Thoughts regarding July

I ask the permission of dear readers to write about what may seem thoughts or issues bothering me in the 65 anniversary of the revolution that deeply affected my conscience among millions others… I start by saying that there is a difference between the July 23^rd revolution and Gamal Abdel-Nasser… and between them both and Nasserism… and between the three of them and Nasserists.

In reading and understanding history, one should not mix between phenomena since each one has its own exclusive features in origin and course… however, that does not negate the interference and relations of mutual effect between them one another, the thing that requires high accuracy from the political analyzer or historian while he is using his scientific tools to detangle this from that.

I say this because I think it is now time for objective scientific analysis that puts the record straight and attributes every action to its doer, every mistake to the one who made it, and every crime to the one who committed it… and also accredits the one who made an achievement based on a good idea, proper application, and unbiased follow-up… as the July 23^rd revolution was not a package to be taken as a whole… and Nasser the young man is different to Nasser the fresh graduate officer… to Nasser the lieutenant colonel… to Nasser with the political ideology who worked in a secret revolutionary group… to Nasser the president and leader who enjoyed undeniable popularity that even his fiercest rivals and strongest enemies cannot argue about.

Moreover, the social theory – according to what Sa’ad ed-Din Ibrahim said – whose ideological and systematic sides came to exist and held the name Nasserism came after Nasser… and those who believed in it and played a national role under its slogan became distributed – I will not say divided – among parties, organized entities, and groups… and disagreement between some of them reached to the extent that some of those some allowed themselves to cooperate with muslim brotherhood, make alliances with them in the parliamentary elections, and take photos together with their mouths wide with laughter and faces brightening with satisfaction.

And so, a serious analyzer finds himself facing different phenomena which confirm that generalization is not right and mixing between things is unacceptable.

2

It happened that I was close to some of those who had connections with the July revolution and were of the Free Officers Movement… and others who worked as officials under the presidency of leader Gamal Abdel-Nasser and not all of them were of the Free Officers… and to be one of those who believed in and raised the slogan of Nasserism and worked to entrench it in the political arena and establish it as a theoretical structure… I also worked with many others of different generations, categories, and cultures to set up a party adopting the Nasserism ideology.

The first public attempt was the Nasserist Socialist Platform whose program I wrote and was submitted to the “Committee of the Future of Political Work” formed by Sadat in 1976 and headed by Sayed Mari’e. I was one of the three who went to the meeting headed by Mostafa Khalil on behalf of Sayed Mari’e to discuss the program of the Nasserist Platform read before the committee by the late genuine patriotic figure Mr. Kamal ed-Din Mahmoud Refa’at known as Kamal Refa’at. My relation with him strengthened after he had left his work as an ambassador for Egypt in London and disagreed to Sadat.

I was close to the Free Officers; Kamal Refa’at, Amin Howeidi, Salah Sea’da, Helmi as-Saied, Ahmed Shoheib, Ahmed Hamroush, Khaled Mohie ed-Din, Abdel-Mohsen Abo Elnour… and was close to those who worked with president Nasser; gentlemen Ali Sabri, Sha’arawi Gomaa, Amin Howeidi, Mohammed Fayek, Diaa’ Dawoud, Mohammed Fawzi, Sa’ad Zayed, Helmi as-Saied, Hamed Mahmoud, Sami Sharaf…

I believe I have a lot to say as a personal opinion that can be criticized and discussed just like any oral history and any analysis of personality… as no one can confirm he is not inclined or unbiased… or even claim his opinion is true just like sacred scripts.

Regarding the time span from 1971 until our present time; meaning for 46 years, there were years when I missed no day without meeting and having discussions with Nasserists, Marxists, members of Tagammo’a party, Wafd party, al-‘Amal party, and others of Islamic orientations… meaning I have more than a lot to say.

I also met president Sadat… he was one of the Free Officers and worked with president Nasser… but because he made it to the presidency, I could not list his name among the ones mentioned above… that meeting with him was set by Mr. Heikal, may he rest in peace, in September 1973, and attended by Mr. Mamdouh Salem, Dr. Ahmed Kamal Abo el-Magd, and Dr. Ismail Ghanem; then-Ain Shams University president and later minister of education, may he rest in peace.

That meeting attended by a bunch of university student union leaders lasted for five hours and a half… I was the second speaker who talked long until president Sadat said: “enough so that your colleagues can have a chance to talk…” when my colleagues answered… “let him continue”… I continued until the president asked about my name then he looked to Mamdouh Salem and said: “Mamdouh… my son X… if he asked to see me at midnight, you bring him to me”… and it happened already that Mr. Mamdouh Salem brought me and put me in preventive custody for almost a year in 1977.

All those details encouraged me to confirm the necessity to distinguish between July 23^rd revolution, Gamal Abdel-Nasser, Nasserism, and also Nasserists… as honestly when I used to deal, on the political or organizational levels, with some of those big names who worked with the legendary leader Nasser, I wondered with myself first then before others: how could the man accomplish what he accomplished and go through all those fights while officials with such composition were working with him?!

3

I also was close to another category who worked with President Nasser and who were not members of the Free Officers Movement or worked in the armed forces… but they were civil efficient figures like Dr. Aziz Dedki, Dr. Mostafa Khalil, Dr. Mohammed Helmi Mourad, Mr. Fathi Radwan, Mr. Mohammed Hassanien Heikal, in addition to many others who were close to the president and collaborated with him… most of them were prominent figures of Marxist Left and each one of those has his own narration and vision regarding July 23^rd revolution, Nasser, Nasserism, and Nasserists.

Here, I can say that despite the different visions starting from the Free Officers who contributed to building the group, conducting the revolution, and working as officials in the regime of president Nasser… to officials of academic civil backgrounds… they all agreed on one key thing; belonging to the nation and believing in their message that asks for no reward or thanking… also, clarity of social and political visions was the base and foundation for what was achieved and which took a very long time to demolish by those who wanted to demolish it… and even some of this legacy were unable to be destroyed.

Now dear readers, you ask me… if the matter is that clear and needs no mixing between phenomena… and analysis needs accuracy to put each phenomenon in it proper course and discuss points of interference and mutual effect… then why do those who realize such thing not undertake such mission?

I answer: it is due to negligence and wasting time in replying to the nonsense that does not cease to attack July 23^rd revolution and Nasser… and because of practices committed by some Nasserists that give excuse to such attack.

Translated into English by: Dalia Elnaggar

This article was published in Al Ahram newspaper on July 27, 2017.

To see the original article, go to:

http://ahmadelgammal.blogspot.com.eg/2017/07/blog-post_26.html

#alahram #ahmed_elgammal #Egypt #July_23_1952_revolution #Nasser

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

---

[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.