Outremer I

by D. N. Carter

  “Huh, it has been my experience that Islam generally is a cruel and harsh slave-master. Muslim men are permitted to have sex with their slave-girls. I can give you ten reasons why Islam is not the religion of peace. Islamic law is bloody and excessive; six hundred years after Jesus showed us a better way. There are many rules in the Qur’an that oppress and insult women. Islam, as the whole world knows by many, many reports, does not honour women,” the Genoese sailor explained unapologetically.

  “My friend…we can argue exactly the same of the Bible…if you look,” the old man shot back.

  “I disagree. Christians must not trade in the eternal Son of God, who sets people free today and offers the love of God, for a human and mortal messenger, Muhammad (Suras 3:144; 39:30; 41:4), who is too often cruel and harsh and misogynistic. Islam does not honour women. If a Christian woman marries a Muslim, but holds on to her beliefs, such as the Divinity and Lordship of Christ, then ipso facto she holds on to a false belief and may be considered a ‘heretic’ or an ‘infidel’, if the Qur’an and traditional Islamic theology are followed consistently,” the Genoese sailor explained. Gabirol looked at him surprised. “What…you think as I am just a sailor, that I do not have an opinion?”

  “Quite the contrary,” Gabirol replied and wrote down what the sailor had said.

  “Friends, you can see how easy it is to cause conflict over such matters just talking about them…so I shall keep this as brief as I am able. So please know that in the New Testament, it does state that soon-to-be married couples should start on an equal footing in the selection of a mate. The New Testament in 1 Corinthians 7:39 says that a Christian woman may marry only a Christian man, and vice versa. Also in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. At first glance, this divine counsel seems too restrictive, but looked at more deeply, it demonstrates a lot of wisdom. If a married couple start their walk together with the same faith and theology, then this takes the pressure off of possibly converting the partner to the other’s faith. One partner does not have to ‘evangelise’ the other partner. Neither partner starts off as an ‘infidel’ or ‘heretic’. So this is really the same position as Islam and makes sound common sense. It was one of the deeper reasons why Philip and Firgany were so concerned about Alisha and Paul becoming a couple. But they were also aware of great changes sweeping the world. They also knew, that in time, there would come a day in the future when the patriarchal elements of Islam and the matriarchal elements of a new Christian Church with all its sacred feminine aspects would themselves be married…as a coming together of the two in a form of sacred marriage. That would immediately remove all these contentious issues,” the old man explained as the others looked quizzically at each other.

  “You mean, Islam and Christianity join as one religion?” Gabirol asked.

  “As I said, we all worship the same God and as our Templar and Ashashin friends tried to do, they wished to fuse both.” He paused as everyone thought about what they were hearing. “But on another level, in biblical Christianity, the man and the woman must have a deep, spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ, individually, through the power of the Holy Spirit before they become one flesh in marriage. This means their spiritual intimacy with the Lord will be shared in the couple’s own intimacy with each other. Also, this true spiritual equality takes away any patriarchy. The woman already agrees with the husband in matters of religion, so what need does he have to control the relationship and lay down religious law? But likewise in a way, Islam acknowledges this restriction when it forbids a Muslim from marrying a polytheist or idolater (Sura 2:221). Likewise, though neither religion is polytheistic, Islam and Christianity are too far apart theologically and spiritually, notably in Muhammad’s denial of the divinity of Jesus Christ, an essential, non-negotiable doctrine in Christianity. Islam demotes Jesus to a mere prophet as viewed from a Christian perspective. The New Testament everywhere affirms the divinity of Christ. On a heart-felt level, the Muslim does not receive the Holy Spirit because he does not receive Christ as Saviour and Lord. In fact, Islamic theology erroneously reduces the Holy Spirit to the angel Gabriel. This means that a marriage between a Muslim and a Christian would be unequal. And this is risky for any Christian woman, since she would be most vulnerable to a particularly strong patriarchy that may rear its ugly head later on in the marriage. Remember, the Qur’an gives permission for husbands to hit their wives if the husbands merely fear high handedness or rebellion in their wives (Sura 4:34). Besides this practical reason, if a Christian understands the New Testament, then he or she must not marry a Muslim, for spiritual and theological reasons. A Christian couple must keep spiritual unity. They must raise their children in spiritual harmony, as followers of Christ. That is the theory…but as we know, in practice, you cannot always choose who you fall in love with. And if an understanding could be reached between both Christians and Muslims, would the world not be a greater place?” the old man stated and asked.

