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?"

Beside a section on Hibah (gifts), a previous reader had written: "My father gave me a horse when I was ten. He took it back when I failed my memorization. Is a gift given in conditional love truly a gift? Or a leash?"

Amina's heart slammed against her ribs. The waiting room was empty. The rain was a curtain. She turned.