Passion

I believe one has the right to feel passion… either when he is in the company of his or her beloved one… or in the company of a feeling or meaning that haunts his human composition… as feelings and meanings vary as much as the human existence does.

I also believe that one has the right to turn his illusion into a reality… meaning I often doubted – as per the medical reports, x-rays and due to my current state that makes me either lay in bed or crouch down on the sofa for a disorder in my upper and lower backbone disks – that I can stay for an hour walking or standing still among the crowds and stampede who have no idea that this man they see is really sick… however, I was able to survive such state from the afternoon to the sunset… it was this state of passion that haunted me… I wore that white-linen Kaftan… beneath it was the Baladi vest… and above them the woolen Galabiya with the hand-woven laces I had them made at Abu Gerges; the Baladi tailor at Quesna.

At Bab Al-Fotouh, I got off and called my old friend Saeed Faramawi; the poet, ney player and visual artist whom we awarded the unique title “digital al-Jabarti” as he has hundreds of thousands of photos and videos of our beloved Egypt; north, south, east and west on his PC… the occasion was the big night or Mawled of Sidi Ali al-Bayoumi who once inhabited al-Hussayniyya district.

In my childhood, boyhood and early youth, I knew that my family has a blood relation to a Sufi Tariqa or order; that is al-Bayoumiya… for a long time I did not care to check the veracity of such thing... until last Thursday.

He is Ali Ibn Hegazi Al-Bayoumi… born in Al-Bayoum town in Daqahlyyia governorate in 1108 Hijri calendar… he is a descendent of Imam al-Hussain Ibn Imam Ali – Peace be upon them both… of the books he authored: Al-Moraba’a fi Al-Mazaheb Al-Arba’a or Al-Moraba’a in the four Mezhabs… Sharh Al-Gamea’e Al-Saghir or interpretation of Al-Gamea’e Al-Saghir… Sharh Al-Sira Al-Ahmadiya or interpretation of prophet Muhammed biography… Resala fil-Hudud or a thesis on Islamic punishments… Resala fil-Fawz wal-intebah… a third one in Fath al-Rahman wal-Anwar Al-Galyyia wal-Noor Al-Satea’e… a fourth in Al-Khalwatiyya Al-Demerdashiyya Tariqa or order… a fifth in Sharh Al-Asma’a Al-Idriesiyya.

Sidi Ali al-Bayoumi was adopting the order or Tariqa of Sidi Ahmed el-Badawi… he used to gather with his Muridin or committed ones in the mosque of Al-Zaher with the very strong stone pillars… what is really strange that some of the big criminals, gangsters and thugs used to go to him to blackmail his Muridin in the beginning… but unexpectedly, they repented and turned to be of his Muridin... Mawlana or Sidi al-Bayoumi used to tie them with iron chains to the mosque pillars… and sometimes encircle their necks with iron straps and pull them to the pillar while they were fully obedient… and when he used to ride his horse heading from Al-Hussainiyya to Al-Gammaliyya where the mosque of al-Hussain is, his Muridin used to accompany him including those past-criminals holding weapons and clubs… he looked like a crowned king… until he arrives at the shrine of al-Hussain inside the mosque and then he goes into Dhikr spiritual session of practicing repeating the names of God until he becomes like a wild beast… but once he finishes, he sits looking very weak…

It happened once that some religion scholars objected to his presence along with his Muridin because they make such noise in the mosque of al-Hussain and even asked to stop him from coming… but Imam Abdullah al-Shabrawi stood to them and asked them to be patient… then he asked al-Bayoumi to give them a sermon and then Sidi al-Bayoumi went on interpreting Al-Arba’een Al-Nawawiyya or the forty Hadith of an-Nawawi until he captured their hearts and they found he knew what they did not know.

I walked with my friend Faramawi and our friend Hisham al-Tohami to the mosque of Al-Bayoumi then back to Bab Al-Fotouh and Al-Moa’z street until the grand procession started to show… the procession of Al-Bayoumiyya Tariqa or order with their red badges, flags and banners… their songs, big percussion instruments and Muridin; those who were in a state of passion… but everyone on his own way.

What I saw some may consider a sign of retardation and obstacle on the way to build the modern state, especially those so called “strategic logical gentlemen” or others who consider all that is popular vulgar… to others, including me, this popular spirit that goes back to Osir or Osiris… then to Saint Menas… to Saint George… to Sidi ad-Dosouki… Sidi al-Badawi… Sidi Ash-Shazli… Sidi al-Bayoumi… and tens others like them… is the spirit in which mentioning God is in conciliation with music and swinging with it… such conciliation is inscribed on the arch heading Bab Al-Fotouh where you can find the symbol of Judaism with that of Christianity along with other symbols that represent Islam… here I ask everyone who have the desire and capacity to go to Bab Al-Fotouh and stand before the shrine of az-Zouq who did not leave Egypt… and then go to the outer yard before the gate and look up to the arch and see the symbols I am talking about.