  “Oh my Lord…they have certainly entered the lion’s den then haven’t they?” Sarah commented and sighed.

  “That they have…and it would have dire consequences further down the line…consequences that Firgany, Philip and Niccolas had all foreseen within the parchments.” The old man sighed. “But understand, my criticism is not levelled against Muslims but against Islam as a religious system and against its early violent history, when Muhammad himself was founding the original community, and against its later violent history. The truth about these things must get out but in a way in which both sides can reconcile apparently impossible differences. Both Christianity and Islam allow the marriage of different races. For example, a white Christian can marry a black Christian. No problem. In Christianity, the only requirement is that each one must be a believer and follower of Christ and receive the Holy Spirit. The difference between Islam and Christianity on religiously mixed marriages is simple. Islam allows Muslim men to marry Christian women, period. It does not allow a Christian man to marry a Muslim woman. So Islam’s alleged ‘openness’ and tolerance and ‘non-discrimination’ is one-sided. But again, so too is Christianity. So we find ourselves at an immovable impasse.”[9]

  “Please just tell us how they got married then, as much of what you say I have to confess I do not grasp nor understand,” Miriam asked embarrassed.

  The old man looked at her and the Templar sat close to each other. He nodded he would.

  2 – 3

  La Rochelle, Rue de Stella Maris, 6th January 1179

  It was late afternoon and the sun was still above the horizon slowly setting its way to the calm sea. The sky was a clear blue and the air still, but it was cold. Alisha held on to her father’s right arm as he slowly walked her towards the small circle of white stones on the point ahead where Paul stood with Taqi, Niccolas, Sister Lucy, the local Templar Marshal, eight of his Knights and twelve immaculately turned out Knights Hospitaller.

  Alisha shivered despite wearing a heavy cotton dress and a thick off white, almost cream coloured fur lined overcoat Firgany had made up specially for today. Firgany wore his best cold weather outfit but no hat on purpose. A storm the day before had threatened to delay the ceremony, Firgany seeing it almost as a bad omen, but with the morning came a calm sea and no wind. Not a cloud in the sky. This simple fact brought Firgany great comfort. He was not one for placing much store in omens and signs like that, but today, anything that would help assuage his concerns he was happy to accept. He placed his left hand upon Alisha’s hand on his forearm and held it tightly as they neared the group.

  “You know…even this path we walk upon now was made by Philip’s own hand and named by him all purely for unselfish reasons. If Paul becomes just half the man he is, then I am happy and confident I am handing my only beautiful daughter into safe and capable hands,” Firgany said as he looked at Alisha.

  She was smiling like he had never seen her smile before. She was focused on looking ahead to see Paul. Sister Lucy had placed a small and simple white headband around her head, pulling her hair backw
ards. Alisha had not wanted a big fuss or grandiose clothes and was reluctant to even have guests but she had relented when Firgany had explained why they were necessary. Naturally a church wedding was out of the question. This was to be a wedding ceremony specially formulated for very special circumstances. That was the line Firgany and Sister Lucy took with Alisha and Paul. Alisha looked down momentarily at her new fur lined boots Firgany had also gifted her for this day. One of the lacings had come loose and she quickly knelt to tie it again.

  Taqi looked over his shoulder towards them as Paul stood perfectly still with his back to her. Both were dressed in dark green full length overcoats etched with intricate silver and gold embroidered stitching and symbols that Firgany had specially commissioned for the ceremony too as a gift. The high collared white shirts they wore dug a little tight into their necks but they both felt smart and kept smiling at each other. Paul went to turn around but Taqi pulled him to face forwards. The eight Templar Knights formed a horseshoe line behind Paul and Taqi as the Hospitallers formed a larger semicircle behind them leaving the view out across the calm sea clear.

  “You cannot look yet,” Taqi said and laughed.

