Mubarak Falls and a New Egypt Rises

February 11, 2011 by Youssef Chouhoud Politics
37 comments Tags: #jan25 · Egypt · Revolution · Tahrir

Many doubted it could happen. Many thought the Egyptian people simply didn't have the will. Many behind the scenes plotted and planned…but Allah is the best of planners.

Today, as jubilation erupted in Maydan Tahrir, a parcel of land the world has come to know as Liberation Square, the same feeling of exhalation washed over the rest of the nation, the ummah, the world.

As trite as it is to say, today was historic. A long standing dictator was toppled on the continent of Africa, in the context of the broader Middle East, by an almost entirely peaceful and broad coalition of everyday, average people. There were no bombs dropped from on high or marines sent in to forcefully depose an illegitimate regime. It was students, professionals, academics, doctors, doormen and farmers all coming together to loudly and – again, because it warrants emphasis – peacefully proclaim ENOUGH.

Were there transgressions? Of course there were; Egypt has a population of 80 million, after all. The burning of property, the assaults on law enforcement and the tragic clashes in Tahrir between protesters and regime supporters are all regrettable, to say the least. They are, however, among only a scant few, if nonetheless noticeable, blemishes on an otherwise pristine revolution.

For each of these tragic and chaotic scenes, a hundred can be found of life, faith and liberty. For every moment of trepidation and fear, the hope that a brighter tomorrow would come never abated. And all praise is due to Allah for granting us this victory in the end.

So what's next?

The predictions on what lies ahead range from the unequivocally optimistic, to the cautiously optimistic, right down the spectrum to the unduly pessimistic.

Are there challenges ahead? Sure. No one rose up in the streets of Egypt's cities and rural towns simply to oust Mubarak – and certainly no one was chanting for the installment of a military junta. People marched, fought and (Allah yerhamhum) died so that they can have a say in the way their country is run. Key political reforms laid out by the youth movement that initiated the #Jan25Â protests have, understandably, yet to be implemented. After decades of corruption and manipulation, many social and political institutions need to be entirely overhauled if not assembled anew. As the leaders and people of Egypt will soon find out, it is much easier to tear down than it is to build up.

Yet there are already hopeful signs that the coming years will be fruitful. Throughout their many days camping in Maydan Tahrir, the protesters were mindful to clean and otherwise take care of their surroundings because they finally felt a connection to and responsibility over their homeland. This same sentiment has permeated the psyches of many Egyptians the nation over – my sister in Alexandria has already received numerous text messages from her friends suggesting they form groups to clean their neighborhood and scout for hazards in the road. What's more, Egyptians living abroad – who perhaps never gave any serious thought to relocating back to the country that their parents or grandparents immigrated from in search of a better life – are now infused with a newfound sense of pride and are determined to help rebuild their motherland.

The momentum, passion and vision and all are there. It's still uncertain, however, whether they will remain – and remain pure. By the grace of Allah though, tomorrow looks brighter. So tonight, we celebrate.

Congratulations to all the people of Egypt! Allahu Akbar wa ta7ya Masr!!

Tags: #jan25 · Egypt · Revolution · Tahrir

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ParDesi

Alhamdhulillah, May Allah bestow the best rulers for Egypt. May Allah show us mercy and straight path.
http://pascalslager.wordpress.com Phil

This is exciting and I am glad for your country; though I have almost zero understanding of what the political situation there is, this seems like it must be a good thing. Glad to know also that you are safe.

http://muslimmatters.org/author/Youssef-Chouhoud/ Youssef Chouhoud

Thanks a bunch, Phil. And yeah man, exciting…to say the least :)

Mantiki

Congratulations to all courageous protesters. You have demonstrated the power of a people united against corruption and cruelty.

Best wishes and prayers for your future!
Linda (II)

Totally cool pix of the happiness of Egyptians http://totallycoolpix.com/2011/02/the-egypt-protests-mubarak-resignation-celebrations/
Leo

I pray Allah grant our brothers and sisters in Egypt a just ruler and all this effort does not backfire.
http://www.muslimmatters.org Safia Farole

No words can describe how happy I am for the people of Egypt and Tunisia. May Allah grant both countries a smoothe transition to good government.

This year the people of Tunisia and Egypt deserve the Nobel Peace Prize!!!
Touhid

Assalamu alaykum, we need more Muslims to understand and study politics, & economics on the world stage, including myself. I pray that the Ummah is blessed with positive change in the path of Allah (Swt).

