Chapter 9

And so it went for the next week. Each day, Mohammed went to work and Zubaida and Hasan took turns reading Quran verses and hadith reports to Sakr al-Djinni. For his part, the robot kept busy repairing Mohammed's computers. And each day after work, Mohammed would come home looking better-rested and happier than ever, thanks to his new assistant.

Sakr al-Djinni would even help Zubaida cook dinner. She tried to teach him how to chop vegetables, but his pincers couldn't grasp a knife handle. She had to settle by letting the robot stir the vegetables with his pincer as she sautéd them—although he wasn't very good at this either.

Zubaida

Maybe we can take him to market with us tomorrow.

They were all sitting at the table eating dinner. She smiled at Sakr al-Djinni, who she insisted should sit at the table with them even though he never ate anything.

Hasan

It's not fair that I can't show him to my friends. I feel like a bad Muslim lying to them about not having a robot in the house.

Mohammed sighed and stuffed more rice in his mouth.

Mohammed

Zubaida, Hasan, you're both old enough to realize how the world works. Even if Sakr al-Djinni was the most devout Muslim in the world, people would still be confused and afraid if they saw him. You are too young to remember, but in the war our brothers and sisters were maimed and killed with the same advanced technology that built Sakr al-Djinni. Some people would hate him just because the Israelis manufactured him.

Zubaida

Of course I realize that. But it is not just! If they could only see that Sakr al-Djinni is a good Muslim, why wouldn't they accept him? Besides, how is Sakr al-Djinni supposed to make the hajj if he can't even leave the house?

Mohammed

I don't know, Zubaida. These are questions for the ulema, not for me.

Zubaida

You keep on saying that! But how are we supposed to find out what to do about Sakr al-Djinni if we can't let anyone know he exists?

Mohammed

I promise that I'll try to arrange a meeting with an ulama as soon as I'm not so busy. I think I know just the person—your headmaster at the Islamic school.

Zubaida didn't want to think about school. She only had three more weeks of vacation before she had to go back. But she had to admit that Mohammed's idea was a good one—even though she had only met her headmaster twice, he was a wise man and she respected him very much.


Chapter 10