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| Heikal |
All mediocre people are
the same in any field. In their opinion, Abdel-Halim[1] used his illness and orphanage
and made advantage of the Nasserist regime in order to gain success… before him
was Abdel-Wahab[2],
that lisper thief of musical notes of all kinds who made use of Ahmed Shawqi[3]’s beautiful poetry and was
a close friend to kings and high-profile officials… while Om Kulthum[4] was a bad-tempered junkie
woman jealous enough to kill any talent that may prove rival to her… It’s an
endless story. However, it’s the same in all fields; medicine, legal
profession, engineering, and journalism as well.
All pages of Almasry-alyoum
newspaper are not enough to list the examples in all these fields especially
that those same pages were full of writings, in the past weeks, talking about
the late Al-ostaz Mohammed Hassanien Heikal. Those writings didn’t care the man
was dying or even when he passed away. Some of those writings stuck to the
settled rules of analysis and criticism while others reflected nothing but
ignorance of their writers. I’m not going to discuss what was written
especially that one who talked about Heikal’s American-style marketing skill for
such kind of writing is too implausible to be debated or even read; it is more
like defamation than systematic critical writing. The same writer –
seemingly trying to satisfy his patron – once wrote about the Nasserists in a
hilarious way that could be mimicked in all ideologies, like when I ask you if you
are liberal and then assume you approve of the World War I, II, Cold War,
Hundred Year’s War, Thirty Year’s War, Nazism, fascism, and past-time
occupation, and assume, definitely, that you are in favor of homosexuality,
polluting the atmosphere, and puncturing the Ozone layer! Adopting the same way
of analysis, I can ask if you are islamist and consequently suppose that you
are one of those who approve killing of Ansar[5]’s
leader in as-Saqifah[6];
Saad ibn Ubadah[7],
and do not oppose participation of some prominent Sahabah[8]
– including some of the ten promised paradise[9] – in assassinating Uthman[10] or what was then called “fitnah[11]”…
I suppose you also agree to Gawari[12] and “Ma malakat
Aymanukum[13]”
concept… and definitely you like Fiqh al-Ghelman[14],
and welcome the absence of Shura[15] since the Umayyad rule…
and you are pro-hereditary dictatorship[16]!
I don’t want to continue
for I believe newspapers, full of articles, columns, and all arts of
journalistic writings, should be of use for the one who pays for it out of his
hard-earned income. Being useful means to employ the language in the best way as
a means of communication and avoid using improper words; I mean here the one
who attacked Heikal, only two days after he passed away. Such usefulness can be
represented in providing novel information or referencing an already-established
one…etc.
I knew that Al-ostaz
Heikal – may God rest his soul – had asked for a red flower to be put in his
room when he dies and before he is to be buried. He also asked for Quran to be
recited by Sheikh Muhammed Refaat[17] in the same room and for his
funeral prayer to be held in al-Imam al-Hussain mosque.
Asking about the symbolism
lying behind all this, I tell you – not pretending to be clever in over-interpreting matters – I have had long conversations with Al-ostaz Heikal about religion, metaphysics
and afterlife. He once told me to reread Karen Armstrong books to discuss them
later together. His will, and earlier our mutual discussion, affirm the man
believed in God; he had his own understanding for the relation between man and God.
He used to grasp the meaning through his ears in attempt to reach the faith
lying in his heart. I believe there is no better than Sheikh Refaat’s voice to
taste the beauty of Quran and feel the depth of its meanings, especially that
Sheikh Refaat was known to have been playing music and singing in his spare
time.
Going to the symbolism
in choosing the mosque of al-Imam al-Hussain – grandson of Prophet Muhammed and
Master of the youth of Paradise[18] – some asked, either inquiring
or exclaiming, “why this mosque in particular?” Those who inquired were searching
for an answer while those exclaiming had a belief Heikal was a disguised Shiite
and a friend of Khomeini[19].
Al-Hussain, like Mary
the Virgin and Mar Gergis[20], is a revered figure
around whom all Egyptians, Christians and Muslims, gather. You can see this in
the popular celebrations of their birthdays or Mawaled[21],
where people come from all over Egypt, Christians and Muslims, to celebrate and
get the blessings. Al-Imam al-Hussain was also a man of morals willing to
sacrifice his life for them, it’s exactly what he did in standing against the
Umayyad tyranny; he knew that his destiny and his family’s was the price paid
for the Khalas[22]
of Umma[23]
after he dies… notice here the common idea of Khalas among all
Egyptians, Christians and Muslims.
While Sheikh Refaat’s
voice and mosque of al-Imam al-Hussain are spiritually connected, the red
flower represents a symbol of life, love, devotion, and beauty as well. Since age,
however long, is a flower that was picked before it withered, leaving its sweet
scent and dry leaves behind and keeping its secrets inside. Red is also the
color of blood running to and out of the heart; the symbol of devotion. Al-ostaz Heikal loved greenery and flowers;
I have never seen flowers more beautiful than the Bougainvillea flowers I
saw in his countryside house. He used to have a small vase holding only one red
flower resting comfortably on his desk and a bigger one full of flowers
residing on the table next to his desk.
