WE – The Hosni Mubaraks

It is not over. We are mistaken. We all are standing at the Tahrir Square helplessly. Without being able to remove the rule of Hosni Mubaraks. These are those Hosni Mubaraks who have been in power for over “thirty years” – actually generations. These are none other than ourselves. We are clinging to our prejudices, preconceived notions, respective schools of thought and outdated ideas more strongly than Hosni Mubarak clung to power. Some of us are clinging to them from a much earlier age. Some of us are still not relenting while Hosni Mubarak actually did. Hosni Mubarak proved to be more flexible and accommodating.

Having studied in Jami‘atul Falah I know many of my Falahi friends. A big number of them find it extremely abhorrent to hear anything different – different from what they have grown older with. This defeats the very purpose of the existence of Jami‘atul Falah (if some of the words have some meaning). When I see that they have become followers, it hurts. When I see that they make fun of the same methodology which they have learnt, then it pains. When I see that they are not willing to see beyond, then I wonder. When I see their giant Hosni Mubaraks then I aspire for many more Tahir Squares.

Am fortunate to know many AMU alumni. For them their preconceived notions and gravely mistaken ideas about ‘the nearest life (al-hayaat al-dunyaa)’ and ‘the way of life (al-deen)’ – which they have relentlessly clung to for many generations under severe conditioning effects – are far louder than all the clamouring on the Square. They give a deaf year to the protests. They are not listening to the teeming millions who have swarmed the streets of Cairo. Their rule of “thirty years” is not coming to an end. Not in the near future.

Our arrogance is the greatest Hosni Mubarak. When I find arrogance it only means that truth is eluding us the seeking of which is our career on earth – to the best of our capacities and with utmost humbleness. How can we afford not to relent when faced with truth? How can we be arrogant and the seeker of truth – both at the same time? If we still cannot see the difference then we need to go back to Makkah and analyze the characters – who was arrogant and why and who wasn’t and why not?

We have been against one Hosni Mubarak mistaking him all this while to be somewhere farther away from ourselves. But the one which is the real one and is constantly in the mirror we do not worry about him. And we allow him to perpetuate his tyrannical rule as long as he wishes. The struggle for deposing these Hosni Mubaraks has to continue – all the life. Unless we depose them we will not see the real and lasting change which we are aspiring to and are deservedly excited about.

We expect change from masses and then the Governments. We think that the change in regime is a precondition for the change within. But then what and why do we teach? How will we justify the existence of so many educational institutions? The day we sincerely work on ourselves and send our own selves to Sharm El Sheikhs (or anywhere else) we will see a new dawn. We will see a changed world around us. Congratulations for removing one Hosni Mubarak. There are many more.

Some of them I recently met during a study circle of Qur’an. The friends had reached to the concluding rukoo‘ of Soorah al-Baqarah. On being asked to comment, I protested on the Tahrir Square that “My pace of studying Qur’an is very slow and I haven’t reached the end of Soorah al-Baqarah as I am still stuck with ‘Show us the Straight Path’ in Soorah al-Faatihah because when I contrast it with our situation then I hardly find any Path or anything Straight”. But my protest was brutally crushed. I am sure the same regime will continue for some more time and any protests will be dealt with in the same manner. Everyone is the victim here, though. Including the circles and the Book.

I have seen them in the emails on our Forums. I come across them in my daily conversations. I see them in our directionlessness and complete disorientation. I see them in our mistaken priorities. I see them in our frequent ‘assertion’ that “Jirgah apni jagah par lekin parnaalah wahee(n) giray gaa”. I see them in our love for speed and distaste for direction. I see them in our notion that we cannot do anything unless the regime changes. I see them in blaming all others for our ills and evils. We have to depose all these Hosni Mubaraks – one by one.