ential；”　our　wisest　and　most　Glorious　Sultan　had

said。　“A　beautiful　illustration　elegantly　pletes　the　story。　An　illustration　that

does　not　plement　a　story；　in　the　end；　will　bee　but　a　false　idol。　Since　we

cannot　possibly　believe　in　an　absent　story；　we　will　naturally　begin　believing　in

the　picture　itself。　This　would　be　no　different　than　the　worship　of　idols　in　the

Kaaba　that　went　on　before　Our　Prophet；　peace　and　blessings　be　upon　him；　had

destroyed　them。　If　not　as　part　of　a　story；　how　would　you　propose　to　depict　this

red　carnation；　for　example；　or　that　insolent　dwarf　over　there？”

“By　exposing　the　carnation’s　beauty　and　uniqueness。”

“In the arrangement of your scene； then； would you situate the flower at

the　precise　center　of　the　page？”

“I was afraid；” my Enishte said。 “I panicked momentarily when I realized

where　Our　Sultan’s　thoughts　were　taking　me。”

What　filled　my　Enishte　with　fear　was　the　notion　of　situating　at　the　center　of

the page—and thereby； the world—something other than what God had

intended。

“Thereafter；” Our Sultan had said； “you’ll want to exhibit a picture in

whose center you’ve situated a dwarf。” It was as I had assumed。 “But this

picture could never be displayed： after a while； we’d begin to worship a

picture　we’ve　hung　on　a　wall；　regardless　of　the　original　intentions。　If　I　believed；

heaven　forbid；　the　way　these　infidels　do；　that　the　Prophet　Jesus　was　also　the

Lord　God　himself；　then　I’d　also　hold　that　God　could　be　observed　in　this　world；

and　even；　that　He　could　manifest　in　human　form；　only　then　might　I　accept　the

depiction of man