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together because it was the strangest. There was standing a man at
the entrance of a gate. I could see him through the calligraphic
festoons of the grill. Flat and bright traces of prostration were
engraved in his forehead and on his knees and on the inside of his
fingers and toes, but he was a mere skeleton, all burned out by the
fire of Hell. Water of life was poured on to him by immense guards.
I knew it was the water of life because parts of his body
reconstituted themselves and grew like the seeds growing on the
bank of flowing waters.
The scholar explained:
"This man is the last to be saved from the fire. He is meeting
with Allah and begs incessantly, 'Yaa Allah! Turn my face from the
fire as its wind has dried me and its steam has burnt me. O my Lord!
Let me go to the gate of the Gardens of Bliss.' Allah, full of
compassion answers him: 'If I give you pledges and make covenants
to the effect that you would not ask for anything more than what you
requested at first, what would you say?' The man says: 'O my Lord!
I have repented.' Finally Allah declares: 'If your request is granted,
will you then ask for anything else?' Then the man gives pledges and
covenants. So he is allowed to go to the gate. On reaching it and
seeing the first garden's life, charm, and pleasures, he remains quiet a
moment, and then he pleads again: 'Yaa Allah! Let me enter.'
'May my mercy be unto you!” answers His Lord, 'how treacherous
you are! Haven’t you made covenants and given pledges that you will
not ask for anything more that what you have been given?' The man
answers hastily: 'O Lord! Do not make me the most wretched
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amongst the creatures after you have once chosen me.' So Allah
laughs and allows him to enter the Garden of the Heavens and asks
him to request as much as he likes. He does so till all his desires
have been fulfilled, and he is bestowed what he requests and ten
times besides."
The religious man stopped for a few minutes to let me digest this,
then he concluded:
"This painting is called The Head of Learning."
I watched the picture more intently, trying to decipher what was
intended by the label.
I recognized mankind and its weaknesses. I also recognized the
justice of God who has created envy and desire in men. I saw the
generosity of the Creator over His creation. God answers when
called and runs forward when men walk towards Him. I also
understood that the sight of Eden purified the rescued sinner. The
most he saw of it, the most he felt attracted to it, to its cleanliness and
majesty. His knowledge of Heaven had reformed his heart and made
him want more of it. I finally remembered the people of the wall. I
realized that the veil itself portrayed a sort of purgatory. Hearing the
descriptions of the elderly, it came to my mind that its dwellers kept
to themselves. This had shocked me a first. Effectively, they had
not wanted for the people of Hell to join them. Maybe that was why
they were still on the wall awaiting their judgment. But that was my
personal interpretation. I shared my thoughts with my host and he
smiled brightly, replying:
"Then you have come so that you may learn some of the wonders
of learning. I am amazed and pleased of your wisdom."
I asked: “Thus, why did you bring me here? What does The Head
of Learning really intends to teach us?”
“Do you believe in a Garden in the skies? Do you believe in the
existence of a life after death?”
“Yes, indeed, like most people.”
“Then what have you done in preparation for it?”
I reflected a long time, not sure of what I would say, then I declared:
“Well, I have learned to wake up at dawn and keep on doing my
work till I have finished with it, and the night comes and I take a rest.
Then, I wake up again for doing good works and righteous deeds that
might please my Lord.”
“So you have put in practice what that involves, then come and I
will teach you the wonders of learning. Put your hand upon your
heart. Now, what you would not desire for yourself, do not desire for
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