Crusade against the Pope

Chapter 120 Win-win means Garys wins twice

The Arabs in the Middle Ages were indeed very creative in their personal enjoyment, which was much better than the old-fashioned Franks.

The living room where Gailis is now is covered with carpet, which is very comfortable to walk on.

There was a soft cushion under his butt, allowing him to lean back or half sit and half lie down. Next to him was a low coffee table, on which was placed a drink and some candied fruits.

Such a comfortable environment is incompatible with the dilapidated appearance of the village, but who can blame the man in front of him as the village imam?

Knowledgeable and respected.

However, even such a powerful figure in the village would have his own troubles, so he tried to ask Garys for help, but of course in the end nothing came of it.

"I've heard about your child's injuries. Even if I heard the news and rushed over in time, I couldn't do a better job than Dr. Abdullah."

Garys looked at the middle-aged man in front of him. Although he didn't want to poke at the scars in his heart, he still had to talk.

A few days ago, Imam Fahd's son was seriously injured. He sought medical treatment and medicine everywhere. In addition to Doctor Abdullah, he tried to find Gairis, but in the end, because of the long distance, by the time the news reached Gairis, his son had already died.

Many people still have little understanding of the lack of medical care and medicine in ancient times.

To be clear, in the nearly 1,500 square kilometers of territory of Gueris, the only two people who are truly qualified to be called doctors are Abdullah and Gueris.

The next level is the military medics that Garys is training, and the two apprentices beside Abdullah.

The next level is the witch doctors and herbalists.

Witch doctors and herbalists are not actually considered doctors, although they often collect herbs and brew potions like Gairis and Abdullah.

But most of the time, those potions were not used to cure diseases, but to drive away demons or evil elves.

Some of these drugs may help, but most are just placebos.

But what can be done? There are so few doctors. Asking Abdullah to see a doctor would cost at least a few silver dirhams. After all, Abdullah is not a barefoot doctor. He can manage the town of Alhadi and charge a lower consultation fee, which is considered a favor to the neighbors.

Ordinary people simply can’t afford it, so don’t they have to go find a witch doctor or herbalist?

Moreover, most of the fatal diseases these days are not difficult or complicated ones, but just the simplest colds and fevers.

Gellis would feed patients a decoction made from licorice, chrysanthemum, willow bark, and honeysuckle. He himself couldn't really tell how effective the decoction was, but at least drinking the boiling hot medicine would make people sweat.

If you sweat more, your body temperature will drop and you will be able to survive.

The witch doctor's medicine is actually boiling water. You never know, it might work and make the person better.

But generally speaking, the probability of Garys and Abdullah curing the disease is significantly higher.

Therefore, in the surrounding area within a radius of dozens of miles, even Gailis gradually became known as a miracle doctor.

Garys continued, "Of course, I'm not here today just to expose your scars. I've already ordered people to investigate your son's death. I just don't know if you have anything else to add."

Being injured is not being sick. A person obviously would not be injured for no reason. According to the news from Khalid, the child of the middle-aged man in front of him was obviously beaten with a stick.

Oh, the son of an Imam was beaten with a stick and died.

It would be strange to say that there is no hidden secret.

The middle-aged man in front of me opened his mouth, obviously wanting to say something, but after a long while, all that came out was a sigh.

Garys, leaning on the cushion, shook his head slightly, and then spoke again: "I don't know if you have heard the news from Khalid. Nowadays, the Zakat in the territory is being abused by many people. It is obviously contrary to the original intention of Zakat. I plan to carry out a rectification."

"You are certainly qualified to carry out the rectification," the middle-aged man Fahd complimented.

"You are the Imam of this village. I need to talk to you about the Zakat. For now, I have a plan for Zakat. Please listen to it first and tell me your opinion later."

The communication between Ghairis and Fahd can be described as frank. After all, there is a clear gap between their status and position, and Fahd actually needs Ghairis, so the communication between the two sides is naturally very efficient.

Gairis presented his plan in front of Fahad.

First of all, Gairis did not regard Zakat as a tax. His proposal was to transform Zakat into a model similar to the charitable foundation of later generations.

However, unlike later foundations, Zakat is a religious obligation that must be fulfilled by Muslims, and all Muslims who reach the prescribed wealth threshold are obliged to pay it.

