Shadows of Granada: A Historical Novel

By Manal Elkady

This is a historical novel, speaking about a critical period in the sixteenth century, connecting Granada to Egypt.

Dorra, a carpet weaver, her grandson Maa-alzahab, and her sister Sahar are the main characters that represent Granada. Ibrahem, the son of the head of merchants of Cairo, is the main character that represents Egypt. Through the sequence of events, Ibrahem travels to Granada and meets Dorra, her grandson, and her sister, and there they exchange their tales, joys, fears, hopes. As you turn the pages, you will be oriented of the struggle between exclusion, seclusion due to ideological differences from one side and open minds from the other side, represented by the great Arabian philosophers, Sufis who were stated in the novel as Averroes, Ibn-Arabi and Ibn-Tofail.

It is a story about human beings who loved life, were eager for every drop of it, yet were oppressed.

That period was critical. The author sets a question: "Who would have the upper hand life or oppression?" The answer isnt easy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Africa
• Release date: Jun 10, 2016
• ISBN: 9781482863345

Manal Elkady

Manal Elkady is an Egyptian novelist , physician specialized in psychiatry . She is a member of the supreme council of culture in Egypt since 2012 , she was chosen in 2016 to be an expert there ,due to her cultural contributions . She is the author of 15 books and a series of 16 booklets . Among of her novels Tales Of The Secret City , and Shadows Of Granada, which were published in Arabic and English . Her novel Tales Of The Secret City ,was considered in Egypt to be a new turn in literature written by female Egyptian authors .

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Copyright © 2016 by Manal Elkady.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Glossary

CHAPTER 1

S he was delighted, as if she was still young, not exhausted by experiences, tears, desires.

Nothing simulated that moment. To hold his little hands, was like connecting her to the world by a new root, gave the her power, and bravery, so she forgot her fears and whispered in Arabic, ignoring that it turned to be a forbidden language. She enjoyed the vocalization of every Alphabet, her eyes gleamed, her face brightened while pronouncing every word. Her soul drove sentences from the depth, with a hope that they would find their way to the depth.

She took from her private box, what she hided for a long time, to enwrap the infant. Being a grandma to this little angel, aroused hope within her, so she started speaking to him the same way she spoke to herself

"Do you know by what I am wrapping you, what is its story? long ago there was a big carpet named

* Bohar Kisra won by the Arabian at the time of victory and glory. Their exhausted hands, moved across it, the rough hands which knew nothing about pleasures or how to taste joy, they asked what is that?

Nobody answered. It was a heaven of threads, pearl foliates, precious stones rivers, ruby fruits. A world never seen before by the Bedouins who inhabited the Arabian island. They were brave, conquerors, and were unable to estimate the carpet or divide it, Omar Ibn-Alkataab did, and gave everyman a share. This piece was given to our grand grandpa, an Arabian who adored its soft threads and marvelous scenes, he devoted the rest of his life to learn how to fabricate such beauty, moved from one land to another to fulfill his desire. He became an apprentice under every clever craftsman, learned the secrets of carpets weaving, that became a handicraft for him and his offspring.

One day one of his grand grandsons decided to migrate to here, where the beautiful Al-Andalus was.

He took Bohar Kisra in secrecy, hided it in his stuffs and said

It is mine, no one else deserve to enjoy it

She gave the infant a prophecy, then turned towards the mountains of Granada, with two small eyes which simulated two amber drops, moved a head crowned by snowy tresses and hummed

Beware of women

Her words were flickering and swinging, as* Maa-alzahab was falling asleep.

*     *     *

Her twin sister was behind a curtain, spying on her, with dark eyes.

She wasn’t her alike, she was more disquieted, alarmed, clever in vanishing, Snooping pleased her, had a mysterious power to amaze anyone who approached her.

Dorra applauded and sang.

My sister is back to her hallucinations

Sahar left her cache, and rushed towards her.

SH…SH, they will kill us

Dorra applauded more and more.

Sing with me

Sahar silenced. They were different, suspicious looks were after them, all over their lives, as if to say no way, you are not twins, they came around Dorra, and avoided her, as if she was absent or a dark shadow of her.

Sahar peeped at her sister, she was as old as her, time left its print on her features, but she didn’t lose magic in her caducity, she kept her efficacy, her words lightened the hearts, she wove lovely carpet.

What about me Sahar reflected, emptiness was inhabiting her soul.

Sometimes her dreams were stunning, awaked her imaginations, but these were detained, nobody knew about them.

