Fatima.Mernessi_The-Forgotten-Queens-of-Islam-EN

132 The Arab Queens
of his impending death and eager to make arrangements for his
successor, decided to confide his secret to 'Ali. He revealed to him
his true identity, informing him that he was the da'i, the missionarytrustee
of the Shi'ite da'wa; he told him about his madhab (school,
doctrine) and began 'to initiate him although he had not yet attained
the age of puberty'. 52
The child was worthy of his master's confidence. He guarded the
secret well and confided in no one, not even his own father. Shortly
before his death, al-Rawahi designated him as the wasi (heir of his
mission) and inheritor of his library. 53 'Ali began to study the books,
and 'with his great intelligence he became very well versed in the
doctrines of the Isma'ilis.' 54 His hierarchical superior was the Shi'ite
caliph in Cairo. He had to report his political projects to him. Very
soon 'Ali's reputation as a brilliant scholar, with wide knowledge
of Shi'ite doctrine, got around the whole country. Yemen, divided
by religious conflicts, was awaiting its imam, the saviour whom the
ancient books had promised. But 'Ali did not succumb to the vanity
of celebrity. His instructions had been to begin his work in secret.
He would know, as events unfolded, when he should come out of
the shadow and proclaim his dreams and intentions to the world.
What was he to do while awaiting his destiny? What occupation
should one pursue when one is the son of a qadi and extremely well
versed in religious doctrine, and when one is charged with a mission
that requires contact with the greatest number of people? There
was one occupation to fit all the requirements - escorting groups of
pilgrims to Mecca. This work demanded both intellectual and military
abilities, because the leader had to conduct the caravans from
Yemen safely to Mecca along very hazardous routes. 'Ali's job as
guide of annual groups of pilgrims to Mecca was made to measure.
It was a prestigious occupation, a more than adequate means of
subsistence, and above all a unique opportunity to meet people and
chat with them during the long starry nights on the journey to the
holy sites. 55 For 15 years 'Ali secretly carried out 'propaganda for
the Fatimid Isma'ili caliph al-Mustansir, who held Egypt'. 56 The
pilgrimage is the ideal place for a propagandist. It is an enormous
assemblage of leaders from many countries, and affords a unique
occasion for exchanging information, drawing up contracts, and
forming alliances with all parts of the Muslim world.
It should not be forgotten that this is the way Islam began four
centuries earlier. Muhammad, a Meccan of the Quraysh aristocracy,
in the prime of life, barely in his forties, sought a hearing for his
new message, an audience for his new religion in the crowd of