The Theocrat: A Modern Arabic Novel (Modern Arabic Literature) by Bensalem Himmich

people are taking a nap, in that this poet has extolled authority and seems devoted to it, this poet who claims that poetry is the discourse of waiting in that space which separates us from seizing power, and—in another version—that the most poetic of poets is one who senses that his poetry is an expression of essential weakness and deprivation, and so he strives for power and dreams of it. The police authorities, realizing their duties and ever watchful for the repose of the people, reserve for themselves the right to arrest and interrogate the poet until such time as he reveals the many secrets stored in his heart.’ However, my lord, once I have disappeared for ever, Ghayn, the chief of police, will release a factual report to people, which will say: ‘Rumors have spread abroad in the country stating that Ibn Sa‘sa‘ the poet who had been arrested by our forces died while being tortured by our personnel. In that this is false, we have no alternative but to reveal the following information: the above-named poet’s corpse wasdiscovered where the Nile waters had deposited it. A medical examination determined that he had been killed by a dagger thrust while fighting alongside pimps and heretics.’”
    “I’m truly amazed, young man,” said al-Hakim contentedly. “Get out of here before my sword performs your vision for you! Now, Ghayn, bring in the Sufi with no shoes.”
    The Sufi did not bother to wait for Ghayn to execute the caliph’s command, but rushed over to stand before the caliph, repeating the phrase, “Be kind to me, O God!” over and over again, and then. “I beg God’s forgiveness; He is sufficient for me, and is good as a trustee!”
    “So, shoeless one,” said al-Hakim, raising his voice over the noise of the Sufi’s invocations, “you stand accused of shunning me and insulting my name. Many times I have summoned you to appear, but you have resisted. As with other holy men of God, I have sought your counsel by offering bouquets of narcissus, but you have spurned them. Now here you stand before me, asking God for kindness and protection. And I am still being patient!”
    The shoeless Sufi responded: “The Prophet of God—peace and blessings be upon him!—once said, ‘Beware of the councils of tyrants.’ He was asked, ‘And who are tyrants, O most judicious of God’s created people?’ ‘Those who govern by their own order,’ the Prophet replied, ‘who contravene God’s laws by tyrannous deeds and self-deification, and who kill the soul that God has declared sacred. In the next world they are fuel for hellfire, and it is a dire resort indeed. O God, in Your kindness.…”‘
    Al-Hakim was furious. “That’s a fraudulent hadith,” he yelled. “It is unauthenticated and false. Your words are sheer nonsense; they trivialize the truth. They represent a lie and a travesty of our moral and religious practice.”
    The Sufi tried again. “There can be no word of truth but that the Prophet of God is its utterer. Included in that is what he has transmitted to believers following his occultation by way of dreams and visions. That is still the case today. I myself have seen him—on him be peace!—and he followed up on his previous hadith with this pronouncement (may he be exalted!): O people, a simile is being invoked here, so pay attention.The people to whom you pray in place of God could never create so much as a fly even though they all combined their efforts. If that fly were to rob them of something, they could never retrieve it; seeker and sought are simply too weak. They have not given God his true value; indeed God is powerful and mighty . In my dream I heard his voice—on him be peace!—counseling me, ‘Saint of God, make sure you don’t adjust your words to the world of tyrants. If you do so, your words will immediately dwindle, beset by collapse on all sides. Instead, allow your imagination to confront tyranny with patience, defiance, and creativity.”‘
    “How sorry