In that procession, people were in thousands happy and generous in distributing Sherbet, dates and sweets on anyone they meet… everyone were chanting with passion the name of Allah as if you feel yourself listening to the most beautiful Operatic voices.

At that moment, I said to myself that our beloved Egypt will always be protected and have good in it… its old-in-history roots will come back again stronger and stronger no matter how the salafist muslim brotherhood trend is emotionless or passionless.

Translated into English by: Dalia Elnaggar

This article was published in Almasry alyoum newspaper on April 5, 2017.

To see the original article, go to:

http://ahmadelgammal.blogspot.com.eg/2017/04/blog-post.html

#almasry_alyoum #ahmed_elgammal #Egypt #mawaled #egyptian_heritage

Our immunity system… killing injury

Painting depicting celebrating Mawaled in Egypt

We’re still talking about what I think major harms that hit our national Egyptian immunity system directly affecting it in a way that allowed terrorism cancer to spread through extremism, fanaticism, and religion-proclaimed ignorance. In previous articles, I stated four harms including one I called the greatest calamity for it hit the civilized and cultural aspects of the Egyptian mind in the core.

Today I repeat and say what has been always said and proved right; destroying is easier than building. What Egyptians have accumulated, in both mind and conscience, throughout centuries is a very cohesive combination where elements and prerequisites of Egyptian existence have mingled together and integrated in a way very similar to that when you place bricks next to one another layering them in courses over one another and attaching them together using a very strong mortar. Such cohesion can be found between the valley and Delta, and the desert; the River Nile and sea; and also between pre-dynasty ancient Egypt and Modern state in Dynastic-era ancient Egypt. Afterwards came digesting the newcomer by integrating him in Egypt’s cultural fabric, even if that newcomer was occupation.

In order not to complicate things anymore, I will give you examples I’m never bored of repeating; the Egyptian braids. In my opinion, it was not a coincidence those who excelled at braiding palm foliage into beautiful woven artistic pieces celebrating Easter and Sham el-Nessim[1] or even weaving them into baskets and robes producing a very distinguished Egyptian-flavored art, have outshined as well in braiding and weaving their own terms of religion, culture, folklore, and mythology. I believe those keen Mawaled[2] attendees – whom I belong to – whether Christian or Islamic Mawaled, enjoy very much the mystical mix between Sufi Inshad[3]; Islamic and Christian, to the extent they may day-dream over the beautiful rhythm and lyrics.

We have a lot of braids in our cultural heritage; the one woven among Isis, Om el-Noor[4] Mary the Virgin, and purified Om Hashem[5]; Khamsa w khemisa[6]; Mar Gergis[7] and al-Khidr;[8][9] Ahl al-Bayt[10], and four Qutbs[11] of Sufism[12] along with the twenty-four elders of revelation; in addition to other braids. Each braid has its own unique characteristics, some I experienced myself while others could be seen in our accumulated heritage. I apologize for what you may find obscure and incomprehensible here, however, I can say, these are the core of our Egyptian cultural heritage. Proverbs, popular pieces of wisdom, and even heritage of illusionists and folklore Inshad performers, all enjoyed a very specific Egyptian-style distinction; such distinction that is characterized by depth, tolerance, strength, and heroism as well. This heritage also did not miss exits to escape the deluge if needed!

Suddenly everything went darker as if an octopus-like demon landed on our mind and conscience prompting hundreds-of-centuries-accumulated ethics to vanish. Isis, Mary, and Om Hashem purity was replaced by woman’s impurity. Woman became nothing but Awra[13] due to be covered and dealt with as a source of seduction and evil! Braids woven in our civilization and culture started to unravel; war against our ancient Egyptian history raged; monuments, wisdom texts and Egyptian innovation became nothing but idols and atheism symbols. The battlefield even widened to include Christian Coptic Egypt. New raids targeting all that is rational or emotional in our heritage, all that does not comply with their twisted ideology, are conducted every day by those behaving as guardians of the society. Homeland and patriotism, Egypt itself, became meaningless in their dictionary, to the extent that one of them, Muhammed Akef, ex-head of muslim brotherhood -head of terrorism- once said: “let Egypt go to hell and those living on its land as well”. It’s an evil demon that wrecked Egypt and turned it upside down. A new set of beliefs replaced all what we used to know. I believe that was the most dangerous harm that hit our country immunity system in the core.