  “This feels very weird indeed…getting married…with a Christian military honour guard, my best friend a Muslim, and my wife-to-be a Muslim. I am blessed this day,” Paul whispered.

  “Sure about that, brother…you could be cursed,” Taqi joked.

  “Taqi…I consider myself truly blessed this day.”

  “This is just the beginning, brother…just the beginning,” Taqi replied and looked towards his father and Alisha.

  Alisha stood and straightened herself up, pulled her coat back into position and held on to her father’s arm again.

  “This is all very unusual, Father…not that I am complaining at all… but highly unusual, no?” Alisha asked as they began to walk towards Paul.

  “You have no idea how so, my daughter!” Firgany stated quietly.

  “I wish Raja and my mother could have seen this.”

  “Ali, I am pretty certain they can,” Firgany answered solemnly.

  Alisha smiled even more and her face flushed red with embarrassment as the local Templar Marshal greeted them with a simple nod and ushered them through a gap in the two ranks of knights. Taqi moved to stand on the right side of Paul as Firgany gently ushered Alisha next to Paul’s left side. Paul could not hide the huge smile across his face as he slowly turned his head to look at her. Her eyes were searching his for every emotion and they both laughed nervously as Paul turned slightly to face her and took her hands in his. Paul looked at Firgany. Firgany was emotional though he fought to contain it. Paul acknowledged this with a slight nod only as Firgany tipped his head briefly, closed his eyes for a moment then let go of Alisha and stood back a few paces. Paul quickly took in the scene around him, the harbour full of ships across the bay to his right, the sandy beach stretching away to his left and the vast open ocean of the Atlantic in front of them. Alisha and Paul both looked together behind them at the knights forming what felt like a protective barrier. One Templar was positioned in the middle holding a lit torch that was burning away gently. Even the usual noisy seagulls were nowhere to be seen other than the few across the bay over the harbour itself. The local Templar Marshal nodded and smiled at them then nodded to Niccolas. Niccolas quickly walked to stand in front of them and waited until both Alisha and Paul had stopped smiling so much. Niccolas looked stern, which only made Paul smile more.

  “Alisha, Paul…this is not a normal ceremony by any stretch of the imagination…but it is nonetheless one recognised by certain elements within both our faiths. Signed, sealed and authenticated documents will be issued immediately upon completion of this ceremony that will afford you a certain amount of protection and recognition of your joint marital status. It is a privilege very rarely given and should not be viewed or taken lightly,” Niccolas began to explain as Alisha and Paul both chuckled nervously. Alisha held Paul’s hands tighter.

  Taqi looked around at the smartly dressed knights. They made for an impressive sight, he thought. He then looked at his father, who was totally lost in the moment just staring at Alisha, his head tilted slightly, something Taqi had never seen before as Firgany always stood bolt upright. Taqi could sense the sadness but also obvious pride he had. Firgany looked up slowly and saw Taqi looking at him. Immediately he stood up straight, but then feigned a smile at Taqi and nodded. At that, Niccolas suddenly coughed deliberately to draw Firgany’s attention.

  “Oh…yes. Sorry,” Firgany said apologetically and moved to stand near to Niccolas. “Alisha, Paul…originally this ceremony was organised for Raja and Philip…but as Allah willed it, Raja is no longer with us,” Firgany explained then paused momentarily as he bowed his head. Clearly saddened he took a short while to regain his composure before looking up again. Alisha placed her hand on his arm briefly before he nodded he was okay to continue. “But I know your father, Philip, could not think of a better way to use this ceremony than to wed you two. It is what Raja would wish too. And as is customary in our faith,” he looked at Alisha, “and yours,” he looked at Paul, “we give a dowry to help you on your life’s path together,” Firgany explained then reached around and pulled a leather satchel bag to his front, opened it and removed several leather bound envelopes and a sealed wooden carry tube. “Here…contained within this tube are deeds to a property in Alexandria and one in Cairo. They are henceforth yours… formally belonging to both Philip and I. But also enclosed are deeds for a third to be held in trust by you, for Taqi,” Firgany explained. Taqi raised an eyebrow in surprise but then smiled broadly as Paul accepted the tube in his right hand, his left still holding Alisha’s hands. “When you leave here today, the Marshals of both the Templars and the Hospitallers, and myself, will sign and authorise this ceremony as valid.” Paul looked at Taqi and back at Firgany surprised. His mind was racing…how Firgany could be a signatory to any document. The local Marshals he could understand. As Paul looked at him quizzically and Niccolas in turn, Niccolas shook his head slightly as if to indicate he should not ask why or how. “And this… this is from your father to both of you,” Firgany said and handed Paul another leather bound envelope.

