Chapter 8

Mohammed wanted to stay home, but he had no choice but to go to work. Zubaida learned that he had spent the night repairing computers with Sakr al-Djinni. Not only that, but the robot had shown an amazing aptitude for the task. In fact, Mohammad was so excited about the robot’s abilities that he seemed to have completely forgotten about punishing Hasan and Zubaida.

Mohammed, halfway out the door

And don't leave the house!

When Zubaida went to check on the robot, he was already hard at work in Mohammed’s office. He was sitting, with some difficulty, in Mohammed’s office chair and twisting wires around each other. He did this by grasping the wire with one of his pincers and then whirling his pincer around and around.

Zubaida

Praise God. I knew God would find something for you to do.

Robot

Praise God.

Zubaida smiled. The robot was learning. She plopped down on Mohammed’s bed and opened his Quran.

Zubaida

Want to listen some more?

And so she spent the morning reading Quran verses to the robot as he twisted wires and connected plugs and clicked motherboards into place. Hasan peaked his head into the room like a cat, and then brought his toy trucks and tanks in.

The robot moved quickly and soon finished repairing the old computers. After that, he plugged himself into the computers and his lights on his chest all blinked orange. He explained to Zubaida that he was seeing if the computers worked right.

Zubaida

Can you still listen when I read?

Robot

Affirmative.

So Zubaida read him some more. By the afternoon, they were almost halfway done with the entire Quran. She was getting sleepy so she decided to stop.

Zubaida

What do you think of Islam, Sakr al-Djinni?

The robot took some time answering.

Robot

Once the initial presupposition is accepted, it is logically sound.

Now Zubaida took her time responding.

Zubaida

What ... does that mean?

Robot

I had difficulty accepting Islam at first. It did not make sense to my logic program. But now I see that once one has faith that it is true, it makes complete sense. Most problems are accounted for in the Quran. And if there are problems that are not accounted for, one only needs to have faith that God has the answers and that one's logic program is insufficient to answer them. So once I programmed myself to have faith, I have had no problems. I am ... very happy that I have become a Muslim.

Zubaida

That's wonderful! I'm so happy too. When Mohammed comes home, we will have to celebrate.

Hasan

Does this mean I can show him to my friends now?

Zubaida

Don't be stupid, brother. Sakr al-Djinni is not some toy you show to your friends.

Hasan

Do you think he'll get to make the hajj with us?

Zubaida

That's a good question. I don't know. People might not understand, they might not let him into the Kabbah. And who knows if djinni are expected to make the hajj. We should tell Mohammed to ask the ulema about that.

Robot

What is the hajj?

Hasan

Everyone knows what the hajj is.

Zubaida smacked her brother.

Zubaida

How would he know? He only just became a Muslim. Sakr al-Djinni, the hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca that all Muslims are commanded to take. Well, all human Muslims at least.

Robot

I could dress up in old cloth again. That way people would think I was an ordinary Muslim.

Zubaida

No! You shouldn't have to hide! If God truly wants you to make the hajj, you shouldn't have to be ashamed of what you are.

Zubaida's headscarf had become loose so she retied it roughly. She was worked up now. The more she thought about the robot's situation, the more angry she became. Why should he have to hide from Sayed? Why should he have to travel in disguise? If the robot had a soul, then every Muslim should treat him with the respect he deserved.

Zubaida

Sakr al-Djinni, do you remember yesterday when we first met at the factory? You told us that you were hiding because you were ashamed, because you were incomplete.

Robot

Yes

Zubaida

You don't still feel that way, right?

The robot's lights blinked. He was sometimes a slow thinker, Zubaida thought.

Robot

No.

Zubaida

But what did you mean when you said you were incomplete? Were you talking about your arm?

Robot

No.

Zubaida

What did you mean, then?

Again, the robot had to pause and blink his lights.

Robot

Nobody had programmed a purpose for me.

Zubaida smiled. She was more glad than ever that she risked punishment to bring Sakr al-Djinni to her house. She had helped him find his purpose in life, the best purpose of all—to serve God. What could be more important than that?


Chapter 9