The Fall of the Imam by Nawal el Saadawi

Author:Nawal el Saadawi [Saadawi, Nawal el]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General, Literary
ISBN: 9781846591396
Google: jzQhBQAAQBAJ
Amazon: B007XF8FAC
Publisher: Saqi
Published: 2012-04-16T07:00:00+00:00

The Imam in Disguise

Noises continue to resound loudly all around me, and the acclamations of the people rise in a mighty shout as I stand high up on the platform delivering my combined Big Feast and Victory speech. My voice echoes in my ears with its familiar tones, but I can tell that it is not my voice; it is the voice of he with whom I share being the Imam. I can see his face up in the sky suspended from the arches of victory under the powerful lights of the projectors. He keeps pulling on the muscles of his face to overcome their rigid immobility, so that his mouth can open in a big smile, big and generous enough to express his love of God and of all His creatures on this earth. I am indeed grateful that I can lie here, away from the lights and from the curious eyes of people. Here I can move my arms freely in the air, and my heart feels deeply happy at the thought that, in so far as my people, the state, and the superpowers are concerned, I continue to be there, standing on the platform delivering my Victory Day speech with my supporters in Hizb Allah, my new wife, my Great Writer, my Leader of the Official Opposition, and those who support him in Hizb al-Shaitan gathered around me; whereas I am actually lying here on the ground at the same time, my mind at peace, no longer burdened with the worries of state, or with the problems of foreign debt, or with defeat in war, or the threat of nuclear radiation, or other problems of that kind.

This way I can continue to relax on my back, or roll over on my stomach, and if I wish I can even take off my official clothes and dress like an ordinary man, walk alone without any need for the protection of the Chief of Security or of his agents, whether devils or djinns or otherwise. I can saunter along slowly under the shade of the trees, inhale the fresh air deep into my lungs, and leave the muscles of my face relaxed, for I am not required to smile or to frown in order to inspire in others the awe that has to go with those who sit on the throne; nor do I need to communicate that feeling of decisiveness expected of the Imam, or exhibit the big smile which speaks of his great love of God, of the nation, and of the masses of ordinary citizens over whom he rules. I move my arms up and down freely in the air as I walk along, for none of those who happen to see me knows who I am. My body feels light without all my medals and decorations, and without the bulletproof vest which covered my chest and belly from the top to the bottom like one of those chastity belts that women wear.

Nobody in the whole

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