Fatal Convictions

35

Hassan Ibn Talib watched the news coverage of Khalid Mobassar’s bond hearing with more than passing curiosity. He noticed how haggard the imam looked when he stepped out into the bright sunshine after posting the $1.5 million bond on Friday morning. Reporters shouted questions, but Khalid ignored them all as he climbed into the backseat of a waiting Town Car. After the vehicle pulled away, a field reporter talked about the issue on everyone’s mind. Where did a man like Khalid come up with the security to post a bond worth $1.5 million?

Hassan smiled at the television and the idiocy of the American press. Now that Khalid was out of jail, Hassan knew that the next assignment would not be far behind.***

It was, Khalid Mobassar thought, Allah’s will that I was released in time for the Friday noon salat.

Prayer was a cardinal tenet of the Islamic faith, the foremost duty after the Shahadah. Like all devout Muslims, Khalid prayed publicly five times each day, allowing the salats to dictate the rhythm of his life. Man existed to worship Allah- “I have created the jinn and humankind only that they might worship me.” The salats were an outward expression of worship, a spiritual lifeline by which worshipers submitted themselves to the will of Allah.

Khalid had, of course, been faithful to each salat during his time in jail. For a devout Muslim, when it is time to pray, all the world becomes a mosque.

On Friday, Khalid arrived at the Norfolk mosque in time to hear the adhan blare over the loudspeakers: “Allah is most great. I bear witness that there is no God but the One God. I bear witness that Mohammed is the messenger of God. Hasten to pray! Hasten to success! God is most great! There is no God but the One True God.”

In response to the call, the faithful streamed into the Islamic Learning Center and went about their purification rites. Each worshiper removed his or her shoes prior to the ritualistic washing. The carpet, trampled on by so many wet feet, smelled musty-the stench of sin being washed away.

Khalid delighted in the sight and the smells. The mosque had never been so full!

He led the salat, as always, with the worshipers stationed behind him in straight rows, shoulder to shoulder, all facing the quiblah. As the congregation proceeded through each part of the ritual, Khalid was overwhelmed with the majesty and greatness of Allah. He could see Allah’s timing in his release, Allah working out every detail of Khalid’s humble life.

Allah is most great.

He prostrated himself before Allah and thought about the opportunity he would have in a few moments to speak not just to his mosque but to a worldwide audience. Khalid’s voice of reform, so stifled and insignificant only a month ago, would now be broadcast to the entire planet.

Khalid begged Allah for favor and ended the salat with the invocation of peace called the salaam. Following Khalid’s lead, the worshipers turned first to the right and then to the left, uttering the greeting, “May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.”

As they finished and sat down, Khalid turned to face the worshipers. Next came the khutbah, a ten-minute message of solemn importance. Khalid placed his left hand on the front of his right hip and his dominant right hand on the top of his left as he began.

“When the great Prophet Mohammed, may peace be upon him, returned from battle, he said, ‘We are finished with the lesser jihad; now we are starting the greater jihad.’ For too many years, too many Muslims have been fighting the lesser jihad and ignoring the greater jihad, the internal battle for purity, a battle with our own evil nature.” Khalid’s voice echoed with authority in the stillness of the mosque. The worshipers were unusually still and solemn today, anxious to hear a word from someone who had suffered for the sake of Allah, a prophet in their own midst whom they had too long taken for granted.

“This greater jihad will not be won by honor killings and suicide bombers. It will only be won when we peacefully submit to Allah’s will. It is time to lay down the swords of the lesser jihad and pick up the plowshares of the greater jihad.”

Khalid paused and searched the eyes of the faithful. In some, he saw resistance. They wanted a leader full of threats and bravado. But in others, he saw hope. He realized that his words this day would unleash powerful forces for and against him. He had studied the great reformers, and this was always their lot. Violence. Passion. Hatred. Admiration. Love.

But ultimately-perhaps in his case-there would be one other by-product-the salvation of the world’s greatest religion.