LITMIR.BIZ

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      At home one evening, three men knocked on the door and asked permission to come in. I found them in the living room and immediately noticed that they were wearing head-dress. After greeting them, they introduced themselves as Syrians travelling from Saudi Arabia to visit Egypt for a few days. They also told me that they had met, in Saudi Arabia, Sa’id Ramadan, Shaikh Mustafa al-’Alim, Kamil al-Sharif, Muhammad al-’Ashmawi and Fathi al-Khuli (all of them members of the Ikhwan who had fled from Nasir and his despotism). They explained that the same had requested them to convey salam to the Ikhwan of Egypt and would welcome assurances that both members of the Ikhwan here and ‘the organization’, are all well. The same visitors also reported that Sa’id Ramadan, and company, had asked them to join the organization, and that they were ready to execute orders and stay in Egypt to help the Ikhwan.

      They talked about the Ikhwan and Nasir and how the latter persisted in persecuting the former. They spoke about the 1954 events, the dissolution of the Ikhwan and the execution of ‘Abd al-Qadir ‘Awdah and his friends. The time was right and they were ready - so they claimed - to take revenge and kill Nasir. This decision, they continued, was also the opinion held by Kamil al-Sharif, al-’Ashmawi, al-Khuli and al-’Alim.

      As I was only listening to them and did not respond they openly asked my opinion: ‘You speak of things and names about which I know nothing’, I replied.

      ‘Sister Zainab, we will come back again to know the Murshid’s and the organization’s opinion about what we have said to you.’

      I responded briefly: ‘First, I do not know anything called “the organization” in the Ikhwan group, for as far as I am aware the Ikhwan were dissolved by the State. Second, I do not speak with the Murshid concerning these issues, for our friendship and relationship with him is but Islamic brotherhood and familial love. Third, in my understanding, killing Nasir has never been considered by the Ikhwan. Therefore, I advise you to go back to your country and to train yourselves Islamically.’

      ‘It seems’, responded one of them, ‘that sister Zainab is not convinced. Who destroyed the country if not Nasir?’

      ‘In my understanding it is not the lkhwan’s message to kill Nasir.’

      I then asked them to give me their names. Stutteringly, one of them told me that they were: ‘Abd al-Shafi ‘Abd al-Haq, ‘Abd al-Jalil Isa and ‘Abd al-Rahman Khalil. I laughed to myself for the simple reason that all their names were preceded by ‘Abd and furthermore that only one person delivered the advice.

      Once again I cautioned them; ‘Go back to your country before Nasir’s security agents catch up with you, that is if you do not know them already and have nothing to do with them, which I very much doubt.’

      The retort was clear.

      ‘You’re right to be suspicious of us. We’ll visit you again soon and then you’ll know who we are.’

      With that they left.

      When Brother ‘Abd al-Fattah Isma’il visited me, sometime after this incident, I related to him the story of these so-called Syrian visitors.

The Many Faces of Ahmad Rasikh

      Less than two weeks after the Syrians’ visit, I was, much to my surprise, called upon by another man who identified himself as Ahmad Rasikh, and as a security agent. He asked me about the content of my conversation with the Syrians. I explained that I was well aware that those men were spies sent by the security forces. I made it a point to tell him that this kind of behaviour was childish, for what else did the security forces want from me after confiscating our Group’s Headquarters and banning our magazine?

      He responded with the most bizarre questions, asking me what I had meant by Jamalov and Jamalovs⁷ in my conversation with the Syrians.

      ‘Those are atheists, who are proud of belonging to falsehood and its high-priests.’

      He quickly changed the subject: ‘Hajjah, we are Muslims!’

      ‘Muslims are different (They say: Our hearts are concealed from that which you invite us to, and in our ears is a deafness and between us and you is a screen: so you do what you will).’⁸

      ‘You will be Minister of Social Affairs from tomorrow if you agree to our demands.’

      I made no attempt to conceal my sarcasm: ‘True Muslims are not tempted by mere position, and do not participate in atheist, secular governments. As for the position of the Muslim lady, it will be decided by the Islamic State whenever it is established. Now what do you want from me?’

      ‘We want an agreement with you.’

      ‘This is impossible! An agreement cannot be struck between people who call for disbelief and raise the banner of falsehood, and people who call for the Tawhid of Allah and belief in Him alone. Repent to Allah and ask for His forgiveness. I would like to bring this meeting to an end please!’

      The man calling himself Ahmad Rasikh had in any case already finished drinking his coffee and now stood up to leave, saying: ‘By Allah, we only want to reach an agreement with you. And when we do, it will be you who issues the decree lifting the ban on the Muslim Ladies Group and its magazine.’

      ‘Thank you, but Islam can do without groups and organizations which agree to be agents of Allah’s enemies. May Allah guide you and forgive you.’

      Two days later, as I was sitting on the balcony, a car stopped in front of my door, and a man wearing dark clothes got out.

      ‘Assalamu alaikum Hajjah Zainab!’

      I returned his greeting and asked him to come inside the house. He came through to the guest-room and introduced himself as Ahmad Rasikh from the security forces. I could not help gazing at him, as if I was measuring his length and width, for not only had I once been to the Secret Police’s offices to meet a person called Ahmad Rasikh but when I went to see this man, there was a pad on his desk which had the same name, Ahmad Rasikh, written on it. What was more this new Ahmad Rasikh talked with me about the person who had visited me only two days earlier. As you will recall, dear reader, this man also happened to be called Ahmad Rasikh. One name for three men and all wishing to talk with me!

      My astonishment was impossible to conceal and as I explored the man’s features he asked: ‘Are you surprised that I have come to visit you, Hajjah Zainab?’

      My response deliberately aimed to mock: ‘I am surprised for something quite different. This house always welcomes, with magnanimity, both expected and unexpected guests. However I will relate to you a story that I read in al-Ahram,⁹ if I can remember it correctly: Two hundred years ago, the King and Queen of Holland went to England following an invitation from the monarchs of that country. The King of England’s attention was drawn to the interest which the Queen of Holland showed in a dog running around the reception hall. For the Queen of Holland had rushed to this dog and grabbed it, holding and kissing it passionately and fervently, as if she had lost her mind. She, then, handed it over to her husband, while whispering something into his ear and pointing to the dog’s eyes. The King of Holland, in turn, began kissing the dog. Naturally, their hosts were curious but nevertheless said nothing. Then, the Queen of Holland took the dog from her husband, while wiping away her tears, and held it against her chest as if it were her own dear child. When the Royal couple were taken for dinner, the Queen took the dog with her and fed it herself. The Queen of England mentioned in passing that the dog belonged to her daughter but the King, wanting to know the secret behind his guests’ attachment to this dog concluded, as if by apology: ‘Had my daughter not been so attached to this dog, I would gladly give it to you.’ Then, the Queen of Holland, who believed in reincarnation, informed her hosts that she had a deceased son whose spirit was incarnated in this dog, and that the dog’s eyes matched exactly those of her son’s. The King of England, thereafter, persuaded his daughter, who was also

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