Frequently I am informed that the majority of Egyptians do not care about anything but putting food in their stomachs, and cannot be relied upon to take a religious and moral stand against tyranny. There are so many problems with this statement, I hardly know where to begin.
Poverty in Egypt has been steadily worsening over the past 5 years. The neoliberal policies began under Mubarak, continued under Mursi, and intensified under Sisi. There has been perfect continuity in this matter, despite all the upheaval and supposedly revolutionary movements. And the day to day life of the people is getting more and more desperate and insecure, and every effort to achieve justice has only made their dilemma more unbearable.
If the people exhibit an increased preoccupation with their own welfare, it is quite obvious why this is so; their welfare has become increasingly unstable.
Food, shelter, and clothing are fundamental human rights in Islam. Demanding them is, in fact, taking a religious and moral stand against tyranny. Whoever is killed defending his property is a martyr precisely because he is defending his rights against unjust usurpation.
Contempt for those whose primary struggle is how to put food on the table for their families, and maintain a roof over the heads of their children, is only ever felt and expressed by those privileged enough to not have to worry about where their next meal will come from. As I have personally seen from some such well-fed Islamist exiles here in Turkey living in luxury apartments, calling upon the masses to sacrifice and struggle while they lick the kebab grease off their fingertips. They did not reach this position of privilege and security by sacrifice and struggle.
No, it is the elites of a society who are primarily motivated by their own self-interest, not the majority, not the poor.
The concern of an increasingly impoverished population for their own survival is precisely why the Islamist movement must oppose, and not embrace, neoliberal economic policies. It is religiously, and morally right, and it is absolutely the soundest political strategy for recruiting widespread grassroots support.
When Umar bin Al-Khattab became Khalifah, didn’t he say to the people, “I promise you that I will increase your salaries and your provisions”? Concern, not contempt, for the material comfort and security of the Muslims is an essential characteristic of Islamic leadership.
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