ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Mukhtar a Biograghy Chapter 4 - Kumayl Smuggles Pen and Paper to Mukhtar On his release, Kumayl is warned by Ubaydallah Ziyad not to repeat the crime of cursing Yazeed or his government; Kumayl promises to lead a quiet life and to teach no more at the madressa.

Kumayl thinks of a plan to smuggle pen and paper into the prison and realises that secrecy is of utmost importance should Ubaydallah Ziyad suspect anything; he explains the plan to his wife, who is also a staunch Shia, and she helps him (other sources say he divorces his wife so as to maintain complete secrecy of his movements).

The plan involves befriending the warden and at night he takes money and good food to the warden's home; the warden is on night duty, so Kumayl explains to the warden's wife that it was his vow to give such gifts to the warden upon being released; the wife accepts it and gives them to her husband in the morning; the warden immediately realises that Kumayl is seeking a favour.

Same thing happens on the second night; on the third night the warden is in; he questions Kumayl of his motive and does not believe the vow story; finally, the warden pleads on behalf of the Panjatan that if Kumayl somehow wants to help Mukhtar, the warden was willing; Kumayl is now at ease knowing that the warden has sympathy for Mukhtar, and tells the warden of his intention to smuggle pen and paper to Mukhtar.

The warden comes up with a plan: he says that there are total of forty guards with him as the chief, but all the guards are chosen carefully, each having animosity to each other, so that there is no lax in security due to bribes, influence etc, and all guards report directly to Ubaydallah Ziyad.the warden advises Kumayl to prepare the best and delicious of food (as per the Arab custom at time), to buy fruits and almonds; in one fruit hide a pen in it; in another fruit hide some thin small paper; and in selected almonds, insert ink; these should be marked from others so the warden would know which should go to Mukhtar.

the warden tells Kumayl: come to the prison when I am on duty and tell of your vow to feed the prisoners on your release; I will get extremely angry at your gesture, and beat you up violently and harshly, so as to get the other guards take pity on you (who will then act against my apparent wish, for as always, we all oppose each other) as an old, feeble, honest Maalim with an apparent innocent vow to bring in good food.