Unite Us
By Mahmoud Abdel Tawab
After these days of glory we’ve witnessed in El-Tahrir Square, namely Liberation Square, it was very obvious that our country is pushed hard on the edge of a religious abyss between Muslims and Christians. Though all agreed what happened in Atfeih and Mokatam was a clear scheme to sow the seeds of split between us Egyptians with some religious nonsense, we cannot help but find ourselves in the middle of a dark era in our nation’s history. Clashes and collisions between us take place every now and then. Some are blaming and accusing the remains of the toppled regime which continuously tried to force a gap between Egyptian Muslims and Christians. Well, I agree, but not entirely though!
In the existence of illiteracy, unawareness, sterile education materials, poverty and unemployment; we can easily fall in such catastrophe. These incidents were not just a spur of the moment things. Those were accumulations of many years of lack of taking proactive and predictive actions to prevent what we’re going through right now. No remedies were created to improve education, healthcare or prosperity. No, they dried education materials at schools from what would give our kids that sense of loyalty and belonging to a religion and to a nation. Mediation was the only way to get yourself a job. Crimes committed seemed to have no one responsible for but those who are mentally disordered. Those problems are a result of the malfunctioning of systems, yet, the nation’s systems are based on people, and those people are bonded to us. It’s about time to make the change we are all eager for; changing ourselves.
Let me tell you a couple of stories to show who we really are, hear this. Back in college, I entered the office of my graduation-project professor saying: “Good evening, sir” The Christian professor looked at me strangely and replied “It’s called: Peace be upon you, Mahmoud, not good evening or good morning. We Egyptians; Muslims and Christians don’t have a place for such lousy stuff”!! Small thing, yet, means everything.
And back when I served in the army, while in the month of Ramadan, Mena my friend was having a service duty, with some of other comrades. The duty compelled them to stay in one place for a twelve consecutive hours without going anywhere. Mohamed, a friend who were not involved in that service remembered that Mena didn’t eat or drink for eight hours. Mena was so careful not to eat or drink in front of his two Muslim comrades. But Mohamed insisted to bring him some food to eat and some water to drink and waited until Mena was no longer hungry or thirsty. While Mena was showing respect to his Muslim friends, they made him eat and drink some respect in return. That’s the way it was and should be.
Let us see what religion says about that, both religions. The religion carried by Jesus PBUH never held anything but love and kindness to all human beings. Wasn’t he the one who said “If a brother of yours slaps you on a cheek, turn the other one to him”? Shame on anyone who offends or reaches a harmful hand to some one his only crime is to follow such great ethics and behavior.
On the other angle, There’s this pact that our leader and teacher; prophet Muhammad PBUH had pledged to the Christians of Nagran’s deputation and to all Christians on earth. We insisted to mention it as it is, in Arabic, as no words can deliver or replace the real essence and deep meanings within the genuine Arabic language. The pact says:
“لنجرانَ وحاشيتها ، وسائر من ينتحلُ دينَ النـّصرانية فى أقطار الأرض: جوارُ اللهِ، وذمـَّة ُ مُحَمـَّدٍ رَسُولُ الله، على أموالهم، وأنفسهم، وملــَّـتهم، وغائبهم، وشاهدهم، وعشيرتهم، وبـيـَـعِهم، وكلِّ ماتحتَ أيديهم من قليلٍ أو كثير ٍ .. أنْ أحمىَ جانبَهم، وأذبَّ عنهم، وعن كنائسهم، وبيعهم، وبيوت صلواتهم، ومواضعَ الرُّهبان، ومواطنَ السُّياح .. وأنْ أحرُسَ دينهم وملـَّتهم أين كانوا بما أحفظ ُبهِ نفسى وخاصَّـتى وأهلَ الإسلام من مِلـَّـتى .. لأنى أعطيتـُهم عَهْدَ اللهِ على أنّ لهم ما للمُسِلمينَ، وعليهم ما على المُسلمين، وعلى المُسلِمينَ ما عليهم .. حتى يكونُوا للمُسلِمينَ شُرَكاءَ فيما لهم وفيما عليهم.” (من كتاب فقه الحضارة الإسلامية د.محمد عمارة/ مجموعة الوثائق السياسية للعهد النبوى والخلافة الراشدة)
The Prophet Muhammad PBUH wanted to build a Muslim-Christian relationship based on sharing and equality in citizenship rights and duties. Blending and merging were some of so many things he wanted for both. Peace, safety and justice were the pillars and foundation of this relation. A guarantee of that is taken from Allah and his prophet on Christians’ money, family, community and business whether big or small. It’s Muhammed’s pledge to defend their churches, monks and religion wherever they were, by the exact means he – Prophet Muhammad – would defend himself, his family and any Muslim. Muslims and Christians according to this pact shall have similar rights and duties so as to have them as equal partners. Anyone who breaks this pact or trims down some of Christians’ rights is nothing but a traitor to such teachings of Prophet Muhammad PBUH and his Sunna.
Eventually, it seems like both religions as well as our enlightened minds are all directing us to the way of unity. It’s just those who are stupid enough, racist enough, or evil enough who might think otherwise. It’s time to wake up, and really know our religion and know who our friends and enemies are. It’s time to take action, everyone. It’s time to wake up for the sake of this beautiful nation of ours.