She flipped to the chapter on Ijarah (leasing of services). Another margin note: "Hired a servant for my shop. He stole three coins. I beat him. The Hanafi ruling says retaliation. But Marghinani (author) whispers: 'Punishment without restoration of dignity is tyranny.' What is dignity worth in dirhams?"

As she paid the old bookseller, he wrapped it in brown paper and whispered, "Be careful with that one, child. Old books have old spirits. Not jinn , mind you. Worse. They have truth ."

Amina laughed, tucking the parcel under her raincoat.