Yes… Quran was recited
near his ears while he was prepared to meet his Lord… yes… he had his funeral
prayers held in al-Imam al-Hussain mosque…. and yes, the man worked hard and
employed all his mind, energy, and relations in order to stay the first among
his peers whom, he acknowledged, were stars themselves. As to this last point,
I had a long conversation with him about his opinion of el-Tabii[24], Mustafa[25] and Ali Amin[26], Ahmed Bahaa ed-Din[27], and others. I can say
the man was fair in his stances toward them, especially Mr. Ahmed Bahaa ed-Din.
To you… all mediocre
people… eat your heart out.
Translated into English by: Dalia Elnaggar
Translated into English by: Dalia Elnaggar
This article was
published in Almasry alyoum newspaper on March 1, 2016.
To see the original
Arabic version, go to:
#almasry_alyoum#Ahmed_elgammal#Heikal#Egypt#Nasserism#Quran#alimam_alhussain#Journalism#Muhammed_Refaat
[1] Abdel
Halim Hafez: (Arabic: عبد الحليم حافظ) (June 21, 1929 – March 30,
1977) is among the most popular Egyptian and Arab singers. In addition to singing, Halim was also an actor, conductor, business man, music teacher and movie producer. He is considered to be one of the
Great Four of Arabic music (along with Om Kulthum, Mohammed Abdel Wahab, and Farid Al
Attrach). He is known as el-Andaleeb el-Asmar (The Dark-Skinned Nightingale, Arabic: العندليب الأسمر). He is also known
as an icon in modern Arabic music. To this day, his music is still enjoyed
throughout the Arab world. (Source: Wikipedia)
[2] Mohammed Abdel Wahab: (Arabic: محمد عبد الوهاب) (March 13, 1902 – May 4, 1991) was a prominent
20th-century Arab Egyptian singer and composer. (Source: Wikipedia)
[3] Ahmed
Shawqi: (1868–1932) (Arabic: أحمد شوقي)
nicknamed Amir al-Shuaraa (The Prince of Poets, Arabic: أمير الشعراء), was one of the greatest Arabic poets laureate, an Egyptian poet and dramatist who pioneered the modern Egyptian literary movement, most notably introducing the genre of poetic epics to the
Arabic literary tradition. (Source: Wikipedia)
[4] Om
Kulthum: (Egyptian Arabic: أم كلثوم) on an
uncertain date (December 31, 1898 or May 4, 1904) and who died February 3,
1975, was an internationally famous Egyptian singer, songwriter, and film actress active from the
1920s to the 1970s. She is given the honorific title, Kawkab
al-Sharq كوكب الشرق ("Star of the East") in Arabic. Known for her extraordinary vocal ability and style,
Om Kulthum was one of the greatest and most influential Arab singers of the
20th century. (Source: Wikipedia)
[5] Ansar: (Arabic: الأنصار) is an Islamic term that literally means "helpers" and denotes
the Medinan citizens that helped the Islamic prophet, Muhammad and the Muhajirun on the arrival to the city after the migration to
Medina and fought in the cause
of Islam.
[6] As-Saqifah: (Arabic: السقيفة) the place where
muslim gathered after prophet Muhammed died in order to choose his successor.
The place lies in the west-northern part of Al-Masjid
an-Nabawī or the prophet’s mosque.
[7] Saad ibn Ubadah: (Arabic: سعد بن عبادة )
was one of the prominent Sahabah and Ansar,
the emir of the Banu Khazraj. He was the first person who
hailed from Medina to embrace Islam. It is known that he did not accept the
reign of caliphs Abu Bakr and Umar. This created a major
tension between him and the second caliph Umar. The second caliph recounts
that during the conflict to choose the prophet's successor he had wished for
Saad's death by announcing : "May God Kill Saad ibn Udabah". Shortly
after this Saad left Medina and stayed in modern-day Syria. It is known that Umar ordered a
delegate to go there and ask him to accept the new caliphs. When he refused the
offer he was killed with an arrow. (Source: Wikipedia)
[8] The
term as-Sahabah: (Arabic: الصحابة meaning
"the companions", from the verb صَحِبَ meaning
"accompany", "keep company with", "associate
with") refers to the companions, disciples, scribes and family of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. (Source: Wikipedia)
[9] The Islamic
prophet, Muhammad, in a hadith accepted by Sunni Muslims, specified ten of his companions who were promised paradise. Those companions named in
this hadith are referred to by Sunnis as The Ten Promised Paradise (Arabic: العشرة المبشرون بالجنة).
