In A Luscious Garden

In a famous garden of Spain,
well known for its beauty and freshness vying with the garden of Eden, which
was always crowded by sight-seers, two learned men were engaged in a theological
discussion in a corner. The sun at this time had completed its round and
was preparing to set in the west; while the enchanting songs of birds returning
to nests were exhilarating the passers-by. A Christian girl, whose name is
given in history as Isabella, was also sitting with some friends in the garden
and watching with delight the beauty of Nature. Aged about sixteen or seventeen
she was the daughter of a Christian priest. In her "beauty
and grace she looked like a hourie of Paradise, and nobles and religious
leaders aspired for her hand to make their lives happy and joyful, but her
father wanted her to be the model of virgin Mary and did not want to give her
away in marriage. Since she was being given religious training, she was well
acquainted with religious matters and took keen interest in theological discussions.

In a bed of roses, in a corner, as stated above, sat some Muslims, who appeared
to be men of learning, engaged in some discussion.



First man: Saint Paul has written in one of his letters[ Epistle to the
Galatians, 3 : 10] that religious law
is a curse and Jesus Christ came to relieve us from that curse. What after
all does this mean?



Second man (laughing): You want to understand it from me, although even Christian
priests...
. . .



Isabella, who was sitting at a little distance with her girl friends was alerted
on the words "even Christian priests" and said to one of her friends:
These Muslims seem to be talking about our religion. Let us hear quietly what
they say. A friend responded: Since these Muslims have come here our religion
is in great danger.



Isabella: Stop talking. Keep quiet and let us hear what they say.



First man: Muaz! You have said that even Christian priests do not understand
it. Do you mean to say that they are following Christianity without understanding
it?



Second man: Umar Lahmi! Just put this question to some eminent priest and see
what he says. But first you' should tell me your Objection to what Saint Paul
has said.



Umar Lahmi: There is no objection in fact. I Just want to understand it and since
you have often talked to Christians and have also read their literature, so I
want to understand it from you. What I want to know is that when religious law
is a curse and Prophet Jesus came to relieve the Christians from this curse,
therefore, theft, fornication, disobedience to parents will also be permissible
although no Christian believes in their permissibility.



Muaz: How are theft and fornication and other such sins related to the religious
law being a curse? I cannot quite follow you.



Umar Lahmi: What I mean is that the Old Testament is the religious law which
enjoins that . one should not steal, should not fornicate, should not give trouble
to his neighbour, should not disobey his parents, etc. But when the entire religious
law is a curse, it will also be a curse to obey these injunctions as these injunctions
are also religious law and the very core of it. If what Saint Paul says is correct,
then Christians should also steal, fornicate and commit such other sins. But
like us they follow this religious law, then they are accursed and Christians
who object to these sins are condemned as they object to obedience of religious
law.



Muaz : Funny, you want me to clear the very objection which I have put to Christians
so often.



Umar Lahmi: Have you ever put it to Christians? What was their reply?



Muaz: They tried to explain it away and were perplexed.



Just then there was the call for the Maghrib prayer and the two learned men made
their ablution in a nearby tank and offered prayer



Isabella had listened to this conversation very attentively being keenly interested
in theological questions and felt the weight of the objection. She put her mind
to it and tried to find out an explanation that she might put it to Muaz and
Umar Lahmi. But despite all efforts she was unable to find a solution and, still
absorbed in the question, she got up along with her friends thinking that she
would ask her father about it.



Isabella left her companions at a crossroad and walked to the eastern gate of
Cordova.