1)
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/02/10/133501837/why-egypts-military-cares-about-home-appliances

2)
http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2004/0510middleeast_wittes.aspx

3) A Peace to End All Peace: The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East by Professor David Fromkin, is a possible good start on the recent history of the region.

Salam

http://muslimmatters.org/author/Youssef-Chouhoud/ Youssef Chouhoud

I couldn’t agree with you more akhi. And to the parents out there, don’t insist that your children ONLY become doctors, lawyers or engineers. It is possible they can do much more good for the ummah – for the world – by instead being a journalist, an economist or a political scientist.

Hena Zuberi

Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah for the people of Masr!! Alf Mabrook!! Even though I am not Egyptian, it is in my heart!! Growing up, I spent many summer days by the river Nile in Egypt and the Sudan- May Allah bless the people of Egypt with a righteous leadership. Whichever country is next- may it be as peaceful and organic as the Egyptian Revolution. Hoping for a EU kind of Arabian Union inshaAllah!

Slave of AllahSWT

Salamualaikum
i would prefer an IAU in the area…Islamic Arabian Union ;)

May AllahSWT bless the ummah and help us all to spread justice wherever we are!

Tariq Ahmed

may Allah guide the people of Egypt, and all the Muslims.

here in America we would hear anecdotes of protestors praying, especially those Muslims beset by water cannons, and those over whom Christian Egyptians stood guard.

but here is a beautiful and powerful video: tahrir square full of Muslims raising their voices to Allah seeking deliverance. indeed there is no doubt: laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa billah.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk-PKovjKzY

Mirza Shahebaz Baig

Allaahumma Ameen.

Subahan Allaah, such a powerful dua with hundreds of thousands of hands raised seeking mercy from Allaah and lo and behold its yet another time for prayer, they hear the news. mash Allaah , tabarak Allaah.
http://muslimmatters.org/author/Youssef-Chouhoud/ Youssef Chouhoud

I saw this live and was absolutely moved to tears. May Allah preserve Sh. Muhammed Jibreel. What a jewel he is.
http://popislam.com MR

This is very powerful. Can someone translate this?

This is the Revolution Dua!

Allah hu Akbar!
Nabeel

Alhamdulillah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.

The video says that the dua in jama’ah took place hours before Hosni Mubarak resigned. Hours after he said that he’s not going anywhere.

Maybe I’m reading into something that isn’t there, but these people where out there for three weeks with no success. Then the muslims turn their hearts to Allah subhanahu wa ta’aala in unison and with one voice, and He, ‘azza wa jal, changed their condition in hours.

ummousama

here in America we would hear anecdotes of protestors praying, especially those Muslims beset by water cannons, and those over whom Christian Egyptians stood guard.

These were not anecdotes but were the rule. No prayer were missed because people were in Tahrir. Instead, I am sure that many people who might not have been praying prayed while there.

I have been here 4 1/2 years, I am not Egyptian and my husband is not Egyptian either. Yet, we were so happy! Egyptians KNOW that the road ahead will be bumpy. After all, the road to THIS end that we celebrate today was bumpy with lots of hope raised, then dashed, then raised, then dashed, then victory came, alhamdulillah.

I can tell you that, through this road, I felt a tiny bit what the Muslims could have felt in Al-Ahzab. Priceless feeling.

I can also tell you that the Egypt I had before me even a month ago was better than the Egypt I had before my eyes in 2006. The corruption on an individual level was less (less people asking for a top-up for their job). It might be because, as a foreigner, they learnt that foreigners came here knowing the deen and wouldn’t abide by those practices; nevertheless, it was much less.

May Allah make this succeed, put just leaders in place and rid Egypt of the corruption.
salih

Bismillah! Today, Allah by His Mercy has granted victory for the Egyptian people. You have brought honor for all muslims and humanity as a whole. You have set a model for those who want freedom and justice. I pray to Allah to help the ones still being oppressed to have the strength and courage to accomplish what Egyptians have shown. May Allah grant the Egyptians and the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammed (SAW) righteous leaders, peace, and prosperity. Ameen.

http://nurkose.net Nayma

Ameen to your duas.

http://muslimmatters.org/author/Youssef-Chouhoud/ Youssef Chouhoud

In case you were wondering “who’s next?” it seems that our brothers and sisters in Yemen and Algeria are poised to take the baton.

