The Hand of Allah

By Jose Gomez-Rivera III

The Hand of Allah is a political thriller/ mystery set in 12th Century Cordoba. It features two of the most brilliant men in history: who were contemporaries: Abu Walid ibn Rushd (Averroes) and Maimonides. Against a conspiracy that threatens to upturn their world and the character of Islam in Spain, these men face a test where the future of Spain is in the balance.

“You must accept the truth from whatever source it comes,” Moses Maimonides issued this challenge in his “Guide for the Perplexed,” a work that sought to reconcile Aristotelian methods with Jewish theology. I traveled to Cordoba a few years back to prepare and research this book. Cordoba struck me then as a fascinating city with magnificent history and, often displayed, indescribable beauty, even in the most unexpected of places. In its history, beauty, flowers, achievements and even in its darker history, the city exudes truth for anyone who will look. For example, the Great Mosque is an architectural masterpiece that has few equals in the world, but it has been conquered and reconquered in bloody brutal struggles all in the name of a God, which is essentially and paradoxically the same deity.

As I stood before the statues of Averroes and Maimonides in that city, I envisioned this historical novel as a source of truth, not literally (there is much in it that is historical) but there is, a great deal of, my imagination. However, some of the most truthful books that I’ve ever read, Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov or Pasternak’s Doctor Zhivago are examples of fiction that leads to universal truth. I wouldn’t dare offer my modest little tale to that august company, except that it does seek to portray a greater truth with entertaining fiction—to the extent that my poor abilities can convey it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 18, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664184190

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Copyright © 2021 by Jose Gomez-Rivera.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Maps by: Sarah Menchise

Rev. date: 07/15/2021

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

829943

To my family whom I love more than words

can express and to my former students.

May they all live in a world devoid of fanaticism and hatred.

I would like to thank my wonderful editor, Stella Mimidas,

and artist, Sarah Menchise, for all their work.

CONTENTS

The Players and the Setting

Characters Mentioned

Prologue

The Hand of Allah

Cordoba (1169)

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Epilogue

Historical Note

Author’s Note

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The Players and the Setting

Abu al-Abbas bin al-Rahman ibn Mada – Chief Qadi and Mufti, administrator for Cordoba under the Almohads. He was among the great polymaths and great intellectual figures in Al Andalus.

Abu Walid Muhammad ibn Rushd – Known as Averroes in Christian Europe. He was a Qadi in Cordoba. Ibn Rushd was one of the great Islamic polymaths. He is known for his interpretation of Aristotle’s philosophy and reconciling it with monotheism. Aquinas acknowledges his debt to him and is seen as a father of secularism. He is the only Muslim philosopher portrayed in Raphael’s masterpiece The School of Athens in the Vatican. He was a jurist, philosopher, physician and scientist, and as such, one of the greatest polymaths of the medieval world.

Al Halaka (The Blade) – The Kharijite assassin and leader, double jointed and an expert swordsman; he is a relentless foe of Ibn Rushd and Maimonides.

Abu Yaqub Yusuf ibn al Mu’minin I – Ruler of the Almohad Empire combining North Africa and Spain’s southern region Al Andalus.

Ali Abu Ishaq – Chief Qadi jurist of Elvira. A Qadi was a judge with investigative powers and duties. Qadis also had political prominence and roles. Ali Abu Ishaq figured prominently in the 1066 Jewish massacres that took place in Granada.

Ali Malik ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’id – Court historian and secretary to Chief Qadi Mufti Abu al-Abbas bin al-Rahman ibn Mada.

Ali Uthman ibn al Farid – Andalusi governor of Cordoba.

The Almohads, the Monotheists,- Imposed a literalist Islam in Spain, where Muslim culture had been characterized by flexibility, intellectual inquiry, wine, women and poetry.