[10] Uthman
ibn Affan: (Arabic: عثمان بن عفان;
576 – 17 June 656) was a companion of the Islamic
prophet Muhammad, and the third of the Sunni Rashidun or "Rightly Guided Caliphs". Born into a
prominent Meccan clan of
the Quraysh tribe,
he played a major role in early Islamic
history, succeeding Umar ibn al-Khattab as caliph at age 65. He was assassinated at the end of a siege
upon his house. Uthman is critically important in Islamic history because his death marked the beginning of open
religious and political conflicts within the Islamic community (see fitnah). (Source: Wikipedia, Encyclopaedia Britannica)
[11] Fitnah: ( Arabic: فتنة “trial,” or “test”) in Islamic usage, a heretical uprising, especially the
first major internal struggle within the Muslim community (ad 656–661),
which resulted in both civil war and religious schism—between the Sunnites and Shīʿites. (Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica)
[13] Ma
malakat aymanukum: ("those
whom you own", Arabic: ما ملكت أيمانکم) is a reference in the Qur'an to slaves. (Source: Wikipedia)
[15] Shura: (Arabic: شورى) is an Arabic word for "consultation". The Quran and Muhammad encourage Muslims to decide their affairs in
consultation with those who will be affected by that decision. (Source:
Wikipedia)
[16] A hereditary dictatorship, or family
dictatorship, in political science
terms a personalistic regime, is a form of dictatorship that occurs in a nominally or formally republican regime, but operates in practice like an absolute
monarchy, in that political power
passes within the dictator's family. Thus, although the key leader is often
called president or prime
minister rather than a king or emperor, power is transmitted between members of the same
family due to the overwhelming authority of the leader. (Source: Wikipedia)
[17] Muhammad Refaat: (Arabic: محمد رفعت) (1882 - May 14,
1950) was the first Quran reciter to
read on Egyptian Cairo Radio on May
31, 1934, and his voice and style, as well as his general character, have been
promoted as a model of the ideal reciter. Refaat is often praised for
correlating melody to the meaning of the Qur'anic Verses.
(Source: Wikipedia)
[18] A saying by Prophet Muhammed who
is also reported to have said that "He who loves me and loves these two (he means
al-Hassan and al-Hussain; his grandsons), their father and their mother, will
be with me at my place on the Day of Resurrection, and that "Hussain
is of me and I am his. Allah loves those who love Hussain. Hussain is a
grandson among grandsons." (Source:
Wikipedia)
[19] Khomeini: (Arabic: خميني)
(24 September 1902 – 3 June 1989) was an Iranian Shia Muslim religious leader, revolutionary, politician, the
founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran and
the leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution which saw the overthrow of the Pahlavi monarchy and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran. Following the revolution, Khomeini became the
country's Supreme Leader, a position created in the constitution of the Islamic Republic as the highest-ranking
political and religious authority of the nation, which he held until his death.
He was succeeded by Ali Khamenei. (Source: Wikipedia)
[20] Mar Gergis: (Arabic: مار جرجس, Mar is a Syriac
Aramaic word meaning Master while Gergis is the Arabic word for George) or Saint
George, according to legend, was a soldier in the Roman army
who later became venerated as a Christian
martyr. His parents were Christians of
Greek background, his father Gerontius was a Roman army official from Cappadocia and
his mother Polychronia was a Christian from Lydda in the Roman
province of Syria Palaestina (Palestine). Accounts differ regarding whether
George was born in Cappadocia or Syria Palaestina, but agree that he was raised
at least partly in Lydda. Saint George became an officer in the Roman army in
the Guard of Diocletian, who ordered his death for failing to recant his
Christian faith. In hagiography, Saint George is one of the most
venerated saints in the Catholic
Church (Latin and Eastern), Anglican, East Syrian, and Miaphysite Churches. He is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers and is regarded
as one of the most prominent military
saints, immortalized in the myth of Saint George and the Dragon killing
in Beirut, Lebanon.
His memorial, Saint George's Day, is traditionally celebrated
on the Julian date of 23 April (currently the 6th of May according to the Gregorian Calendar). Many countries, cities,
professions and organisations claim Saint George as their patron. (source: Wikipedia)
[21] Mawaled: (Arabic: موالد) plural of
Mawled (مولد)
or Meelad (ميلاد)
is the observance of the birthday of an
iconic figure in religious or cultural heritage which is celebrated once a
year.
[24] Mohamed
El-Tabii: (Arabic: محمد التابعي) (1896–1976) was a leading Egyptian political writer, journalist and a pioneer of modern press in Egypt and the Arab World, so much so that he was dubbed "Prince of
Journalism". (Source: Wikipedia)
[25] Mustafa
Amin: (Arabic: مصطفى أمين) (21 February 1914 – 13 April 1997) was an Egyptian columnist and journalist who enjoyed a great deal of popularity in the Arab world. Known for his liberal perspective, Amin and his
brother Ali are regarded as the fathers of modern Arab journalism. (Source: Wikipedia)
[26] Ali
Amin: (Arabic: علي أمين) (21 February 1914 – 28 March
1976) was an Egyptian journalist who established along with his twin brother, Mustafa
the newspaper of Akhbar alyoum. Amin and his brother Mustafa are regarded as
the fathers of modern Arab journalism. (Source: Wikipedia)
[27] Ahmed Bahaa ed-Din:
(Arabic: أحمد بهاء الدين)
(1927 – 1996) was an Egyptian journalist who headed several magazines and
newspapers including Al-Ahram. Bahaa El-din was the first to criticize Sadat’s
economic policy, Infitah, adopted after the victory of October, 6 1973.
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