why it was necessary to study it.
Bowing and smiling, the Greek left them, and dai Ibrahim appeared before the novices once again. A deathly silence prevailed, and ibn Tahir could sense that their next subject was an important one.
This time dai Ibrahim taught them Ismaili doctrine. He would pose a question and then point his finger at the novice who had to answer it. The questions and answers followed in rapid succession, short and abrupt.
Ibn Tahir listened intently.
“What are the peris?”
“The peris are evil female spirits who ruled the world before Zarathustra banished them to the underworld.”
“Who was Zarathustra?”
“Zarathustra was a false prophet and fire worshipper, banished by Mohammed to dwell among the demons.”
“Where do the demons dwell?”
“In Mount Demavend.”
“How do they show themselves?”
“By the smoke that comes out of the mountain.”
“How else?”
“And by the wailing voices we can hear coming from there.”
“Who are the Seljuks?”
“The Seljuks are Turks who came storming in from Gog and Magog to seize power over Iran.”
“What is their nature?”
“They have a dual nature—half human and half demon.”
“Why?”
“Dævas, or evil spirits, mated with human women, who then gave birth to the Seljuks.”
“Why did the Seljuks adopt Islam?”
“To disguise their true nature.”
“What are their intentions?”
“To obliterate Islam and establish the rule of demons on earth.”
“How do we know that?”
“Because they support the false caliph in Baghdad.”
“Who is the most bitter enemy of the Ismailis in Iran?”
“The sultan’s grand vizier, Nizam al-Mulk.”
“Why is he a sworn enemy of the one true teaching?”
“Because he is an apostate.”
“What is his most blasphemous crime?”
“His most blasphemous crime was to offer ten thousand gold pieces for the head of Our Master.”
Ibn Tahir shuddered. It was true, the grand vizier was a criminal who had ordered his grandfather Tahir beheaded. And now he had set his sights on the Ismaili supreme commander himself.
Through these questions and answers, dai Ibrahim reviewed the material he had presented so far. Then with a wave of his hand he gave the sign that he would now continue lecturing. Quickly the novices set their tablets on their knees and prepared their writing implements. Posing questions and then answering them himself, dai Ibrahim began dictating the nature of the power granted to the supreme commander of the Ismailis.
In amazement ibn Tahir wrote everything down.
“Who gave Sayyiduna power over the faithful? The Egyptian caliph Mustansir indirectly, and Allah directly.
“What is the nature of this power? This power is of a dual nature, natural and supernatural.
“What is his natural power? That he is the master over life and death of all Ismailis in Iran.
“What is his supernatural power? He has the ability and right to send anyone he wants to paradise.
“Why is Sayyiduna the most powerful of all men who have ever lived on earth? Because Allah has given him the key that unlocks the gate to paradise.”
The fourth prayer marked the end of the school day. The novices gathered on the roof to review what they had learned that day. A lively debate developed around ibn Tahir.
“What I saw and heard in Abdul Malik’s lesson is clear to me,” he said. “But I don’t understand what dai Ibrahim meant by the maxim that Allah had given Sayyiduna the key to the gate of paradise.”
“What is there to wonder about here?” Yusuf spoke up. “That’s what Sayyiduna teaches and our duty is to believe it.”
“Fine, but I just don’t understand whether we’re supposed to take it literally or see it as some kind of parable,” ibn Tahir continued to probe.
“A parable?!” Yusuf lost his temper. “That’s how it’s been said and how we’re supposed to take it.”
“Then that would mean a new miracle has taken place,” ibn Tahir persisted.
“Why
Bowing and smiling, the Greek left them, and dai Ibrahim appeared before the novices once again. A deathly silence prevailed, and ibn Tahir could sense that their next subject was an important one.
This time dai Ibrahim taught them Ismaili doctrine. He would pose a question and then point his finger at the novice who had to answer it. The questions and answers followed in rapid succession, short and abrupt.
Ibn Tahir listened intently.
“What are the peris?”
“The peris are evil female spirits who ruled the world before Zarathustra banished them to the underworld.”
“Who was Zarathustra?”
“Zarathustra was a false prophet and fire worshipper, banished by Mohammed to dwell among the demons.”
“Where do the demons dwell?”
“In Mount Demavend.”
“How do they show themselves?”
“By the smoke that comes out of the mountain.”
“How else?”
“And by the wailing voices we can hear coming from there.”
“Who are the Seljuks?”
“The Seljuks are Turks who came storming in from Gog and Magog to seize power over Iran.”
“What is their nature?”
“They have a dual nature—half human and half demon.”
“Why?”
“Dævas, or evil spirits, mated with human women, who then gave birth to the Seljuks.”
“Why did the Seljuks adopt Islam?”
“To disguise their true nature.”
“What are their intentions?”
“To obliterate Islam and establish the rule of demons on earth.”
“How do we know that?”
“Because they support the false caliph in Baghdad.”
“Who is the most bitter enemy of the Ismailis in Iran?”
“The sultan’s grand vizier, Nizam al-Mulk.”
“Why is he a sworn enemy of the one true teaching?”
“Because he is an apostate.”
“What is his most blasphemous crime?”
“His most blasphemous crime was to offer ten thousand gold pieces for the head of Our Master.”
Ibn Tahir shuddered. It was true, the grand vizier was a criminal who had ordered his grandfather Tahir beheaded. And now he had set his sights on the Ismaili supreme commander himself.
Through these questions and answers, dai Ibrahim reviewed the material he had presented so far. Then with a wave of his hand he gave the sign that he would now continue lecturing. Quickly the novices set their tablets on their knees and prepared their writing implements. Posing questions and then answering them himself, dai Ibrahim began dictating the nature of the power granted to the supreme commander of the Ismailis.
In amazement ibn Tahir wrote everything down.
“Who gave Sayyiduna power over the faithful? The Egyptian caliph Mustansir indirectly, and Allah directly.
“What is the nature of this power? This power is of a dual nature, natural and supernatural.
“What is his natural power? That he is the master over life and death of all Ismailis in Iran.
“What is his supernatural power? He has the ability and right to send anyone he wants to paradise.
“Why is Sayyiduna the most powerful of all men who have ever lived on earth? Because Allah has given him the key that unlocks the gate to paradise.”
The fourth prayer marked the end of the school day. The novices gathered on the roof to review what they had learned that day. A lively debate developed around ibn Tahir.
“What I saw and heard in Abdul Malik’s lesson is clear to me,” he said. “But I don’t understand what dai Ibrahim meant by the maxim that Allah had given Sayyiduna the key to the gate of paradise.”
“What is there to wonder about here?” Yusuf spoke up. “That’s what Sayyiduna teaches and our duty is to believe it.”
“Fine, but I just don’t understand whether we’re supposed to take it literally or see it as some kind of parable,” ibn Tahir continued to probe.
“A parable?!” Yusuf lost his temper. “That’s how it’s been said and how we’re supposed to take it.”
“Then that would mean a new miracle has taken place,” ibn Tahir persisted.
“Why
Similar Books
