Читать книгу Return of the Pharaoh - Zainab Al-Ghazali - Страница 10
ОглавлениеJamal ‘Abd al-Nasir:1 Hatred and Vengeance
On my way home one afternoon, on a wintry day in early February 1964, my car suddenly turned upside down after colliding with another vehicle. The sheer force of the collision sent me into a state of semi-consciousness, and despite the severity of my pains the only thing I could comprehend, from all that was happening around me, was the panicky voice of someone calling my name. I can only assume that I then passed out for when I woke up I found myself in Heliopolis. Hospital surrounded by my husband, brothers, sisters and some of my colleagues in da’wah. As was evident from the expression on their faces they were all acutely distressed but within seconds I passed out again.
I can recall mumbling: ‘Thank God, thank God!’, as if enquiring about what happened. It then all came flooding back, and I could hear my husband’s relief as he said: ‘Praise be to Allah, He has saved her. Thank Allah Hajjah.’2
I enquired about my driver who, I was told, was well - praise be to Allah - and receiving treatment in hospital. I found out later that he was suffering from cerebral concussion. As for myself, I was taken to the X-ray room where it was established that my thigh bone was broken. As a temporary measure my leg was placed in an iron cage ready for my transferral to Mazhar ‘Ashur Mustafa Hospital, where surgeon Muhammad Abdullah was to operate on me. The operation itself took three and a half hours and even then my condition remained critical for some time. Once I did begin to recover it did not take me long to establish both from what I overheard and what was reported to me that the accident was no accident at all. It had been planned by Nasir’s secret agents, with the express intent to kill me.
Up until these events, a group of Muslim youth used to visit me on a daily basis. First among them was Brother ‘Abd al-Fattah Isma’il. Clearly now with Nasir’s ambitions for me, I could no longer allow these visits to continue and therefore informed my respected brother of my decision. He informed me that he had already requested just that of the youth but they were insistent that nothing should change. Their visits would go ahead as usual.
On another occasion, the Muslim Ladies Group’s administrative secretary tried to give me a file which she wanted to show me in my capacity as President of this group. Both my husband and the wife of Hasan al-Hudaibi, the supreme guide (al-Murshid al-‘Am) of the Muslim Brotherhood3 (al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun) were in my room at this time. I watched helplessly as my husband quickly guided my visitor away and I overheard him reminding the secretary that he had already forbidden her giving me any work-related documents. My husband’s explanation, when I tried to find out what was going on, was that Doctor Abdullah’s permission was necessary before I undertook any kind of activity. The doctor later, and after an examination of my leg, confirmed that it was he who had ordered that none of the group’s documents or news should reach me. I protested, claiming that it was a simple matter of signing a few documents, but he was adamant. The days passed by slowly and again I begged the doctor to allow me to do some of the group’s work. My requests were met with the same refusal. By now though I was certain that there was something which everyone was trying to hide from me.
In what seemed like weeks later, and after mustering great courage, the secretary again came to inform me, in the presence of my husband, of the decree to close down the General Headquarters of the Muslim Ladies Group. I could hardly believe my ears and almost snatched the papers from her only to read its confirmation in black and white.
‘Alhamdu Lillah, but the government has no right to do this, we are an Islamic group.’
‘No one can say to this government it has no right. We have tried everything, but Nasir is adamant about dissolving the group. Worse still, he hates you personally, Hajjah Zainab! for he can’t stand the mentioning of your name in his presence. If anybody does make reference to you he immediately stops the meeting with whoever has done so.’
‘Praise be to Allah that he fears me and detests me. I too detest him, for Allah. Nasir’s despotism only serves to increase our persistence to please our consciences and live for the fulfilment of our mission, the mission of tawhid. We will triumph, insha’ Allah, and the least that we can give for that is to be martyred for its sake.’
‘Hajjah’, she said with tears in her eyes, ‘the matter is very serious, I pray also to Allah that it won’t end with the banning of our Group. But perhaps the very words you say now are being recorded, they may have bugged the room.’
The secretary whispered these words into my ear as if she were afraid that what she said was true, and she carried on whispering: ‘Hajjah, I request you to do a small thing, please sign this paper. If you do, the decree to ban our group will be reversed.’
I asked her to hand over the piece of paper. It was a membership card for the Socialist Union.
