By MANAL ABDUL AZIZ
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Article from Al Arabiya News
Just like the Egyptian winter that differs from one year to the next, one's vision of the fate of the January Revolution and its reflection on Egypt's future fluctuates from utmost optimism to bitter pessimism.
In following the state of unrest that dominated the country during 2011 and the major losses the revolution suffered, because of repeated errors made by the revolutionaries, political powers and the ruling military council, one started to doubt if this revolution would lead to any change in Egypt's future.
What has deepened this sense of loss are the shocking results of the parliamentary elections that brought to the surface some extremist powers, which intend to drive the country into an endless swamp of differences over trivial issues. This would be at the cost of the national development project that the country should have started as a natural consequence of its revolution.
However, just as the Egyptian winter sometimes includes a cold and cloudy day, the sun will surprise the Egyptian people and visitors with its warm rays the very next. Similarly, there are some positive lights of hope glowing in the Egyptian sky, affirming that this revolution will sooner or later bring forth its fruit and forcibly push forward this country into the position it deserves among the nations of the world.
Among these are the steps being taken by the Al-Azhar institution, the highest seat of Sunni Islam, which is working on preparing a draft law to restore its independence from the State. According to this draft law, the Authority of the Senior Ulamas (scholars) of Islam would resume work and be responsible for electing Sheikh al-Azhar from its members.
As used to be the case, these Ulamas would not necessarily all be Egyptians, but would include some other senior sheikhs from the entire Islamic world. This law would liberate Al-Azhar from its dependence on the State, turning its head into the Sheikh of Islam and not merely the head of an Egyptian Sunni institution.
Restoring Al-Azhar’s prestigious position would not only serve Islamic teachings and vision in the world but also protect Egypt against the domination of the extremist Wahhabi ideology that some Islamist groups are unequivocally working towards.
One of the many causes of the high influence of the extremist parties on Egyptian society was the weakness of the Al-Azhar institution due to its affiliation to the state. Thus, after the traditional public respect for any fatwa (religious edict) given by Al-Azhar pertaining to any social, political or economic issue, the people started turning a deaf ear to its sheikhs, on the grounds that they were all chosen and appointed by the president. Accordingly, it was felt that they were not up to the position.
These Al-Azhar sheikhs have also been accused of reflecting State opinion, which might violate the Islamic Shari'a (religious law), so as to preserve their position, rather than giving the righteous opinion in any vital affair of interest to the public.
Thus having the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar elected from among the senior Ulamas without any influence from any authority would mean that the independence of Al-Azhar would be restored and its opinion would, therefore, be much more trusted and respected by people inside and outside Egypt.
Hopefully this would be the most practical mean of shunning the extremist religious satellite channels and preachers who are propagating Wahhabi and other extremist ideologies.
Another good sign that should encourage one's optimism for the future of the country is the ongoing attempt to write new laws to upgrade universities, which, if effected, would transform these academic institution into the locomotive leading society into progress.
Injecting life into the universities would also revive their vital societal role, especially given that the suggested law would restore their independence and, accordingly, liberate their professors from the stranglehold of the security agency. This would end a state of corruption that has dominated academic life and brought the deterioration of higher education, which led to Egyptian universities not being classified among the world’s top 500 universities.
It is apparent that upgrading conditions in the universities would be reflected in scientific research which, at present, suffers not only a very low budget and prestige, but also suffers a continuous brain drain of its researchers to the benefit of developed countries.
If the ongoing attempts to liberate Al-Azhar and universities from the State authorities are successful, one would have every right to be optimistic about the country's development in the very near future, despite the many other negativities colouring the transitional stage through which we are currently living.
(The writer is a prominent Egyptian columnist. The article was published in The Egyptian Gazette on Jan. 9, 2011)
Article from Al Arabiya News
