Naseem Hijazi's "Shaheen" (English Translation)

Chapter 15: Tareef Bin Malik

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When Abu Abdullah got to know that his uncle had left Andercus for Africa he sent a message of congratulations to Ferdinand in Malaga and ordered for a celebration in Granada.

During the night Al-Hamra's pillars and walls shone in the light of lanterns. A feast was arranged by Abu Abdullah in a spacious chamber of Al-Hamra for the loyal chiefs and members of the sultanate. Dance and music began after food. Rounds of wine followed and when this party was at its climax, Abu Abdullah, intoxicated in wine got up and said, "Some of you used to say that I am unfortunate. Noone call me unfortunate from today. I am the King of Granada. Ferdinand's promises are true. All the territories of Granada will be returned to me. Why are you quiet? Laugh, sing and drink wine till your heart's content. I will make a river of wine for you in Al-Hamra. All of the grapes of Alpujarra would be used to make wine. We had also ordered the people of the city to celebrate but we have heard that some miscreants have put-off the lights in the streets and markets. This is the work of those who have come from out of Granada and are propagating that the Christians have been extremely cruel to them. I say that this is a lie. Next time such people will not be given permission to enter into the city. Any slogan against Ferdinand the Great will not be tolerated. He is our benefactor. Whatever you see today in Al-Hamra is because of him."

But the city's condition was quite contrary to Al-Hamra. The lights of the streets and lanes that were lit in the evening by official notification were extinguished forcibly by those protesting against Abu Abdullah. The entire night protestors gathered in streets, lanes and intersections and raised slogans against the traitors of the nation. Abu Abdullah's supporters in the city who had illuminated their homes had their houses pelted with bricks. An influential group of clergymen was with the protestors and the young students did not hesitate to drag out and beat-up those namesake clergymen who congregated to supplicate in their mosques for Abu Abdullah's long life. Like the men, a group of female protestors too rallied around the city the whole night and apart from the women of Granada, female refugees also participated in this rally, whose tears had conveyed the tales of atrocities of the Christians in Malaga and Beegha to the people of Granada.

Abu Abdullah celebrated for three days. For three days the walls of Al-Hamra acted as a separator between the laughter of the pleasure-seeking officials of the government and the sighs of the people of Granada. For three days, rounds of Aragonian wine over-flowed in cups as tears of blood flowed from the eyes of the people of Granada and on the fourth day Abu Abdullah was reading this letter from Ferdinand:

"We have come to know that our people in Granada are not happy with you and the rebels are gathering in the city.

To remove any possibility of a future war between Muslims and Christians, we believe it is vital that you handover Granada to us. The only reply to this letter that we would like to hear from you is that the gates of Granada will not be closed for our army. In any other scenario we would be compelled to use force. We will decide your future when we get to Granada. If you expect a generous treatment from us, then, unconditional compliance is a must."

Like Abu Abdullah, the effect of intoxication also vanished from the members of the sultanate. They glared at each other with eyes wide open. Cloud of hopelessness was settling allover Al-Hamra.

Abu Abdullah looked at Ferdinand's emissary and said in a feeble voice, "Emperor Ferdinand will have a reply from us within a couple of days."

Abu Abdullah's new minister was Tareef Bin Malik, who was the biggest chief of the tribal Berbers. He stood up and replied, "Ferdinand certainly has some misunderstanding about us and we are sure this misunderstanding will be removed. If you deem appropriate, I am ready to go to him."