QUOTE:
My dear friend,

I have two requests to you. As an Imam, one must make sure it has come in touch with the holiest of the Muslim places, so my first request is for you to travel to the Prophet's birthplace by performing the pilgrimage to Mecca. This is something every Muslim is bound to do at least once in his lifetime. I too will one day make the pilgrimage, but for the time being I cannot due to the many pressing matters of our new kingdom. But I will make sure I visit Mecca as soon as I will be able to.

My second request is something that you would have to do after your pilgrimage to Mecca. The Roman Emperor agreed to allow a Fatimid visitor to Jerusalem and in the lands neighboring the city. That visitor will be you. What I need you to do is to take an extensive trip in the places I mentioned and take notes about the material and spiritual situation of the Muslims in those lands. I also wish for you to speak with some of the people there and see what they think and wish for.

I realize this trip will be a long one and that it will be filled with dangers, especially those that come from the Christian knights who raid Muslim caravans, but I believe you will become a far wiser person during the trip.

I now wish you good luck in the trip to come!

Yours,

Alar I, Sultan of the Fatimid Sultanate