(Or: What Was Supposed to be a Commentary on News and Politics and Turned into a Rant)
So I've been reading the news avidly again, and I felt nostalgic for the days when I used to comment on news and politics. I finally came across something that got me worked up enough to (try and) write something about. The result: this semi-coherent, meant-t0-be-calm-and-rational-and-intellectual-ish venting on the media's new target, the Egyptian Salafi movement.
From concern over the Muslim brotherhood to terror over the public emerging of the Salafi movement, the media in post-revolution Egypt is working itself into a hysterical frenzy. Hypothetical horrors are enumerated, warning that the rise of the Arab Salafi movement will herald an era of “acid burning of unveiled women” and “destruction of venerated Sufi shrines.”
The truth, as always, is far from the media’s projection of reality. The Salafi movement of Egypt (not to be confused with or equated with the unfortunately notorious Western Salafism) is one which has been brutally suppressed during the long reign of Hosni Mubarak and his predecessors. Persecuted just as much as the Ikhwaan al-Muslimeen, but with less publicity (discounting Egyptian soap operas and movies which portray bearded, jelebiyyah-garbed sheikhs and mullahs as villains in depictions that rival Hollywood’s), the Salafi movement of Egypt is unofficially led by such respected and notable mashaayikh as Sheikh Abu Ishaaq al-Heweney and Sheikh Muhammad Hassan. Active for decades, these scholars have tirelessly worked in the cities and villages of Egypt, involved in regular local charity work and international Islamic causes alike.
No group is absolutely perfect, and the Salafi movement in Egypt is not free of faults. That does not, however, mean that the media accusations against them are justified in any way, shape, or form. What even Muslims don’t realize is that far from being scary takfiris who will chop your legs off if you wear a thobe below your ankles (what, you thought they’d let you wear pants?! AstaghfirAllah!), they’re really just concerned with, you know, being good Muslims and living Islam the way it’s meant to. And why is everyone freaking out about Islamic law and religious Muslims when – hello – IT’S A MUSLIM COUNTRY???!!!
In any case, the Salafi movement isn’t preparing to take over the government and install some kind of (Western-imagined) version of the Taliban. They’re just happy that they can give da’wah without being hunted down and thrown into jail the moment some government official finds out that large crowds have been attending their lectures at the masjid. You know, those things that we’re always going on about, free speech and the right to organize and gather?
With all the noise about democracy, voices of the people, and letting Egyptians take control of their own future, why is it that conservative/ orthodox/ what-have-you religious groups are always the ones being denied the same chance? When, exactly, was it decreed that only liberalism, modernism, and secularism are acceptable ideologies to follow, espouse, and promote?
The hypocrisy of the Western-influenced elites – for that’s exactly what these “advent of Islamism”-warning professors, philosophers, and politicos are – is not only obvious, but irritating (we don’t want to say “infuriating” lest they claim we’re making ‘veiled death threats’), moreso because of how their double-standard views remain unchallenged in the wider mainstream media.
See below for examples of the latest media on Egypt’s Salafis.
8 comments:
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Blessings and Love.
"The Salafi movement of Egypt (not to be confused with or equated with the unfortunately notorious Western Salafism)"
Assalamu Alaikum dear sister,
In your attempt to defend the Salafis of Egypt from the media's incorrect criticism, you did the same thing that the media did, but only to the "unfortunately notorious Western Salafism", whatever that is supposed to mean.
But before I comment any further on such a vague dangling-modifier-like statement, can you please expand and perhaps explain in details your view of Salafiyyah in the West? Why don't you want to equate Salafiyyah in Egypt to that which is in the West? Isn't Salafiyyah and its principles the same no matter where you go in the world?
While I appreciate your post to defend the Egyptian Salafis from the inaccurate media criticism, but having that one sentence in there about (not to be confused with or equated with the unfortunately notorious Western Salafism) makes the reader understand that the media criticism of the Western Salafis is accurate and justified and that you are not trying to defend them as well because they are not like the Egyptian Salafis.
Perhaps you did not mean all of this, but this is what many people might understand from this one sentence disclaimer that you included in your post. I would recommend that in future posts, you either expand on such "disclaimers" and explain exactly what you mean so that the reader knows and isn't trying to make assumptions, or you leave it out altogether because it definitely didn't add any value nor any substance to the post, in my honest opinion.
I hope you don't take anything I said personally, and I ask Allah to reward you for your intentions.
As Salaamu alaiki,
I have the same concerns as the above poster. I don't understand what you mean with the negative attitude towards the Western Salafis.
As I understand there are Salafis that try to follow the Prophet (salallaahu alaihi wa Salaam),companions,and righteous predecessors. Then there are those who are like the Salafi knockoffs, that say they are salafi but instead are really takfiris in disguise, or like for example Yasir Qadhi who say they Salafi but go against it's principles,etc.
I know I've read on MuslimsMatters a few misconceptions of the term Salafi, so I think you guys are a little confused or are not making things clear enough for others.
I don't mean to bash you or anything, but I know there are many misconceptions about Salafis in general, that people think the Taliban are Salafi, or even Muslim Brotherhood is Salafi. More dangerous rumors come from the Shia and Sufi who hate them because they speak out against grave-worship and raising of the graves,etc.
Anyways, you're most probably tired of my rant. Sorry if I've said anything inappropriate or hurt any feelings. Take Care
As Salaamu alaiki
MarshaAllah well put sis. I embraced Islam in 1991 and in the good old days everyone used the term Ahle sunnah wal jammah, as this is the term most used by the 1st 3 generations.Then some started useing salafi interchagebly with sunnah. Then it was just salafi, otherwise you were off the manhaj lol.These days you can spot salafis a mile away, speech(weird victorian robotic twang)dressfor sisters(gotta be niqab, plus eye covering gloves etc) bros a thoub raised to just below the knees. Salafia in the west is little more than a cult(its there own fault)and the word salafi is usually prefixed with such terms as, deltas, neo, foaming at the mouth,supers, supers with a cherry on top, more salafi than thou(I made that one up) the list of nom de salafi is endless.Sad but true.
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