Chapter 4

The next morning, Abu was awakened by his mother at their usual time for lessons. Since she had to leave for work by 6:00 and Abu was required to be at the village madrasah by 7:00, they always woke together at 4:00 in the early dawn to work on Abu’s English. He was proficient, already, in Arabic and Malay. It was up to his mother to make sure he would master English. She was a patient teacher and, fully aware that her son’s future life - and mission - would be in America, she took great pains to hone his pronunciation of the complicated language to a fine edge. She was not without prior experience either as she, for a time, taught English to prospective immigrants at the American embassy.

Lessons done and breakfast shared, the two members of the little family went their separate ways. His mother gave him a loving hug as she sent him off toward the madrasah and watched for a few seconds as he was joined by the other children headed off to their Islamic education. She smiled to herself at his tiny form, growing smaller step by step, and felt proud that her son was becoming such a mature and responsible young boy. "We’re sure not in Kansas anymore but it’s not too damned bad for what we have been through!" she thought to herself.

Abu nor anyone else in the village was the least bit aware of the monumental events of the previous night. Classes began, as they always did, with the first prayer of the day to Mecca and Medina as proscribed by the 5 Pillars of Islam. After prayers, the children gathered in a circle to hear the teacher read from the Qu’ran of the day’s lesson. Abu listened intently, though he was already familiar with the day’s verses, as he usually was. After all, he and Grandfather had read the Koran together, cover to cover, in the first few months they met. Abu was becoming well versed in its teachings and its prohibitions and was rapidly, to his teacher’s admiration and downright shock, was nearing the status of a haifiz - one who had committed the Qu-ran to memory, including its 100,000 hadith. In everyone’s memory, no one so young had come so close to this supreme degree of scholastic achievement.

The call to mid-day prayers was the signal for Abu to leave the madrasah and run the half-mile or so to the Mullah’s hut. He always took mid-day and sundown prayers with his great teacher. He, alone, among the students was allowed this honor but none seemed to resent his leaving class. In fact, no one even acknowledged his departure and the teacher simply continued her instructions. She, like the students well knew that Abu was destined for more individual instruction.

When Abu arrived at the Mullah’s hut, the old man was dozing on the cushions in his corner of the room. But the arrival of the child was all that was required to rouse the old man back from his dreams to the real world and the embodiment of all his dreams, real and imagined.

Abu did not speak but smiled broadly as the old man went through the motions, by now familiar to the young boy, of raising his aged body from the reclined position to standing. He reliably and predictably stretched out his arms, smiled and beckoned the child to him. Abu ran and buried his face into the ample midsection of the Mullah. The old man laughed and Abu giggled as they always did. It was, after all, the highlight of both their days. No grandson loved his real grandfather any more than Abu did his teacher. And no grandfather had grander plans for his actual grandson that the Mullah.

"Assalamu alaikum, Abu."

"wa `Aleykum As-Salaam, Grandfather!" Abu recited, with his usual excitement. It is a beautiful day, my teacher!

"Yes, my son, it is to Allah’s Glory, may His Name be praised. It is time for al-zuhr, my child."

Without any prompting, Abu efficiently and quickly retrieved the sajada from their places and unrolled them onto their traditional places, the front edges facing the western sky and Saudi Arabia. As the old man began the prayer with the first words, "Allahu Akbar", Abu began to mouth the remainder of the prayer in unison with his teacher. Some parts he had come to know quite well and his voice would grow stronger as he confidently spoke along with the Mullah. At other places, he still become a bit unsure and would simply do his best to pantomime the words as he heard them spoken. It would only be a few more weeks and the little boy would be able to recite it in its entirety. He had already mastered the rak'as (the prescribed postures for the stages of the prayers) and was growing, daily, in his mastery of each of the five daily supplications. His Grandfather sensed his pride in the precision with which he executed each movement.

After the concluding "wa `Aleykum As-Salaam", the two rose and, quick as a mouse, Abu had the rugs rolled and wrapped and back in their place. As always, he was filled with anticipation of what his teacher had in store for him today. He had already observed that the wondrous spectacle of the previous day, the television, had been removed from the room. Though Abu felt a twinge of disappointment, the old man had never disappointed him with an afternoon in his two years of private tutoring. Today would be no exception.

The old man had returned to his cushions near the window and, when Abu joined him, sitting cross-legged at his feet, he began.

"Abu, we have a great honor today. We have a letter from your father and begs that I read it to you since it is in Arabic and in his imperfect hand."

"Read it, Grandfather! What does my father say?"

"He opens, as he always does, with the shahadah - "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammed (Peace Be Upon Him) is his prophet". He then speaks to you, my child. He writes:

"It pains me, my son, to live apart from my only son and to be called to serve Allah in my homeland. But, a faithful Islamist does as he is asked and his faith leads him. I lament the continued oppression of my brothers and sisters in America at the hands of the white devils. Though not my home, America is the nation from which my child claims his birthright. I am filled with the hope that as my son grows in strength and wisdom he will be able to return to that Unholy Land and exact Allah’s revenge on the Infidels that enslave his people.