‘No, by Allah. May my hand be paralysed if I ever sign that which will incriminate me, in front of Allah, with acquiescing to the despotic rule of Nasir who killed ‘Abd al-Qadir ‘Awdah and his colleagues. Those who have soiled their hands with the blood of the faithful, are adversaries of Allah and of all believers. It is more honourable for us to let the Muslim Ladies Group be dissolved.’
She kissed my head, and with tears in her eyes, asked: ‘Do you trust that I am your daughter?’
‘Yes!’
Then leave this issue.’
‘We will leave it, and I won’t sign this paper. Our signature implies allegiance to a despot, which is an impossible thing for us to do. Allah will do that which He chooses for His Servants.’
Several more days passed in hospital, and then to my relief it was decided that I could continue the treatment at home.
Dealings with the Socialist Union
At home, the secretary would visit me daily, and on one occasion quite out of the blue she informed me that the ban decree had been lifted. Surprised, I asked how this had happened.
‘I honestly don’t know, but it may well be for the sake of opening up channels of communication with you.’
Despite a return visit to the hospital for an operation to remove the pins from my thigh, I had by now assumed my function of running the affairs of the Muslim Ladies Group from home. Meanwhile, (Imam Shahid) Sayyid Qutb had been released and together with a number of Muslim brothers, visited me in hospital. Imagine my surprise then when a recorded delivery item arrived containing a card with the inscription:
‘Arab Socialist Union’
Liberty-Socialism-Unity
Name: Zainab al-Ghazali al-Jubaili, known as: Zainab al-Ghazali.
Occupation: President of The Muslim Ladies Group.
Borough: al-Basatin-Almaza.
County: Misr al-Jadidah.
District: al-Qahirah.
Enclosed with the card was a receipt showing that my membership fee for 1964 had been paid. I laughed bitterly at what had become of Egypt; we used to live in freedom, but the military coup had changed all that.4 Thereafter, invitations from the Socialist Union, to attend its meetings, began pouring through my letter-box. I ignored them. Instead my energies were concentrated on gradually resuming my activities in the general office of the Muslim Ladies Group; with the aid of a walking stick my movements were now less inhibited.
I was in the general office one morning when the phone rang; the secretary wanted me to speak with someone from the Socialist Union. I picked up the phone: ‘Assalam Alaikum.’
‘Wa Alaikum assalam.’
‘Yes, what can I do for you?’
The caller asked me if I was Zainab al-Ghazali, and when my answer was in the affirmative he said: ‘This is the Socialist Union. The members of the Muslim Ladies’ administrative committee, and you first and foremost, are requested to take your banners and go to the airport to welcome the President home.’
‘Insha’ Allah, Allah does what He wills and chooses.’
‘This is our request, we want the administrative committee, as well as a great number of the general committee’s members to be present. If you require, we will arrange for a car to be at your disposal.’
‘Thank you.’
Here the call ended.
A few days later, I received another phone call from the Socialist Union. It was a lady; she wanted to know why we had not been present at the airport to welcome the President. By way of response I said: ‘We members of the Muslim Ladies’ administrative committee, and the general council, all observe Islamic behaviour, therefore, we cannot be present in such crowded welcomes.’
‘How can that be Madam Zainab? It seems that you don’t want to co-operate with us. Did you inform the other members and did they each in turn refuse?’
‘How could I have informed them when I am not convinced of your request which runs counter to the teachings of Islam?’
‘You are not co-operating with us!’
‘We stick to the teachings of the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Our pact is with Allah, our co-operation can only be in issues of good and beneficence. Perhaps you will concede that the telephone is not a suitable medium for such a discussion?’
‘You are welcome here! We will wait for you in the Socialist Union’s Headquarters in ‘Abidin Square to discuss this issue.’
‘Unfortunately, I am sick, and my movements limited because of a serious injury to my leg. If you please you are welcome in the Muslim Ladies Headquarters.’
‘Come to see us on your way home, are you not a member of the Socialist Union?’
‘I am a member of the Muslim Ladies Group, assalamu alaiki, my daughter, wa rahmatu Allah!’
I ended the call, and did not go to see her.
A week later our group secretary showed me a recorded letter dated 15th September 1964, containing Ministerial Decree No. 32 dated 6th September 1964, which informed us once again of the Government’s decision to ban the Muslim Ladies Group.
The Muslim Ladies Group’s administrative committee held an urgent meeting that same day. The committee rejected both the dissolution decree and the hand over of its property and belongings to another group whose members, although part of our group, had been separated from us at the instigations of the Secret Services before Nasir’s coup. After the coup this group had become Nasir’s tool. Our administrative committee had also decided to call our general council to an urgent meeting, within the next 24 hours. Here, too, the general committee rejected the dissolution of our Group and agreed to refer the case to the courts.
