Bensalem Himmich - The Theocrat

“All of them have either fallen as martyrs,” Hammu interrupted, “or else been taken prisoner by the enemy. But now, Imam, we must return to Barqa. We have to move quickly before al-Fadl’s troops catch us unawares. There’s no need for us to die that way.”

From a bag he was carrying Shihab al-Din now produced a severed head covered in blood. “Here, Imam,” he said. “is the head of Hamad al-Madi, that accursed traitor. I cut it off with my own sword. We can display it round Barqa and its environs as an example to all renegades and dissemblers. I think it best for you and all of us to return to Barqa as quickly as possible. Once there we can assess our situation and make preparations for another battle against al-Hakim the Fatimid. What do you think, Abu Rakwa?”

The soldiers were all lined up, ready to leave. Deep in his heart Abu Rakwa realized that, by going with them, he would inevitably be causing their deaths, all as part of a losing battle against the forces who were rushing to take him prisoner. Even so, he managed to put on an optimistic air.

“Dear friends.” he said with a confident smile, “now it’s up to all of you to continue this campaign, an unending fight for the cause of truth. Return to the people of Barqa and convey to them my greetings and love. Pledge them to victory with or without me. That in all its brevity is my testament to you. Let it be read out to the young people in Barqa, and let them interpret its message as a victory for truth and justice. It will serve as a token of loyalty between you and me, and between me and them. It’s the foundation stone, so use it to erect an edifice of those very values and principles that have brought us all together. Take it with you, and may safety be your companion* For my part I will now seek refuge with the king of Nubia till the crisis is past and the shock of it all diminishes somewhat. The king is a merciful and decent man who honors guests and respects the requests of all those who seek protection and safety in his domains. I ask God to protect you from all evil; He — may He be exalted — is hearer and answerer.”

With that Abu Rakwa embraced Shihab al-Din and Hammu; they all exchanged hugs and kisses. The two men were so totally overwhelmed with emotion that they were unable to speak. Abu Rakwa then embraced every single soldier. That done, he mounted his horse and set off for Nubia. When he had disappeared from sight, his surviving companions mounted their horses and headed speedily toward Barqa.

As Abu Rakwa was making his way toward his destination, he managed to overcome his exhaustion and detach himself from his bodily needs. A faint echo was all he heard of his own heartbeats and the clopping of his horse’s hooves. With reddened eyes he stared at the brilliant colors on the horizon and communicated his yeanling for a swift arrival. When he reached the borders of Nubia, he was welcomed by the crown prince who greeted him with great honor and invited him to stay till the end of Dhu al-Hijja. After that he hid Abu Rakwa in the Abu Shanuda monastery where he spent the first two months of the new year fighting off his sense of loneliness and despair with sleep, prayer, and fasting. At the beginning of Rabi‘ al-Awwal his host came to see him.

“Honorable guest,” he said in an emotional, yet humble tone, “my father passed away at dawn today. He has left me a throne under threat, since I cannot risk a war against al-Hakim the Fatimid. Messengers from al-Fadl are at the gate of the palace demanding that I hand you over. They swear that their lord is only interested in your safety and in helping you get back to your homeland safe and sound. Honorable sir, tell me what you wish to do.”

The new king had hardly finished talking before Abu Rakwa was preparing to surrender himself to the party that had come for him. “The imminent is imminent. Only God can disclose it,” he intoned before going out to them. “Every soul tastes death. You will receive your rewards on the Day of Resurrection . God have mercy on your father, young man, and give you the benefit of his memory and good works. Now I go to meet those who have neither faith nor morality. My best wishes to you. Farewell!”

As Abu Rakwa made his way out of the main gate of the castle, his face was radiant and uplifted. He mounted his finest horse and gave al-Fadl’s avenging angels a look of mercy and forgiveness. Once he was level with them, be took off at a gallop with them following in sheepish silence. In such a fashion they reached al-Fadl’s headquarters in an oasis shaded by lofty palm trees. Al-Fadl’s soldiers greeted him with deference and took him to their commander’s tent which was opulently furnished and carpeted with expensive rugs. Al-Fadl accorded him an elaborate welcome at the entrance, then sat him down on a plush sofa. Upon the clap of his hands servants appeared with plates of dates and cups of milk. He invited his guest to take his fill.

“We welcome you among us, noble shaykh,” al-Fadl said. “From today you’re our guest. You have but to ask for something, and we’ll grant your wish.”

Abu Rakwa gave al-Fadl a dubious look, followed by a sardonic smile. “So, Fadl,” he asked, “what’s the meaning of this lavish welcome? I’ll take some of your nice food since I’m quite sure you haven’t put any poison in it.”

“How could I do that when your life is worth more to me than anything?”

“It’ll be better for you to sell me to your master alive,” said Abu Rakwa, his mouth stuffed with dates, “than to throw my corpse at his feet. You’re even more worried about me than I am. You’re afraid I might take away al-Hakim’s privilege by taking my own life. But you can relax! Rest assured that I have no intention of wresting my own allotted time from Him who has all lives and times in His hands. Tell me what kudos and benefit you’ll get when you hand me over to your master as he so desires.”

“I beseech you, by God, revered imam,” replied al-Fadl, “do not think ill of me nor of my master. al-Hakim bi-Amr Illah. You may have hated the Commander of the Faithful, but perhaps he will come to love you. While you have shunned him, he may still decide to befriend you; even though you’ve waged war against him, he may still bestow his bounty on you.”

“If indeed your master is willing to treat me kindly even though I have done him ill, then he may also do you harm even though you have given him the great boon of victory.”

“What do you mean, Imam?” asked al-Fadl in alarm.

“I’ll answer you when you’ve told me how much money al-Hakim has spent on mercenaries in order to defeat me.”

“He’s spent everything. He’s exhausted the state treasury, then emptied his own coffers and those of his family and retinue — untold quantities of money, gold, silver, and jewels. But how could he do otherwise, Abu Rakwa, when you came within an ace of destroying his throne? You forced him to make a dire bet, something he had never experienced before: either behave like a ruler or perish. When you confronted him with images of imminent perdition, he was forced to hire mercenaries from east and west, Arabs, Slavs, Sudanese, Byzantines, Turks, and others. He had to lavish presents and gifts on them and provide enough to satisfy the most voracious appetites. This unstemmed flow of expenditures would all have been in vain if your army had not entered that marshy terrain and become enmired in its bogs and impenetrable forests. Today you might well utter a curse on money and ambushes alike!”

“A curse on the enormous sums you spent on agents and mercenaries of every conceivable color! A curse on soldiers whose only religion is greed and gain and whose life consists of one long contravention of God’s laws! What you have just told me, Fadl, responds to the question you asked me earlier.”