Banu Nadir – The main Jewish tribe opposing Muhammad and Islam in Medina. Muhammad was reputed to have changed the direction of ritual prayer from Jerusalem to Meccah after the rejection of Islam by the Jewish tribes of Medina. This tribe sided with the polytheistic Quarysh at the Battle of the Trench and at Khaybar where they suffered a disastrous defeat by the Muslims.

Banu Sasan – A medieval criminal organization founded throughout the Islamic world but thought to have originated in Persia and, therefore, sometimes linked to Shia groups.

Ibrahim – Sinan’s husband and servant in the house of Ibn Rushd, devoted to Zaida and her husband Abu Walid.

Janina bat Halevi – Maimonides second wife.

Karijites – An Islamic heresy that rejected human decision making in favor of divine intervention in human affairs. They were involved in the assassination of the last three Rashidun (righteous) Khalifas – immediately elected successors to Muhammad.

Maryum (Mariam bat Solomon) – A beautiful prostitute and procuress; an ally for pay of Ibn Khalid. Lover of Governor Ali Uthman ibn al Farid. She is Jewish.

Maymun ibn Yusuf (Maimon ben Yehosef) – Father of Maimonides, well respected teacher and theologian who was criticized for apparently converting to Islam under duress; it was a sham conversion, which put his family at risk in fanatical Almohad lands.

Moses Maimonides – Younger than Abu Walid ibn Rushd, Maimonides also reconciled Aristotle with Judaism and was a major religious and intellectual force in the shaping of medieval Jewish philosopher; so much so, that he is revered as the second Moses. Like Ibn Rushd, he was a polymath being a philosopher, scientist, physician and theologian. Also, referred to as Abu Musa, and Moses ben Maimon.

Khalid Muhammad – Giant owner of the Black Stallion tavern, underworld chieftain, ruthless but with a sense of personal honor.

Rabbi Isaac Ben Yacub al Fasi – A famous medieval Rabbi associated with Moses Maimonides’ family.

Rabbi Nissim Gaon – One of many great interpreters of Judaism and the Talmud - themselves commentaries on Hebrew Scriptures. He was an example of the « Convivencia »- a period of tolerance of different faiths by Muslim rulers in Spain with ended under the 11th century Almoravids and Almohads.

Shurtah – The governor’s armed guard, served as security force and had policing duties under the Chief Qadi.

Sinan – Berber servant, devoted to Zaida al Rushd; came with her into her husband’s household.

Soraya – A Nubian slave in Maryum’s brothel. She is trusted and sent on delicate missions. Nubians, along with Christians from the north and eastern Mediterranean were all enslaved and supported Cordoba’s and all slavery throughout Al Andalus.

Yehosef ben Shemu’el ibn Naghrela – A Nagid, Jewish Prince in Islamic states; he was the second Vizier for the Berber rulers of Granada, succeeding his father to the post.

Zaida al Rushd – Ibn Rushd’s wife, the daughter of a well-known doctor in Cordoba.

Characters Mentioned

Abdul al Hamid – Unscrupulous owner of a prized horse stable. An associate of Khalid Muhammad, he is treacherous and avaricious.

Abu al Walid Ahmad ibn Zaydun – Considered the greatest neoclassical poet of Al Andalus. He filled his poetry with impassioned lyrics and sensuality. He was reputedly in love with Wallada bint al-Mustakafi.

Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Tufail al-Qaisi al-Andalusi – Vizier to the Almohad Khalifa yet another brilliant Islamic contemporary of Ibn Rushd and Maimonides. Philosopher, jurist, scientist and doctor. He was the author of one of history’s first novel, The Hayy ibn Yaqdhan, a philosophical text, which tells of how reason is present before knowledge in a Platonic sense. He sponsored Ibn Rushd as his successor and got the younger man’s candidacy approved.

Abu Hamid al-Ghazali – An earlier Islamic theologian who opposed classical philosophy, seeing it as erroneous and leading to damnation in his book the Incoherence of the Philosophers. He was, however, a brilliant logician and jurist. Ibn Rushd opposed his views in a mayor work The Incoherence of the Incoherence.

