In truth, her animosity seemed to have increased, while my memories of her addressing the crowds in the mosque, and from the balcony at Uthman’s palace, filled me anew with admiration: her tone as clear as the muezzin’s call; her proud stance more regal than the Queen of Sheba’s. From my seat on ...
You will learn what it means to be truly poor, and you will gain respect for your new sister-wife, he’d said. Umm al-Masakin’s face shone when we told her the news. “What an honor,” she gushed. An honor! By al-Lah, was I the angel Gabriel? But then she turned and bowed to me, warming me to her. ...