Life in Morocco and Glimpses Beyond Part 10

"Then the polytheists[10] likewise chose their man, one held among them in the highest esteem, well read and wise, a monk of monks. Between these two, then, the controversy commenced. As already agreed, the Nazarene was the first to question:

"'How far is it from the Earth to the first heaven?'

"'Five hundred years.'

"'And thence to the second heaven?'

"'Five hundred years.'

"'Thence to the third?'

"'Five hundred years.'

"'Thence to the fourth?'

"'Five hundred years.'

"'Thence to the fifth?'

"'Five hundred years.'

"'Thence to the sixth?'

"'Five hundred years.'

"'Thence to the seventh?'

"'Five hundred years.'

"'And from Mekka to Jerusalem?'

"'Forty days.'

"'Add up the whole.'

"'Three thousand, five hundred years, and forty days.'

"'In his famous ride on El Borak [Lightning] where did Mohammed go?'

"'From the Sacred Temple [of Mekka] to the Further Temple [of Jerusalem], and from the Holy House [Jerusalem] to the seventh heaven, and the presence of G.o.d.'[11]

[11: This was the occasion on which Mohammed visited the seven heavens under the care of Gabriel, riding on an a.s.s so restive that he had to be bribed with a promise of Paradise.]

"'How long did this take?'

"'The tenth of one night.'

"'Did he find his bed still warm on his return?'

"'Yes.'

"'Dost thou think such a thing possible; to travel three thousand five hundred years and back, and find one's bed still warm on returning?'

"'Canst thou play chess?' then asked Mulai Abd el Kader.

"'Of course I can,' said the monk, surprised.

"'Then, wilt thou play with me?'

"'Certainly not,' replied the monk, indignantly. 'Dost thou think me a fool, to come here to discuss the science of religion, and to be put off with a game of chess?'

"'Then thou acknowledgest thyself beaten; thou hast said thou couldst play chess, yet thou darest not measure thy skill at it with me. Thy refusal proves thy lie.'

"'Nay, then, since thou takest it that way, I will consent to a match, but under protest.'

"So the board was brought, and the players seated themselves. Move, move, move, went the pieces; kings and queens, elephants, rooks, and knights, with the soldiers everywhere. One by one they disappeared, as the fight grew fast and furious. But Mulai Abd el Kader had another object in view than the routing of his antagonist at a game of chess.

By the exercise of his superhuman power he transported the monk to 'the empty third' [of the world], while his image remained before him at the board, to all appearances still absorbed in the contest.

"Meanwhile the monk could not tell where he was, but being oppressed with a sense of severe thirst, rose from where he sat, and made for a rising ground near by, whence he hoped to be able to descry some signs of vegetation, which should denote the presence of water. Giddy and tired out, he approached the top, when what was his joy to see a city surrounded by palms but a short way off! With a cry of delight he quickened his steps and approached the gate. As he did so, a party of seven men in gorgeous apparel of wool and silk came out of the gate, each with a staff in his hand.

"On meeting him they offered him the salutation of the Faithful, but he did not return it. 'Who mayest _thou_ be,' they asked, 'who dost not wish peace to the Resigned?' [Muslimeen]. 'My Lords,' he made answer, 'I am a monk of the Nazarenes, I merely seek water to quench my thirst.'

"'But he who comes here must resign himself [to Mohammedanism] or suffer the consequences. Testify that 'There is no G.o.d but G.o.d, and Mohammed is His Messenger!' 'Never,' he replied; and immediately they threw him on the ground and flogged him with their staves till he cried for mercy. 'Stop!' he implored. 'I will testify.' No sooner had he done so than they ceased their blows, and raising him up gave him water to drink. Then, tearing his monkish robe to shreds, each deprived himself of a garment to dress him becomingly. Having re-entered the city they repaired to the judge.

"'My Lord,' they said, 'we bring before thee a brother Resigned, once a monk of the monks, now a follower of the Prophet, our lord--the prayer of G.o.d be on him, and peace. We pray thee to accept his testimony and record it in due form.'

"'Welcome to thee; testify!' exclaimed the kadi, turning to the convert. Then, holding up his forefinger, the quondam monk witnessed to the truth of the Unity [of G.o.d]. 'Call for a barber!' cried the kadi; and a barber was brought. Seven Believers of repute stood round while the deed was done, and the convert rose a circ.u.mcised Muslim--blessed be G.o.d.

"Then came forward a notable man of that town, pious, worthy, and rich, respected of all, who said, addressing the kadi: 'My Lord--may G.o.d bless thy days,--thou knowest, all these worthy ones know, who and what I am. In the interests of religion and to the honour of G.o.d, I ask leave to adopt this brother newly resigned. What is mine shall be his to share with my own sons, and the care I bestow on them and their education shall be bestowed equally on him. G.o.d is witness.' 'Well said; so be it,' replied the learned judge; 'henceforth he is a member of thy family.'

"So to the hospitable roof of this pious one went the convert. A tutor was obtained for him, and he commenced to taste the riches of the wisdom of the Arab. Day after day he sat and studied, toiling faithfully, till teacher after teacher had to be procured, as he exhausted the stores of each in succession. So he read: first the Book 'To be Read' [the Koran], till he could repeat it faultlessly, then the works of the poets, Kalun, el Mikki, el Bisri, and Sidi Hamzah; then the 'Lesser' and 'Greater Ten.'[12] Then he commenced at Sidi ibnu As.h.i.+r, following on through the Ajrumiyah,[13] and the Alfiyah,[14] to the commentaries of Sidi Khalil, of the Shekh el Bokhari, and of Ibnu Asim, till there was nothing left to learn.

[12: Grammarians and commentators of the Koran.]

[13: A preliminary work on rhetoric.]

[14: The "Thousand Verses" of grammar.]

"Thus he continued growing in wisdom and honour, the first year, the second year, the third year, even to the twentieth year, till no one could compete with him. Then the Judge of Judges of that country died, and a successor was sought for, but all allowed that no one's claims equalled those of the erstwhile monk. So he was summoned to fill the post, but was disqualified as unmarried. When they inquired if he was willing to do his duty in this respect, and he replied that he was, the father of the most beautiful girl in the city bestowed her on him, and that she might not be portionless, the chief men of the place vied one with another in heaping riches upon him. So he became Judge of Judges, rich, happy, revered.

"And there was born unto him one son, then a second son, and even a third son. And there was born unto him a daughter, then a second daughter, and even a third daughter. So he prospered and increased.

And to his sons were born sons, one, two, three, and four, and daughters withal. And his daughters were given in marriage to the elders of that country, and with them it was likewise.

"Now there came a day, a great feast day, when all his descendants came before him with their compliments and offerings, some small, some great, each receiving tenfold in return, garments of fine spun wool and silk, and other articles of value.

"When the ceremony was over he went outside the town to walk alone, and approached the spot whence he had first descried what had so long since been his home. As he sat again upon that well-remembered spot, and glanced back at the many years which had elapsed since last he was there, a party of the Faithful drew near. He offered the customary salute of 'Peace be on you,' but they simply stared in return.

Presently one of them brusquely asked what he was doing there, and he explained who he was. But they laughed incredulously, and then he noticed that once again he was clad in robe and cowl, with a cord round his waist. They taunted him as a liar, but he re-affirmed his statements, and related his history. He counted up the years since he had resigned himself, telling of his children and children's children.

"'Wouldst thou know them if you sawst them?' asked the strangers.