Longing For Paradise

Chapter 4

To my dear and loyal readers:

With a heavy heart have I sat at my desk and picked up my pen to write my truth. Do not yet throw away my work seeing it has no poem in it for I am dutifully obliged to reward my most loyal readers; while what I have to say not align with your opinion, do consider thinking about the subject.

I urge you all to think for a moment if what the Emir demands of us is righteous on his part. Tell me, my friends, who made the Emir word of law against the power of written word? Was not 'Read' the very first word revealed to our beloved Prophet?  Why would 'Read' be the very first word of God revealed unto humanity if He did not want us to do so? Is not reading and learning a virtue in Islam? Then why has the Emir gone to such an extant to ban illegal books and its distribution?

While I myself have no part in such acts of illegal distribution or purchase, I can allude to the Emir not wanting such acts to happen because of the market prices of the books. You see, there is one family who is in charge of the book distribution industry here in our lands, and that is the Al Yaqeen family.

Unfortunately, trusting¹ them is the last thing we can do. They and the Emir have colluded to keep the prices of books sky high and out of reach of normal, everyday people like you and me. And yet we struggle to  make ends meet to finally get a glimpse of the books we have every right to freely read and explore in our own time. Is it not an infringement on our rights then when the Emir has no way of knowing which books are legal and which books are not? Is it not then just another shoddy way of bullying everyday people and robbing them of their belongings?

How can a man with Wisdom² in his blood be so empty of it?

- Makhami Al Layl

"In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Heed this announcement by Zafran-ud-Din Emir Akeem bin Rashed Al Hikmah, Conqueror of the Midlands and Berber: Illegal book distribution is a crime and any person or persons found with an illegal book or found distributing illegal books will be punished with lashes and a fine. It is advised that literary gatherings be limited or stopped for good as they are usually places where such immoral actions take place. Note that scholars and poets that write against such law will also be punished with lashes and a fine."

"God he's so full of himself," Layla remarked. Shaded by the large oak tree, the duo lied down on top of each other.

"Doesn't matter. You read what Makhami Al Layl published this week right? I think the Emir got what he deserved." Noor folded the announcement paper in half.

"I thought that was very bold of him, considering how the soldiers are out for blood these days." Layla nibbled on sunflower seeds.

"I hope the Emir catches him and holds him accountable for saying he colluded with the Al Yaqeens," Fatima said as she sat down on the large charpai, handing out mint tea.

"What you don't believe the Emir colluded?" Noor sat up.

"It doesn't matter what we believe. The Emir is a powerful man who has eyes and ears all over, and disrespecting him is no small matter. And the Al Yaqeens? There power runs deep in the duchy all the way to the capital. Making enemies of people like this, that poet simply signed his own death certificate."

"Auntie's right. Makhami Al Layl better have a plan." Layla shrugged.

"Forget all that. Layla, when are you planning to marry? Don't tell me you've also decided to take the same route as your friend over here?"

"Auntie it's only been a year since Nouf got married. It's not okay to have another wedding in the house so soon. It just brings about sadness. If you really want a happy wedding, have Hassan marry."