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

146 The Arab Queens
sequestered in a secret prison, and to remind her of her misfortunes,
he ordered that the severed head of her husband be planted on a
pole clearly visible from her cell.
Asma remained some time in her prison, trying in vain to contact
her son al-Mukarram and his wife 'Arwa in San'a. Her jailers kept
careful watch to ensure that they would get no news of her. It was
a year before Asma succeeded in getting a message to her son. And
when the news of her captivity spread around San'a, the notables
of the city mobilized behind al-Mukarram 'to save the honour of
their imprisoned queen'. 19 Three thousand furious horsemen rode
out of the city behind al-Mukarram and in a few hours succeeded
in routing the 20,000 Ethiopian soldiers defending the city of
Zubayd. The city was stormed and captured, and al-Mukarram,
leaving all the others behind, rushed into the dungeon of the prison
where his mother was held, not knowing that when he came out he
would never be the same. 20 A great emotional shock was going to
change the course of his life. And it all unfolded as in a dream. His
steps led him to the secret cell where his mother awaited his arrival.
When he arrived at the door of Asma's cell, he recited the formula
of greeting and asked her permission to enter. But his mother's
reaction was cold and guarded in the face of this masked visitor
who was trying to make contact with her. In his haste al-Mukarram
had not removed the mail helmet that Arabs wore on military
expeditions. 21
'Who are you?' his mother asked him.
'I am Ahmad, the son of 'AH,' replied al-Mukarram.
'There are many Ahmads the sons of 'Ali among the Arabs,'
responded the still suspicious queen. 22
At that moment, he raised the helmet and revealed his face to his
mother, who greeted his action by paying homage to the new king
that he had become: 'Welcome to our master, al-Mukarram.' 23 Al-
Mukarram was overcome by the double shock of the emotion of
finding his mother and the royal greeting she gave him even though
she had not seen him enthroned, all of which reminded him of the
tragic death of his father and his new responsibility. His body was
shaken by a long shudder, which left him permanently disabled. 24
He emerged from the prison in a state of /a/a/, partial paralysis,
and remained so for life.
Queen Asma, surrounded by horsemen, took the road back to
the capital, bringing to San'a the partially inert body of the valiant