We recruited a lawyer, Dr. Abdullah Rashwan, to defend our case. Meanwhile, we sent recorded letters and messages to the Presidency, the Home Office, the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Attorney General, along with duplicate copies to the press, informing all these parties that the Muslim Ladies Group was established in 1936 for the promotion of Islamic da’wah and the return of Muslims to their Lord’s Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger. Hence, neither the Home Office nor the Ministry of Social Affairs had any bond of allegiance from our group. For allegiance is, after all, due only to Allah and to those who establish His religion and laws. Our letter read:
The Muslim Ladies Group was established in 1936 to spread the message of Allah and to strive for the making of a Muslim Ummah which will bring back to Islam its glory and own state. Our group works for the sake of Allah, and no secular government has the right of sovereignty over Muslims.
The Muslim Ladies Group’s message is a call to Islam. It recruits men, women, the young and the old, in order that they believe in Allah’s message and establish a state that takes what He revealed as its law.
We, the Muslim Ladies, reject the ban decree on our Group, for the President, who is openly calling for the secularization of the state, has no right of allegiance from us. Neither has the Ministry of Social Affairs any right of allegiance from us; Da’wah represents neither money nor belongings which can be confiscated by a secular state whose members are fighting Allah, His Messenger and the Muslim Ummah.
Let the state confiscate our money and belongings, but it cannot confiscate our faith. Our message is one of da’wah and of people who perform this da’wah. We stand underneath the umbrella of ‘there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger’. Belief in this formula compels us to strive continuously for the establishment of an Islamic state by a community that is conscientious of its religion, is governed by Allah’s law, and is always striving in His cause.
Firm in his resolve to eliminate our Group, Nasir issued a military decree preventing publication of our magazine for an unlimited period. The despot’s agents even invaded our Headquarters and removed all the contents. As a result, they displaced 120 orphans whose needs, in terms of shelter and education, from nursery to university level, had been taken care of by the Group.
It is only right that I should proudly record here, that the despot’s agents did not find a single lady, from amongst either the general council or administrative committee or the preachers’ board, waiting to hand them the keys of our Headquarters. Nasir’s agents had asked me to hand over the keys to them personally but I refused as did all our other members. Finally the keys were secured from the administrative secretary, but then, as an employee, that person had no choice.
Before long, members of the Muslim Ladies Group began flocking to my house asking me what we should do.
Dear reader! The stance which the Muslim Ladies took, it should be recalled, was in 1964, when Nasir’s rule was at its zenith. At a time when many people preferred to conceal what they really thought. Such people used to endorse the despot’s actions, and even worse some issued Fatwas in support of Nasir’s deeds. They would ascribe to Nasir things which made a demigod of him. Believing something and displaying exactly the opposite (taqiyyah),5 while discrediting those who refuse to do the same, is not something Islam ascribes to. A true Muslim does not waste his or her own faith nor is the mocking of Muslim brothers and sisters permitted. Yet many supposed Islamic magazines competed to please the despot. Even al-Azhar magazine, which was once dear to our hearts, opened its pages to hypocritical writers who competed to please falsehood and its folk. Fatwas which defamed the Mujahids who opted for ‘azimah and shunned the error they called rukhsah,6 began pouring from some government-employed scholars. They hurled abuse at those Mujahids who called people to practise Islam and not merely belong to it by name; for Islam is practise, not lip service.
The Muslim Ladies Group neither refused to follow what some people called rukhsah, nor did it stop short of belonging to Islam. Instead, the Muslim Ladies raised the banner of truth and pronounced the word of truthfulness, at a time when a great many people denounced them for fear of losing their jobs, their careers and their homes. The Muslim Ladies did not stand by as spectators, but spoke frankly about the events which were going on, seeking Allah’s pleasure, even if in the process it upset many people. The members of our Group continued to meet and as for myself I had dedicated my whole life to the Muslim Ladies; it was my raison d’etre. For I had pledged to Allah on the day I established the Group that I would never submit my life to anybody beside Him. The huge number of Muslim ladies who poured into my house renewed their pledge to dedicate their lives to following Allah’s way and to calling people to it. They agreed with me to hold meetings in their homes whereby our preachers would teach the ladies the principles of Islam. But sadly our opportunities were few for the despot’s state machine was watching anyone who called to Allah in these kind of meetings. One by one the ladies who held these meetings were contacted by Nasir’s agents and threatened. In this way the state obtained an undertaking, from all the ladies involved, that they would not hold such meetings again. Thereafter our activities were confined to those of a personal nature.
