A man with many followers." Ali Shah al Khassib called for prayer to bring the mejlis to order.

He was immensely dignified.

The few words he pronounced about asking God to bless the assembled notables with wisdom, in order that they might reach a right decision, would have been perfectly in place in the Capitol at Washington, or anywhere else where men foregather to decide on peace or war.
At once a muballir* on his left opened a copy of the Koran on a cushion on his lap and began to read from it in a nasal singsong.
There were various degrees of devoutness, and even of inattention shown by those who listened.

Some knelt and prostrated themselves.

Others, including Anazeh, sat bolt upright, closing their eyes dreamily at intervals.