"Be also aware, my son, that the Americans continue to support the Zionist dogs who have now overrun Jerusalem after their illegal and unholy war against our brothers in Egypt, Syria and Lebanon. With the infidels providing weapons to the Zionist, our Muslim forces were attacked and destroyed with a chance to retaliate. Now, with our armies in disarray, the Zionists have stolen more land and all of the holy city, Jerusalem itself.

"I pray each night, my son, that Allah grant my one wish: That my son will grow to be strong - in body, mind and faith - and be the sword of Allah and His people. Vengeance for all the wrongs inflicted on our people will take time and patience. Time for you, Abu, to master all that is expected of you. You are my hope and the center of my prayers. Continue to grow under the watchful eye of Allah and soak up the knowledge of your teacher. When the full bloom of your manhood arrives, you will be ready to do that which is expected of you."

The old man stopped and let the words fill his young student’s heart. Abu’s expressions turned to that of smoldering anger as he heard his father describe the actions of Israel in what was to be called the "Six-Day War". He knew how important Jerusalem was to Islam and for the Jews to consolidate the entire city was an insult to all Muslims. He hated the Jews but, more, the Americans who supplied them with the weapons that enabled them to kill his Arab brothers. After he had composed himself, as his teacher always reminded him to do before speaking his thoughts, he said: "Grandfather, I have a anger that burns in my heart and wish death to all the nonbelievers, especially the Americans and the Jews. Is it wrong to have this where Muhammed, Praise be unto His Name, tells us to only let peace live?"

The Mullah had expected these words and was prepared to answer. But, instead of a quick reply, he looked concerned and rubbed his whiskers, as if to be measuring his reply carefully. Finally, he spoke:

"Allah commands us to purge hatred from our hearts. Purity of Faith allows no room for the negative passions of hate or lust or greed or envy. These are forbidden by the Qu’ran. But, when injustice occurs against those who follow Allah and His Prophet Muhammed, Praise Be Unto His Name, it is right to avenge the injury."

"Then what are we to do now, Grandfather, to avenge this injustice?" Abu asked, frustration seething into his voice. It was not unnoticed by the teacher.

"Allah commands of all His followers to avenge wrong but in a way that will prevent such transgressions to be repeated. We must be patient. At this moment, the Western infidels and the Zionists are too powerful for our reappraisals. But it will not always be so, Abu. Allah, Praise be unto His Name, in His Own Time, will instruct us as to when and how to strike in retribution." The calmness and confidence in the old man’s voice assuaged Abu’s anger and the boy’s tiny face eased into an expression of concentration and focus. Just as he had spoken to the young imam of patience the previous night’s council, he prepared the same lesson for Abu now.

"Allah’s Plan for His faithful often begins as a tiny seed, Abu. It may be weak when planted in the hearts of the faithful but His protection allows it to grow undisturbed. When the negative passions blind us to Allah’s true plan, we often meet disaster and defeat. But, when we allow His Plan to reach its full strength and glory, nothing can defeat us. It is this patience we must hold in our hearts now. I am convinced that Allah is working His Plan among us, even now. Our role is to quiet our hearts and allow His seed to grow within us all. When His Time is come, we will be invincible as invincible as we once were and will establish Islam throughout the Kingdom of Allah, rightfully, the entire world."

He stopped and watched his student’s face. He could see the concept being understood and the metaphor take root in the child’s mind. As familiar as the old man with his student’s expressions, he could see his point was well made.

"The patience of Saladin humbled the Crusaders and won back our Holy Lands" Abu spoke, half in thought and half to his teacher.

"Yes! Exactly, my young pupil. The heathens had held our lands for many years until, with Allah’s seed in full maturity, His earthly sword, the Great Salahudin, unleashed the Wrath of Allah and the cities were once again cleansed of the infidels. The mighty warrior protected Allah’s lands against the mightiest of the infidel kings, including Richard the Lionhearted. But it was the wisdom and patience placed by Allah in the heart of even his fiercest of warriors, Salahudin Ayyubi, that allowed him to conquer the papal dogs sent by Rome. We must be like Salahudin and allow for the seed of Allah’s plan, growing even now, to reach its full beauty and power."

Abu could feel the enthusiasm rising in the old man’s voice and understood the importance his teacher placed on his words. He also soaked in the vision of the glory of Allah, planning even now, to avenge the many centuries of insults the Muslims had been forced to bear at the hands of nonbelievers. He felt proud to be a likened to a soldier, like Salahudin - the full meaning of which he still had no idea - and was prepared - body and spirit - to sacrifice what may be required in the coming battle. The Mullah had told him that much. He cemented in his heart that, no matter how small a part or how great the sacrifice might have to be, he would not disappoint neither his teacher nor Allah. His tiny body coursed with new determination and enthusiasm for the future when glory would be Islam’s. His path would be long and arduous but he vowed, silently, that he would never fail to climb toward its final goal.

The old teacher was pleased to see the external manifestations in the child’s face that he was beginning to accept and understand what lay ahead for him. His heart was content that his life’s mission would reach fruition - not in his lifetime - but guaranteeing his place in Jannah. Though he would have preferred to be part of the downfall of the infidels, his part would be animated by the strong oak that would grow from his works. It was enough.