Some of you may remember that a few months back, Egypt and Algeria were at each others’ throats over a football match. SubhanAllah, how petty that seems now.

Let me speak for all Egyptians and say to the people of Algeria: Nous sommes avec vous!
Aboo Umaamah

Assalaamu ‘alaykum,I’m so so happy and yet weeping bitterly because Allaah’s help is available for the oppressed and yet we have deprived ourselves for so long as human race in general and particularly as an ummah of Islaam.
We keep cheating ourselves by treating these tawaagheet ie tyrants as invincible or gods,while ‘the religious clergy’ of these inglorious hegemonies and regimes keep poisoning us and putting us to perpetual sleep, nay coma or more patently death by an opium that ” khurooj a’ala sultan” ie rebelling against the rulers- is unislamic in every instance. They though, theoretically admit that rebellion is permissible when the leader commits kufr, they practically and cunningly still ensure its unislamicness through the back doors.They have refused to combine all the relevant texts of the sacred law and its historical appendages to create this awkward interpretation of ‘khurooj’ to include every attempt to resist oppression and tyranny in the name of Islaam.
It is also sad that they have been lying to us that there would be total anarchy and all-round bloodshed if the people attempt to oust these oppressors and sellouts.Though,egyptians have sacrificed some lives to achieve this,they certainly have lost more lives under this man’s maladministration and corruption cum torture in his 30 years or so of looting called ruling.
May Allaah give our ummah sincere and committed leaders who would respect Allah’s rights and the legitimate yearning of the ummah.
Mohammad

The Muslims of Egypt have removed a dictator, but they must not let up and only accept afew bread crum changes to the system. They should demand the complete removal of the system and the implementation of the Khilafah system over them which will give them an accountable government with a ruler they can elect. Also the Khilafah system emanates from their very own Aqeedah and is a system given to them by their Lord, Allah (swt). Only then will they have true success in this life and the hereafter.
ameenibnabdulkader

It was not the Americans move that made the horrendous tyrant Mubaruk to flee but it was the brave move by the Egyptians. Conscripts ready to mutiny if ordered to fire on the crowds did it. Immensely courageous Egyptian union organizers active for years did it.

What may be next good news from the Middle East? The rulers of Yemen, Jordan, Algeria, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Morocco know that. Rulers and tyrants everywhere know that. They know bad news when they see it, same way we know good news when we hear its welcome knock on the door of history.

Mubaruk might not have executed a massacre of his people but he did commit the crime of â€œsociocideâ€ , that is, destruction of the relationships between the different groups constituting a society, in Egypt for instance between the Taqwah oriented and the Western oriented. This is what governments of the United States have done in Iraq making a killing fields between the age old political divisions of Shiyas and Sunny Muslims and what the Zionists did in Palestine.

They successfully carried out the destruction of social bonds between diverse groups â€“ ( Donâ€™t we see vote bank politics doing this in India between communities?) By this way they make the path clear for colonial or imperialist domination and exploitation of a region, whether it be for expropriation of the land, exploitation of its economic resources or occupation of its strategic location.
Leaders like Husni Mubaruk never understand the implications of the message in the Sacred Quran which asks them to go around the world and see for themselves the rabbles of mighty and more powerful empires that One True Almighty God had destroyed because of their arrogance, falsehood, disbelief, corruption, mischief on the land, befriending satanic forces, vanity and self-glory.

A Palestinian couplet makes it equally powerful. â€œ Let none be with us proud and overbearing, as we can be as brave as stupidâ€. Congratulations Egyptians. You proved Palestinian couplet.
abdur

I think it is too early to celebrate. If the Egyptians more towards a democracy and or a pro Western government they will continue to have the same problems. The Egyptian people must now push for the Shariah.
ummmanar

Assalamu alaykum
Alhamdulillah rabilalamin I am so happy for egyptians and the whole muslim ummah.This is a victory that deserve to be celebrated all over the world ,it is a history in our life time.Mashallah this is a peaceful demonstration and good example to the rest of the world.Inshallah allah gives egypt a god fearing president, Alf mobruk to the protesters,
ChasingPurity

Alhamdulillah, the Egyptians have done it, and as a fellow Muslim, I couldn’t be more proud. Here in New York, I saw everything on the news, the common people uniting together, & it was just so inspiring. I will keep you all in my prayers & Du’a so that you may find a just ruler.
MW_M

Egyptian People for Nobel Prize 2011:

http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/tahrir2011
Tariq Ahmed

It does feel great to see how much Allah has honored the struggles of the people of Tunisia and Egypt. Tens of millions of Muslims and their countrymen have a degree of dignity they did not enjoy for long decades. And all izzat is Allah’s, so may the Muslims come closer to Him in gratitude for what they have been given.

