is clean and
worthy, my son, doubt not the faithfulness and steadfastness of the
woman to whom you are spiritually united. She raises not her eyes to
strange men; if by your own weakness you have lost your spiritual
connection with her, then hasten to act worthily of her. The world
will have need of all those who have the love of God in their hearts,
of all those who have the moral quality of forgiveness and sympathy.
It is an easy matter to forgive those whom we love. Go you forth into
battle and learn to forgive those whom you hate. Never have your
opportunities been greater."

As his last words were uttered, with extreme earnestness, through the
colonnade and courtyard of the ancient building came the midday call to
prayer; it was sonorous and prolonged.

Michael rose hastily from his low seat. The aged student did not
detain him. Their farewell was comparatively brief, owing to the
_mueddin's_ harmonious and sonorous chanting of the _adan_.

"I will return," Michael said. "I will not leave Egypt without saying
farewell to you, O my father, and asking for thy blessing."

"_Insha Allah_ (if God wills), my son. Very soon God will permit His
servant to enjoy the blessings of paradise."

"It will not be many days before I go to England."

"_Aiwah_, the time draws near when each man will return to the land
which gave him birth. The Lord of Battles has decreed it, the Lord of
Battles will send forth His summons. From the uttermost ends of the
earth all those who have denied Him, all those who have denied that He
is God beside Whom there is none other to be worshipped, they will
answer to the call: with pride in their hearts they will slaughter
those who should be their brethren. The voice of the slain will travel
even as the wind travels to the world's end. Woe unto those nations
who have taught false doctrines, who have stretched out their hands to
oppress the widows and the helpless, for the anger of the God of
Battles is turned against them. He knows everything, and nothing lies
hidden from His sight."

Michael made no answer. His mind was groping after the true
understanding of all that the African said.

"If Allah had so willed it, my son, great would have been my happiness,
my rejoicing, to see the final triumph of Islam, to see the nations
upon the earth loving each other, all borders and barriers broken down,
to see the love of God ruling all men and all countries. When men live
with the i