828) Shari3a, Social Justice, and 3abdo Moota !!

May be the title looks like "samak, laban, tamr hendy" (complete chaos) , but actually the three mentioned topics are extremely related in Egypt after Jan 25th. May be it is a a new version of the be old trilogy of Man, Life, and Control. 

I really wonder what do the people in power (Islamists) really want? Ok, they want the application of Shari3a Law, so what?! The vast majority of our laws t driven from Shari3a, or they want a special interpretation of shari3a that keep them having an upper hand over the people in a way close to what the Catholic Church had in the Dark Ages?!

I am actually optimistic when it comes to this point in specific, because no matter how they try, the Egyptian people wont change easily regarding their perception about life and religion ... A short visit in history will tell you how many sects and groups had governed Egypt, and it has always ended up with its own unique interpretation.. just a unique blend of all.

What really worries me is the change of Culture ... There is a deep change in the Egyptian character that has been always known for decency, kindness, helping others, motivated with the least praise...etc. This culture is changing fast to the opposite and it is clear from the people in streets, protests, songs, movies, writing...etc.. and I consider this change as the root for all evil.

Many people may have got offended by the latest movie "3abdo Moota" but a simple fact is that it had scored the highest movie premier income in the history of Arab Movies (and $1 Million in 3 days). This tells you that this kind of culture is now spreading and actually  is prevailing -without any exaggeration. 3abdo Moota is what they call "She3ar El Mar7ala" or the slogan of the current period/era. I was worried about Egypt when "7ena Maysara" movie was released almost 5 years ago (see post 350), and now I can see this culture standing on a solid ground.

What I want to say is that Shari3a won't help changing the culture back as it was there most of the time and wasn't the reason for the change in the 1st place; but the extreme pressure and injustice that happened throughout the last half a century specially in the last 10 years were the main reasons for this change. The only way back is to have a clear and strong applicable strategy to bring Social Justice to Egypt, and without that neither law or Shari3a will be able to bring Egypt People to what they were.

Time is passing fast, and every year the new culture of aggressiveness, selfishness, laziness is fixing its roots, and every year we will waste will make it harder and longer to change ... At a certain critical point, we wont be even able to change as it will be THE real, final, and genuine Egyptian Culture where 3abo Moota will be the icon of the typical Egyptian citizen then...

So my question now is: Is Social Justice a priority? and if Yes, how and when it will be achieved?

Mohaly

812) Ya Wad Ya Mo2men !!

يعنى إيه متدين؟

أيوه أنا عايز أفهم؟

يعنى بيصلى و بيصوم و بيزكى و يحفظ قران؟ 

و لا بيحترم الناس و عادل و كريم و طيب و بيتقى ربنا؟

و لا اللى بينجح إنه يقنع الناس إنه متدين؟

و لا اللى وشه سمح و يريح و عليه علامات التقوى؟

و لا اللى مطول دقنة و حالق شنبه و عنده زبيبة و رافع بنطلونه؟

و لا اللى بيدخل لفظ الجلالة بين كل كلمة و التانية؟

و لا اللى بيقضى حاجات الناس لوجه الله؟

و لا اللى بيمنع الأذى عن الناس و يقف جنبهم ضد الظلم؟

و لا العضو فى جماعة أو حزب دينى؟

طب مين اللى يقرر إنك متدين؟

إنت؟

أهلك؟

أصحابك؟

حزبك؟

إستفتاء؟

طب لو إنت متدين ده بيديك أى حقوق أو مميزات زيادة؟

طب لو أنا متدين و إنت متدين و إختلفنا فى الرأى .. كلام مين فينا اللى يمشى؟

طب لو إنت متدين و الناس متفقه على ده ... بس كذبت و نافقت و ظلمت و.. و.. تبقى إيه؟

طب لو أنا بصلى و أصوم و أزكى و بأتقى ربنا فى رزقى و شغلى و أهلى بس بؤمن بأفكار حرة (ليبرالية) أبقى إيه؟

الإيمان هو ما وقر فى القلب وصدقه العمل،

 قال تعالى: "قالت الأعراب أمنا قل لم تؤمنوا ولكن قولوا أسلمنا ولما يدخل الإيمان فى قلوبكم".

الإيمان قول وعمل.

و لا إيه يا واد يا مؤمن؟

Mohaly

739) Hegab Nos Kom !

This picture was taken in Hurghada. While I was editing the original bigger picture, I realized this lady in the background, and couldn't help wondering "why the scarf?". For the million time, I am not against the right of women to wear Hegab, but such images I really can't comprehend or understand !!!!

Mohaly
P.S. there is another clearer picture but the lady's face was appearing, and hence I didn't post it for the respect of her anonymity.

723) Muslim ... Mase7y ... Egyptian!