Sing with me

No way, her sister desired life, like a flowing out river, in spite of the impossible circumstances. What a craziness? she sang as if she was a bulbul or a curlew, but her voice spread only croak, she never stopped forecasting or giving promises about the future, as if she was living in a place other than the gloomy grieved Granada.

Their looks met. Dorra reproached silently

"What do you want from me, I was born like this, I am destined to songs and love, a paradise germinates in my soul, it is not my fault if Allah gave me talent and fame, is it a guilt that my lovely carpets bewitched everybody even the enemies, leave me alone and search for a song.

Sahar would bow in deference, she remembered a Castilian who eagerly asked her sister to weave a carpet for him. Pain penetrated her chest, toxic ideas played with her mind who are you? who are you here?

But Dorra wove Arabic Alphabets, which looked like lilies, flowers, butterflies, plates of fruits, snakes, all over the carpet

Here, is a song for Granada, there, are verses from the Quran she explained to her revealing her fear and anger from them.

Sahar couldn’t deny that she loved her sister, that far day, she was different, mighty, sincere, nearby.

But these were rare moments.

*     *     *

Many routes led to El kaisaria, which was considered by many people, a marvelous silk market, but for the twin sisters it was a place for fun and mystery. There they could meet faces of different colors, coming from various countries, white, black, brunet, yellow, people from everywhere, giants, dwarfs, who spoke multi languages and dialects, whose whistles revealed their astonishment and weakness in front of the delicacy and softness of the exhibited goods, as if they have seen there the true silk, as if what they got along with before was false. Dorra knew the ten doors of El kaisaria, she entered through them all in her youth, whispered to every gate and gave it a secret name. She preferred at that moment to enter through the nearest one, which she called Mymoon, she traversed it while whispering, in company with her sister, the carpets, the mules.

A flood of colors voices, scents, surrounded them.

People are still living and laughing Dorra said

The stores are decreasing in number, I shall be sad, if Hasaan closes his, and we are forced to sell the carpets to another Sahar replied in grief.

Then she inquired about his other name.

Kholio perhaps ……..Ah …. I don’t remember

Her sister answered.

Some merchants recognized the twin sisters, waved to them, and exhibited their marvelous goods.

We didn’t sell the carpets yet, but I like this and that

Sahar would say.

The sun overspread the people, the shops and roads.

Dorra laughed when she saw the scene, of two children negotiating about something, they then forgot their argument, continued their play, one of them jumped on the sidewalks which were decorated by infinitive colored illustrations, the other tried to catch up with him. Both simulated Jasmine in color and delicacy.

She spent her life searching for laughs, to overcome the memory of a terrifying scene, which shook her in her childhood, she denied its occurrence till the moment. Was her father crying that far day? his body was fluttering, his face disappeared between two big hands, his voice was hollow. Was he crying? how? he was strong as Sierra mountains, as the rivers of Hadra and Genil, and Cypress trees. She didn’t understood what was happening, but she felt bitterness, hoped to escape to the sky, as a yellow bird which hovered in their garden

Look father

She pointed to the sky. He raised his head, followed her finger with wizened eyes

Allah

Then bow, sunk in grief once again.

They decided to depart. They would go to Egypt.

The Castilians stopped him. They were bewitched by his carpets, whose fine, soft threads reflected centuries of experiences. They asked him to stay in order to weave for them a number of carpets. At first he decided to refuse, a conversation was set between him and an inner voice

They will kill you

No matter

He answered the voice

What about your two daughters

He silenced.

If all the faithful die, how shall we regain Granada?

He silenced and retreated.

But he didn’t give them mute carpets, he planted his identity in each one, he explained to her, how he weaved alphabets everywhere, how he eternalized their story in secret messages, how he devoted his marvelous skill for resistance.

Sahar tried to go along with them but in vain, she was destined only for observing.

Their departure was postponed day after day, and turned to be a far wish.

It was a hard time, her father tried to keep his solidarity, in spite of his deep pain. He outpoured tears when he was alone, but held hope and spoke in content in front of their neighbors and acquaintances

We Shall remain free, didn’t they signed conventions

His heart whispered to him by the worst, but he didn’t reveal that.

The worst had happened, and we lost Granada, but they promised the last Muslim king, that we shall be safe, free to keep our belief, and our treasury

He said so, his words were opposite to his feelings, his heart was full of fears which rapidly came true.

The promises dropped, taxes were imposed upon Muslims only, then heavy blows followed, a Cardinal arrived to the city and decided

There will be no Muslims in Granada

Announcing that Catholicism would be the only accepted belief, otherwise was mere tosh, either to be a Catholic or depart.

They revolted, blood was