Nasir’s security and police agents renewed their contacts with me. They wanted to meet in order to present their offers to me; the implication being that I should buy this world for the Next. For instance, they suggested the re-publication of the Muslim Ladies’ magazine, with me as its Editor-in-Chief with a salary of E£300 per month; in return I was to have nothing to do with what was to be written in the magazine. Naturally, I refused. It would have been unthinkable for the Muslim Ladies’ magazine to be issued from the Security Forces’ Headquarters let alone assist in the spread of secularization. They also offered to cancel the ban decree on our Group and to give us back our Headquarters with an annual support fund totalling E£20,000; in return we had to form one of the Socialist Union institutions. Again I refused, advising the despot’s agents that our activities will, insha’ Allah, be only for the sake of Allah. The Muslim Ladies Group was not ready to deceive or mis-represent anything. For those who gain their earnings under the pretext of working for Islam cannot really serve it.
My rebuttals obviously angered them but still they persisted in their ridiculous temptations. Before long the truth behind their sinister offers would become apparent.
At home one evening, three men knocked on the door and asked permission to come in. I found them in the living room and immediately noticed that they were wearing head-dress. After greeting them, they introduced themselves as Syrians travelling from Saudi Arabia to visit Egypt for a few days. They also told me that they had met, in Saudi Arabia, Sa’id Ramadan, Shaikh Mustafa al-’Alim, Kamil al-Sharif, Muhammad al-’Ashmawi and Fathi al-Khuli (all of them members of the Ikhwan who had fled from Nasir and his despotism). They explained that the same had requested them to convey salam to the Ikhwan of Egypt and would welcome assurances that both members of the Ikhwan here and ‘the organization’, are all well. The same visitors also reported that Sa’id Ramadan, and company, had asked them to join the organization, and that they were ready to execute orders and stay in Egypt to help the Ikhwan.
They talked about the Ikhwan and Nasir and how the latter persisted in persecuting the former. They spoke about the 1954 events, the dissolution of the Ikhwan and the execution of ‘Abd al-Qadir ‘Awdah and his friends. The time was right and they were ready - so they claimed - to take revenge and kill Nasir. This decision, they continued, was also the opinion held by Kamil al-Sharif, al-’Ashmawi, al-Khuli and al-’Alim.
As I was only listening to them and did not respond they openly asked my opinion: ‘You speak of things and names about which I know nothing’, I replied.
‘Sister Zainab, we will come back again to know the Murshid’s and the organization’s opinion about what we have said to you.’
I responded briefly: ‘First, I do not know anything called “the organization” in the Ikhwan group, for as far as I am aware the Ikhwan were dissolved by the State. Second, I do not speak with the Murshid concerning these issues, for our friendship and relationship with him is but Islamic brotherhood and familial love. Third, in my understanding, killing Nasir has never been considered by the Ikhwan. Therefore, I advise you to go back to your country and to train yourselves Islamically.’
‘It seems’, responded one of them, ‘that sister Zainab is not convinced. Who destroyed the country if not Nasir?’
‘In my understanding it is not the lkhwan’s message to kill Nasir.’
I then asked them to give me their names. Stutteringly, one of them told me that they were: ‘Abd al-Shafi ‘Abd al-Haq, ‘Abd al-Jalil Isa and ‘Abd al-Rahman Khalil. I laughed to myself for the simple reason that all their names were preceded by ‘Abd and furthermore that only one person delivered the advice.
Once again I cautioned them; ‘Go back to your country before Nasir’s security agents catch up with you, that is if you do not know them already and have nothing to do with them, which I very much doubt.’
The retort was clear.
‘You’re right to be suspicious of us. We’ll visit you again soon and then you’ll know who we are.’
With that they left.
When Brother ‘Abd al-Fattah Isma’il visited me, sometime after this incident, I related to him the story of these so-called Syrian visitors.
The Many Faces of Ahmad Rasikh
Less than two weeks after the Syrians’ visit, I was, much to my surprise, called upon by another man who identified himself as Ahmad Rasikh, and as a security agent. He asked me about the content of my conversation with the Syrians. I explained that I was well aware that those men were spies sent by the security forces. I made it a point to tell him that this kind of behaviour was childish, for what else did the security forces want from me after confiscating our Group’s Headquarters and banning our magazine?
