19th of November: A New Revolution for Egypt ?

After the Million man protest on Friday 18th of November, which was to refuse the "pre-constitutional" document proposed by the SCAF (Supreme Council of the Armed Forces) and to demand a fixed date for presidential elections, some groups decided to stay in Tahrir Square, but were met with brute force on the 19th !

The "pre-constitutional" document (often called Al-Silmi's document named after the deputy prime minister who formally orchestrated it) gives unprecedented authorities to the SCAF, which make it above the law, above transparency and above parliamentary monitoring and evaluation. It makes Egypt just as any country ruled by a military junta, Egyptian political factions have collectively rejected the document, although some regime cronies under the guise of new groups and elitists under the guise of liberals who want to halt the political process to take away Islamist political influence in the coming parliament.

at least one has died and 700 injured in the clashes between security forces and protestors, from allover the country. Police forces clashed with those who stayed after the 18th, on hearing the news, Egyptians poured from all directions into Tahrir, by the 7:00pm local time, security forces have left the

Memories of the 25th and 28th of January when the revolution first broke out was the talk of Egyptians, Tear gas everywhere, gun shots of pallet bullets heard, Mulims praying on Kasr Al-Nile Bridge surrounded by protecting Copts, a ground mini-hospital for first aid and focal for tranfering the injured right infront of KFC in the Square.

Switching on Egyptian TV stations, the same rhetoric and discourse overwhelms what has been said in the eary days of the revolution, go online and it is a different discourse, different perception, a different world. Egyptian state run media have been trying very hard to depict it into an Islamist uprising, despite the participation of liberals including the 6th of April movement.

The picture below shows a comparison between state run Channel One, and independent Aljazeera. Below on the heading, explaining the scene of Aljazeera has" Egyptian Movements and Political Parties participate in a million's protest demanding a fixed day to transfer authority (to a civil government) and rejecting al-Silimi's document. on the left the Egyptian state run Channel One, it says Mobilized protests by Ikhwan (Muslim Brotherhood) and Salafis in Tahrir.

The picture above shows a comparison between state run Channel One, and independent Aljazeera. Below on the heading, explaining the scene of Aljazeera has" Egyptian Movements and Political Parties participate in a million's protest demanding a fixed day to transfer authority (to a civil government) and rejecting al-Silimi's document". on the left the

Egyptian state run Channel One, says: "Mobilized protests by Ikhwan (Muslim Brotherhood) and Salafis in Tahrir".

It is absolutely clear that the SCAF is not going to let go of its transnational authority easily, however Egyptians are still in a revolutionary and furious at the response. Many in Egypt say a second revolution is in the making, and with the Arab spring still ongoing in Syria and Yemen, and the progress made in Tunis and Libya; it would stupid to think the political situation will settle in Egypt with a repressive authoritarian regime.

On Happiness

The secret of happiness is in being Content

And being Content implies that you are so with whatever Allah gives you or abstains from you, that you know that Allah does so out of His infinite Wisdom, Mercy and Knowledge.

Being Content arises from knowing that whatever happened to you was meant to be and was not going to miss you. Qadar.

Being in Content is through Submitting to Allah, being a Slave to Allah.

Being Content through love; A true lover is Content by whatever the loved one gives, Love of Allah.

Being Content arises from realizing that Allah has Infinite Knowledge and that you are ignorant or with limited knowledge. Allah knows and you dont, therefore Allah will give you accordingly.

Be Content with Allah's religious legislation of Halal and Haram, and Allah's choices for you as son of Adam doesnt always want whats good for him, sometimes he wants whats bad for him, However Allah always wants whats good for you.

If you are Content you will be happy with what you got, if not you will hate more what you have.

You cant be a slave to Allah unless you also worship Him, even if you are given that which you did not hope for or been fortunate with.

When you are Content with Allah with very little provision he is pleased with you with very little worship, and if you are content at all times, Allah is Content with you when you hasten to repent.

Being in discontent with Allah will bring doubt in Allah. Doubt in his Justice, Doubt in his Mercy.

Being Content brings righteous deeds, being discontent brings sinful actions.

Whoever is Content with Allah has his heart Full of richness, security, pleasure and satisfaction with whatever Allah has provided.

Being Content is the gateway to Paradise. Being Content is the gateway to Happiness in this world and the hereafter.

A Weaker U.S in Egypt

As the Arab Spring goes on, blowing the winds of revolution on more Arab countries the position of the U.S becomes weaker and its policy makers panic.

And as the recommendations of various academics and scholars of social sciences -who tried to bridge the gap between these two civilizations apologetically or not highlighted the importance of dialogue- were overlooked as naive and useless, overlooked with arrogance. Now the U.S is seeking dialogue with the new big boys. Namely the Islamists.

