Heikal… unexpected talk

The first annual anniversary since Mr. Muhammed Hassanien Heikal left us is about to come… He did not like – and sometimes even mocked – worshiping the individual and turning humans into myths because that will consequently require the existence of priests and dervishes who live or make living from such myths... Those people can even make up or invent what does not exist at all without feeling guilty or afraid that someone may expose them… The man; Mr. Heikal, had a distinguish ability to recognize all those; the one pretending to be educated, the ignorant, the informer, the one who makes living out of such myths… He was also capable of recognizing the intellectual, talented and all others… Moreover, he was able to keep all those around him and employ them in the right way.

After almost a year since he left our world, I went through some of his books and writings. The last thing issued in such regard was the third part of the volumes containing his articles titled “Besaraha” he used to publish in Al Ahram newspaper. The volumes are published by Al Ahram centre for translation and publishing. Such effort is attributed to Al Ahram, the centre and the stuff working in it.

On May 25^th, 1962, Mr. Heikal wrote his weekly article titled “Nation… its role in making the hero and hero role in the nation’s life… one night talk on the Adriatic shore”.

In that article, Mr. Heikal narrated what happened when President Nasser came back from Yugoslavia, the dangers that surrounded him and Nasser’s decision to head to Moscow. He also talked about the role Dr. Muhammed Fawzi played in that scene. I excerpt the following part from his article, such part I believe is very important in our current political and historical scene. Heikal wrote:

“the ability to stay true and honest is the most difficult thing for those who make it to the top of the power… since they have a lot of illusions spinning in their heads… they are also surrounded by the fancy atmosphere of power… that dazzling sparkling ambiance that make them live in an imaginary mythical atmosphere… however, Gamal Abdel-Nasser had the ability to stay true...

… out of this ability to stay true, Nasser could – while his nation regarded him like no other nation did with their leaders – talk about the collective leadership as a restraint to prevent the individual from going astray in power illusions”.

After that, Heikal wrote what I think are very important lines to remember because they are close to the philosophy of history:

“the worst tragedies in the nations’ history happened when they forget the real meaning of the hero’s role in his nation’s history… that deceiving illusion about the individual’s greatness or immorality led many nations to certain damnation because the hero role in the nation’s history went out of its real limits… he forgot his role and went looking for his personal glory…

… In some phases of the nation’s history, the hero is a necessity. However, the hero is not above the nation, otherwise there would be a fatal tragedy… Nations make heroes out of long sufferings of pain and danger… and the hero’s mission is to guide his nation to hope and security… meaning that hero is the bridge the nation crosses from pain to hope, from danger to safety… this is the real mission of the hero in his nation’s history… this is what determines his worth… and in case the hero forgot his true role, he transforms from a bridge into an obstacle standing in his nation’s way to achieve progress… in such case, the nation has to destroy that past-time hero and move him out of its way in order to keep moving forward because in such case the hero turns into a false idol…

… The hero is a tool the nation makes in a certain time of its history, especially the time of pain and danger… such time necessitates that an extraordinary man shall talk command of the nation in order to make decisive decisions… such ability to be decisive shall be inspired by the nation and its potent power, otherwise the hero would be alienated from the power that first made him…

… At the time of crises, the nations need more than what an ordinary man or usual state institutions can provide… and here comes the necessity of the hero role even in the most democratic nations…”.

Dear reader, this was written in 1962 when Nasser was at the zenith of his glory as an international, Arab and Egyptian leader… I ask you to read it more than once because – as I said above – it is close to the philosophy of history and the historic role of the hero or individual… this issue may have to do with the reality of many countries in our present time.

After this philosophical and historical analysis, Mr. Heikal gave an example of Winston Churchill in the life of the British nation in 1940. At that time, pure materialistic evaluation for the situation for any ordinary man heading the British cabinet required that he should surrender to Hitler… as the German forces, under the leadership of Marshal Von Buch, invaded Poland in days… and German armored vehicles advanced and was able to siege Maginot line and occupy Holland, Belgium and Luxemburg in hours… then the German army went forward by the genius German war generals like Rommel and Halder and made France kneel asking for peace”…

Mr. Heikal continued focusing on the tyranny of Germany and Hitler and how the Germans invaded Europe and made the Soviet Union make a non-aggression treaty with Hitler… at that time, Britain seemed – due to all those circumstances – to be obliged to surrender… however, connected to his nation’s soul and potent power, Churchill was able to feel that his nation possessed an extraordinary power to face such extraordinary circumstances… he then said his very famous quote: “we will fight on land, sea and air… we will fight on the coasts and fields… we will fight in the streets and homes”… that loud shout was the decisive moment when ebb started to turn into tide”.