He responded with the most bizarre questions, asking me what I had meant by Jamalov and Jamalovs7 in my conversation with the Syrians.
‘Those are atheists, who are proud of belonging to falsehood and its high-priests.’
He quickly changed the subject: ‘Hajjah, we are Muslims!’
‘Muslims are different (They say: Our hearts are concealed from that which you invite us to, and in our ears is a deafness and between us and you is a screen: so you do what you will).’8
‘You will be Minister of Social Affairs from tomorrow if you agree to our demands.’
I made no attempt to conceal my sarcasm: ‘True Muslims are not tempted by mere position, and do not participate in atheist, secular governments. As for the position of the Muslim lady, it will be decided by the Islamic State whenever it is established. Now what do you want from me?’
‘We want an agreement with you.’
‘This is impossible! An agreement cannot be struck between people who call for disbelief and raise the banner of falsehood, and people who call for the Tawhid of Allah and belief in Him alone. Repent to Allah and ask for His forgiveness. I would like to bring this meeting to an end please!’
The man calling himself Ahmad Rasikh had in any case already finished drinking his coffee and now stood up to leave, saying: ‘By Allah, we only want to reach an agreement with you. And when we do, it will be you who issues the decree lifting the ban on the Muslim Ladies Group and its magazine.’
‘Thank you, but Islam can do without groups and organizations which agree to be agents of Allah’s enemies. May Allah guide you and forgive you.’
Two days later, as I was sitting on the balcony, a car stopped in front of my door, and a man wearing dark clothes got out.
‘Assalamu alaikum Hajjah Zainab!’
I returned his greeting and asked him to come inside the house. He came through to the guest-room and introduced himself as Ahmad Rasikh from the security forces. I could not help gazing at him, as if I was measuring his length and width, for not only had I once been to the Secret Police’s offices to meet a person called Ahmad Rasikh but when I went to see this man, there was a pad on his desk which had the same name, Ahmad Rasikh, written on it. What was more this new Ahmad Rasikh talked with me about the person who had visited me only two days earlier. As you will recall, dear reader, this man also happened to be called Ahmad Rasikh. One name for three men and all wishing to talk with me!
My astonishment was impossible to conceal and as I explored the man’s features he asked: ‘Are you surprised that I have come to visit you, Hajjah Zainab?’
My response deliberately aimed to mock: ‘I am surprised for something quite different. This house always welcomes, with magnanimity, both expected and unexpected guests. However I will relate to you a story that I read in al-Ahram,9 if I can remember it correctly: Two hundred years ago, the King and Queen of Holland went to England following an invitation from the monarchs of that country. The King of England’s attention was drawn to the interest which the Queen of Holland showed in a dog running around the reception hall. For the Queen of Holland had rushed to this dog and grabbed it, holding and kissing it passionately and fervently, as if she had lost her mind. She, then, handed it over to her husband, while whispering something into his ear and pointing to the dog’s eyes. The King of Holland, in turn, began kissing the dog. Naturally, their hosts were curious but nevertheless said nothing. Then, the Queen of Holland took the dog from her husband, while wiping away her tears, and held it against her chest as if it were her own dear child. When the Royal couple were taken for dinner, the Queen took the dog with her and fed it herself. The Queen of England mentioned in passing that the dog belonged to her daughter but the King, wanting to know the secret behind his guests’ attachment to this dog concluded, as if by apology: ‘Had my daughter not been so attached to this dog, I would gladly give it to you.’ Then, the Queen of Holland, who believed in reincarnation, informed her hosts that she had a deceased son whose spirit was incarnated in this dog, and that the dog’s eyes matched exactly those of her son’s. The King of England, thereafter, persuaded his daughter, who was also present, to make a gift of the dog to his guests.
‘Mr. Rasikh, people who believe in incarnation claim some resemblance between the deceased person and the form in which it is incarnated. However, now, within a relatively short span of time, I have met with three men, each calling themselves Ahmad Rasikh, but none of you look alike, neither in height and skin-colour nor in looks. Has your President then decided to profess a new school of incarnation and asked you to follow it?’
The man looked at me in bewilderment: ‘I am truly Ahmad Rasikh, we are good people Hajjah Zainab, and we want to reach an agreement with you.’
‘This has no importance’, I retorted. ‘What do you want?’
