Download the Book - Islam and Science Fiction

Forgive his sins, though he has been long astray, cleanse his heart,
renew his soul, and ever will I walk in the ways of righteousness, ever
will I follow in the paths of Your Bidding, ever will I toil as Your
humblest of servants.”
A sharp tug on his arm, and Hawkins found himself face to face
with the holy man. He chanted the foreign words, peering deep into
Hawkins’s eyes. A flicker of brow, and he held his hand up.
“Not this one,” he said.
“What!” Abubakar exclaimed.
The holy man’s eyes blazed with sudden zeal, and his voice rang
forth like the sounding of Gabriel’s bugle.
“This one is a traitor!”
The words echoed in sudden silence, and were it not for
Abubakar’s firm hold upon his arm, Hawkins would have fallen to the
floor in sheer terror.
“Aye!” The priest’s voice had sunk to a whisper. “A traitor to his
captain, and his kind!”
Hawkins swooned, sure that he was breathing his last breaths,
that any moment, he would be summarily executed in some barbarous
manner. Abubakar pulled him sharply upright, making him face the
priest.
The holy man towered over him, his eyes raised to heaven, his
hands lifted as though offering a burnt sacrifice.
“This very day, this man did defy his captain, chancing a dance
with the nine-tailed cat, so our sisters might not die smothering in an
airless hold. This very day, this man did disobey his captain, loosing
the brads prisoning our brothers, so a foundering ship might not drag
them to the icy depths. This very day, this man did mutiny his captain,
counseling surrender and refusing to fight, so our daughters and sons
might not be condemned to a life of brutal servitude. His captain does
not deserve such a man, nor does he deserve his captain’s fate!”
Abubakar glared at Hawkins for a long moment.
“Is this true?” he demanded, shaking Hawkins violently by the
shoulder. Hawkins nodded feebly, for indeed he could not deny the
charges.
“Free him!” The holy man bellowed, his voice a triumphant roar.
Abubakar bowed his head in deference.
“As the faqir has spoken, so it shall be.”
“Yudkhilu man yasha’a fi rahmatihi.” The holy man chanted
softly. “Surely He admits to His Mercy whom He will.”
Hawkins’s mind reeled in confusion as the priest unchained his
wrists and ankles. Surely they didn’t intend to let him go!
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