The Plans of Modern Pharaohs

 

The rise of authoritarian strongmen- 'modern Pharaohs' as it were- in numerous countries in recent times through either military takeovers, or by deeply-flawed but populist ('democratic') processes threaten true freedom every where. Countries with dangerous imperial delusions and territorial expansion plans include Russia under Vladimir Putin; China under Xi Jinping; India under Narendra Modi, and Israel under Benjamin Netanyahu. While each of these nations know that international law does not legitimate military conquest and foreign occupation, they plan that 'stealth' and 'subterfuge' can carry their secret plots to fruition: the acquisition and control of territories through any means, including war. Likewise, the return to power in Kabul by the Taliban; by other equally vicious military oligarchs in North Korea, Myanmar, Mali, Sudan, Tunisia, Nicaragua and Egypt mean an era of political repression and glaring injustice for the people of these unfortunate countries. It is also instructive to note that many other nations are also arming themselves to the teeth; preparing themselves for the  'Wars of the future'. 

Against this grim backdrop of international political and strategic developments with the rise of modern pharaohs, in his Friday Sermon of 25 November 2022 ~30 Rabi’ul Aakhir 1444 AH, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius continues his series of reflections on the challenges confronting international freedom, peace and tranquillity.    

Read the Friday Sermon Below: 

The Modern Pharaohs of this World & Their War Strategies

The pharaonic dynasty was about horrible tyrants who claimed to be all-powerful gods, and they made their people worship them. They amassed unfathomable wealth and power, while the masses, as always, laboured to survive. They built huge monuments to their own praise, big slabs to flatter their ego, to impress their followers and foreign powers with their stature and might. They abused their authority at every turn, killed off the opposition, tortured, maimed, plotted, connived, and clung to power by every means imaginable. And their legacy [i.e. their evil, their thirst for power, grandeur and wealth] has persisted until today.

 

It is well established among the people of all religions, especially, the three main monotheistic ones, i.e. Muslims, Jews and Christians, that Pharaoh was one of the worst disbelievers in God; in fact, in the Quran, Allah does not tell the story of any disbeliever by name more than the story of Pharaoh, and He does not tell us more detail of the disbelief, transgression and arrogance of any disbeliever more than He tells us about Pharaoh.

The Beauty of Patience: Yusuf (as) in the Qur'an

Patience of the Prophets

Since the dawn of time, Allah has sent prophets in all ages and to all the nations of the world. A line of prophets came, all ennobled by the Messenger of Messengers, the Beloved Muhammad (pbuh), all of whom had endured countless hardships, all of whom had experienced the greatest difficulties during their prophetic mission. All of them had to face the fiercest and most murderous enemies, who erected themselves as a metal barrier on the way of these prophets during their stay on this earth.

But all had the same feeling, the same reaction: patience, trust in Allah Ta’ala and faith. In addition to the prophets, some of their wives have had the misfortune to experience the worst difficulties too. They also showed an unshakeable patience.

Today I will relate to you a little about the sad story of Hazrat Yusuf - Joseph (as). Being a young and handsome boy, he was betrayed by his own brothers and then by the wife of the Prime Minister of the King of Egypt. Imprisoned, he lost neither hope nor patience. His father Yaqub - Jacob (as) had to suffer the worst difficulties because of the abuse caused to his beloved son. He also showed patience and guided by his faith (Iman) and the divine revelations, he relied on Allah Ta’ala. This patience led father and son to reason, victory and family reconciliation.

The Case against War on Syria

The US President, Barak H. Obama, is currently seeking domestic Congressional endorsement and international political support to legitimate his decision to invade Syria. The US war against Syria has the strategic support of Israel, which shares the goal of containing Iran and the Hizb-Allah of Lebanon, which are viewed as the last threat to Israel’s national security interests in the wider Middle East. As Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and now Syria come under external attacks one after the other, the unfolding humanitarian disaster it represents for the common Muslim peoples is a matter of grave concern. The recent reports about the usage of chemical weapons in the on-going Syrian civil war provide the perfect pretext for the planned invasion. The unilateral intervention, without sufficient approval from the broader international community and the UN Security Council in particular, will be a naked violation of the rules and principles of international law. In the name of protecting the people, the US military intervention will only repeat the tragic history of destruction of the very edifice of yet another Muslim society.  

Ambassador Kanwal Sibal, India’s former Foreign Secretary and a distinguished scholar of international affairs, in his article “Two-faced in West Asia”, published in The Hindu (New Delhi), September 4, 2013, comments upon the US case for intervening in Syria as “legally weak, internationally divisive and morally hollow”. For the benefit of our readers, we reproduce the article below:

President Barack Obama’s case for intervening in Syria is legally weak, internationally divisive and morally hollow

Egypt: Democracy in Peril

In an official statement issued on August 15, 2013 the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius expresses deep concern at the on-going military strife in Egypt which has imperilled a democratically elected government and has unleashed bloodshed on the streets and calls upon the international community to stand up for “justice and peace, not injustice and chaos” in these troubled times.  

Read the Official Statement below:

  

As the Khalifatullah of this era and the head of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International, I condemn any coup d’état in Egypt – following the clashes between the military and supporters of the ousted President Mohamed Morsi – which have already caused over 2200 deaths and over 10,000 wounded. I strongly condemn the violence in Egypt. As a spiritual leader I believe in democratic values ​​and condemn any such type of revolution. Indeed Mr. Mohamed Morsi was democratically elected.