‘The government is very keen to reach an agreement with you. We know that the Ikhwan deceived you and convinced you to follow their principles. It was thanks to the Ikhwan that your group was banned and your Headquarters confiscated. The Ikhwan are trouble-makers. We would like you to agree with us, for what we want to know is very simple: the names of all the active members of the Ikhwan. By Allah, Hajjah, the President will be grateful for this service, and you will see the evidence of this gratefulness in the next few days. You are a good lady, may Allah prolong your life, and do not have anything to do with the Ikhwan’s troubles. It is enough what they have already caused for you with the state.’
The man went on to say that Imam al-Hudaibi and Imam Sayyid Qutb were doing their best to reach an agreement with the President, but that the President refused to collaborate with them because he did not trust them.
‘If you knew’, the man said, ‘what the Ikhwan say about you, you would agree with us and leave these people who are the cause of all the persecution which has happened to you and the Muslim Ladies Group.’
I laughed: ‘I will speak with you as a man from the Security Forces, and I care neither about your name nor your shape. First, I believe that even ordinary Muslims know and believe that you are far from Islam. Instead you are doing your best to fight it. Do you want to reach an agreement with truth while you are following falsehood? You import ideologies from both the East and the West. Sometimes you raise the banner of Communism, and at other times you revere the capitalist goddess, lost between the two. It is from within this loss that you derive your legislations and laws. I hope I am frank with you and that my words do not need further interpretation. Islam is other than that which you want.’
‘I swear by Allah, Hajjah, that I pray the Friday prayer.’
‘What about the rest of your obligations?’
‘I am used to praying on Friday because my father used to do so and took me with him to the Mosque to perform it.’
‘Did you not ask your father why he only prayed on a Friday?’
‘Our hearts are Muslim, as long as we say, “there is no god but Allah”. It’s enough.’
‘Without practising the formula “there is no god but Allah” you will find it will be held as an argument against you, not for you, in front of Allah.’
‘People follow the religion of their Kings.’
‘May He raise them, on the Day of Judgement, with their Kings!’
‘I am trying to reach an agreement with you.’
‘Throughout history, never have the apostles’ messages met with falsehood. For the people who believed in it submitted to Allah, saying: Our Lord! In You do we trust, and to You do we turn in repentance: to You is our final goal. Our Lord! Make us not a test nor a trial for the unbelievers, but forgive us, our Lord! For You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise.’ 10
He stood up to leave, saying angrily: ‘I will not be coming to see you again. However, if you want to contact me, here is my phone number.’
‘Thank you, I do not want it.’
Towards the end of July 1965, I was informed that several Ikhwan members had been arrested.
Notes and References
1. Jamal ‘Abd al-Nasir (subsequently Nasir) (1918-1970), Egyptian President. Champion of Arab Nationalism and one of the most influential Arab leaders of modern times.
2. Hajjah (masc. Haj) is a title given to the person who has performed Hajj, but is also used as a title of respect, especially for elders.
3. The Muslim Brotherhood (al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun) (subsequently Ikhwan), was one of the largest and most organized Islamic revivalist movements in the Islamic world. Founded by Hasan al-Banna (1906-1949), in 1928, the Ikhwan played a crucial role in shaping the modern political history of Egypt and some other Arab countries.
4. In 1952 a military coup changed Egypt from a monarchy into a Republic.
5. Taqiyyah: (from the root waqa = to safeguard, self-protection and hence dissimulation (in order to protect oneself)). The principle of concealment of one’s religious beliefs in order to avoid prosecution or imminent harm. Cf. The Concise Encyclopaedia of Islam, Cyril Glace.
6. ‘Azimah (plu. ‘Aza’im) lit. determination, resolution, fixed purpose; in Islam an ordinance as interpreted strictly. Correlative to it is rukhsah (plu. rukhas) exemption given by the lawgiver for certain cases of prevention or complete dispensation from observance of the law. Cf. The Encyclopaedia of Islam, 1st edition.
7. This is, of course, an allusion to Nasir’s Soviet-Socialist orientation. In fact, Nasir was, sometimes, more Soviet than the Soviets themselves. This is why the name Jamalov, following the pattern of most Russian names, befitted him. As for the Jamalovs, they are all those who follow in Nasir’s footsteps.
8. Fussilat: 1.
9. Egypt’s largest-selling, State controlled newspaper.
10. Al-Mumtahanah: 4 and 5.
