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tree is not very common. As in the fresco, a dry bush, the Darii, may
grow nearby. Its fruits are scarlet, all prickly and with apparently a
bitter taste as well. Now look at the bridge. It is an essential
component of the representation because it is the instrument of a rite
of passage. It symbolizes the passage from the human condition to
the condition of a people of the Hereafter. See for yourself. One or
two people are depicted crossing the bridge like lightning, and
apparently according to their ranks or rather their degree of faith.
This is visible by the way they held themselves and the aura of
holiness around them.
I looked at the painting and I saw that one was even crossing it as
swiftly as a bird. He might have been of the people of gentle heart,
the people with hearts of birds that the Qur'an talks about, and a pure
heart is sign of faith. Other paintings showed the shadows of men
and women blurred and filled with silhouettes of animals. I looked at
the people who had fallen into the pit and I felt my spine shrivel. The
latter were the sinners, those who refused to believe and do good
deeds in their lives. The old man volunteered:
"In Arabia, we say that "if only the animals knew all we know
about these abodes, nobody would eat fat because the domestic
animals would grow lean since they can perceive things better than
us" [A Hadith].
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I liked these paintings because, in them, the shapes of the men slightly
resembled those of the animals.
"See, some of the people are crossing the bridge as fast as fine
horses, others like fine camels, but some cross it like a man running
on a thread. See, the one walking on his toes and afraid he would
fall, that's an ascetic. Islam does not like ascetics because they are
too extreme in their belief, but still this one was a good Muslim, so he
will be allowed to cross to the other side. Actually the artist wanted
to represent a famous scholastic, but I forgot who he was. This
ascetic used to eat naught but greens and salt without any bread. So
he had limited himself to this. He used to eat only enough to be able
to perform the required daily acts of obedience. Really an
astonishing figure, but I do not know if the artist was right in his
interpretation…"
We moved farther to the last fresco.
"Here," added my companion, "the angels have fetched a small
child. They passed him to the care of great women whose faces are
as white as the sun; these are the women of Paradise. They brought
with them a bouquet of flowers and aromatics from the Gardens.
Now, they wrap the child in a new tunic so that the odor from it is
more redolent than the finest perfume. Most unexpectedly, the child
asks: 'Why did you bring me so quickly here since I did not have time
to live with my family.' So, the gentle women frown and retorts to
him: 'Be thankful twice because if you had been left in the peasant
earth, you would have committed injustice that would have led you to
Hell. Besides, when the time comes, you will be authorized to wait
for your parents at the entrance of the gate with a key and you will
be given permission to lead them to their upper houses. They will be
rewarded because of the pain they have endured at losing you and
the patience they have exhibited in their lives.”
As we were studying the last painting, the elderly looked at me
keenly and asked:
"Did you like the gallery?"
"It is truly amazing. The pictures tell a lot more about your doom
day than any words I have heard."
"Do you wish to see a master piece?"
"Sure, I'd like that a lot."
“Then, come with me.”
We climbed down the flight of stairs and he guided me inside a room
that was richly decorated.
On one of the walls, I saw another color painting with dark
silhouettes. This one was even more admirable than all the others put
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