garden where she had heard the conversation of two Muslim divines.
Soon after she had taken her seat, Umar Lahmi andMuaz also arrived and
began to talk on different subjects.
Umar Lahmi: I have hearda curious and interesting report today.
Muaz (surprised): What is it?
Umar Lahmi: The objection, that you raisedon a passage of Saint Paul's
Epistle the other day, has reached the ear of the Head Priest and
there is a great commotion among the priests on account of it. Itis
also said that some sensible persons have even become sceptics.
Muaz: Well, this seems to be mere gossip. Who could have heard our talkthat day?
Umar Lahmi: Who could have heard our talk? Is it for nothing that the
priests have become so agitated?
Muaz: After all what is thecause of the commotion? Have the priests
heard our objection for the firsttime?
Umar Lahmi: The reason I cannot tell myself, but what I have heard and
why the priests have become agitated is just for our objection.
Severalmeetings have been held among the priests to finda solution.
The report hasreached me through Christian sources.
Muaz: Just one objection has created commotion among the priests. All
beliefs of Christians are ridiculous. While sin was committed by Adam
punishment was given toall and the entire humanity became sinful. And
has this belief any justification that in retaliation of the sins of
all the sinners, an innocent person is punished and, to bear the
burden of all the sins,"the son of God" comes to earth and is
crucified. Is it not the very limit to make Divinity a weak and
powerless person? If Christians have any answer to all these
questions, let them come forward and explain.
Umar Lahmi (laughing): Ifit is not Christians who can go to that limit
of absurdity, who else can do this? Everyone can talk reasonably, but
thereshould be someone to talk nonsense.
Muaz: I think it is time that we exploit this Commotion.
Umar Lahmi: It is a very good suggestion and at this time let us
publish a poster in which we should recount all the absurdities of the
Christian belief.
Muaz: This is quite good and it will create a commotion among
Christians all over Spain.
Isabella and her two classmates sitting in a corner of the garden were
listening attentivelyto this talk and were cracking their fingers in
anger. At last Isabella lost her patience and said to her companion;
We must refute their allegations and do everything to convince them.
May our Lord Christ attract them to his side! If these Muslims can be
convertedit will be such a great victory for Christianity that
henceforth Muslims will never be able to raise their heads in this
country. And Isabella raised her head to the heaven and earnestly
prayed to God to bring these "unbelievers" and enemies of Christianity
tothe Christian fold that "Thy Greatness is manifested."
A companion: Sister Isabella.' These "unbelievers" are very
hot-headed. How can they give up Satan and take the hand of Lord
Christ? But the trouble is that our priests are also afraid of these
Muslims. Itwas just yesterday that, on seeing your worry about the
objection about our religious law and curse, I put it to the priest of
our parish who ignored it saying that weshould pay no attention to
what these Muslims say. Their answer is not discussion but the drawn
sword. When such is the condition of our priests, why should the
Muslims not become arrogant?
Isabella: The thing is that our priests do not like to talk to these
"unbelievers" and keep quiet. But their silence does not mean that
they cannot solve their problems. Yet if they are assured that after
being convinced most of the Muslims will be ready to embrace
Christianity, they will face them most willingly.
The companion: Written promises may be taken from these Muslims and
they should be made to talk face to face with our priests, so that on
the one side our Christian divines are forced to talk to them and
these Muslims are forced to embrace our faith.
Isabella: This is quite good. But will these Muslims be ready for it?
The companion: Why not,what have you just heardfrom their own lips?
Isabella: Then why to wait? Inform them just here that they should be
prepared to discuss with our priests. I am giving you a chit which you
maytake to them and see what they reply.
The companion: But first ascertain from our divines. These
"unbelievers" may be ready, and our divines may not agree.
Isabella: If these people give a written undertaking that on being
convinced they willembrace Christianity; our divines will certainly
have a dialogue with them.
Isabella then wrote out the note: "Please pardon me. I overheard your
talkvery attentively and sincewe are also interested in theological
questions I hope you will not mind my intrusion. You have just told
your companion that if Christians satisfactorily explained relation
between religious law and curse you will embrace Christianity and you
also want to challenge Christians on religious law and curse, so, as
servants of our Lord JesusChrist, we gladly accept your challenge,
provided you give a written undertaking of it.—A Humble Servant of
Christian Faith."
