Path of the Community

The Roads

Tariq el-Umma (Road of Community)

The Islamic concept of moral humanity is not far removed from the attitudes in the West: A moral person acts in moderation, is humble and respectful of her family, charitable and compassionate to her slaves or to the needy, and is scrupulously honest in all her business dealings. Unlike many of the other Islamic roads, the Tariq el-Umma involves strict denial of the Beast. The Cainite strives to keep its excesses at bay by reinforcing her sense of right and decent behavior, particularly in reference of the greater Muslim community.
Followers of the Tariq el-Umma are given to reaffirming their basic natures through acts of kindness and compassion, much like their European kin. Often they seek to protect and help their mortal neighbors in secret, and intercede (when possible) to right injustices or see the guilty punished. Purchasing the freedom of slaves is a favorite act of communal charity, as is donating sums to local hospitals or universities. In fact, many adherents to this tariq balance their bestial natures by contributing to the spread of knowledge and healing throughout the Islamic world, becoming patrons of community institutions, helping to build mosques (even if they don’t believe themselves) and donating books to schools. Followers of the tariq immerse themselves in the needs of others as thoroughly as possible so as not to arouse the selfish appetites of the Beast. They deny their true natures by becoming as human - or more human - than the mortals they share their city with. Often they go to pains to lead public lives of civic virtue, openly seeking the admiration and praise of the community as a bulwark against their damned natures. Of all the Cainites in the Muslim world, the followers of this tariq do their best to disguise their monstrous habits from mortals an even themselves, drinking hot blood from a cup or, in extreme cases, chewing raw meat and delicately spitting the remains into brass bowls.
Adherents to the Road of Community are present among all bay’t but are particularly common among al-Amin, Mushakis and Ray’een al-Fen. Of all the nonbelievers, the followers of this tariq are most welcome among Ashirra communities, looked upon as merely devout sould who have lost their way. For their part, the followers of the Tariq el-Umma view the Ashirra as more ascetic versions of themselves, and many of the strongest Ashirra cities benefit from a solid alliance between the Islamic sect and the adherents of this tariq.

Rating	Minimum Wrongdoing	Rationale
10	Drinking blood from a mortal	Civilized people do not prey upon their fellows
9	Failing to give alms to a beggar	It is a civic duty to provide for the less fortunate
8	Failing to take part in a community project	It is a mark of civic virtue to devote energy and resources to the community as a whole
7	Failing to pay the yearly tax	All citizens owe their allegiance to the caliph and the community
6	Failing to adopt or provide sanctuary to a mortal friend in need	Compassion and generosity benefit the Community as a whole
5	Failing to defend the community in times of peril	Each citizen must pledge to protect their fellows in times of danger
4	Abusing one's servants	A responsible citizen cares for those in his possession
3	Abusing one's authority in the community	Public power is a sacred trust
2	Murdering one's neighbors	A citizen's first duty is to protect one's neighbors
1	Intentionally evoking the Beast	Civilization is the universal denial of our baser natures.