"When two holy men of God get together," he began by saying, his face wreathed in smiles, "both governor and sultan get ignored! Al-Shushtari has managed to preoccupy your time and energy. There's nothing I can do when you're devoting yourself to the things and people you really love. If it weren't for the fact that I've been incredibly busy myself, administering the lives of the Prophet's family, arranging housing and water facilities during the pilgrimage season, not to mention forays against thieves and highway robbers, I would have demanded my own time and share of enlightenment from you!"
I tried to appear duly humble as I made a point of showing the governor how embarrassed I felt by his words of praise.
"Your campaign, my Lord, against those who would defile this sacred territory," I said by way of focusing on one of his major points, "pillagers and thieves that they are, is indeed a campaign in the cause of God Almighty. Pilgrimage caravans from a wide variety of lands have to cross dangerous terrain in order to reach the Hijaz. That terrain is full of pitfalls and dangers, and sometimes there are all kinds of taxes and major expenses involved too. The situation is so bad now that in the past several major scholars from Andalus have issued legal opinions annulling the obligation to go on the pilgrimage at all. Among intellectual leaders who never went on the hajj to Mecca are the philosopher judge Abu al-Walid Ibn Rushd and his colleague Ibn Tufayl, and the astronomer Al-Bitruji.* There are many other names as well. Ibn Jubayr* did complete the pilgrimage, he being a well-known traveler from the same region and period, and he suffered very badly in the process. In his book Travels he makes a point of registering his own annoyance. The passage, if I recollect it correctly, says, `If there is a land that needs to be purified by the sword and washed clean of its filth and dirt with blood duly spilled in God's own cause, then that land is the Hijaz. At the moment, they don't seem to be bothered about the negative effects on Islam and the fact that pilgrims are liable to be robbed and injured.' This has been the situation until fairly recently. Now, thanks to the efforts of the sharifs in Mecca and all Muslims with your qualities, things are gradually improving."
The governor paused for a moment's thought.
"During your trip to get here or your time in Mecca," he asked, "have you been attacked?"
"No, I haven't. That is thanks to God's good grace and Al-Shushtari's letters of introduction. Also my caravan was protected by a troop of armed guards."
"By the Lord of the Ka`ba, I will not rest until I make it possible for pilgrims to come to the holy cities on a blessed mission, traveling safely and residing here in comfort. That's a promise I've made with myself. All the governors of the other cities in the Hijaz are doing the same thing. Success comes only through God! But what is really troubling me, and I can see no way out, is that Sultan Baybars is insisting that I swear fealty to one of his cronies who, it is alleged, is a descendant of the Abbasids, named al-Mustansir Billah, that being, of course, a direct imitation of the name of the Hafsid ruler to whom I have already sworn fealty, as you yourself suggested. As a scion of the Prophet's own family, I am totally unwilling to break my oath or indulge in any kind of dissimulation. You are a sage advisor in matters of religion and this world of ours, so what do you advise?"
I said nothing for a while as I tried to think of what to say.
"In view of your noble sentiments," I responded, "the appropriate answer involves adhering to the pledge you've already made and not giving way. Your noble status is one that I respect, and Baybars will never be able to do anything about it, however much he tries to interfere."
"I'm not worried about my own reputation. What bothers me is your position in Baybar's eyes. From now on, you're under my protection even more than before. Don't leave Mecca, or else no one can say what might happen. My protection only covers the city, not outside it, even Medina where the authorities are already furious with you."
"I already know that, Sir. And you can add the minister of Yemen, al-Hashwi, who loathes me, even though his master gives me all due honor and respect. God alone has the power and might!"
"My council has been purged of all those who resemble this stupid minister, chief among them being my chamberlain, `Abd al-Muhaymin al-Khazraji. Everyone opposed to you is also opposed to me. I'm on my guard all the time and never allow myself to slack off. I'm attaching three guards to you, who will guard you night and day. They'll bring you any news about Baybars and his spies. With God's help, they'll protect you against their evil intentions."
"I beg you, Sir, spare me guards and detectives. My reason for making such a request is that at some point everyone in life will meet their end. Fate does not brook any caution!"
"From one point of view you're right. But I'd remind you that we're all enjoined not to expose ourselves deliberately to perdition. Baybars will undoubtedly be on his way here to perform the pilgrimage very soon. He'll be bent on searching you out and bringing you before him. You know full well why."
"At that point I'll take all necessary precautions. I've a number of hiding places in the desert around those holy sites."
"But you'll need to stay well clear of the famous caves and the sacred sites. Make sure you choose somewhere that's known only to God and don't come back until the danger is past and the storm has blown over."
The muezzin now announced the call to evening prayer. My host insisted that I lead the prayer, so I did so. Once we had finished, he accompanied me to his garden. While we were walking, he asked me what was my dearest wish. I said nothing.
"Isn't it to have your wife join you here?"
"Of course!" I replied at once. "But how can that happen?"
"I'll send someone to ask Al-Mustansir to grant that favor. I think he can do it. If not, how can his caliphate possibly have validity and how can anyone from east to west swear fealty to it?"
At that point a strange idea occurred to me: could it be that the letter of fealty that I had written was merely a pretext the governor had used to respond to my obvious desire to bring my wife and very life, Fayha', to Mecca?
"In my view," I replied somewhat hypocritically, "it's not a good idea to involve the caliph in matters that are beneath his dignity. Maybe he can't be bothered…"
"To the contrary," he interrupted firmly, "I'll use this request to assess his prestige and rulership qualities. By the Lord of the Ka`ba Himself, the Creator of male and female, if he doesn't respond to my request and refuses my initiative, I intend to break my vows of fealty to him. Let me take the matter in hand, and we'll see what happens. Now let's go to dinner."
I reminded him that, in accordance with Sufi practice, I preferred to sleep on an empty stomach. Saying farewell, I departed.
Oh my, how that idea began to churn inside me; it seemed to have drifted up from some secret lair, from deep-buried recesses in my soul. Beginning with that very night it kept haunting me, seething and heaving, provoking all kinds of ideas and surmises. The only way I found of suppressing or pushing it all aside was by reciting intercessions and going out to perform the prayers and talk to people.
About a month later the governor called me to a meeting in his alcove within the sacred mosque. He told me that he had indeed sent someone to ask that my wife join me here. I acknowledged his gesture and thanked him profusely for it. We then both performed the afternoon prayer with the congregation. When the prayer was finished, the governor added a prayer that God would grant me my dearest wish before the beginning of the year's pilgrimage season.
12
I NOW SPENT THREE WHOLE MONTHS living on tenterhooks, all the while recalling my own share of this lower world and displaying my fervent love for it. A little while later Abu Numa was able to give me the glad news that his envoy had been successful with Al-Mustansir: my wife would soon be leaving by ship along with pilgrims from Tangier and Granada. From now on, in my prayers and devotions my only request was that God would grant her a safe passage and spare her the travails and dangers of the journey itself. I began to recall the days of my life that I had spend in her care and protection; glowing images suffused my sight and soul, full of light and emitting wafts of perfume and beautiful garlands of flowers. Clasping those thoughts to myself all day long was enough to bolster my heart long enough to endure the trials of waiting.