And how about Facebook? Revolution gives fitnahbook a whole new meaning. Maybe it is actually worth joining now? ;)

You know which country most needs to be next? America. No country in the world is simultaneously killing more people in other lands while bankrupting its own people to pay for those wars. Ya shebab of America, organize marches on Facebook, Twitter, or wherever you can. Make America once again a great and honored land by forcing its leaders to let the world take care of itself.

And America can learn from Egypt: the protests can be diverse, all the facets of American society: wealthy or poor, educated or not, of any faith or none, so long as they are committed to justice, let them come together to restore America to a sensible course.
http://muslimmatters.org/author/tariq-ahmed/ abu abdAllah Tariq Ahmed

Also how ironic that the American “opposition” is characterized by the vitriol of CPAC and the Tea Party. No chai hawker on the streets of Cairo, Istanbul, or Karachi would sell the bile these “patriotic” Americans drink up.

And when Bush was in power, what Democrats most craved was to wrest that power from him.

America really does need its Tahrir Square popular peaceful protest movement. The National Mall is waiting…
Ibn Abdullah

As-Salamu’alaikum:

The uprising today that we see, is not (unfortunately) because of the teaching of our scholars to the masses. Not at all. It all started by an unemployed youth in Tunisia who set himself on fire. Granted, not all of our true scholars have the power, and the freedom to openly teach in the Muslim lands where the tyrants suppress the truth. However, this is all the more reason to speak out against the crimes of our tyrannical regimes. Our scholars, who inherit the knowledge of the Prophets must step up to the plate, and fill the void that is left without having a Khalifah. These events clearly show several things:

1. Success can be brought by uniting the people on truth and justice. It does not always require violence, nor tremendous amounts of wealth, ammunition, weaponry, or support from outside states. Violence is NOT ALWAYS THE ONLY OPTION.

2. Our scholars have not been doing their responsibility in teaching the people. Had they been doing so, then we would have seen a revolution in Egypt calling for Shari’ah, with a candidate for a Khalifah to be put in place, instead of people calling for democracy. While this change that we see will, InshaALLAH bring a better, more just ruler instead of the criminal Mubarak, this is hardly the ideal solution. We are looking for an ISLAMIC solution to the problems in the Muslim lands, and NOT a secular/democratic/capitalist solution.

3. Finally, and this is the most important point. One serious, and possible consequence of the outcome of this revolution, is that people will realize that it was without the help of the scholars of Islam, were they able to bring about positive change for themselves. In other words, people could possibly say to themselves that “we don’t need Islam anymore, since it was not Islam, but rather secularism that brought us victory!” When the arabs were defeated against Israel in 1948, 1967, and 1973, while they may have been defeats for the Arabs, in actuality, they were victories for Islam. They were victories because the glory, and pride behind the false idol called, “Arabism”, and “Nationalism”, was destroyed. Had the Arabs, under the leadership of Nasser, Asad, and Hussein were victorious in wiping Israel off the map, then people would have seen the victory of Arabism, and not Islam against our enemies. These defeats forced us to realize that only by turning to ALLAH can we achieve victory, hence the victory against the soviets in 1979. Similarly, the people of knowledge today need to reach out to the people, and play in important role in implementing Islam in the people’s lives, demonstrating the practicality of learning, and living Islam in all spheres of the Ummah, versus restricting Islam to simply teachings of ‘ibadah, and spirituality. We ask ALLAH to not make the people disenfranchised, nor disillusioned with Islam, and we ask ALLAH to make the scholars the true inheritors of the Prophets, and not inheritors of wealth, and status given to them by the tyrants of our time. We ask ALLAH to make the scholars of our time to be catalysts (and not obstacles, nor impediments) for Islamic revolutions across all of the Islamic lands.

Was-Salamu’alaikum

http://muslimmatters.org/author/Youssef-Chouhoud/ Youssef Chouhoud

Salamualaikum akhi Ibn Abdullah,

I hear what you’re saying, but let me offer some words of solace.