It could be easy or difficult – but eventually possible – to build factories and laboratories, to reclaim desert, to tame the river, to stand against the sea, to make up what we had left behind in production, invention, and discoveries. But it’s almost impossible to rebuild the civilization and culture accumulated through ages dating back to the pre-dynasty era in Egyptian history; meaning since more than 7000 years.

Other examples are the Jihadi muslim-brotherhood salafist war declared against Mawaled, holy shrines, and our entire popular heritage in this field. They succeeded to a great extent; they managed to drain hundreds-of-centuries-lasting resources that used to enrich our Inshad heritage, the one that dates back to pre-divine-religions Pharaonic deities like Amun[14], Ra[15], Aton[16], Geb[17], Nut[18], and others. War raged as well on other Christian and Islamic figures like Mary the Virgin, Mar Gergis, Mar Mina[19], Ahl el-Bayt, four Qutbs of Sufism; al-Jilani, ar-Rifa'i, al-Badawi, el-Desouki and other prominent Sufi figures who followed them like ash-Shadhili [20], al-Qenawi[21], Abu'l-'Abbas [22] and dozens others… After Inshad came reciting the Holy Bible including liturgies, and then came Quran reciting. The Egyptian school in Quran reciting has shined producing many who enriched our religious heritage like Muhammed Refaat, Muhammed El-Siyfi, Subh, al-Munged, Taha al-Fashni, Ali Mahmood, Abdel-Hakam, Mustafa Ismael, Abdel-Baset Abdel-Samad, Mahmood Ali el-Banna, Muhammed Seddiq Al-Menshawi, Muhammed Mahmood Al-Tablawi in addition to hundreds others[23]… All those eminent figures rose from Mawaled and religious celebrations. This beautiful spring that used to water and enrich our heritage was dried thanks to those tactless senseless poor-minded creatures with their rigid bloody interpretation of religion. Azan[24] is now echoing, shouting with ugly hoarse voices instead of the pleasant-sounding melodic one given by Sheikhs Ali Mahmood, Muhammed Refaat, or Taha el-Fashni.

Examples are many and exhausting to list… This harm was the worst to hit Egypt immunity system… May God save our beloved Egypt.

Translated into English by: Dalia Elnaggar

This article was published in Al Ahram newspaper on February 25, 2016.

To see the original Arabic version, go to:

http://www.ahram.org.eg/News/131827/4/481664/%D9%82%D8%B6%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1/%D8%AC%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A7%D

#alahram#ahmed_elgammal#Egypt#immunity_system#heritage#culture#extremeism#terrorism#muslim_brotherhood#Christianity#Islam#Pharaohs#religion#mawaled#Bible#Quran#Inshad#history#civilization#homeland#patriotism#braids#egyptian_braids#sufism#ahl_el_beyt#folklore#Easter#Sham_el_Nessim#river_Nile

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[1] Sham el-Nessim: (Egyptian Arabic: شم النسيم) is an Egyptian national holiday marking the beginning of spring. It always falls on the day after the Eastern Christian Easter (following the custom of the largest Christian denomination in the country, the Coptic Orthodox Church). Despite the Christian-related date, the holiday is celebrated by Egyptians regardless of religion. (Source: Wikipedia)

[2] 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.

[3] Inshad: (Arabic: إنشاد) a kind of chanting that makes musical sound with the voice. It’s found in both Islamic and Christian heritage.

[4] Om el-Noor: (Arabic: أم النور) a title given to Mary the Virgin meaning mother of light depicting Jesus as light.

[5] Om Hashem: (Arabic: أم هاشم) a title given to Sayyieda Zainab bent Ali, grand-daughter of Prophet Muhammed, who came to Egypt after the killing of her brother Hussien ibn Ali in the battle of Karbala. In Egypt, it’s enough to say as-Sayyieda (Arabic: سيدة, meaning the dame) to mean Sayyieda Zainab.