Washington has on several occasions gestured that it would like to talk with the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt. The EU too on another note has invited the biggest Salafi political party in Egypt to its headquarters in Brussels to "get to know each other".

Sure Islamists generally have reacted positively by stating its positive step from Washington however, no one is thrilled. One of the Muslim Brotherhood spokesman on Aljazeera slammed the U.S and strongly denounced its previous foreign policy, saying that the U.S's global leadership is based on violence, use of force and oppression.

What is There to Discuss ?

Clinton said as she spoke about some dialogue occurring with members of the Muslim Brotherhood that the dialogue: "will continue to emphasize the importance of and support for democratic principles, and especially a commitment to nonviolence, respect for minority rights, and the full inclusion of women in any democracy. You cannot leave out half the population and claim that you are committed to democracy".

Non-violence would most likely refer to some sort of disassociation with Hamas, and committing to peace with Israel. Minority rights obviously to Copts and perhaps tolerance to some of the fishy political practice of the Pope. It could also mean including Copts in the Army, Police,National security and other institutions Copts were variously not included in. Women perhaps was just an ornamental addition to her speech as the Muslim Brotherhood have no objections in women political participation.

The gap between the interests of Islamists and the U.S is huge. What is there to discuss ?

Hamas will be a future topic.

Iran Containment (which is already ongoing)
and any other sensitive topic, which both entities stand on opposite ends with.

I highly doubt the Muslim Brotherhood will simply comply with the U.S on containing Iran, or on any regional politics unless there is mutual interest.

U.S Policies;

The U.S will try to attract the mellow fringe members of Muslim Brotherhood and try to empower them and give them some sort of platform to engage from. Which will be extremely difficult as the Muslim Brotherhood is highly knit and if any of its members acts alone he or she is basically severing them self from the group.

The U.S is trying to empower secularist and liberalist groups, The U.S has already spent millions of dollars on "democratization" which i doubt will continue to do so, as the Military council, the government, Islamists and public opnion/ the revolution is disgusted by it. And the seemingly innocent statement by the current Ambassador of the U.S to Cairo's about giving 40 million dollaars to "support democracy" was met with rage and government formed committees to stop such practice. Either way even if the money keeps flowing it will not undermine Islamists in Egypt.

The Constitution First Campaign.
The U.S has been heavily involved from the start in pushing for a constitution first so that there is more time for secularists and liberalists to gather, harness and mobilize supporters against Islamists. Before the referendum (over accepting the constitutional amendments or rejecting them) the U.S almost tied its aid to pushing for the constitution first, before parliamentary and then presidential elections.

The American Chamber of Commerce also organized a conference with News Paper Al Masry Al Youm (which is owned by a Coptic Billionare Naguib Sawiris currently being investigated for corruption charges) strongly arguing in favor of a constitution first.

The referendum was made and 77% of over 16 million voters approved it. However did the calls for the making a new constitution first stop ? No! they kept ongoing and the U.S kept funding the campaign "Ad-Dustoor Awalan", "The Constitution First", Money was also provided by Sawiris.

All in Vain

Today no one has given any attention to the "constitution first", and it has become no longer heard of. There was a previous Friday in Tahrir Square organized by those calling for this campaign some of them even used slogans against Israel to try and harness more support, in the end only a few thousand people showed up.

On the 8th of July and as the Muslim Brotherhood, Salafis and other Islamists said they will participate in the friday of "The Revolution First".Protestors are over a million if not hundreds of thousands.

The U.S is still active on the Economic front through the IMF and using other methods to keep Egypt weaker, however on the grassroots level the U.S has failed miserably. Islamists are going very strong, the Muslim Brotherhood is very organized other Islamists are catching up, the U.S will be unable to anything about it, but try to engage in "dialogue".

How much will you go ?

-

Alhamdullelah I know I am very fortunate, but I also know I have stuck to my ideals, and somehow, even though I can be a horrible Muslim at times, Allah has helped me out. I have never done anything to harm anyone, nor sugarcoat anything unworthy of praise. I have had a friend told me that,,, that I am living up to my ideals, and I have not worked at a single place that cannot accommodate that.

I have always been outspoken, and never backed down in a debate, even if it is very controversial or potentially standing up for the "bad guys".

My advice to you in general and specifically if you are going into media, politics, NGOs etc. is that dont work for scumbags, dont work for embassies. I was once naive enough to think that if you work for the American embassy you can really show them that "Islamists" are not terrorists, that we love freedom just as anyone else, that if they can see that shariah is not horrible and that Islam is a true message of justice, peace and mercy.

Yet you alone cannot change the work of institutions, you are just a lowering ranking employee that can change nothing in the bigger picture, sure you can show that Arabs and Muslims are just as human like anyone else but that doesnt save a rat's ass.

