In Hamadán, however, the ecclesiastical leaders of the city
were divided in their attitude towards her. A few sought privily to provoke the
people and undermine her prestige; others were moved to extol openly her
virtues and applaud her courage. “It behoves us,” these friends declared from
their pulpits, “to follow her noble example and reverently to ask her to
unravel for us the mysteries of the Qur’án and to resolve the intricacies of
the holy Book. For our highest attainments are but a drop compared to the
immensity of her knowledge.” - Nabil (‘The Dawn-Breakers’ chapter 15)
