intervene with the help of God
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hateful place. He presses on: she may choose the house she likes while he is earning the money to pay for it. Hamida accepts that they have agreed, sees no harm in this for her, and wonders if she too has been made new and lost power over herself. Feeling Abbas’s hand grip hers, she does not react. As they walk on, hand in hand, Abbas announces he must reach agreement with Umm Hamida before he leaves. Hamida withdraws her hand, announcing she must go home. Happiness ebbs from Abbas heart. They part at Ghouriya Street.
Umm Hussain asks God’s forgiveness and mercy before entering Hussainy’s building, determined to enlist the righteous, venerable old man’s help in reforming her husband. She has never consulted him before. Hussainy’s thin, worn wife admits her to the melancholy flat. Her faith is firmly rooted but she is growing steadily weaker, even though she is only in her mid-forties. Umm Hamida is ushered into Hussainy’s private room, where normally he discusses religion with learned male friends.
Hussainy sits on a rug saying his beads. He is not a scholar and knows his limitations, but is pious and God-fearing, and his compassionate heart captivates everyone. All agree he truly is a saint. They greet one another with proper modesty and sit facing one another. As they chitchat politely, Hussainy refrains from mentioning her husband. He knows why she has come, rues being involved in this recurring domestic dispute, but graciously encourages Umm Hussain to speak. Fearlessly and shamelessly, she asks his help with her “lecherous” husband, who has no modesty and will not reform. A brazen boy is coming to the café nightly, bringing new disgrace.
Hussainy prays inwardly that his own soul will stay free of the devil. Umm Hussain would leave the house if it were not for her age and the children. She believes that Hussainy’s reputation may influence Kirsha; otherwise, she will loose her anger and send “fire raging through the whole alley.” Hussainy urges her to cheer up, control herself, and not feed gossip. He will intervene with the help of God. Umm Hussain agrees, but every time he tries to comfort her, she explodes with curses against Kirsha’s conduct. His patience spent, Hussainy signals the meeting has ended.
Hussainy wishes he could avoid involvement, but cannot break his promise. He sends a servant to fetch Kirsha. This is the first time a “known profligate” will enter his home. He reminds himself of the teaching that one who reforms a profligate does better than one who sits with a believer and that God—not men—leads people where he wishes. Hussainy is contemplating the devil’s power over mankind when Kirsha arrives, bows, and takes a seat. With the ignorance of the promiscuous, Kirsha has no idea why he is here. Hussainy apologizes for taking Kirsha away from his work, but has an important matter they must discuss brother to brother.
As Hussainy begins talking in a regretful tone about the duty of brothers to catch, help, and advise those who fall, Kirsha sees he has fallen into a trap. Panic, confusion, and embarrassment come over him, but Hussainy continues sternly and candidly: Kirsha’s unworthy habits distress him. Kirsha frowns indignantly but feigns astonishment. Hussainy continues: Satan uses youth to spread havoc, but the doors can be closed against him; Kirsha, however, an older, respectable man, is opening the door and
