Tariq Ali - A Sultan in Palermo

It was said that several years ago a landlord raped a peasant woman and she became pregnant. Her husband wanted to kill her. The Trusted One had intervened and saved her life. He then organised the peasants to kill the offender but in such a way that it would appear as an accident. The peasants ambushed the landlord and pushed him and his horse off the edge of a mountain.

And now he was preaching rebellion. ‘The news from al-medina is that the Sultan is sick and will soon die. May Allah send him to heaven for he has not been cruel to the Believers, but we cannot depend on the Franks to let us stay here after Rujari’s death. They want our lands and they will take them unless we resist. I say this: after Rujari’s death we surround Palermo from the outside. The effect will be that of a stone tossed into a beehive. Our people will rise and overthrow the infidel. Where will you be when we come, O great Master Idrisi? Hiding in the library with your books?’

Abu Khalid was angered, but Idrisi held his arm and whispered: ‘This man is not at all stupid. The insults do not affect me.’

The preacher spoke for another two hours and the peasants listened to him spellbound. He spoke of the Prophet Muhammad’s early life, he told them stories of how the armies and followers of the Prophet had reached the shores of three oceans within a hundred years, he made them laugh and he made them weep when he described how he had been wrongfully arrested and subjected to the vilest tortures. And then he would change his tone and explain how Believers still outnumbered the Franks in Siqilliya and how they could win a victory for their faith if they cast aside all petty rivalries and served in a united army.

‘But there is a problem, my brothers. Who will lead us into battle? Whose banner will you follow?’

‘You will lead us, Trusted One. It is your banner we will follow,’ the multitude replied.

But he shook his head vigorously and raised his right hand to demand silence. ‘I am not an Amir of the land or the sea. We can only win if our Amirs who are today fighting for Rujari decide to fight for themselves and for the cause of Believers everywhere. It is them we have to convince and if we succeed we will have an army and ships at sea. I am a simple man, but I know how battles are won and lost. We will ensure that our faith gives us such strength that we lose the fear of death. That will give our Amirs a group of men who will rival the Franks and their Barons. We will drive them into a sea they should never have crossed. And I spit on the memory of Ibn Thumna who invited the infidels to cross the water and help him fight against other Believers. Let us spit on him together. Allah be praised.’

The multitude spat on the ground in unison.

‘The man knows our history,’ Idrisi muttered as they walked back home.

‘Do you think there is even the slightest chance of success?’ Abu Khalid asked him.

‘There is a good chance if what al-Farid demanded could be achieved. He laid down three preconditions for success. The unity of Believers, the preparedness to die on the part of the new army and the defection of our leading nobles and military commanders from the Hauteville clan. If we could achieve all these things we could win. The preacher is far too modest. He could grow in stature. Men like him can be pushed forward into making history.’

‘I agree,’ said Umar, ‘but if we are realistic none of this will happen. Our Amirs are far too selfish to even think of the needs of others. They are interested in their own survival and that of their families, and in order to keep their lands they will convert to the faith of the Nazarenes. My brother here will die for the cause, as you can see, and I will probably die with him. In Catania we will raise a large army, but those goat-fuckers in Qurlun and Lanbadusha will never leave their lands. Mark my words, Ibn Muhammad. They will convert.’

And a strange echo reverberated in the darkness. ‘Mark his words, Ibn Muhammad. They will convert. They will convert.’

The Trusted One had followed them back and eavesdropped on the conversation.

‘Trusted One,’ Abu Khalid called out, ‘come and join us.’

He came out of the darkness and walked with them till they reached the front of the house. He declined the invitation to share some mint tea with them inside, but fixed Idrisi with a stern gaze.

‘I want you to know that even if the rest of the island fails us, Catania will fight. The Amir of Siracusa gave me his word that his men would be with us. The Amir of Catania has pledged his support. We will raise twenty thousand armed men and they will fight till victory or death. Do you think that is enough?’

Idrisi was greatly affected by the simplicity and determination of the preacher. The Trusted One, however, had yet to make up his mind regarding Idrisi. He was inclined to trust him, but he waited to hear his response.

‘Trusted One, I will be honest with you. I’m not sure how many armed men will be required to recover this island. It was taken from us by less than a quarter of the number you propose. It is not numbers but strength of belief in our own cause that will determine the outcome. But the main question is as you posed it: will Believers in the hundred major towns of this island join the rebellion? If they do, we will win. The Barons have become lazy and greedy. They are unused to war. We could take them by surprise, but even if we take the island we will have to cross the water and take the fortresses in Salerno and elsewhere. Without them we will be vulnerable to another invasion. As for our people in Qurlun and Lanbadusha, perhaps what you say is correct, but being attached to the land and even conversions to the conqueror’s faith are no guarantees that they will be spared if there is an earthquake. And are those people any worse than the communities in Marsa Ali and Shakka? They will blow with the wind. If the storm you are preparing in Catania is powerful enough you will unite many non-believers as well against the Barons. And before I forget, there was a question you posed directly to me. My answer is this: If there is a rebellion I will not act as an individual. If you need me I will be in the Great Mosque with the others, not hiding in the palace library. Does that satisfy you?’

The preacher extended his hand and touched Idrisi’s head. ‘I am satisfied, but Allah alone will reward you, Ibn Muhammad.’

‘Then I am prepared to wait,’ replied Idrisi with a half-smile.

They entered the house to the noise of wailing women and Khalid sitting in the hall, tears pouring down his cheeks. Idrisi hugged his grandson and asked what had happened.

‘Umi has died.’ Idrisi kissed the boy and held him close. And it was in his arms that the child fell asleep. A single tear wet Idrisi’s cheek. He sat vacant-eyed until Tarik emerged.

‘What happened Tarik? She showed no signs of illness. Where is Abu Khalid?’

‘Umar is in his room. She took poison, Ibn Muhammad. A large dose and it must have been a painful death. She took it immediately after the meal. Even if I had been here I would not have had an antidote to that poison.’

‘But why?’

‘My brother had not been happy with her and scolded her for the treachery she and Sakina had planned. He had not divorced or threatened her. But he found it difficult to speak to her. I think she found the silence unbearable.’

Idrisi began to weep. ‘Poor girl. It was their mother’s fault, her stupidity and greed… Tell your brother not to blame himself. It’s Samar’s mother who should have taken the poison. Has a messenger been despatched to inform her and Sakina?’

Tarik nodded.

‘He left for Noto before we returned.’

Siqilliyan sisters. Mayya and Balkis discuss the merits of life with and without men. Secrets are revealed. Apian is agreed to extract Idrisi’s seed.