I really don't understand the silly discussions regarding Muslims and Christians that are taking part in all sorts of media during the last couple of months.

I think there are some major stuff regarding life, principals, morals...etc that has to do with our everyday life that are common in both religions and that is the most important thing. Co-existence and our relations have no contradiction with what came in both religions.

Our differences come about major stuff as well, but stuff that has nothing to do with the present life, it is either about what happened in the past or what will happen in the afterlife. In both cases we shouldn’t waste our time about it coz both followers (Muslims & Christians) won’t change their believes, and even if they did, it won’t matter in such case.

Jesus was crucified or not, who will go to heaven, will he come back to fight with or against Muslims... all of these issues don't affect our current life and having major disputes and even fights about it doesn't benefit anyone.

We do both agree about the main values in life, ethics, morals, we look alike, talk alike, and have common history and common destiny. This should drive us both to unite in order to save ourselves and our country from its long setback and don't take into further drops... None of us benefit from what is happening, only common enemies do.

I do like my Christian friends and colleagues -actually the girl I liked the most in my life was Christian- and I don't know a reason of hating them or considering them different in any form. Or as my dear friend Ehaab Abdo sings: "Muslim...Mase7y... Ana Masry".

We are both Egyptians, and we both own and will live this land till the end of life...Other than that, we won't have a country to fight about in the first place!

Mohaly

712) Fawazeer Ramadan ::: Politics and God !!!

I cant believe that the oldest Governor in Egypt who has been there for 20 years is saying that! Having Electricity and water cut-offs is a good thing because it increases Allah's forgivness in this holy month and it is a direct message to use them wisley!


تكرار انقطاع المياه وأزمات الكهرباء وارتفاع الأسعار، تضاعف من ثواب الصائم، وعفو الله على المواطنين، هكذا وصف المستشار عدلي حسين، محافظ القليوبية، ما يحدث للمواطنين في الفترة الأخيرة، معتبرًا أن أزمات المياه بأنها "إنذار إلهي للمصريين يستوجب ترشيد الاستهلاك في ظل خلافات دول حوض النيل، والتي تسعى للانتقاص من حصة مصر التي تكفي بالكاد".


What happened to our government, earlier this year, president mubarak said that whoever God choses to be his successor, he will be satisfied with that choice, and now a senior Governor says that what is happening with our infrastructure is a warning sign and road for forgiveness from God!!!


El Fazoura: I thought that this government didnt like to mix relegion with politics, and was fighting that everywhere. I am wondering if they are changing their mind, or they are mixing it now in the worst possible way to be a proof that mixing it won't be of a benefit !!!!

690) "They Call it Freedom of Speech" !

Yesterday one of my dearest friends (Ammawy) was wondering about the following:

"When they see an attack against Blacks, they call it racism. When they see an attack against Jews, they call it anti-Semitism. When they see an attack against women, they call it male domination. When they see an attack against homosexuality, they call it intolerance. When they see an attack against a religious sect they call it hate. But when they attack "Arabs or Muslims" they call it freedom of speech!!!!!''

The subject grasped my attention, and I asked myself is this because we are really bad, or we are really weak, or we are a threat or the west just cant stand us?

Mohaly

644) The Christmas Fatwa!

I don't really understand the recent fatwa from some of the Muslim Shiekh's about avoiding not only celebrating Christmas, but also not even congratulating our Christian friends!

As a Muslim, I know since I was a little kid the prestigious positioning the Christ (Al Masee7 Ebn Mariam) has in Quran and Islam, and how he is among the most prominent messengers of Allah (2olo el 3azm). I also know that Virgin Mary (Mariam Al 3azraa) is one of the most sacred ladies in Islam. Moreover, the birth of the Chirst was positioned as a divine miracle more than once in Quran. So Islam does acknlowge the birth of the Christ and the miracle behind it, so what is wrong when people congratulate their Christian friends about it?!

Even if we have different points of views about the nature of Christ, this doesn't deny the fact that it is his birthday afterall, and on his birthday -peace be upon him- I am telling all my Christian Orthodox Readers today... MERRY CHRISTMAS :)

Mohaly

634) The Swiss Minaret !

I have visited Switzerland before, and I loved the country and people too. I got the feeling that they have chosen the hardest option of being unbaised and respected them for such challenge.

I hoped that the swiss people have had proven to the world how unbiased and coherent they are, and instead of voting against building minarets, they could have simply voted for having the most prominent swiss product "Clocks" fixed over each new minaret -check the picture-. It can be a beautiful architecture holding a practical instrument that can be of benefit for everyone without positiong it as a "Muslim Missile"!

Mesh Keda wala eih 3ala Ra2i Fouad El Mohandes.

Mohaly

606) Fawazeer Ramadan ::: First Post !