Abu Hasan Ziryab (Mirlo or Blackbird) – Singer composer, poet, teacher and culinary expert; a polymath who was appointed to the Court of the Ummayad court of Khalifa Abd al-Rahman III in Cordoba.

Abu Muhammad Ibn al Muquaffa – Persian writer and influential thinker accused of apostasy and murdered in Persia. He was influential in establishing the concept of Adab (etiquette and aesthetics) which were taken by many as a Persian critique of Arab backwardness.

Abdullah al Aswad (The Black) – A giant of a man, black bearded and ferocious; he is the Banu Sasan leader locked in a life and death struggle with Khalid Muhammad and his men at the Black Stallion Tavern.

Hasan ibn al-Haytham – Brilliant Islamic polymath quite prominent in studying optics and light. He was an astronomer, physicist and mathematician.

Hoyayy ibn Akhtab – Chief of the Banu Nadir and opponent of Muhammad. Although defeated, Hoyayy ibn Akhtab was allowed to retain his leadership status. Muhammad took his daughter, Safiyah, as one of his wives.

Wallada bint al-Mustakfi – Ummayad (dynasty ruling Islam until 750 CE, and after their defeat and destruction in Damascus; a sole survivor established rule in Cordoba) a princess poet whose work scandalized by dealing with physical and emotional love between men and women. She was the daughter of the Ummayad ruler and a Christian slave; she famously had blue eyes and blond hair.

Waraka ibn Nawful – Muhammad’s uncle by marriage. He was an Ebionite Christian who believed that Jesus (Isa) was adopted by God. He was a tutor to Muhammad and an early convert to Islam.

Partial Islamic Chronology in Spain

711 – Muslim Army under Amazigh (Berber) General Tarik ibn Ziyad conquers most of Spain except for a northern swath.

750 – the Abbasids overthrow the Umayyads in Damascus slaughter the entire family, except for one prince, Abd ar Rahman, who flees and establishes the Emirate of Cordoba in 756.

936-1031 – The Khalifate of Cordoba is established by Abd ar Rahman III. It had twenty hospitals, universities, sewers and baths; along with street lighting and a well-earned reputation for Convivencia, tolerance of different religions, although upholding legal disabilities against religious minorities. It represented the height of general intellectual achievements in Muslim Spain-only rivaled by Cordoba in the 12th century.

1032 -1085 -Taifa Kingdoms independent Muslim states emerge and are subject to the growing power of the Christian Kingdoms of Castile, Leon, Portugal and Aragon. Toledo falls to Alfonso VI and Valencia to the Cid Rodrigo Diaz the Vivar. The Taifa states practice a liberal form of Islam, suggested by the wine, women and song of their poetry. Their Muslim rulers, however, called on the stricter North African Almoravids to counter the Christians; who keep Toledo but retake Valencia after the Cid’s death.

1086-1147 – Almoravid rule in Spain prevents Christians from retaking the Peninsula by defeating Alfonso VI at Sagrajas in 1086 but are eventually displaced by the even more fundamentalist Amazigh Almohads, after losing Lisbon to the Christians.

1146-1212 – Almohads dominate Spain and are even more strict ending religious tolerance and forcing the Jews to wear distinctive clothing and suffer harsh legal liabilities; a process started by the Almoravids but consolidated by the Almohads. They ruled a North African and Iberian Empire. This is the setting of the novel and it was, indeed, a time when both Jews and Christians were forced into exile, primarily to Christian Toledo- whose rulers initiated a sustained program of translation that brought classic works and Arabic science to the West. Jews who didn’t flee to the Christian north sought refuge with more accepting Islamic rulers.

