Princess Sultana's Circle

particular character,
or on the age of the man she is to wed.”
    Ahmed was the one who
finally came to the point. “Is Munira not younger than some of
Hadi’s own children?”
    There was perfect
silence.
    Asad hurriedly suggested,
“If Munira must wed, is there not another nearer her age who would
be more to her liking?”
    Undoubtedly, Ali was not
pleased by this highly unusual interference in his private
business. Still, he must have felt himself ensnared, for he made a
surprising concession. “I will let Munira decide!”
    I held my hands over my
mouth to keep from creating a commotion. Once I could control
myself, I motioned to Tammam, and then held both hands over my head
and then toward the ground, as a signal that I was praying and
praising Allah.
    Dull-witted Tammam looked
at me with a bewildered expression. She seemed to think that I was
telling her it was time for the noon prayer, for she glanced at her
watch and shook her head back and forth, no.
    In a slow, measured whisper
I mouthed to her, “Ali is to let Munira decide!”
    Tammam smiled
meekly.
    For the first time ever I
felt a twinge of sympathy for Ali. Tammam was such a spineless
creature! Were I the mother of Munira, I would have great
difficulty in suppressing my joy at this news. Charitably, I
decided her emotions had been permanently dulled by years of
maltreatment.
    “ I will call Munira now,”
Ali said decisively. I heard the sound of his muffled footsteps as
the door opened and closed.
    While Ali was absent, the
three waiting men turned to small talk regarding our recent
Egyptian holiday. I felt a flicker of disappointment since I was
hoping that they would discuss some confidential family business
that I did not know, but not so confidential that I could not
repeat it.
    Soon I heard Ali re-enter
the room. His booming voice sounded self-assured. “Munira, your
uncles love and esteem you greatly. They have taken precious time
from their busy schedules to personally deliver congratulations for
your upcoming marriage.”
    Kareem, Asad, and Ahmed
murmured quietly, but Munira said nothing in reply.
    Knowing Munira’s dread of
men, I suspected that the poor girl was so overwhelmed by the male
attention directed toward her that she was struck dumb.
    Ali continued, “Munira,
child, the man Hadi has asked that you become an adored wife. You
are aware of his friendship with this family and of his ability to
provide for you and any children you might have. I have sought
permission from the Almighty God to give you in wedlock to Hadi.
Tell me now, Munira, if you approve.”
    I waited for Munira’s
words. And waited. And waited.
    “ Munira?”
    Silence.
    Ali spoke in an exhilarated
tone, “God is great! Munira’s silence signifies her approval!” He
laughed heartily, “Go, return to your room, child, and know that
your modesty in this matter has made your father very
happy.”
    I felt numbness creep into
my face and spread throughout my body. I realized that Ali had
cunningly used a sly trick to close the mouths of his male kin. He
had repeated nearly word for word what Prophet Mohammed had asked
his own daughter, Fatima, when he had arranged for her to marry a
cousin, Imam Ali. When Fatima made no response, all good Muslims
know that the Prophet had interpreted the girl’s refusal to answer
as a sign of great modesty.
    The door
slammed.
    Under the circumstances, my
husband and brothers-in-law could say no more. If they did, they
would be arguing against the Holy Prophet!
    Ali thanked them profusely.
“Your concern for my family has lightened my heart! I am a most
fortunate man! Please, come again soon.”
    As the men left, the door
slammed once more. I heard my brother’s self-satisfied
chuckle.
    With a tormented moan, I
slumped against the wall. What had happened? Had Ali threatened
Munira during their short walk through his palace? Or had the
terrorized Munira simply gone mute?
    With tears coursing down my
cheeks, I looked at Tammam and slowly shook my head. All was
lost!
    As a woman who had never
known the power of hope, Tammam didn’t appear surprised or upset.
She rose to her feet and came and stood by my side. I wept while
she comforted me.
    Within moments the door
burst open. We had been discovered by Ali! My brother pulled
himself up to his full height as he glared at his wife and
sister.
    I glared back at him.
Disgust swept over me. Surely, today, my brother was physically
uglier than I had ever seen him. His figure had