Fresh Vision

‘The Rage of Muhammad’ and Qasim’s Pomegranates

Last week I found myself reading a dialogue—an actual conversation—between a Muslim government official, Qasim, and an Eastern Orthodox bishop—Elie.[1]  You may suspect that the conversation grew out of the recent unrest due to the film caricature of Muhammad, but, no.  This conversation took place a long time ago—in the eleventh century.  As I read it, I found myself saying ‘hmm…’ or ‘how about that?’ I couldn’t shake the feeling that Qasim and Elie were saying something worth hearing today. 

Qasim had quite a history.  It seems his entire family had been executed at the hands of a mad Caliph (that’s the leader of the Muslim community—sort of a king/pope).  Qasim ran for his life, twice in fact, from two different cities, and managed to escape.  Barely.   However, by the time he encounters Elie, his situation has taken a turn for the better.  He is in the employ of the government and thanks to his high position, he seeks an audience with the local bishop.

At first, Elie seemed hesitant to pursue the conversation.  He wanted to make sure Qasim was asking all these questions for honest reasons, not just to get the goods on the Christians.  The way Qasim assured Elie of the honesty of his pursuit struck a chord with me.  Now, I have to preface this by saying that exaggerations and myths make their way into ancient literature.  Who knows if the report is factual?!  Nevertheless, what Qasim related sure demonstrated a different spirit—one that is still occasionally found among Muslims (and hopefully Christians), even today.

The story goes that during Qasim’s travels, he fell ill and found shelter at one of those ancient monasteries that dotted the landscape of the medieval Middle East.  He showed up at the monastery gate in desperate straits—deathly ill, dehydrated and unable to keep nourishment in.  He was at death’s door.  One of the brothers of the monastery encouraged Qasim to take some of the pomegranates grown by the monks.  These pomegranates were thought to have healing powers having been blessed by the consecrated soil in which they were grown and the communal prayers sung in that holy place.  Qasim ate the pomegranates and to his own amazement he made a miraculous recovery.  That’s the story Qasim shared with Elie.  That’s the story that opened the door to the dialogue. Qasim’s experience in the monastery had made him suspicious of the rumor going around that these Christians were idolaters or perhaps worse.  Now he comes to Elie to get the truth from somebody who should know.

So, after being roughed up by his own Muslim overlords, pursued like a wild animal and now lying on death’s door, a kindly old monk gave Qasim some fruit.  And he lived…and asked questions.

Qasim still lives.  You may meet him in the refugee in your town—the one that fled for his life from Muslim militias in Iraq or Syria and now finds himself in a place where he can hardly speak the language, where football is played with an oblong ball, where his college degree gets him nothing more than a cleaning job at a local fastfood.  Qasim has been beaten up, kicked around and left for dead.  He fled and now he shows up on our doorstep. 

 Psst…got any pomegranates???

 The Qasim of the 11^th century got holy fruit—the simple care of a kindly saint who looked with empathetic eyes and thought that this dying man should have the best nourishment his monastic order could provide.  The Qasim of the 21^st century…what will he get?  There’s a menu of choices.  He could get a warm welcome over a cup of tea, English lessons, tutoring for his 9 year old daughter, a house-warming party, and a baby shower for his wife who’s expecting their fourth.  Now that would be fresh vision—something akin to what Jesus commended to his disciples in John 4 (‘lift up your eyes’).  But all too many times, the Qasim of the 21^st century gets a sneer, a chilly and fearful reception or, in some cases, an insult directed at him, his family or even his prophet. 

So Qasim (back to the 11^th century now) went on to discuss Elie’s faith with him at length.  It’s all recorded for posterity.  And there I was, sitting in a library, reading it in the 21^st century.  I guess you never know what a few pomegranates can accomplish.

Beirut - 30 September 2012

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[1] Their full names are Elie Bishop of Nisbis and Abu al-Qasim al-Husayn Ibn ‘Ali al-Maghribi.  Many of the ideas are found in an article by Fr. Samir Khalil Samir titled “Entretien d’Élie de Nisibe avec le Vizir Ibn ‘Ali al-Maghribi sur l’Unité et la Trinité,” in Islamochristiana, 5, (1979): 31-117.