While at heart this wasn’t an “Islamic” revolution, this was nonetheless a predominantly Muslim revolution. When that call to prayer sounded, the Muslim masses in the street stopped what they were doing to heed it and those who didn’t at least respected their desire to do so. In fact, many who probably wouldn’t have otherwise prayed – or at least not prayed in jamaah – were among those in sujood in Tahrir, Alexandria and across Egypt. And a look at all those in Tahrir on that final jumuah (the video above) evidences the protesters’ sincerity. So there were no illusions that we could put Islam aside and be victorious in this struggle.

Also, even though this was on the surface a call for democratic change, it was more fundamentally a call for an end to corruption, more openness from the government, and a better quality of life – all things completely consistent with Islamic teachings.

As for scholars, I share your hope that more lend their voice to important matters in the ummah. But even more, I worry when some do and do so without a sound understanding of on-the-ground realities or the nuances of political systems in 21st century. The latter do much more harm than the former do good. W’Allahu alam

Ibn Abdullah

As-Salamu’alaikum:

May ALLAH have Mercy on your parents, and make a path to Jannah easy for you and your family. JazakALLAH Khair for your reply, and I agree with your points. AlhamduLILLAH, the people were indeed praying, and the protests became stronger after everyone came out for Jum’ah. You are right. AlhamduLILLAH, Islam is very alive in the hearts of our brothers and sisters. I do hope, and pray, that our scholars wake up from the coma they have been in, and I also hope that we, as lay people, and students of knowledge demand more from our ‘ulama, and hold them accountable as they people of egypt held Mubarak accountable.

JazakALLAH Khair once again for your kind reply.

Was-Salamu’alaikum

http://muslimmatters.org/author/Youssef-Chouhoud/ Youssef Chouhoud

Waiyak akhi. And Jazak Allahu khayr for your sincerity and concern. InshAllah with individuals like yourself making dua, we’ll be able to realize more and more of the dreams we have for this ummah.

Wasalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatu

wajid

Ws,

I too share the disillusionment of ibn Abdullah re: the silence of many scholars about the situation in Egypt. Apart from some notable exceptions, like Yasir Qadhi, Zaid Shakir, Salman Al Oudah and Yusuf Qardawi – many stayed silent. And still others took the opposite view by saying that protesting is wrong and that Muslims should never do what the protesters in Egypt were doing.
ummousama

I agree that this was not an Islamic Revolution. However, as Yousouf Chouhoud said, Islam was present in it. As we can see in Tunisia and in Egypt, a revolution is fought on the ground and not through pen and paper. Yes, pen and paper are needed to make people aware of their rights and so on. However, this revolution was not done by people who had seeked asylum in other countries. This was done by people who were in the street.

Secondly, these two revolutions have done a lot for Islam. They have given pride to the Muslims again, they have shown that we, as Muslims, we can be organised, we can achieve. Now that pride is back in the hearts of the Muslims and fear is gone, this might very much be the first step for an awakening of Islam. They have also broken the shackles from the Western World. By getting rid of Mubarak and Ben Ali, they got rid of the West too as the Western Countries were very surprised by the turn of event. It has also shown how the political leaders are one and the same with French Ministers being “guests” of Mubarak and Ben Ali for their holidays and Tony Blair has been guest previously too here in Egypt.

These two revolutions have also enabled people to come back to their country. Egyptians want to come back to Egypt and build their own country again. They want to rid their country of corruption. I heard a call in Alexandria asking everybody not to give money to officials anymore.

I urge everybody to go back to live in a Muslim country. Yes, there will be challenges, you might get hungry sometimes, yet Muslims need each other in Muslim countries. You won’t build a caliphate from abroad.

Finally, I would like to share three things:

1. Organisation at Tahrir Square:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-12434787

2. It wasn’t as leaderless and as unprepared as it seemed: (note this was done BEFORE the 9th of February).

http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/peopleandpower/2011/02/201128145549829916.html

3. It took the West by surprise:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/12/egypt-cairo-street-protests-tunisia-mubarak-obama
kinali

No body through for one minute if it is in accordance with the kitaab wal Sunnah, no body. And Allah will no bring success n good to such people who reject the practice of His religion and go to take the Marxism ideology!
Elfatih

People i have read and seen some really dangerous notes concerning this revolution, which is a document that a brother assembled with really startling things in it please take a look:
http://www.4shared.com/document/F3UOU5Yt/___online.html

Congratulations to all the people of Egypt! Allahu Akbar wa ta7ya Masr!!

Youssef Chouhoud

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