1212-1492- the Battle of las Navas de Tolosa saw the beginning of the end for Muslim Spain. It finally ended, after a long retreat into the mountain ringed Emirate of Granada on January 2, 1492 with the fall of that last Muslim Kingdom to Ferdinand and Isabella. Legend tells that the last Muslim ruler of Granada cried on leaving the city, where upon his mother said don’t cry like a woman for what you could not defend as a man. (Parenting was different then)

Prologue

The Hand of Allah

The Albazyn was rife with rumors, vitriol and hatred. Its whitewashed houses reflected the bright sun of Tevet but there was more in the air than just light and the cooling breeze running down from the surrounding mountains. The city of Granada was ablaze. A miasma had surrounded the city for weeks bringing plague and famine. Thousands of people died, and corpses overflowed from Granada’s hospitals and morgues. Pyres to burn the bodies were lit every night even while it violated Islamic religious law. The air thickened with the pungency of diseased and burnt flesh. Famine, so often an ally to plague, spread the city’s unrest and tales of conspiracy and poisonings augmented popular discontent with the rulers, particularly aimed at Granada’s Jewish Chief Minister and his community.

The crowds seeped out of Granada’s winding streets like a snake stretching itself in the sun. The mob pulsated with deep hatred set ablaze by the demagoguery of Ali Abu Ishaq, whose large bulbous face hid the deep-set purpose evident in his aquiline gaze. The chief Qadi, jurist of Elvira, gathered his supporters in the heights and began to attack the Nagid, Vizier to King Badis al Muzaffar, the Jewish Prince Yehosef ben Shemu’el ibn Naghrela. Abu Ishaq claimed that Naghrela had corrupted the King and was ready to sell him to Al Mutassim, ruler of Almeria, and had fostered plague and famine to do so.

Ali Abu Ishaq enraged the crowds with tales of Jewish perfidy and exhorted them to take action. He raised a bony finger accusatorily towards the Jewish section of the city. With the other hand, palm upturned, Abu Ishaq invoked divine assistance against the Jews, whom he accused of conspiring to save themselves while dooming their neighbors.

They only think of ways to bring perdition to Islam and the faithful. But they are cowards and the worst of vermin. They skulk in the shadows, spreading filth and treason while hiding behind those blinded to their treachery, Abu Ishaq intoned, sweat running down his impassioned face, intimating the fire of his hatred, which would not be cooled off either by the winter breeze or by any compassion.

He claimed that the Jews had been warned to leave the city and had been spared the worst ravages; no one, among the angry and fearful crowd appeared to notice, or wanted to accept, that illness and famine were bringing death to all communities and neighborhoods, regardless of faith. In a state of terror, the mob was eager to hear his charges against the hated Jews, a subject people. Granted they were dhimmi, a label that suggested their inferiority but also relegated them the status of a protected community, but they had risen far above that station under the late Nagid Vizier Shemu’el ibn Naghrela and recently under his less circumspect and, some of the Berber princes said, arrogant son—Yehosef ben Shemu’el.

It isn’t natural these Jews, how they have lorded over our Amir and now the plague spares them. Such words often echoed throughout the city, and nowhere more so than among the sun-drenched white walls and cobblestone streets of the Albazyn—the beating heart of the city. They are black magicians served by evil Jinn, I tell you. Do the wise not tell that their King Soliman, may the Peace of Allah be with him, built the Holy Temple by enslaving demons, was often the nervous response.

We cannot live with their foot on our necks, cried a bull necked man in the crowd. By the Prophet, let’s send these spawns of Shaytan to the bottomless cauldrons of their devil father. A woman, eyes spitting the hatred seeping through the streets, screeched in approbation, Kill them all, their Nagid first and then the rest! Pulling up her white linen veil, she spat on the ground. Some of the Berber women in the mob ululated in support. The barwala echoed, bouncing off the narrow streets’ throng with an ever-angrier crowd. The sound added an eerie tenseness to the crowd as they moved to listen and prepared to act.

A storm of resentment was building, more than half of the royal guard in their black cloaks and spiked helmets joined the angry crowd jostling and pushing to hear Ishaq. Abu Ishaq brought charges against the Jewish Nagid and Vizier, hoping to remove him while stripping the object of his ferocious attack of any political protection. King Badis, however, dismissed his charges against Naghrela but