Her companion handed over this chit to Umar Lahmi who immediately
showed it to Muaz and promptly wrote the answer: "We thank you for the
trouble and we agree that if your elders explain to us the dilemma of
religious law and curse, we assure you that I myself and my associates
will embrace Christianity. Now say where and when we should come to
discuss —A Humble Servant of Islam , Umar Lahmi."
Isabella on reading this replied: "About time and place I will I come
tomorrow and let you know.—A Servant."
Coming' out of the garden of Cordova Isabella's first concern was to
find out a learned man for dialogue with the Muslims and so, before
going home, she went to her kind teacher and told him all that had
happened. The teacher who was himself a priest and well versed in
religious problems, on seeing Isabella's worry, snubbed her and asked
her if it was such a serious matter as to cause her worry. Isabella
then showed him the note which Umar Lahmi had given her in the garden
that evening and in which there was an undertaking that if this
problem was solved, he along with his associates will accept
Christianity. On this the teacher agreed to take up the matter and
felt the need of some eminent scholars. He pacified the anxiety of
Isabella and had her leave to depart saying that he would fix up the
time by noon nextday.
Isabella spent a restless night and the question continued to haunt
her -what was going to happen the next day, for if her learned men
were unable to satisfy Muslims then Christians will be browbeaten for
ever. At last morning came and, after finishing her toilet, she began
to study the Bible. Just at noon she took with her two of her friends
and repaired to the house of the priest where she found a large number
of priests gathered, waiting for someone on whose arrival the chair
was offered to him; Isabella's teacher, after the praise of Jesus
Christ, explained the object of the gathering and earnestly requested
the scholars to take courage and prepare for a dialogue with the
Muslims trying to convert them to Christianity.
One priest: We wonderedwhat was the grave problem for which we had
been asked to meet together. On reaching here I found that it was
asimple affair. Just call these Muslims even now and any one of us
will convince them.
Another priest: It is true that the matter is not very grave as we
often hold discussions with the Muslims. But since the news has gone
out that Christians have no answer to the objection of Muslims, the
issue has assumed importance and now we should fix time for the
discussion.
A person: Tomorrow is Sunday and all Christians will gather in the
great church, so Muslims shouldbe called there tomorrow, and may Lord
Jesus give them guidance.
A priest: This is a good suggestion. (Then addressing Isabella: Your
respected father who leads prayer in that church should be presentas
possibly we may need his help at some stage since you are the
intermediary for this talk between us and the Muslims.
Another person: Her father is the Head Priest of all Spain and there
is no one else more learnedin the problems of Christianity than he,
and therefore his presence is essential.
Michael (Isabella's teacher): Surely, surely.
So the proposal was unanimously adopted and Sunday was fixed forthe
dialogue. At Isabella'srequest Michael wrote out a permit for Umar
Lahmi to enter the church.
Now it was just one and a half or two hours for the sun to set.
Isabella prepared herself to go to the garden when her other two
companions also arrived and they slowly walked towards the garden
where they found Umar Lahmi and Muaz already sitting and, unlike other
days, some other people were also with them. Isabella herself handed
over Michael's letter to Muaz which was opened and read by everyone.
Muaz (to Isabella): We arevery thankful for all your painstaking and
if either of the parties gets guidance the credit of it will first go
to you.
Umar Lahmi (to his companions): She is a scholar of Christian
philosophy and well learned in theology. Howpraiseworthy is her zeal
to try to take us out from "disbelief"!
Isabella: I am a humble servant of Jesus Christ and thank you for
accepting the invitation.
One Muslim. Allah forbid! Just see how Christians assign partners to
Allah and deify Christ. Surely, they are out of their senses,
otherwise how can a living man…
Umar Lahmi: You have already entered into controversy. It has to be
decided tomorrow at the great church. (To Isabella): You may assure
the priests on our behalf that we shall certainly come to the church
just after breakfast.
Isabella immediately left with her companions anddid no longer stay at
the garden as she used to do for she had to make arrangements and hold
consultations for the nextday's gathering.
Isabella – A girl of Islamic Spain/
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