  As Paul took it, Firgany stepped back out of the way as Niccolas stepped forwards and placed his old hands upon his and Alisha’s.

  “Alisha, Paul. Today we shall join you both in a legally recognised marriage and one based upon a ceremony that predates all our faiths. A ceremony that one day in the future will be customary again as a true form of marriage both physically and spiritually,” Niccolas said solemnly. Niccolas looked up as the old woman from the harbour approached quietly and slowly accompanied by the young girl Alisha and Paul had given some coinage to previously. The little girl was still wearing the fur hat Alisha had given her as well as a thick winter coat and boots now. Alisha quickly looked over and smiled seeing this. “Alisha, Paul…look at me,” Niccolas said drawing their attention back to him. “This ceremony has to be done besides water…so I think we can safely say we have done that… the water representing the very earliest primordial waters of creation from which all life as we know it came.” Alisha and Paul smiled at each other again. Taqi looked at the sea and pulled a mocking face, smiling. “Now take hold of these,” Niccolas said as he pulled out two round but flat white stones from his winter habit. Alisha and Paul took one each and looked at them quizzically. “No they are not to throw at each other,” Niccolas joked, which made them all laugh. “They are ‘Oathing Stones’. These are intimately tied to both spirit and places, places such as this today. Only the most important of vows are given at very specific times and sacred places. Today is such a time and this is likewise such a place. In times past, many old tribal names and eventually family names were made from descriptive details relating to a particular place, lake, river, valley or mountain and sacred spirits were often associated with these places, more importantly they were regarded as ancestral spirits of their forebea
rs and deceased family members. Having an established connection and blessing from these ancestors and the land itself, Mother Earth, was and still is a critical ingredient to any important venture…especially a new marriage. That is why we use the stone,” Niccolas explained.

  Alisha looked to her side as she caught sight of the little girl standing nearby. Alisha smiled at her as she smiled back, her eyes not as sunken now as before. The old woman from the harbour stood behind her and smiled. Paul looked at her. As Firgany and Niccolas looked at them, the old woman quickly ushered the little girl forwards. The Templar Marshal immediately stood in their way as Niccolas frowned at the intrusion but Alisha quickly knelt down and beckoned the little girl be allowed through. She approached shyly and handed Alisha a small piece of wrapped cloth. Quickly the little girl wrapped her arms around Alisha’s neck tightly and squeezed, kissed Alisha on the cheek and hurriedly ran back and stood at the side of the old woman. She bowed her head as the little girl clung to her and slowly backed away behind the line of knights. ‘Thank you’ Alisha mouthed in silence.

  “Check it…it could be poison,” Taqi whispered.

  Alisha looked at him surprised and then at the small piece of cloth. Paul took it from her and very carefully unwrapped it to reveal a dried and pressed flower. He looked at Alisha and then Niccolas, who leaned closer to see it.

  “’Tis but a dried lily flower,” Niccolas stated and looked at the old woman and little girl as they acknowledged him and then turned slowly to walk away. Niccolas looked at Firgany and both raised an eyebrow as they understood the important significance of the lily. But that was a matter they would leave for another day. “Now then, to continue.” He coughed then carried on. “These Oathing Stones we use to transfer the wedding oaths you are about to swear to the energy and life forces present in this sacred area. They will become the mediator and bridge between you two as a couple, your ancestors and the land. You will become tied together far stronger than by any other means or bands and rings of material earthly gold. By swearing upon these stones and casting them into the waters, you establish an intimacy with the environment that will ensure your future survival and well being for it roots you both, like the roots of two mighty oaks, your futures, into the wisdom of the past as you start your new lives together.”