p. 67 on marriage and polygamy: When asking whether his mother is happy that her rival wife is gone: "A sensible wife seeks to be the first of her husband's women, because it is a delusion to wish to be the only one.... Whatever anyone says about it, being the only wife is no more pleasant than being an only child. You work more, you become bored, and you have to put up with the temper and demands of the husband by yourself. It is true that there is jealousy and intrigue and argument, but at least this takes place at home, because when the husband begins to take his pleasures outside, he is lost to all his wives."
p. 74 on equity: When talking about a character who doesn't want to flee Granada because he is "too old, too ill and too poor to limp along the roads and across the seas." Another character recites "a comforting verse from the Sura of Women" that says "except for those who are incapable, men, women and children, who have no means at their disposal and for whom no way is open, to them God can grant absolution, He is the Lord of absolution, the Lord of forgiveness." A few lines later, someone else adds, "God is good and his patience is limitless. He does not ask the same things from those who can and those who cannot."
p. 116 on forgiveness: The Muslims left behind in Granada were conflicted; they had been forcibly converted and were being pressured to be baptized. They sent letters to Fez beseeching the ulama for counsel. I love this response:
p. 261, on being a refugee or world citizen: His Circassian wife asks, "What substance are you made of that you accept the loss of one town after another, one homeland after another, one woman after another, without ever fighting, without ever regretting, without ever looking back?" He answers, "Between the Andalus which I left and the Paradise which is promised to me life is only a crossing. I go nowhere, I desire nothing, I cling to nothing, I have faith in my passion for living, in my instinct to search for happiness, as well as in Providence. Isn't it that which united us? Without hesitating, I left a town, a house, a way of life, to follow your path, to indulge in your relentless obsession."
p. 295, parallels between Muhammad and Luther: "Does not Luther commend the removal of all statues from places of worship, considering that they are objects of idolatry? 'The angels do not enter into a house where there is a dog or a figurative representation,' the Messenger of God has said in a well-attested hadith. Does Luther not say that Christianity is none other than the community of believers, and ought not to be reduced to a Church hierarchy? Does he not affirm that the Holy Scripture is the sole foundation of the Faith? Does he not hold up the celibacy of the priesthood to ridicule? Does he not teach that no man can escape from that which his Creator has ordained for him? The Prophet has not said otherwise to the Muslims." (How did I not connect these dots before?)
p. 305, on meeting Raphael, they discuss art:
"Is it true that there are neither painters nor sculptors in your country?"
"Some people do paint or sculpt, but all figurative representation is condemned. It is considered as a challenge to the Creator [in Islam]."
"It does our art too much honour to think that it can emulate the Creation." He made an astonished and somewhat condescending frown. I felt I had to reply:
"Isn't it true that after having made the statue of Moses Michelangelo ordered it to walk or speak?"
Raphael smiled maliciously.
"So they say."
"That is what the people of my country seek to avoid. That a man should have the ambition to substitute himself for the Creator."
"And the prince who decides on life and death, does he not substitute himself for the Creator in a far more blasphemous fasion that the painter? And the master who possesses slaves, who buys and sells them?
The painter's voice rose. I tried to calm him:
"One day I should like to visit your studio."
p. 308, discussing the vices and faith: "It was probably the vises of which he was accused that made me have faith in this cardinal.... Virtue becomes unhealthy if it is not softened by some misdemeanours, and faith quickly becomes cruel if it is not subdued by certain doubts."