This is the last fazoura, and I will make it 2 in 1 (as I do repeat both every year, & coz the 2nd one may not be of interest to many, so there is an option :)

1st Fazoura: What was the first post that attracted you to this blog? & What was the first post to add your comment on?

the answers sometimes surprize me. Some people take sometime (even a year) to start writing their first comment :)

2nd Fazoura: Did you check-out Laylat El Qadr this year, if yes, which night did you feel the most?

Mohaly

I really enjoyed the Fawazeer with you & your comments this year, and will continue next year inShaa Allah law kan fel 3omr ba2ea.

HAPPY EID EL FITR TO ALL MY BLOG READERS :))))

580) Will Egypt turn into a Theocratic Country?!

I am against the concept of "Theocratic Country" where people are ruled in the name of God and all the power is centralized in one hand who has divine guidance. I know that the power still in one hand even in an Autocratic regime like ours, but theocratic is even worse as we don't have even the privilege of arguing!

That is why I don't like the Ekhwan Moslmeen movement. What I hate about it is the political agenda they have under the name of Allah. I consider this hypocricy, they want power like everyone else but they want in a way that doesnt keep a space for anyone else.

Prophet Muhammad PBUH, has said that we know more about running our everyday operations because it is something that is subject to change all the time and there is no one size fits all. So, dealing with everyday challenges is a pure civil activity as long as we didn't surpass the general divine limits. Why do we need then someone to rule in the name of God!

The question that I don't know an accurate answer for though is why El Ekhwan still exists although they have been banned for more than 60 years! Sometimes because the ruler uses them like what Sadat did with Omar El Telmisani, sometimes because they play on the basic needs of the people (food, shelter..etc), but still I can't find an overall answer, and please don't tell me because "El Eslam howa el 7al" as it is too general to fit an agenda or a strategy.

I am just afraid that with all the current disappointemts in the Egyptian society, and as they say "fe ghafla men al zaman" we end up as a Theocratic country, will we? Hopefully not.

Mohaly

577) God Bless Marwa El Sherbini !

I don't think that the reaction of the Egyptians is exagerated as some people are claiming. I don't know if the word "glad' is appropriate here, but I am glad that at last we can show the world that terrorsim is not an Islamic or Arabic product, and our blood is not cheap or less important than the rest of the world.

Marwa was a young promising Egyptian girl who was just staring a small family and all her fault -from her killer's point of view- was that she is muslim and wearing Hijab! How fanatic is that!

In August 2008 Alex W. abused Marwa in a Dresden playground as “islamist”, “terrorist” and “bitch”, obviously of her wearing an Islamic headscarf. According to some sources Alex W. stated “You don’t deserve to live.” This was the reason that the Public Prosecutor filed an appeal, to achieve a higher degree of penalty with regard to the open xenophobic background of the felony. When the appeal was in negotiation, Alex W. surprisingly stabbed Marwa 18 times and so killed her..

The thing I don't understand is that how come such a scene happen in a German Court!!!!!

May Allah bless Marwa and her family, and we did the right thing, OUR VOICES HAVE TO BE HEARD!

Mohaly

واتهم ألماني من أصل روسي عمره 28 عاما بقتل مروة الشربيني في محكمة بمدينة دريسدن خلال نظر استئناف حكم صدر ضده لادانته بسبها.

وقال مكتب المدعي العام في دريسدن ان المصرية التي كانت تقيم في دريسدن مرافقة لزوجها المبعوث لنيل درجة علمية تلقت على الاقل 18 طعنة بسكين كما تلقى زوجها الذي حاول صد الهجوم عليها ثلاث طعنات. كما أطلق رجل شرطة رصاصتين على قدم الزوج ظنا منه أنه المهاجم.

ويرقد علوي علي عكاز في المستشفى في دريسدن في حالة حرجة لنفاذ الطعنات الى رئته وكبده بحسب قول أقارب له في الاسكندرية ويقول أطباء في دريسدن ان حالته حرجة فعلا.

567) Thank You Obama ... What is Next?

I am writing this while Obama is finishing his speech. I have to admit that the speech is integrated, impressive, & inclusive.

I am glad that I witnessed such historical moment, and I do really thank Obama for this great overwhelming speech ... However, it is now Time for Action from both US & Muslims, or else .. kol speech wentom taybeen!

Mohaly

566) Islam: Quantity or Quality?!

Take a look at this video produced as a wake-up call to save the west from the expected domination of Islam in less than a generation. My questions is: Do we measure the success of Islam in the number of its followers or the quality of life we produce to the world?

If we - muslims- became the largest religion in the world by 2015 as expected, is this a good or bad?! I guess the answer depends on what these new muslims have to say to the world. If it is peace and accepting others then that is good news, but if it is terrorism and Qaida-like muslims, then that is terrible news. I hope that we can have a role in putting things in the right place and let the world know the true meaning of Islam, and they took the first step... Obama's visit next Thursday, but that is another talk...

