This is a work of fiction, and as such the characters are not bound by the usual dictates of modern society. Unsafe sexual practices can be undertaken with impunity only in the world of fantasy. In reality, it is both your obligation and your right to play safely, sanely and healthily. I hope you enjoy my work, and if you have any comments, or ideas that may inspire new work, please feel free to contact me - all e-mails will be answered to the best of my ability.
The end of chapter #37
"Let's go to bed." Joseph said. "I think we can both use a good nights sleep."
"Yes Habibi. A good nights sleep. Yussef I love you......"
Chapter # 38
The next morning Joseph awoke when the telephone started to ring. Seeing Allie beginning to stir, he put his finger to his lips to quiet him and reached over lifting the receiver he sleepily asked, "Hello, who is this?"
"Hello is this Yussef Benson?" A voice asked in Arabic.
"Yes, who is this?" He answered in the same language.
"It is I, the Imam, I hope it is not too early to call?"
"Oh no your Eminence, I was just waking up anyway. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"I am sorry to have disturbed your sleep but the reason I'm calling is because I wanted to apologize for last night. There was no need for me to get all hot and angry. What I should have said was that I would think about the idea..."
"Your Eminence, there is no need to apologize. In fact I was going to call you later today and ask your forgiveness for the way Mr. Balbak acted. He had no right to talk to you that way, not in my house. He did not talk in my name." Joseph said still hoping there might be a way to convince the Imam. "I had hoped to convince you on the pure merits of the proposal itself. I did not think it was necessary to use pressure. I still think that if you had a few days to think about the idea you would have willingly come around."
"I must admit that I was angry when I left. I was so upset that I did not really consider what I said or did. But then I started giving it a lot of thought and this morning, after a restless nights sleep, I called and spoke with some of the officers of the Mosque."
"I hope you and your officers have not come to any hasty conclusions, as I would like to have the opportunity to present my proposal and speak to them myself." Joseph said.
"Will Mr. Balbak come with you if I arrange such a meeting?"
Joseph realizing and knowing that the Imam would not have bothered to call him if he were not looking for an honorable way to appear to have a change of mind, smiled and answered, "No. I assure you he will not! Need I remind you that it was you who asked him to join us at the table last night, not I? I saw no need to pressure you then and neither do I see the need to do it to your officers. I will try to sell the idea on its merits at this time."
"I am glad to hear that. I agree that there is no need to include him in our discussions at this time."
"I most assuredly agree with you. However, just between you and me, the way in which Americans and Muslims think about each other must change. I think we can both agree it cannot continue the way it is going now. We both know the score and in the end if we want to control and direct that change, we must work together. We cannot leave this to 'outsiders'. The most important component here is that both parties want and know what's best for our people. It is our job to teach each other that mutual respect must come first. Without that there can never be any real understanding and brotherly love. It is the only way. All other ways will lead to the destruction of everyone."
After a long pause that had Joseph wondering if maybe he had pushed it too far, the Imam said with tears in his voice. "Allah Akbar, I thank god that Fazzi never listened to me when he insisted that he wanted you to be his son and heir. I was wrong then and perhaps I was wrong last night. I realize now that youth is the wave of the future. However, you too must realize that I and the elders will fight you on this and everything "modern" that you bring into the community."
"Why would you do that, your Eminence?" Joseph asked.
"Because, as I told you last night, it is a complete departure from everything I and my people have been brought up to believe in. However, in the end do not be shocked to find me supporting you."
"Now that sounds weird to me. Why waste energy fighting me if you know that what I propose is right?"
"Yussef if this sounds weird to you, then you have not learned as much as you think you have about Arab culture. It is the Arab way of doing things, fight the changes and then accept them because most times the changes are right. My son and I hope you don't mind my calling you that, I will call you when I have set up that meeting. Goodbye for now."
"Salam and Shokran my friend, my teacher and father!" Joseph smiled and then he hung up the phone.
"I assume that was the Imam. What the fuck did that old bastard want?"
