“Do you think Sayyiduna is Abu Soraka, and that he’ll be asking me about the seven imams?”
“Both of you be careful you don’t go too far,” ibn Tahir intervened.
They put on white cloaks and close-fitting white pants. Then they put tall white fezzes on their heads, and in this ceremonial dress they rejoined their comrades.
They were unable to eat. The other fedayeen inspected them jealously. As they were leaving, Naim asked ibn Tahir, “When you get back, are you going to tell us what it was like and what Sayyiduna is like?”
“Anything you want to know,” ibn Tahir impatiently replied.
Abu Ali was waiting for them outside the entrance to the supreme command. He noticed that their faces were feverishly preoccupied. If only they knew what they’re getting into! was the thought that flashed through his mind. Then he spoke.
“Be brave. When you go in, bow deeply until Sayyiduna gives you permission to stand back up. Whomever he speaks to must kiss his hand reverently. Be brief and sincere in your responses. Because Sayyiduna sees into everyone’s soul.”
They climbed up the tower steps. As they reached the Moor at the top, Suleiman practically ran into him. He leapt back in fright, then scanned the floor ahead of him as though he were looking for whatever he had bumped into.
“Even I’d be afraid of this one,” Yusuf whispered to ibn Tahir.
They entered the antechamber, and all three were seized with a great anxiety.
The curtain rose and a resonant voice called out.
“Come in!”
Abu Ali went ahead, and Suleiman followed him boldly. Yusuf’s teeth were chattering. He waited for ibn Tahir to go ahead of him. Then he had no choice but to go in after them.
Next to Buzurg Ummid, whom they already knew, stood a man wearing a simple gray burnoose. A white turban covered his head. He was not tall, nor did he seem fearsome or particularly stern. This was Sayyiduna, the unseen commander of the Ismailis.
They stood next to each other and bowed.
“Fine, that’s fine, friends,” he said.
He approached them, smiling half ironically, half in encouragement.
“I’ve heard about your exploits in the battle with the sultan’s vanguard,” he began. “I’ve called you here to reward you for your loyalty.”
“You, ibn Tahir,” he said, turning toward him, “you have entertained me as much with your poems as you have with the seizure of the enemy’s flag.”
“And you, Suleiman, you have proven yourself to be a daring warrior and an incomparable swordsman. We’ll need you again.”
“And you, dear Yusuf,” he continued with a very peculiar smile, “for assailing the enemy like a roaring lion, you have also earned my praise!”
He offered each one his hand, but so hastily that they barely had time to kiss it.
Their eyes shone with pride. How could he have recognized each one of them without having ever seen them before? Had Abu Ali described them to him so precisely? In that case, their achievements must have been considerable.
The grand dais stood off to the side. Their faces revealed nothing aside from intent curiosity.
Hasan continued.
“Yesterday we tested your abilities, this morning your courage. But we haven’t yet tested you in the most important thing. We have saved this test for this evening. I want to find out how firm your faith is.”
He straightened up and approached Yusuf.
“Do you believe in everything your instructors have taught you?”
“I do, Sayyiduna.”
His voice was timid, but it conveyed genuine conviction.
“And the two of you, ibn Tahir and Suleiman?”
“I believe, Sayyiduna.”
“Do you firmly believe, Yusuf, that the martyr Ali was the Prophet’s sole legitimate heir?”
“I firmly believe, Sayyiduna.”
Yusuf was almost amazed he was asking him these kinds of things.
“And you, Suleiman, do you believe that his sons Hasan and Husein were wrongly deprived of their legacy?”
“Of course I believe, Sayyiduna.”
“And you, ibn Tahir, do you believe that Ismail is the seventh true imam?”
“I do, Sayyiduna.”
“And do you believe that al-Mahdi will come as the last great prophet and bring truth and justice to the world?”
“I believe that too, Sayyiduna.”
“And you, Yusuf, do you believe that I, your commander, have been given powers by Allah?”
“I believe, Sayyiduna.”
“And you, Suleiman, that I do everything that I do in His name?”
“I believe, Sayyiduna.”
Now Hasan walked right up to ibn Tahir.
“Do you believe, ibn Tahir, that I have been given the power to admit anyone I want into paradise?”
“I believe, Sayyiduna.”
Hasan listened closely. Ibn Tahir’s voice still conveyed unwavering conviction.
“Yusuf! Is your faith so firm that you would rejoice if I said to you, ‘Go to the top of the tower and throw yourself into the depths, because you will go to paradise?’”
Yusuf’s face lost its color. Hasan gave a barely perceptible smile. He looked at the grand dais. They were smiling too.
After a brief hesitation, Yusuf spoke.
“I would rejoice, Sayyiduna.”
“If now, this instant, I commanded you, ‘Go to top of the tower and throw yourself off!’ Yusuf, oh my Yusuf! I can see into your heart. How small is your faith! And you, Suleiman, would you truly rejoice?”
Suleiman replied in a resolute voice.
“I would truly rejoice, Sayyiduna.”
“If I ordered you this instant? Look, you’ve gone pale. Your tongue is decisive, but your trust wavers. It’s easy to believe in things that require no sacrifice from us. But when we have to prove our faith with our lives, then it begins to waver.”
He turned toward ibn Tahir.
“Now let’s have a look at you, poet. Do you assuredly believe that I have been given the key to the gates of paradise?”
“I assuredly believe, Sayyiduna, that you have the power to admit into paradise anyone you consider worthy.”
“But what about the key? I asked you about it.”
Ibn Tahir twitched.
“I’m trying to believe, but I don’t know what the nature of that key is supposed to be.”
“So all you believe in is the doctrine of Ali and the imams?” Hasan exclaimed. “But we need believers who believe in everything our laws say.”
A silence followed that was unbearable for the fedayeen. Their knees shook in agitation. Cold sweat beaded on their foreheads.
Finally Hasan spoke in a hollow voice.
“Then you consider me a liar?”
All three of them went pale.
“No, Sayyiduna. We believe everything you say, Sayyiduna.”
“And if I tell you that I really do have the key to the gates of paradise?”
“Then we believe, Sayyiduna.”
“I can see into your hearts. You would like to believe, but you can’t. Why is that, ibn Tahir?”
“You know everything and see everything, Sayyiduna. It’s hard to believe in something that our mind can’t grasp. The spirit is willing, but the intellect resists.”
“You’re sincere and I like that. But what would you say if I really took you to paradise, so you could test it with those hands of yours, with those eyes and ears of yours, with that mouth of yours? Would you believe then?”
“How could I deny it then, Sayyiduna?”
“That’s gratifying. This morning you proved yourselves in battle. But I knew your weakness, and I’ve summoned you now to make you firm and decisive in your faith as well. And so I have decided to open the gate to paradise to you tonight.”
The youths’ eyes widened in unspeakable amazement. They were terrified and didn’t think they had heard right.
“What are you staring at me for? Aren’t you glad that I’m marking you out this way?”