Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Some of those who would like to embarrass Dr. al-Barad‘ī, or anyone else who seeks change, usually asks the question: what do you think of the second article of the Egyptian constitution, that mentions that Islam is the official religion of the state and that Islamic sharī‘ah is the main source of legislation? Interested parties, like some American journalists, like to ask al-Barad‘ī this question, especially after he announced his intention to cooperate with the Muslim Brotherhood in order to work on changing the constitution. “I believe that whoever asks this question,” Dr. Khalīl writes, “aims at nothing but trapping al-Barad‘ī. If he answered that he supports the constitutional article, Christians and seculars would be angry, and if he said that he is against it, Islamists would attack him.”

 

The question actually reflects a general state of attention towards marginal issues and ignoring basic things, like looking for the best ways to develop the country. “What does it mean that the state has a religion or a language?” Dr. Khalīl wonders, “Religion is that of individuals, so is language.” They are only individuals who can specify the religion and language they would like to belong to.

 

Mentioning that Arabic is the official language of the state did not prevent the spread of learning foreign languages in Egypt. The same applies to the article concerning Islam being the official religion of the state. The government managed to postpone putting the draft project concerning legislating Islamic sharī‘ah in the late 1970s.

 

In the end, Dr. Khalīl stresses that religion is neither that of a country or society; it is something individual. When Islamic teachings and sharī‘ah control a person, he no longer needs the state to help him apply these regulations on his everyday life.