The New Fatwa - an incitement to commit a crime?

I am as anxious as the next person for the Libyan people to gain their freedom from an autocratic rule of 42 years. Most Libyans have not known any other system of governance in their lives; yet they are out in the streets facing state terror to achieve an ideal they have only heard about. May Allah grant them success.

That said, one of our most distinguished scholars is urging anyone who has the capacity to kill the Libyan ruler to do so. Regardless of the justification derived from some supposed Islamic rationale and packaged in the form a fatwa, this is clearly an incitement to commit a crime. Even in the worst of situations, an incitement to commit a murder is just that, and it is against the law in most contemporary civilized societies.

The Libyan people want to topple the regime. That is their right, even though the Grand Mufti of Egypt denied the Egypt people this right through his fatwa. The Libyan people can decide how to hold the toppled ruler to account, and they will. They will perhaps remember that when Musa AS was faced with the crime that Samiri had committed, he asked him "What is your explanation, O Samiri?" even though the guilt of Samiri was evident and beyond doubt.

By the way, wouldn't it be nice to have a debate between a mufti who tells the Egyptian people not to rebel against their autocratic rule, and a mufti who tells the Libyan people to kill their autocratic rule. That will illuminate the civilizational challenge Islam and Muslim face today.

Next?

One thing that we have learned in recent years that when it comes to predicting the future, no one can even come close - not even the CIA! No one had an inkling of an idea that Tunisia will erupt into freedom and that Egypt will follow so soon. In hindsight we can all say that things were cooking for a long time and now had come to a boiling point. We can rationalize what happened had to happen. But that's all hindsight, which is always perfect.

So, what is next? No one knows, but one can make a wish list at no cost. On the top of that wish list will be a sweeping wave of freedom across the region - not only freedom from oppression but from poverty, illiteracy, and sickness, which cannot be truly achieved in pieces. Oppression leads to corruption - or is it the other way around - which then leads to poverty, illiteracy and sickness.

This is intermission. The next act is ready to open, God Willing.

The question the Egyptian vice president asks

"If President Mubarak would say that 'I'm leaving now,' who would take over?" Suleiman said on ABC.
Answer: Please read the Egyptian Constitution ....



Article 82If on account of any temporary obstacle the President of the Republic is unable to carry out his functions, he shall delegate his powers to a vice-president.
Article 83In case of resignation, the President shall address the letter of resignation to the People's Assembly.
Article 84In case of the vacancy of the Presidential Office or the permanent disability of the President of the Republic, the President of the People's Assembly shall temporarily assume the Presidency; and, if at that time, the People's Assembly is dissolved, the President of the Supreme Constitutional Court shall take over the Presidency, however, on condition that neither one shall nominate himself for the Presidency. The People's Assembly shall then proclaim the vacancy of the office of President. The President of the Republic shall be chosen within a maximum period of sixty days from the day of the vacancy of the Presidential Office.

The "Muslim French Revolution"?

The spreading revolution in the Middle East - Tunisia to Egypt to ... - is an echo, in a manner of speaking, the French Revolution that wrested power from kings and turned them over to the people. The kings of today - the 99.9% presidents - are taking heed, and not soon enough!

However, there are those who are locked in the past and remain ignorant of the march of history. Their knowledge remains fossilized and their wisdom remains dormant, to put it mildly. Among them is Dr. Ali Gomaa, the Grand Mufti of Egypt. It is a pity that the his office will continue to influence Muslims in Egypt and indeed around the world, based on a reputation, which can now be questioned.

Many Muslim community leaders have spoken up for the Egyptian people and condemned the Egyptian government. An honorable spokesperson of Al-Azhar University has resigned and joined the protesters. May Allah guide Shaykh Ali Gomaa to learn from him.