A Bridge Linking Between Two Bad Shores: Criminality in Brussels And Contradictions In the Muslim World

In Brussels, where terror struck on March 22, there had been words and arms of welcome to the hordes of Muslim refugees. Fleeing the terror in their lands of origin. Hordes harboring in their midst those who are schooled by ISIS to cut the hand and at times the head, of those who shelter them. An unbelievable criminality. And a denial of the essence of humanity: "Live and Let Live!!"

In the Muslim world, the origins of that poison are active. In various forms. From Wahabbism, where the Quran is given an imperfect interpretation. Especially when it comes to denying legitimate access to worship by adherents of other faiths. Faiths that lie at the roots of Islam itself. To the Muslim Brotherhood which hoists a flag bearing two swords. For a faith whose Book, the Quran, does not even contain the word "sword."

To the avalanche of spin-offs of criminal gangs. Gangs inspired or led by thugs: from Bin Laden (they call him Sheikh), to Al-Zawahri, to Al-Zarqawi, to Al-Awlaki, to the biggest joke of all, the so-called Calipha Al-Baghdadi of ISIS.

Passing through the dirt of Al-Nusra, Boko Haram, Al-Shabab. Not to mention the Friends of Jerusalem, ensconced within Gaza, the run-away Palestinian strip lorded over by Hamas, a clear and present danger to the New Egypt. Yet Hamas is vainly calling for easy access to Egypt. Insane!!

This New Egypt, is one third of the Arab world, raising the flag of secularism, fluttering through the gentle winds of Al-Azhar in Cairo.

And in the West, the Muslim Brotherhood, now and belatedly declared by Egypt a terrorist organization, is being enabled by an absurd public relations campaign. Calling the Brotherhood a victim of an Egyptian military coup led by El-Sisi, -a duly elected President, and a nation-builder.

Morsi, from 2012-2013, had sought the glory of a Muslim imperial caliphate. A pipe dream whose only outcome would have been turning Egypt from a State to a Province. Where the Copts are persecuted, Hamas is empowered, and the Muslims who are not in the fold of the Brotherhood are cowed into abject submission. The seat of power would have shifted to the Guidance Bureau.

In only one horrible year of failed Islamization of Egypt, Morsi claimed to have accomplished 480 national projects. Called "Injazat" (Accomplishments). Including a trash conversion factory in one of Egypt's 27 provinces.

But the "Injazat" booklet does not mention that Morsi was elected before the drafting of an Islamic Constitution (now repealed); that in November 2012, Morsi has declared himself above any constitutional limitations; and that for 3 days (June 30 - July 3, 2013) he rejected El-Sisi's attempts to have the Brotherhood respond to the screams of 35 million Egyptians for a new plebiscite.

Adamancy, in the context of Islamic ideologues, is falsely considered "the Righteous Way" (Al-Sirat Al-Mustaqeem). But under Islamic jurisprudence, the welfare of the community comes first. Called the Maslaha jurisprudence. Whatever is in the interest of the community (Ma Yanfao El-Nas), anywhere, and at any time.

In that sense, terrorism in Brussels, or anywhere else, makes a mockery of Islamic law (Sharia). And when some rotten apples engage in that type of genocidal warfare, they give Islam a black eye.

So please do not trouble me with shatter about Islamophobia. It is terrorism that creates both fear and hate for Muslims everywhere.

And don't trouble world history by tracing the roots of terrorism to the days of colonialism. The colonial period is largely gone. Succeeded by a system of Muslim rulership which puts the perpetuation of its rule ahead of national development and the peaceful transfer of power.

Shifting the blame to what happened decades ago, rather than facing the causes of today's realities, shall not be taken as credible history. This is why I look upon El-Sisi's call for a "Religious Revolution" as the right advocacy for moving the New Egypt forward. It is to be here noted that happily Al-Azhar is heading that call.

The tangible proof is to be found in a speech in Arabic by Al-Azhar's Rector, Imam Dr. Ahmed El-Tayieb. Standing before the Bundestag in Berlin on March 15, he addressed many issues of which the following are a selection and a translation of my own. Except for Quranic verses.