"He wanted to apologize for last night and to tell me that he is going to arrange a meeting for me to explain Fazzi's idea." Joseph told Allie. "You see all that force you used was really unnecessary."
Laughing Allie said, "You don't really think he would have called you if he were not scared shitless about what would happen to him if I were to ask the Emirate to get him to cooperate with you, do you?"
"You know I keep hearing about this Emirate thing. No one has ever told me what it is. Although Fazzi did mention it a few times, he never would tell me who or what it is? He just alluded to some sort of hidden and vast powers it seems to have. It was one of those mysteries that he said he would uncover for me when he got back from Syria." Joseph then warily asked, "Is it some sort of illegal secret organization? Perhaps I should not even ask you this."
"There is nothing illegal about it. I'm surprised that Fazzi never told you about it. If he were serious about converting you, sooner or later he would have had to tell you about it."
"Oh he was serious about his desire to have me become a Muslim. I was just beginning to show a lot of interest, and he knew I was getting serious. He had promised to start my lessons in earnest when he returned from Syria."
"Yes I remember him talking about how the two of you were going to become even closer when he returned. Since he will not be able to do this - I will try. Let's see how can I explain it? O.K let's start by saying that every religion has a group of people or an organization that sets its policies and provides guidelines for its members. In the early years after Muhammad's death a Caliphate was established. In one form or another this lasted until the early nineteen hundreds when the Ottoman Empire was split apart by the victorious European powers as a result of the First World War. This created a void in the Muslim world. The Emirate is an organization that came into being to fill that vacuum. Today the Emirate is to Muslims what the Vatican is to Catholics. Only the Emirate has much more power and means at its disposal to enforce its edicts. While it is not secret, it is the hidden force behind the Muslim religion. They can and do issue grave pronouncements and edicts. Some of these take a form known as Fatwa. These sometimes call for the elimination of people they consider to be a direct threat against the religion. In rare cases they will sanction and direct their enforcers to carry out death sentences. Many of the so-called fundamentalist Muslim groups will issue a Fatwa but they really do not have the moral authority to issue one. Unless the Emirate concurs, and today it seldom does, that Fatwa never is carried out."
"Are you are a member of that group?" Asked Joseph.
"Fazzi was a member and for a time was very high in the organization." At this point he lied not wanting to disclose his involvement yet. "As far as my involvement - I know people who know people. How do you think Fazzi and I were able to get your friend Ibrahim out of the hands of those terrorists? You remember at that time I told you it was nice to have influential friends like Fazzi. Do I have to draw pictures for you?"
"No you don't have to draw pictures. I think I get the picture." Joseph said trying not to sound overly critical. "Every religion uses some form of coercion to keep its members in line. It has to do that or you will have utter chaos. You would have hundreds of people claiming to speak for the religion. You have to have some order."
"Then you don't object to the Emirate?"
"Islam is a state religion and the state has the right to enforce its laws for those wishing to belong to that religion. No I don't object to this per se. No more than I object to the Pope or a Synod or Board of Rabbis speaking for their religious followers." Joseph argued, trying to cover up his real revulsion. "I guess someone has to do it. Look Allie, the truth be told, until I knew Fazzi I never was interested in the inner workings of any religion. I never questioned my own religion or how it worked. I just followed what my adopted parents taught me. They were not that religious and we went to church once in a while and on a few special holidays. I did not even go to Sunday school for long. That cost money and they would not pay for it."
"You poor kid. No wonder Fazzi felt the need to convert you." Allie said. "It is incumbent on a good Muslim to educate and convert infidels."
"Hey! I'm not an infidel." Joseph protested. "I'm a Christian."
"All non-Muslims are infidels and uneducated Christians are no exception. They are worthy of redemption but only through Islam." Allie said as he reached for Joseph. "And as long as Fazzi is gone it is my duty and obligation to save you from your decadent western ways and enlighten you about the ways of Arab love." With this he grabbed Joseph and pulled his nude body to him, kissing him hard on the mouth.
