Are We Muslims? by Muhammad Qutb

Author:Muhammad Qutb [Qutb, Muhammad]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Al Firdous Ltd
Published: 2015-05-09T16:00:00+00:00

Internal Factors

The French expedition (al-Hamla al-Faransiyya) to Egypt marked a new and bleak point in Islamic history. Historically, the Crusaders waged several successive attacks on the Islamic world, but every time they did, they were valiantly resisted, however long their stay lasted and however heavy the Muslim losses were. This time when the French attacked Egypt, the Egyptians fought back and forced the French to leave the territory. However, there was something different about this attack compared to previous ones, both in the causes and effects. The bitter defeat which the Egyptians suffered at the hands of Napoleon in northern Cairo was not only a defeat of the army, but also a defeat of one of the Islamic covenants, and the idea that represented such covenant. In fact, it was a deep and overwhelming defeat that undermined the spirit of the Muslims and rocked it to the core. There had been defeats before, and at each one the Muslims would have the consoling answers that defeat was momentary, and would and would often attribute it to the size or sophisticated weaponry of the invader. They heroically sustained the heavy losses, but were confident that Allah’s Support was imminent. More to the point, this ‘victory-after-defeat cycle’ only strengthened their sense of superiority, self-confidence and trust in Allah. For them, the invaders were barbaric, backward, or in short, typical embodiment of immoral values.

In fact, Al-Maqrizi branded them as unmanly who do not possess a twinge of jealousy for their wives. They are the ones who would allow their spouses to walk with revealing dress. They are the ones who would leave their spouses in the company of their friends without a shred of doubt. This ‘laissez-faire’ behavior in the Western society was totally unconceivable for the Muslims of that time.[17]

Hence, the sense of superiority dictated by Aqeeda and faith remained ardent in the souls of the Muslims even during those difficult moments when the Crusaders were piercing through the Muslim lines like stormy water. Despite those critical moments, they were cautious not to let themselves get ‘infected’ by the contaminated customs and traditions of the enemy.

This was not at all the case after the French conquest. It is true to say that the Aqeeda was deeply ingrained in the souls of the Muslims, but such Aqeeda under the rule of the Turks was, as stated above, ‘stagnant’ and lost its long-standing vivacity. It (Aqeeda), instead, turned into a set of traditions and ‘empty’ rituals. Therefore, the defeat of the Muslims in the battle under Napoleon marked an ‘inward’ defeat…a defeat of Aqeeda in the souls. In fact, the Muslims were terrified by the force of the enemy, and concluded that their swords would not hit a single target compared to Napoleon’s sophisticated ammunitions. This was the first time the Muslim armies were ‘deservedly’ defeated by the Crusaders because the latter possessed better ammunitions and better knowledge of art of war which Muslims did not have. The Muslims felt ‘defeat’ from within.

They could

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