proves that the Prophet Isa really died according to the flesh."
I could not understand how this could prove that anyone had died but I did not wish to be discourteous to the holy man. I therefore returned the conversation to the other matter.
"You told me that it was important that the Prophet Isa should appear to be no more than an ordinary man," I reminded Brother Hildebrandt. "Why was this?"
Brother Hildebrandt smiled. "Tell me, Fuad, what is written in your Qur'an? Why did Iblis rebel against God?"
I held my hands as if I were holding a book and reading from it, so that the Nasrani might know that I was not speaking my own words but those of the Qur'an Sharif.
"Remember when thy Lord said unto the angels, 'Lo! I am creating a mortal out of potter's clay of black mud altered. So, when I have made him and have breathed into him of My spirit, do ye fall down, prostrating yourselves unto him.' So the angels fell prostrate, all of them together, save Iblis. He refused to be among the prostrate. He said, 'O Iblis! What aileth thee that thou are not among the prostrate?' He said, 'Why should I prostrate myself unto a mortal whom Thou hast created out of potter's clay of black mud altered?' He said, 'Then go thou forth from hence, for verily thou art outcast and lo! the curse shall be upon thee till the Day of Judgement.'"
"Excellent," Brother Hildebrandt nodded his head. "From the sura al-Hijr, is it not?"
I was surprised that he should know such a thing and could only stare at him without speaking.
"Now," Brother Hildebrandt continued, "we Nasranis believe that there were many among the angels who felt sympathy for Iblis. They prostrated themselves before Adam out of obedience to Allah, but they were not happy about it, believing that they were superior to a mere mortal."
I nodded, to show that I understood. I have always wondered why Allah, Who is all-Wise, should command the angels to prostrate themselves before Adam. Angels and djinns are made of fire, but man is only clay. Of course, I do not question the will of Allah, for I am of Islam, but it is permitted to be curious and to wonder.
"Did Allah punish Iblis immediately, Fuad?"
"No," I shook my head vigorously. "Iblis asked to be reprieved until the day of resurrection and Allah granted his request."
"Yes, and the reason why Allah granted his request was so that the evil of Iblis might become obvious to all the angels, including those who sympathised with him. Allah wanted the angels to see that Iblis refused to obey, not because the command was humiliating, but because he was a rebel against Allah."
Brother Hildebrandt leaned back in his chair and paused. My eyes had strayed over to Trudy, who was sitting in the window seat, her needle in her hand but listening to us so hard that she was not doing any work at all. I wondered how much a mere woman could understand of these matters and that reminded me of the day when I had thought her a djinna. Suddenly I realised that Brother Hildebrandt had stopped talking and jerked my attention back to him.
"Of course," he said, "you know all about the raid which Raynauld de Chatillon made on the pilgrims last year?"
"Of course," I agreed.
"What do you think? Was he justified in doing what he did?"
"May he burn in hell," I spluttered. "He attacked in time of truce, he took captive those who were travelling for religion, he . . ."
Brother Hildebrandt held up his hand and grinned. "So, I take it that you don't agree with what he did. Neither, I may say, do I and nor do many of us here in Outremer. However, let us suppose that the people in that caravan were soldiers, travelling to reinforce the Sultan. Would Reynauld's raid have been justified then?"
"But they were not soldiers!" I exclaimed. "They were pilgrims."
"I know, I know. But suppose that they were soldiers. Would that make a difference?"
I thought hard. "Yes, I suppose so," I admitted slowly. "If, in time of truce, the Sultan were to send soldiers marching near the qasr of Reynauld, then yes, I suppose Reynauld, that son of Iblis, might be justified in attacking them."
"But it is the fact that they were all peaceful pilgrims that causes everyone, Muslim or Nasrani, to condemn Reynauld."
"Of course."
"Now in the same way, Allah sent His Son, the Prophet Isa, and allowed Iblis to seize upon Him and kill Him."
I frowned and shook my head. "But what did that prove?"
"Every son of Adam has disobeyed Allah in some way and is therefore guilty, like Iblis."
"I have never disobeyed Allah!" I boasted.
Brother Hildebrandt smiled at me. "Never? Have you never forgotten one of the appointed times of prayer? Have you never refused charity to a beggar because you were angry or in a hurry? Have you never taken a sip of water in the hours of daylight during Ramadan?"
I was silent. Of course I had missed many of the appointed hours of prayer or at best been late for some of them. Such things happened to everyone except possibly some theologian in a madrasseh. I also remembered the one-legged beggar and felt my face grow black. It was not my most glorious victory.
"We are all guilty, like Iblis," Brother Hildebrandt spoke quietly. "For this reason we are justly the captives of Iblis and if he brings about our deaths, it is not more than we deserve. But the Prophet Isa did no wrong, He never disobeyed Allah, so when Iblis seized upon Him and killed Him, it was just like Reynauld seizing the pilgrims. It was an unjust action and it revealed the wickedness of Iblis."
"But did Iblis not realise who the Prophet Isa, peace be upon Him, was?" I demanded.
"No." Brother Hildebrandt grinned. "This was the wisdom of God. He let His Son come just like any other human being and Iblis thought that he was dealing with an ordinary man. He knew, of course, that the Prophet Isa had never disobeyed God, just as Reynauld of Chatillon knew that the people he attacked were nothing but pilgrims, but he deliberately killed Isa, just as Reynauld deliberately captured the pilgrims. By their actions, both revealed the wickedness of their hearts."
I nodded slowly. This was a new idea to me.
"Or consider those who go to catch fish. They put some bait on their line - a worm or some meat - but hidden inside the bait is a hook. The fish sees only the bait, it snatches it up and is caught by the hook. In the same way, the divine part of the Prophet Isa was hidden inside his human body, which was like the bait. The devil snapped up the human part and in so doing became guilty of attacking God Himself."
"Wallah!" I exclaimed. "Truly Allah is all-Knowing and all-Wise! What a plan! And to think that Iblis fell into the trap."
I began to laugh and Brother Hildebrandt and Trudy joined in with me.
"And the best part is," Brother Hildebrandt said a moment later, "that now that the wickedness of Iblis has been revealed, Allah can march against him and destroy him, and no one will claim that Allah is acting unjustly."
"And when Iblis has been destroyed," Trudy spoke up from her place by the window, "then we will all be free, just as the captives in Kerak will be set free when Reynauld has been overthrown."
"Who will march against Reynauld?" I asked, suddenly sober.
Brother Hildebrandt and Sitt Trudy exchanged glances.
"We do not know," Brother Hildebrandt said. "We, alas, are not as powerful as Allah. Nevertheless it is my belief that such wickedness cannot go unpunished. Either the King will depose him and give his castles to another or the Sultan will march against him and we will do nothing to aid him. I just pray that this kingdom is not caught up in his overthrow."