• On the new Muslims in Europe: "I say to my co-religionists who now live in Europe... Observe the high values of the societies in whose territories you now live."
• On Islam's Respect for Diversity: "You ought to present similar perceptions of Islam and its tolerance. Perceptions which respect the other, regardless of religion, sect, or ethnic origin."
• On Abhorring Combating The New Societies: He called for the framing of the following Quranic verse: "With regard to those who have not fought you in the cause of Religion, nor expelled you from your homes, God does not forbid you from being considerate and dealing justly with them. Surely God loves the just." (Chapter 60, Verse 8)
• On the Organic Links Between Islam and Other Faiths: Dr. El-Tayieb told the Bundestag: "Islam is a faith with organic links to other revealed faiths. As Muslims we believe that the Torah, the Bible, and the Quran are all purveyors of guidance and light."
• His Quranic Evidence: Quoting from Chapter V, Verse 46): "And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus the son of Mary, confirming what was before him of the Torah, and gave him the Scripture in which was guidance and light, and confirming what was before it of the Torah, and a guidance and an admonition for the pious."
• On Women In Islam: He raised Al-Azhar's voice in defense of gender equality. "In Sharia, women are equal to men in both rights and obligations. So please do not think that the marginalization of women of the East is attributable to Islamic teaching. This is a misconception. In truth, women suffering is the result of divergence from Islamic teaching regarding women. Arcane tradition and worn out custom, with no relation to Islam have been ascendant."
• On ISIS and Similar Other Armed Movements: Dr. El-Tayieb declared: "ISIS and its affiliates murder, destroy, cut heads off. All in the name of God and of Islamic law... Acts which are antithetical to Islam. Let us bear in mind that no faith would be immune from the charge of violence and terrorism, if it is evaluated from the perspective of the few perpetrators amongst its adherents."
• On Al-Azhar's Role In Revamping the Islamic Discourse: "Al-Azhar is continuously concerned with revamping its message and educational curricula... Everywhere, its scholars confront wrong concepts. Concepts which distort Islam's message. Exploiting it for the advocacy for a blind insurrection, for blood-letting and countries destruction."
• On Inclusiveness Between All Religions: "Al-Azhar, in December 2014 held a conference attended by Muslim Sunni and Shii scholars, heads of churches, eastern and western, and representatives of the Yazidis of Iraq. Its final communique condemned all armed sectarian groups and militias which pursue violence, terrorism, and assault the lives of peaceful citizens... Any violence perpetrated against Christians and others in the name of faith is contrary to the ethos of Islam."

The gulf is indeed wide between the voice of true Islam, as expounded by Al-Azhar's Grand Imam, and the voice of death heard loudly in Brussels. Confronting jihadist ideology through the voice of Dr. El-Taiyeb is the starting phase in what promises to be a protracted struggle.

For despite the centrality of the voice of Al-Azhar, as the premier citadel for Islamic learning, the divergence in Islamic practices throughout dozens of Muslim countries and cultures makes that voice carry less volume.

But hope springs eternal. The Quran, Muhammad's tradition (Sunnah), and ijtihad, as the brain activated for interpreting those texts should undoubtedly come on top. The world of today has heard the pain of Belgium!!

But how could Al-Azhar deal effectively with this generational battle against rogues pretending to be Muslims?

The needs of the Al-Azhar's "Religious Revolution," initially called for by President El-Sisi, are myriad.

Among those needs is adequate funding and staffing whose main expertise is communication in main languages to pass on the great message delivered at the Bundestag.

That call for a "Religious Revolution" by El-Sisi is a historic game changer in the world of Islam. Still a Cairo TV anchor woman, Azza Al-Hinnawi called El-Sisi on the air "a do-nothing president who speaks like Hitler." A below the belt stupidity, even for a person like her with a contribution to the New Egypt that does not exceed a microphone in her hand, coupled with a foul mouth, joined to an empty head that does not even retain the recent inauguration by El-Sisi of Suez Canal II.

Judging by the follow-up on that message of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, I am left with this feeling: The Al-Azhar's counter-attack against the kind of murderous ideology which led to the Brussels massacre, and was about to lead to the possession of "a dirty nuclear weapon" is lacking of some basic tools.

These include good translations from the classic Arabic, which are still woefully lacking. And Al-Azhar points of strategic and effective communication throughout the world. Staffed by experts who do not take a holiday!! Failure in uprooting ISIS and its sister organizations is no longer a viable option. This is a fight to the finish!!

Let us keep in mind the emblematic treatise by a great predecessor of Sheikh El-Taiyeb, as a Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Shareef. That was Sheikh Mahmoud Shaltoot. One of his books is entitled "Islam: Faith and Law" (Al-Islam Aaqeedah We Shareeah), published in Cairo in more than 24 editions.

Sheikh Shaltoot ends that book by saying:

• "The fatwas are not binding statements of law;"
• "The views of Al-Caliphah, the Imam, or the judge are not immune from being fallible;"
• "Interpreting Islam is not the exclusive prerogative of any one;"
• "The titles of Sheikh Al-Islam and the Mullah are only but scholarly titles with no binding consequences;"and
• "Ijtihad is more authoritative when arrived at, not individually, but collectively."

Through this freedom of religious thought there appears, through the present fog, another bridge. Detouring all of us, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, to an existence better than that of a constant fear from a pretended Islam that in fact does not exist!!