Since zakat is paid in kind, the foundation will sell these in kind and convert them into currency.

This is equivalent to the foundation collecting zakat and then reselling it on the market and then keeping or investing it in the form of currency.

After all, grain is wasted, and the number of livestock is also uncertain. If someone embezzles from it in the future, once it is investigated, I am afraid that the warehouse will be burned down.

Then, Gairis briefly explained to Fahd the purpose of the zakat. First, the imams of each village, as religious scholars, could receive sponsorship from the foundation every year without violating national laws.

Secondly, the main use of zakat will currently be placed on education and medical care.

Gellis directly stated that he would make a donation to the Zakat Foundation and then open a school and a hospital in the town of Al-Hadi in the name of the foundation.

The zakat paid by the Muslim community will be used for the daily maintenance of schools and hospitals.

At the same time, there are eight categories of people in the Muslim community who meet the conditions for the application of Zakat, namely the destitute, the poor, the Zakat managers, those whose hearts are united, those who are unable to redeem themselves, those who cannot repay their debts, those who struggle for the Lord, and those who are poor on the journey.

They can get tuition reduction when they are in school, and they can be given priority in paying medical expenses when they receive medical treatment in the hospital.

There are some things that Garys didn't say, but they are actually quite simple. The reason why the foundation gives zakat to the Imam is essentially to bribe the Imam, while at the same time requiring the Imam to follow the laws of the kingdom.

On the other hand, after the schools and hospitals were built, it was obviously impossible to use them only to serve Muslims. The Franks could also enjoy the same treatment after paying the fees.

This is called a win-win situation, meaning that Garys wins twice! He gains both prestige and benefits.

When Gairis finished telling him his plan, Fahad was thoughtful.

This concept of foundation was not difficult to understand for Muslims in the 12th century, but Gairis's statement was slightly more complicated.

As early as the 9th century AD, there were records of "Waqf" in the Islamic world. Simply put, Waqf is the acceptance of donated movable or immovable property to fund charitable causes for designated groups.

According to Imam Abu Hanifa, it is to take something in the name of Allah or to donate it for charity.

"Yes, sir, what you said is indeed impeccable and perfect."

Fahd just kept flattering me.

"However, we are currently facing a small problem. However, we cannot proceed with this matter in the current situation because the right to collect zakat in several nearby villages is no longer in the hands of religious imams like me, but is being forcibly collected by tax farmers."

Gailis nodded: "Since you don't object to this plan, then the others are just minor matters."

To be honest, it would be more accurate to say that Garys came here to give direct notice rather than to seek advice.

Anyway, Sunni Islam has long had the habit of obeying the powerful.

Whether it was ruled by the Shiite Fatimid dynasty or by the Crusader Frankish lords, it was actually quite stable in the 12th century.

In the 12th century, Sunni Islam was actually far more secular than Catholicism.

What's more, the right to collect zakat has now been forcibly taken away by the tax farmers. Fahd will naturally not make things difficult for Gairis just because of a power he does not have.

"Now, are you willing to testify that the tax farmer killed your son?"

Gairis was indeed outspoken, and after hearing this, Fahad could only smile bitterly.

Then Fahad shook his head, expressing his wishes.

Well, in ancient Arab culture, shaking your head usually indicated affirmation or acceptance, while nodding could indicate denial or rejection.

“Please help me invite the Imams from the surrounding villages. Ask them to come over in a couple of days to witness a good show, but don’t reveal my identity.”

"Yes, my lord."

……

November in Palestine is the most comfortable time of the year.

The high temperature of summer has completely dissipated, and the autumn sowing has been completed. The following farm work will be relatively easy. We need to weed and loosen the soil every day, waiting for the arrival of winter rain.

In these slightly leisurely days, farmers' lives are actually quite monotonous.

One day, in the afternoon, it was a clear and crisp autumn day.

In front of the mosque's gate, a man stepped on a stone and shouted loudly.

"There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah!"

"Everyone! You should have heard this saying: [Do not pray to me for the unrighteous, they will surely drown!]"

“And you should have heard this: [When those of you who are with you are aboard the ship, say: Praise be to Allah, who has saved us from the transgressors.]”

"Now, I have brought you a revelation that is earlier than that of the Prophet Muhammad! It concerns whether you and your descendants can board the ark leading to the new era!"

(End of this chapter)