Help is on the way

One man at the peaceful gathering that night was not moved by Imam Ibrahim al-Shakr's oration on Love. Quite the opposite. But it was a very profitable evening for him nevertheless.

Awad the cabbie had come to Mrs. Hamzad's Kaneohe hillside home bringing her money after delivering her Middle Eastern cooking to grateful customers all over town, as well as the coolers in which he transported her food, when a black Mustang pulled into the neighbor's driveway, twin pipes growling. The driver wore a black taqiyah, a sort of linen stocking cap, and looked absolutely Muslim. Soon Fatima bin Laden bounded out of the neighbors' cottage and hurried to the black car.

It was jealousy as much as orders from Osama that made Awad practically throw the money and coolers at Mrs. Hamzad, saying he was running late to pick up a rider, and sprint back to his Town Car. He followed the Mustang to a Diamond Head Road oceanfront estate. Fatima and her Muslim friend were among dozens of people who were arriving, each one bringing some kind of dish in plastic-seal containers and small coolers. It was a multi-ethnic gathering; most guests wore western attire, but quite few dressed in various Muslim robes and head coverings. What was going on?

Security, he noted, was non-existent. Praising Allah for the tray of Mrs. Hamzad's baklawa on the seat beside him, he joined the party and was greeted warmly with a white ginger lei by the hostess, Mrs. Fujita.

After dinner when Imam Ibrahim began preaching, Awad was shocked. Criticizing Islamic heroes such as Osama as evil Jinn, saying that the One God had many faces and many names, and that Allah was just one of them -- this was apostasy! The young imam and Muslims such as Fatima's friend were turning their backs on the one true faith of Islam! They would live to regret it! Using his BlackBerry, Awad surreptitiously snapped photo after photo. At the end of the evening he would also photograph guests returning to their cars, being sure to get license plates. He had a friend at DMV who could provide addresses.

And when the preaching ended and the group moved outside for Sufi dancing, Awad followed, his jealousy growing. Osama said that if he assisted Fatima in her mission, he would recommend him as her husband. But it was obvious that there was something going on between her and her friend. Although, praise Allah, he did not touch her.

The dancing lasted over an hour, and ended with a prayer from Imam Ibrahim. He would be among the first to go.

Guests were leaving, saying good-bye, Fatima's friend embracing a rabbi in skull cap, when Awad paused, winked and whispered to Fatima: "Your uncle sends greetings. Help is on the way and will contact you within a week."