In the previous article, we talked about Egypt; the gift of the Nile and Ancient Egyptians, not only for us, but for the whole world:
Our ancestors are the first to step and create the civilization which had started along with their stability and agriculture, to change Egypt into a green oasis through work and effort, the Egyptian is closely attached to his land and home, which represent the warmth and heart for him, this home love appears in all times, although it is manifested in distresses and adversities.
And thus, love for homeland has been planted in the hearts of generations which have passed it throughout years until today.
Egypt is the paradise, warmth and heart, not only for her sons, but rather the whole world considers her so. The Holy Books described her as a paradise and her people as wise men, it has been a resort for God’s saints throughout history, then a resort for the Holy Family which had wandered and lived through her districts – as stated in previous articles.
In the Coptic Era, the Coptic Church cared to instill the love for homeland and land value in her children’s hearts, that it made its rituals to include prayers and litanies for the waters of the Nile, the blessing of the land, the sowing and the harvest, and for God to tend His people.
Dr. William Soliman told us a story that expresses the deep love of Egyptian Copts to their country: in the days of Emperor Diocletian, and during his torture of a Copt from the city of Tala in Minya, the governor resentfully told him: “Woe to the land of Egypt, from which you came!” The Copt answered him, although suffering from severe pain: “Do not revile the land of Egypt”!
Yes, when talking about Egypt, her children don’t hesitate to defend her with all their strength.
This view full of admiration and appreciation, linked to the religious thinking that glorifies Egypt throughout the historical periods that she lived after the Arab Conquest, has been extending
We see this clear in the words of its description, historian “Aba al-Qasim Ibn Abd al-Hakam al-Qurashi Al Masry” – who lived in the late second century till the middle third century (187 – 257 AH) (800 – 871 AD) – presented the oldest history books of Egypt in the Islamic Age. In describing Egypt, he said: “…And those who want to see Paradise or to look at its like in this world, he shall look at the land of Egypt when it grows green, and fruits ripe… The paradise extended along the two shores of the Nile from Aswan to Rasheed and seven gulfs: the Gulf of Alexandria, the Gulf of Sakha, the Gulf of Damietta, the Gulf of Memphis, the Gulf of Al Fayoum, the Gulf of Menha, and the Gulf of Sardos, they were all connected paradises, nothing from which is detached from another.
The plants between the two mountains across Egypt are reached by water…”
On the Nile River, he stated that the dams and bridges built on it reflect the Egyptians’ ingenuity in the ability to adapt the Nile for the good of the country, so “they established arches and bridges, with skill and measures, that the water flows from underneath their canals and rooms, so they can lock it as they want, unleash it as they want.”
Regarding her king, he was said to be the greatest among all the world’s kings: “the earth had never one day seen a greater king than Egypt’s king”!
Historian Ibn Al Kindy (185 -256 AH) (805- 873 AD) said: “God has given Egypt a privilege over the other countries, as He has given some people a privilege over others, some days and nights over others…”
Historian Ibn Zoulak (306 – 387 AH) (919 – 997 AD) had stated several quotes of scholars said about Egypt; among which, she is described as: “the Mother of Countries”, “A country blessed for its people”, “the treasuries of the whole earth”, “the power of the whole earth”, “the land of wisdom and science from which came the sage men who caused the world to prosper through their words, wisdom and conduct”. Describing Egypt’s people, Abdullah Ibn Amr, is quoted: “Among all the Ajamites, the people of Egypt are the most generous, the best element, and the closest to the Arabs in general, and to Quraish in particular.”
It was said about them also: “no sooner had anyone ever wanted them to be harmed that God destroyed him”, while Historian Al-Maqrizi (764-845 AH) (1364-1442 AD) wrote about his love for Egypt, he said: “Egypt was my hometown, the play field for my companions, the council of my people, and the singing place of my family and my troops, the place of my homeland and my country … and the nest of my wishes, souls like but its memory …”
About her, poet Salah Al Din Al Safadi (696-764 AH) (1297-1363 AD) said:
“He who saw the earth, its lands and people of different kinds and genres
But saw neither Egypt nor her people, did not see the world or the people”
Such has been the stance and dignity of Egypt, and still they are, not only in her children’s hearts, but rather in the hearts of whoever set foot on her lands, hearts do beat with unique pride and love for being related to her lands and inhabiting them.
Historians have noticed that the Egyptian character has powerfully imposed herself, not being influenced by the incomers to its lands throughout history, besides
Although what Egypt has been exposed to throughout history of external invasions, scholars haven’t found clear traces of the invaders left on the Egyptian character formation, contrarily, it was Egypt that influenced their characters and thoughts.
For example, Napoleon Bonaparte said: “If I weren’t a ruler of Egypt, I wouldn’t have been the Emperor of France! My dream was embodied in the East, yet it was about to turn into a nightmare in the West!… In Egypt, I had passed the best years, while in Europe; clouds prevent you from thinking about the history changing projects! In Egypt, he who rules is capable of changing history.”!
Such inseparable love and attachment have passed to Egyptians through times till today, so it is no surprise to read a message of one of Egypt’s children who sacrificed their lives, fulfilling their national role and duty towards the country they loved: Captain Ahmed Fouad Hassan, who was recently martyred of a terrorist attack, as he was in one of the Security Forces ambushes in Rafah, North Sinai
He wrote a letter which he commended to be delivered to his mother in case of his martyrdom, it was found in his military uniform pocket, I will quote some of its phrases: “As my father decided after the revolution to make me join the military, from which I got out in the rank of a lieutenant, it was compulsory to protect ‘the mother of the world’, for that, honestly: it was me who insisted to serve in Sinai… When you see my body, o mother, you shall never cry or get weak! you shall tell all people, wearing white garments, that you are “the martyr’s mother” and “the hero’s mother”.
The blood of Captain Ahmed Fouad was mixed with that of martyr Mina Tawab, a Rafah’s hero in Sinai, who wrote: “Get satisfied of me, it is me who may die next”
Heroism has been renewed throughout the history of “the mother of the world”
And…Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt!
General Bishop
Head of Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