[6] Khamsa w khemisa (Arabic: خمسة وخميسة) is a palm-shaped amulet popular throughout the Middle East and North Africa, and commonly used in jewelry and wall hangings. Depicting the open right hand, an image recognized and used as a sign of protection in many times throughout history, Khamsa w khemisa is believed to provide defense against the evil eye. Khamsa is an Arabic word that means "five", but also "the five fingers of the hand". It may also be taken as a reference to the primary number itself. (Source: Wikipedia)

[7] 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)

[8] Al-Khidr: (Arabic: الخضر) is a mystical figure that some believe to be described in the Quran as a righteous servant of God possessing great wisdom or mystic knowledge. In various Islamic and non-Islamic traditions, Khidr is described as a messenger, prophet, wali or in some cases as a god of the material world. The figure of al-Khidr has been syncretized over time with various other figures like Saint George. (Source: Wikipedia)

[9] Some believe al-Khidr and Saint George are the same character while others argue it’s not since al-khidr lived during the life of Moses and Saint George came nearly 300 years after Jesus was born. However, the resemblance between the two figures along with their significance in both Christianity and Islam still represents a major source of syncretism between the two religions, and another braid added to many woven by Egyptians throughout their history.

[10] Ahl al-Bayt: (Arabic: أهل البيت) is a phrase meaning, literally, "People of the House" or "Family of the House". Within the Islamic tradition, the term refers to the family of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. (Source: Wikipedia)

[11] Qutb: (Arabic: قطب‎), means 'axis', 'pivot' or 'pole'. In Sufism, a Qutb is the perfect human being, al-insān al-kāmil (Arabic: الإنسان الكامل) (The Universal Man), who leads the saintly hierarchy. The Qutb is the Sufi spiritual leader that has a divine connection with God and passes knowledge on which makes him central to, or the axis of, Sufism, but he is unknown to the world. There is only one Qutb per era and he is an infallible and trusted spiritual leader. He is only revealed to a select group of mystics because there is a "human need for direct knowledge of God". (Source: Wikipedia)

[12] Four Qutbs of Sufism are Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (Arabic: (عبدالقادر الجيلاني; Ahmed ar-Rifa'i (Arabic: أحمد الرفاعي); Ahmad Al-Badawi (Arabic: أحمد البدوي); and Ibrahim El-Desouki (Arabic: إبراهيم الدسوقي).

[13] Awra: (Arabic: عورة) meaning it should not appear before anyone.

[14] Amun: (Arabic: آمون) was a major Egyptian deity.

[15] Ra: (Arabic: رع) is the ancient Egyptian sun god. By the Fifth Dynasty in the 25th and 24^th centuries bc, he had become a major god in ancient Egyptian religion, identified primarily with the noon sun. (Source: Wikipedia)

[16] Aton or Aten: (Arabic: آتون) is the disk of the sun in ancient Egyptian mythology. The religion of Atenism was established by Amenhotep IV, who later took the name Akhenaten in worship and recognition of Aten. In his poem "Great Hymn to the Aten", Akhenaten praises Aten as the creator, giver of life, and nurturing spirit of the world. Aten does not have a Creation Myth or family, but is mentioned in the Book of the Dead. The worship of Aten was eradicated by Horemheb. (Source: Wikipedia)

[17] Geb: (Arabic: جب) was the Egyptian god of the Earth and a member of the Ennead of Heliopolis. It was believed in ancient Egypt that Geb's laughter were earthquakes and that he allowed crops to grow. (Source: Wikipedia)

[18] Nut: (Arabic: نوت) is the goddess of the sky in the Ennead of ancient Egyptian religion. She was seen as a star-covered nude woman arching over the earth, or as a cow. (Source: Wikipedia)

[19] Mar Mina or Saint Mina: (Arabic: مار مينا) (285 – c. 309) the Martyr and Wonder-worker, is one of the most well-known Egyptian saints in the East and the West, due to the many miracles that are attributed to his intercession and prayers. Mina was an Egyptian soldier in the Roman army, martyred because he refused to recant his Christian faith. His feast day is celebrated every year on 15 Hathor (November 24) in the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and on November 11 in the West and East. (Source: Wikipedia)

[20] Abu al-Hasan ash-Shadhili: (Arabic: أبو الحسن الشاذلي‎) is an influential North-African Islamic scholar and Sufi, founder of the Shadhili Sufi order. (Source: Wikipedia)

[21] Abdel-Reheem Al-Qenawi: (Arabic: عبد الرحيم القنائي) was a Moroccan Islamic scholar and cleric, founder of the Raheemieya Qenawiya Sufi order.

[22] Al-Mursi Abu'l-'Abbas: (Arabic: المرسي أبو العباس‎) is a Sufi saint from Al-Andalus who later in his life moved to Alexandria in Egypt. He is one of the four master saints of Egypt, the other three being Ahmad al-Badawi, al-Dessouqi and al-Haggag. (Source: Wikipedia)

[23] All those before mentioned were very prominent Egyptian Quran reciters.

[24] Azan: (Arabic: آذان) is the Islamic call to worship, recited by the muezzin (Arabic: مؤذن) at prescribed times of the day. (Source: Wikipedia)