Mohaly

559) Obama Chooses Egypt !!

What does it mean that Obama after more than 100 days of thinking choose Egypt to address and reconnect the Muslim world? 

Does this mean that the US see a potential in Egypt to rise and take its abdicated role again?

Does this mean that the US will ignore the authoritarian ruling issues that were the main point of conflict with the Bush admin.?

Does this mean that Egypt will be the bridge between the East and West? 

Last and not least; does this mean that we will have June 4th as a vacation?! as having the US president in Cairo means 1 thing: COMPLETE PARALYSIS and it is better to stay home. Ya Rab make them decide to do it in Sharm :)

Mohaly

480) Ahlan Bel 3eed :)))

Just Wishing You All a Happy Eid :)))

Rabena Ye3adeeh 3ala kheir, we really need a break after all the incidents in Ramadan...

I really miss the old Eid with all the Fun and Satisfaction, we Safaa Aboul Se3oud :)

See you next Sunday after Eid vacation in-shaa-Allah :)

Mohaly

470) Fawazeer Ramadan - Al Ka3ba!

Why aren't we allowed inside El ka3ba?!

Mohaly

438) Hassan We Morcos, and the dual Nature!

Couple of days ago, I went to watch Hassan & Morcos for Omar El Sheirf & Adel Imam (Intentionally writing Omar first coz I wasn't convinced that Adel Imam should precede him in the credits as in the movie). '

Anyway, the movie was really nice and it tackled (didn't recommend solution) the problem of suppressed feelings between Muslims and Copts in Egypt.

The thing I liked most in the movie was a very honest part that is personalized in a short talk between two priests entering the event of national unity walking down to the Cairo Conference Center, complaining about the severe obstacles the government imposes on constructing churches and the near-lack of Coptic representation in both Parliament and Cabinet.
On the other hand, two Muslim clerics claim that Copts control the economy; that whenever they build a Mosque, the Christians insist on building a church in front of it; and that the Coptic calls for Eastern Christmas to be a national holiday have led to an influx of vacations. Then once inside the conference, the four men are shown holding each others' hands, and chanting “Yahia El-helal maa Al-saleeb” (Long live the crescent with the cross).

"The brilliance of the scene lies in the novelty of watching these widespread remarks uttered candidly on the silver screen, of the shock behind watching one of cinema’s primary taboos finally shattered for the first time." Critique.

I guess this is the main problem that we have this dual nature in many things, and one of the most serious is the religion. These conference should be a place where people get out all what they have, agree on the common ground, and respect each other's beliefs even if they disagree with. This way we can live in peace and fear no threat.

Anyway, it is a nice movie, and highly recommended specially with the smooth yet deep and classy acting of the super star Omar El Sharif.

Mohaly

387) Contradictions in Our Lives - Part XII!

Aaaaameeen!!

372) Code of Governance howa el 7al !

With all my respect to Ekhwan bloggers, but I am announcing that I am against their idoilogy. I don't hate them - yet- but I severely don't agree with them, or in other words "Ana Mesh Ekhwan" or "Ekhwan Mo7eb".

I see that there is nothing called "7okm Islamy (Islamic Governance)" but rather "mowasafat 7okm Isalmy (Islamic Governance characteristics). Something like the Islamic dress, there is nothing called Islamic dress that every Muslim should be wearing, but there are some characteristics that we can combine in different percentages to come up with dozens of fashion combinations that fits the Islamic code of dress (loose, not transparent,...etc).

Ruling in the name of God or saying that this is the only solution and other than that is against what God wants is ridiculous and is a losing model everywhere. So I suggest to have a Code of Governance (if I may say), as the common ground that the Civil forces and Ekhwan stand on for the benefit of Egypt and the whole Muslim nation.

This code states that the government must be: Honest, sincere, have justice, working for the welfare of the whole & sum, not discriminating based on religion or gender, against corruption, respecting the personal freedom as long as it doesn't hurt the society....etc.

I honestly believe if such code is applied, there shouldnt be ekhwan moslmeen and ekhwan gheir muslmeen, there will be only EKHWAN MASRYEEN whether muslmeen or mase7yeen.

Mohaly

354) You are NOT welcomed!

"Bad" Morning Mr. Bush,

I am an Egyptian citizen who loves his country and working hard to try to make a positive difference in his Egyptian society in specific, and Islamic society in general. And you are someone who are persistently mis-using his power to screw up my people, Arabs, and Muslims every where in the world.

As an Egyptian citizen, I consider Egypt my home, and simply ... YOU ARE NOT WELCOMED TODAY IN MY HOME.

I am only representing myself, but I am sure that non of my blog readers, friends, colleagues, family,..etc is welcoming you in Egypt or any Arab Islamic country.

Mohaly