It’s rare, and
perhaps impossible, to find an Egyptian, whether an individual or family,
boasting of its Roman or Greek origins, or of his French, British or European
origins in general. Even if it happened and we found one having yellowish or
reddish hair and blue eyes, we make fun of him by saying that he must have come
from one of those villages situated in the course where Bonaparte’s French
Campaign followed, or that his grandmother was from Malta or Greece.
Also, it’s less rare
to find some people talking of their Turkish origins like having a Turkish maternal
mother. Some even feel no shame to say that she was a white maid in the Khedive
or Sultan’s court. There was also a time when standards of human beauty were
about having round white face and smooth black hair like those of the Mongol
faces, fur Turks belong to the Mongol race with their round skulls and sleek
hair.
However, it’s not
rare to find some Egyptians boasting of their origins descending from the
Arabian Peninsula and Al-Hijaz area in specific where the two Holy Mosques
reside. Some even exaggerate when they insist that they belong to Al-Ashraaf
through both their fathers and mothers and show you their membership card in
Al-Ashraaf Syndicate, and perhaps if you asked any of those about whom of the
two grandsons of Prophet Muhammed; al-Hussein or al-Hassan, their origins
descend from, they say they don’t know and that they were just told so.
Here we can see
that we have a special connection between the Egyptians and the Arabian
Peninsula. Some may think this connection has to do with the Arabs’ invasion
and Islam entering Egypt. However, history says such connection dates back to
much earlier times. As no one can deny Egypt’s status as a destination for
those coming from the east looking for good living and also seeking protection.
Moreover, the
Holy books contain an abundance of texts narrating stories related to such
phenomenon, especially as related to some prophets and messengers, atop of them
is prophet Ibrahim, his grandson Ya’qoub and other grandsons like Youssef, Benjamin
and their brothers… also Mousa, Harun and Jesus. They all came from the east
long before the Arabs’ invasion and before prophet Muhammed was sent a
messenger; meaning they came from the Arabian Peninsula and its extensions in
Iraq and Levant, not to mention the effect of a single Egyptian woman in such
regard; that was Hagar mother of Ismail.
In addition, many
researchers of ancient history, especially that related to the cultural and civilization
interactions including the theological ones having to do with religious doctrines,
talk, for example, of the worship of woman and sanctifying her like Isis[1], and Nephthys[2] were in Egypt and Allat[3], Manat[4], and al-‘Uzza[5] at the Arabian Peninsula,
some even say that Allat is Isis, not to mention the architectural styles and
the role of ancient Egyptian engineers in establishing worship places in the
Arabian Peninsula as the head of the Egyptian cobra appears in the columns of
some holy places.
It’s also very
strange that some remain silent or try to ignore the mutual interactions
between Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula in the Christian era, as due to my
thorough readings in the Christian and Islamic literatures, I believe that such
interactions are deep. For example, when we swear to God, we say “I swear three
times to God” not paying attention that such oath has to do with the Christian
doctrine of the Trinity! Now, one should wonder when and how such form of oath
existed! Adding to this that Egypt founded monasticism and the whole Christian
world took monasticism from Egypt where names like Saints Anthony, Pachomius, Paul
and others shined in the world of monasticism. As to the Islamic world, with
the Arabian Peninsula and Egypt in the heart of it, Sufism developed and later had
its figures of Sufi heritage that is not less important than that of
monasticism figures.
In such regard, I’d
like to say that some deliberately ignore what some books narrating prophet
Muhammed’s biography say about the incident of the discussion that took place between
Bahira the monk and Abu Taleb paternal uncle of prophet Muhammed. As the former
was the first to foretell that the young boy accompanying his uncle in Quraysh’s
caravan heading towards the Levant was going to be sent a prophet for the whole
nation. The monk Bahira advised Abu Taleb of taking care of his nephew lest the
Jews kill him!
I don’t want to
go on narrating some of what was mentioned in those same books about the voice
prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him, heard while he was worshiping prior to the
first revelation of Jibril, or his stance towards a portray depicting Mary the
Virgin and her son or a statue for them at the conquest of Mecca and destroying
cult images.
On another side, earnest
researchers were capable of studying this relation of mutual effects between one
of the early Christian doctrines that appeared in the third century AD and
developed during the first quarter of the fourth century. Such studies were
about the nature of Jesus and Islam. In such regard, some cite what is said to
be prophet Muhammed’s message to Heraclius emperor of the Byzantine Empire in
which there is a sentence hinting at that Christian doctrine. Moving to the
Islamic age along with its consecutive eras, we can find another course of
unlimited mutual interactions and effects, including positive and negative ones,
with all of them telling of multifaceted human interactions.
Finally, I’d like
to say that it’s grossly wrong that some attribute the relations exchanged
within this coherent geographical area to a certain time period. In doing so,
they attract the direct enemies of that era. It’s also terribly wrong that some
try to ignore long and deep historical courses just to provoke a certain regime
here or there. However, what is not even worth mentioning, as it’s quite despicable,
is that some adopt a chauvinist racist discourse in dealing with human
societies, cultures and civilizations.
Translated into
English by: Dalia Elnaggar
This article was
published in Al Ahram newspaper on December 3, 2015.
To see the original
article, go to:
#alahram
#ahmed_elgammal #Egypt #Arabian_peninsula
[1] Isis: (Arabic: إيزيس) is a
goddess from the polytheistic pantheon of Egypt. She was first worshiped in Ancient Egyptian religion, and later her worship spread throughout the Roman Empire and the
greater Greco-Roman
world. Isis was worshipped as the ideal
mother and wife as well as the patroness of nature and magic. Isis is often
depicted as the mother of Horus, the falcon-headed deity associated with king and kingship
(although in some traditions Horus's mother was Hathor).
Isis is also known as protector of the dead and goddess of children. (Source:
Wikipedia)
[2] Nephthys: (Arabic: نفتيس)
was a goddess in ancient Egyptian religion. A member of the Great Ennead of Heliopolis in Egyptian mythology, she was a daughter of Nut and Geb. Nephthys was typically paired with her sister Isis in funerary rites because of
their role as protectors of the mummy and the god Osiris and
as the sister-wife of Set. (Source: Wikipedia)
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