Do not call someone a terrorist if they are not, dont stand up for the oppressors and abide by all their discourses, sure Muslims wrong others too, but dont make that obscure the bigger picture, that the Ummah is oppressed.

unfortunately those willing to compromise so much, do not start with that, its first "small" things" such as not praying on time so that people dont know you practice Islam, or you shave your beard or not wear hijab at all, or you attend parties or gatherings with drinking and so on.

Key is, you have done something other than for the sake of Allah, you have dignified other than Allah, and you have chosen to enslave yourself to the pleasure of others aconcerning you.

in the end all of this doesnt matter, in the end it is if you stand to up to Allah - who needs you not- and to this Ummah, and to the weak and oppressed, that you can find peace in yourself, and the assistance of Allah, those who debate you can talk trash all they want, yet when you confront them, they will back down, if not- rarely the case- you still know where you stand and you aint moving.

It is sickining how much people change as a result of wishful thinking, that they can actually change something by working for oppressive institutions, or engaging in a conference which the info that comes out of ultimately leads to the undermining of the Ummah. In the end you are pathetic, you can never be one of them nor you are of the Ummah. You become a despicable uncle tom, sure they might laugh with you, but they know you are a piece of shi* for selling out your own people. The more you stay in it the more you will need a radical shift in lifestyle to cure your illness, and so as anything in life which is wong.

remember that you are the slave of Allah, and Allah accepts only those who are pure and do actions only for his sake. Yet there are others too in this world who stand for their ideals not necessarily Muslim, yet they are better than you, they stood for their ideals and stood up for what they saw as just, and you saw the truth and stood for falsehood. fear Allah and say nothing bu the truth......... how much will you go...?? make the right turn and stand for righteousness

Week of Dieting

Am Back to Dieting alhamdullelah, since I stopped shortly after the revolution.

Its been almost a week, today is my cheat meal day,
pasta with alfredo sauce, mashed potatoes, meatballs and turkish meatballs and some sald

Just did my Cardio a bit late, on an empty stomach had my protein shake and a cup and a half of grind oatmeal, which is about 75 grams of carbs, I go to juma and hit shoulders traps and tris,

I have to do this for at least 2.5 months, see where it leads.

think am not getting enough calories as i often do a some out of office trips for work, thin i might add some protein and carbs, yesterday, I had a little less than kilogram of steak. felt so good !

اللهم إكفني بحلالك عن حرامك و بطاعتك عن معصيتك
و بفضلك عن من سواك
اللهم إني أعوذ بك أن تكلني لنفسي طرفة عين
اللهم إني أعوذ بك من سوء القضاء و شماتة الأعداء
اللهم إني أعوذ بك من غلبة الدين و من قهر الرجال
اللهم إني أسئلك عيش السعداء و نزل الشهداء
و مرافقة الأنبياء و النصر على الأعداء
اللهم حبب إلي الإيمان و زينه في قلبي
و كره إلي الكفر و الفسوق و الأعصيان
اللهم إني أعوذ بك من الكفر و النفاق و الضلال
اللهم إني أسئلك التقوى و العفاف و الهدى
اللهم إجعلني عبدا شكورا صابرا محتسبا
اللهم إجعلني من عبادك المقربين
اللهم إغفر لي و إعفوا عني و إرحمني
و ثبتني على الحق المبين لا مبدل و لا مداهن للكافرين
اللهم لا مولى لي سواك و لا رب لي سواك و لا قدير سواك
اللهم لا تطردني عن جنابك فأكون من الخاسرين
اللهم إني هالك إلا برحمتك فلا تطردني من رحمتك
اللهم أنت ربي و أن عبدك الفقير
فأتني من جودك و كرمك يا رب العالمين
اللهم بيض وجهي يوم ألقاك و إجعل خير أعمالي خواتيمها
و إجعل كلامة أشهد أن لا إله إلا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله اخر كلامي
سبحانك رب العزة عن ما يصفون
و سلام على المرسلين
و الحمد لله رب العلمين

They asked me how I built my Traps and I Shrugged

Life

alhamdullelah, good stuff going on, good plans, projects, busy, busy, busy; no moe specifics on blog.

It seems sticking to your ideals, is not as easy as you do in university, but I cant see myself kissing butt or doing something I dont like, or working for a cause contradictory to mine. Good things are happening in Egypt, inshaAllah its going very well, and people like me will have a big say in what goes on and the track this country will take.

bodybuilding
So I have been able to pull of 60kg dumbbells (132pounds) in each hand and shrugged them 8 reps.
Since I stopped the diet right before the revolution I ballooned, still fit in my "motivation jeans" though my wife got for me. So I guess I should start dieting again all the way.

Politics

:)