Bensalem Himmich - The Theocrat

Abu Rakwa’s eyes glistened with tears, and his voice choked with sobs. Shihab al-Din felt as though the earth was shifting underneath him, Even so he managed to control his troubled emotions.

“Dear brother,” he replied in amazement, “how can someone with your faith, someone who seeks the triumph of God’s word over the wrongdoers, have such doubts about victory?”

“It’s not the tribes that worry me, but rather the treachery of my followers and supporters.”

“If by that you mean Hamad al-Madi and his clique, I’m watching them like a hawk. If you prefer, I’ll eliminate them tomorrow one by one.”

“Al-Madi is merely a foretaste of treachery to come. Don’t do anything to him now, so we can see how he fights in the upcoming battle in Barqa.”

“Excellent idea! Even better, put all these doubts and fears aside. Place your complete trust in Him who is sufficient for your needs! As far as our tribes are concerned, if they win, they will gain in this world and as our tribes are concerned, if they win, they will gain on this world and the next; if they lose, all they’ll be sacrificing will be their chains and times of utter misery. I cannot envision them taking you to task on Judgment Day, while they dwell in heaven and enjoy the fruits of what God promises to all those who fight for His cause.”

“Exactly so, Shihab al-Din! Either we win, or we’ll die. True? If we lose, we won’t be the first people duped by a mirage. Now what type of command is it that you wish?”

“You possess the status of imam and all spiritual powers, seen and unseen, connected with it. I’ll take charge of the government. I’ll run things under your inspiration and use as many or as few assistants as the situation requires. Give me your hand and let us seal our pact!”

“If we get as far as Egypt, I will grant you this division of duties. I will remain as imam to provide you with supervision and counsel. I will only accept true followers in these roles, and I’ll be keeping both eye and sword at the ready if I detect in you any tendency toward exclusive control or untoward conduct.”

The two men stood up, shook hands, and embraced each other warmly. They went their separate ways in the expectation of another secret meeting before long.

By the end of Rabi’ al-Thani the Banu Qurra had completed all their training and preparations and were eager for battle. The shaykhs decided to pay an exploratory visit to the Zanata tribe. They sent an advance group ahead to warn people they were coming and asked Abu Rakwa to go with them. He welcomed the idea and rode out with them. No sooner had they arrived than they found themselves warmly welcomed; the elders of the tribe assured their visitors that they were fully prepared. Abu Rakwa sensed that now was the time for him to seize the moment and bolster his followers’ enthusiasm.

“Tribesmen,” he said without elaboration, “today we’re on the threshold of a great event, as we depart for Barqa. We are going to wrest it from the claws of tyranny and injustice. Even greater will be that preordained day when we conquer Egypt itself, the source of all the pestilence. So prepare yourselves and preserve your energies for that great day may God Himself support you all! Let none of us seek victory or martyrdom save on that decisive day. As for Barqa, I have begged God to grant it to us as a gift. Twice in dreams I have witnessed us entering it safe and sound through the power of the Almighty, all without spilling a drop of our own blood or that of those who oppose us.”

The assembled company looked at each other in amazement.

“But what if they unsheathe their swords and try to fight us?” people asked.

“That’s very unlikely,” Abu Rakwa replied, shouting over the host of voices that were all asking the same question. “If that happens, kill just a few of them. We will do better to capture them alive and exchange them for the Kutamis who are prisoners in al-Hakim’s jails.”

“Why should we bother about the Kutamis and their prisoners?” asked someone from the Banu Qurra tribe.

“By doing such a good turn we will win over to our cause the Kutamis in Egypt who are working for the Fatimid government and army. At the same time we will be able to prove that we are accepting help from the Kutami tribes in Tunisia. All those who oppose al-Hakim, openly or covertly, will be our allies on the decisive day. We will pave their path toward us with roses and affection and provide them with all the help and support we can. Is that clear?”

No one moved or said a word, as though they were all reassessing the situation. Then the voice of Abu al-Mahasin arose behind them like a clap of thunder. “What’s the matter with you all? Why are you all dumbstruck when you should be welcoming what you’ve just heard! Say what you’re thinking so we can sec clearly where we are.”

Two groups spoke up, one after the other. “In Barqa we should be shedding as much blood as possible, so that al-Hakim the Fatimid will panic.”

Another voice said, “How are we supposed to convince our fighters that we’re going to enter Barqa safe and sound, when Abu Raqwah’s dream is all we have to go on?”

And, ‘“We’re strong and well equipped. We don’t need the Kutamis. As far as we’re concerned, the more people involved, the smaller

Now Abu al-Mahasin spoke again, but this time his tone was mute and tired, “Oh dear, I see that nothing’s changed! I feel so sorry for Abu Rakwa, standing there and seeing you still stimulated only by the idea of bloodshed and booty. There you all are, trivializing complex matters and cheapening things that cost dearly. Isn’t it about time you changed your attitudes? Don’t you feel the need for loftier virtues?”

Abu Rakwa and Shihab al-Din exchanged pleading looks. The latter realized that Abu Rakwa should be the one to speak.

“Tribesmen,” he said, “the thing that distresses me is that some of you still don’t really understand what I have in mind for you all. So, before you follow me into battle, I want you all to be well aware that my goal is not what you imagine. I have no intention of competing with al-Hakim the Fatimid in bloodshed, something forbidden by God, nor in gratuitous acts of violence and murder. It is no part of my purpose to expose you all to injury and destruction. Your souls are in God’s hands, not mine. God who will grant you victory wants you to win, not to lose. So lend me your support in what I aim to achieve. For us Barqa is just a transit point; Egypt and Syria are our goals. Do not forget what we have agreed. Do not invest in the transitional stage energies that you cannot muster for the final goal. About Barqa I am only sharing with you the information that I have. I myself have traveled through it; I have tilled its fallow soil along with vagrants and others who suffer under the Fatimid tyranny, and I have sown among its folk some seeds of expectation, hope, and a longing for deliverance. Today Barqa is an easy crop to pick; I picture you enveloping it in a warm embrace of peace. However, it will require real conflict to conquer Egypt, but those wars will not be like any you have experienced before. By God, your only means of success will be to enter the territory in numbers to rival the Fatimid hordes and to use the same weapons and skills. They will have horsemen, infantry, and lancers, and you will need the same. They can wage war on land, sea, and in trenches, and you must be their equals. They have supporters and allies, and you must have them too. If you are aware of all these facts, then you’ll be even more eager than the Kutama tribe to form an alliance with them and accept their proposals. On the borders of Egypt and within its boundaries they will be our very best helpers and supporters.”