—does my religion, then, permit me to withhold knowledge from him? The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

‘Whoever is asked about knowledge he possesses and conceals it, Allah will bridle him with a bridle of fire on the Day of Resurrection.’

Allah Most High also said:

‘Indeed, those who conceal what We sent down of clear proofs and guidance after We made it clear for the people in the Scripture—those are cursed by Allah and cursed by those who curse.’

Am I, at your command, to refrain from answering someone seeking guidance, only to become one of them? Would the sultan, or any other Muslim, command me to do this? Yet your only aim was to thwart the supposed bid for kingship, because of the lies that had reached you.”

He said: “My master, leave aside the question of kingship. No one is talking about kingship.”

I replied: “Well! Now no one is talking about kingship! Was this turmoil stirred up for any other reason? While we were in Syria, we heard that what had prompted it was the accusation of seeking kingship, but we did not think anyone would believe this.”

I also explained to him that I was not the one who would be harmed by this affair. What, after all, have I to fear? If I were killed, I would be among the finest martyrs, and that would bring me blessedness: Allah’s pleasure would be invoked upon me until the Day of Resurrection, while whoever worked to bring this about would be cursed until the Day of Resurrection. For the entire community of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, knows that I would be killed for the truth with which Allah sent His Messenger.

If I were imprisoned, then, by Allah, my imprisonment would be one of Allah’s greatest blessings upon me. I have nothing over which to fear what people might do: no school, no land grant, no wealth, no position of authority—nothing whatsoever.