At this point I stop to honor the first anniversary since Mr. Heikal left our world… that anniversary will be on Friday, February 7^th… however, I may come back later and excerpt some of the wealth of his wisdom.

Translated into English by: Dalia Elnaggar

This article was published in Al Ahram newspaper on February 9^th, 2017.

To see the original article, go to:

http://ahmadelgammal.blogspot.com.eg/2017/02/blog-post_9.html

#alahram #ahmed_elgammal #Nasser #Heikal

Heikal and “The Ugly American”, 1961

That was in February, 1961… meaning almost 55 years and 9 months ago… I thought it would be objective if I excerpted lengthy texts of what was written then… although I realize that history does not repeat itself, and that time is like rivers; you cannot use the same water twice because it runs continuously, the resemblance between the two eras is clear… I also believe that the learned lesson from this historical context is that the Americans do not learn or make use of their accumulated experiences… because until this very moment they are still asking us the same daft question; “why do you hate us?”... it seems they are bathing in a waterless river.

I read, maybe for the third time, texts of articles written by Mr. Muhammed Hassanien Heikal – may he rest in peace. I keep revising what he wrote and which was then related to the events, maybe due to my academic study of history and my profession as a journalist. I found an article titled “The Ugly American and the actual American policy as we saw it this week”. The article was written by Mr. Heikal on February 24^th, 1961 and published in the second part of the series issued by Al Ahram centre for publication.

Heikal starts his article saying: “as if I am reading once again the story of “The Ugly American” that was the most popular publication in the last three years… the story was written by two American diplomats; William Lederer and Eugene Burdick, in which they depicted some features of the American policy in Asia and Africa… they expressed through the scenes and situations of their story that strange mix of “silliness” and “ribaldry” in this policy… these are not my words; it is what the two authors of the story said in narrating the experiences they lived serving in the American diplomacy”.

Heikal continues: “this week in Cairo – February 1961 – I felt, like I said before, as if I am rereading the story of The Ugly American… this time, it was not written on paper or portrayed in a play scene or over movie screen… actually, it was a living picture in reality that combines that strange mix in the American policy, like it was once illustrated in the novel; a mix of “silliness” and “ribaldry”… I do not like these descriptions implied by the two words, as they may indicate a sense of offence, but I have to stick to the credibility of translating from “The Ugly American”.

Afterwards, Heikal goes on in his article talking about a question directed by an American official to one of the Egyptian diplomats working in the embassy of the United Arab Republic – Egypt – in Washington at that time. The question was about Egypt voting for 15 times in the United Nations agreeing to the Soviet Union stances. Mr. Heikal mentioned some of the situations when that voting of same opinions took place, including: a motion for decolonization, voting over the membership of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations, a motion submitted by Ghana over the Congo crisis, voting over a complaint submitted by Cuba against the USA, a motion to release Lumumba and disarm Mobutu’s soldiers, voting over a motion to grant Algeria its independence, a motion to convict Belgium of its attack over Congo…etc.

Then, Mr. Heikal goes into narrating an experience he had when he found himself part of a discussion with a famous American journalist whom he met in Casablanca. The American journalist stirred many issues starting with Egypt being ungrateful to America’s favor of unveiling Israel’s attempt to obtain an atomic bomb. Mr. Heikal answered: “do you want to know the truth or you will get mad?”. The American answered: “I’m all ears”.

Heikal: “there was nothing secret to us regarding Israel nuclear activities… we were following its attempts… and I want you to know that Israel to us is a matter of life or death, and we are keeping our eyes open on it all the time… moreover, I can even tell you that we have photos and outlines in Cairo for that new atomic reactor Israel is trying to build in Naqab… as to the attack over you, there is a simple explanation for that; that is we believe, and this is actually the truth, that Israel capacity depends mainly on your generosity… without this generosity, Israel cannot survive”.

