138 THE HALF SMILEOn hearing the caliph, the eldest daughter gives a half-smile, un-
veils herself, and speaks. This is the longest monologue in Chachnama,
reflecting its significance for the text. She begins with a theory of rule
and then explains the necessity of her actions in pursuit of jus.tice:
May God keep the king safe forever, and may his rule continue for
ages. It is necessary for the wise ruler of the time to weigh what he
hears from friend or foe on the scale of intellect and compare it to
his heart's intuition. Only once he is free from doubt should he pro-
claim according to the demands of justice, such that the wrath of Fate
may spare him and his people not fault him. Your command does
hold sway, but your heart lacks all understanding. In the ways of our
honor, Muhammad bin Qasim was like a brother or son to us and
never extended a hand of desire toward us. Yet he had killed the king
of Hind and Sind, destroyed the rule of my forefathers, and made us
slaves. For this, we sought our revenge on him. To ruin him and to
seek appropriate revenge, we lied in front of the caliph. Our purpose
was successful, and we gathered our revenge as the caliph's orders
were fulfilled.^18Here the daughters reveal their lie. They assert respect, admiration,
and even filial affection for Qasim, for he had respected their purity.
Yet he had to die, for it was their ethical duty to avenge their father.
They have lied in pursuit of justice. Further, they show that although
the caliph has power, he lacks understanding because he is corrupted
by desire:If this caliph did not have desire clouding his mind, he would have
investigated the matter prior to issuing his command, and today he
would not be in this place of shame and dishonor. And if Muhammad
bin Qasim had used his intellect, he would have walked until one
day's journey from the ca,Pital and only then had himself sewn in
leather. When investi,gated, he would have been set free and not
ruined.^19He has acted in haste and has not investigated their false claim. The
daughters shame the caliph from their position as pure ethical subjects.
They also condemn Qasim for his adherence to the caliph's order which
caused his death. The caliph, faced with this indictment, now con-
fronts his own shameful haste. Lamenting that he has killed his