Heikal continues disclosing for the American journalist the secret lying behind America revealing the Israeli atomic activity, saying: “American secret services have arrested an American atomic energy scientist of Jewish origins while he was handing secret documents of the American atomic researches to one of the Israeli embassy men. This is the reason behind all this fuss and public declaration…”. Mr. Heikal continues: “surprisingly, two days ago – February, 1961 – I received a message sent to me from Washington from that American journalist containing only one sentence: “I’m not mad”.

Mr. Heikal ends his article – which he wrote 55 years ago – writing: “as if I was reading the novel of “The Ugly American” while I am listening to and keeping an eye on some conducts of the American embassy men in Cairo. One of them is a minister plenipotentiary named Francis Allan. He does not like this country; Egypt, or what is going on in it, and he does not keep his opinions for himself, actually, he goes saying them everywhere because he, according to his words, is an experienced expert of Egypt and Egyptians since he was working as an archeologist in Harvard University’ excavation trips near the pyramid in the pre-July 23^rd revolution era in Egypt.

In his opinion, Egypt witnessed no revolution because the Egyptian peasant, according to his own estimation, does not repel, and that actually, he succumbs to his fate, accepts poverty and humiliation and does not seek to change his destiny, again, because he – the American diplomat – believes the Egyptian is dull and incapable of taking actions… and that all projects of industrialization in Egypt according to the American diplomat’s opinion are merely fancy dreams… even the High Dam is nothing but a modern-type pyramid built by the ruler to be a memorial to him… and that the Egyptian people love America and adore Britain but only their rulers are the ones opposing America and Britain’s policy due to feeling inferior to them… nothing more or less.

“No one would have blamed the American minister plenipotentiary Francis Allan if he wrote this opinion in his reports for the American government. In any case, what he writes or read by his government is incapable of changing history. However, he is definitely blamed for forgetting that he is in Cairo right now, thinking he is still lost among the excavations in the royal epoch, and not paying attention to the fact that time has changed”, Heikal wrote.

Mr. Heikal then writes about another American: “another one of them, the one who was caught distributing inciting leaflets early in the morning at the cornice. He found nothing to defend himself but to say that air blew and so the leaflets flew out of his car window to the street… also, the military attaché in the American embassy in Cairo who went talking in one of the parties this week – February, 1961 – about the protests that surrounded the embassy and kept shouting against the American policies that were involved in Patrice Lumumba’s death. The military attaché said that some of his men were equipped with Tommy Guns inside the embassy, and that orders for them to fire at the protesters were ready in case they stormed into the embassy. I do not know what would have happened if a single shot was fired from the American embassy. Most probably, the military attaché himself does not know what would have happened… these are live depiction of “The Ugly American” novel and true description of its characters… and then they become angry when we tell them this”.

Excerption from Mr. Heikal’s article ends… Now, we can only say, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Translated into English by: Dalia Elnaggar

This article was published in Al Ahram newspaper on October 13, 2016.

To see the original article, go to:

http://ahmadelgammal.blogspot.com.eg/2016/10/1961.html

#alahram #ahmed_elgammal #Egypt #usa #Heikal #american_policies #the_ugly_american

Heikal… pre-farewell symbols

 

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

This article was published in Almasry alyoum newspaper on March 1, 2016.

To see the original Arabic version, go to:

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/news/details/902392

#almasry_alyoum#Ahmed_elgammal#Heikal#Egypt#Nasserism#Quran#alimam_alhussain#Journalism#Muhammed_Refaat

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[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)

[12] Gawari: (Arabic: جواري) plural for Gariya (جارية) which mean woman slave.

[13] Ma malakat aymanukum: ("those whom you own", Arabic: ما ملكت أيمانکم‎) is a reference in the Qur'an to slaves. (Source: Wikipedia)

[14] Fiqh al-Ghelman: (Arabic: فقه الغلمان) ???

[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.

[22] Khalas: (Arabic: خلاص) Arabic for salvation.

[23] Umma: (Arabic: أمة) meaning nation in Arabic.

[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.