“There’s nothing new about Egypt. Egyptians have, as usual, created history,” said Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi after the outbreak of the January 25 Revolution, 2011. Indeed, humans create history. Egypt has the most ancient history: for her people did create a glorious history. They are the founders of the first civilization ever, the first centralized state, the first calendar, and the first orthography. They amazed the world in geometry, architecture, medicine, and mummification.
Egyptians have always been familiar with revolutions. They are a people who reject injustice and yearn to freedom. Some people might think they are passive and not in the habit of fighting. Yet, at the proper timing, they rise to perform what amazes the whole world. This fact attracted the French Campaign’s scholars. They wrote it down in the “Description of Egypt”, saying, “Egyptians are shy by nature. They avoid danger as much as they can. Yet, when they find themselves in danger, they show the great bravery which one thinks they never had. This bravery is counterbalanced by nothing save their self-control as well as dependence. During the campaign, we seized the opportunity to write down some remarks which emphasize what we asserted: the unjust reign will soon restore this people to its lost virtues, ones that it might not think it ever had.” The revolution started on January 25 and was completed on June 30, 2013.
The Meaning of “Revolution”
Revolutions vary. They are industrial, agricultural, and so on. Yet, in our case, we shall tackle a political one. The word “revolution” is defined by al-Wasit dictionary as a change in the socio-political conditions. It is ignited by the people of a certain state. Peoples rebel against injustice, coercion, and despotism, and in order for change and national sovereignty be brought about.
In the modern Arabic dictionary, we find that a political revolution is a multitude’s violent impetus toward changing socio-political conditions drastically. A revolution includes changing and transforming an existing regime with another which alleviates the people’s suffering. This change is both fast and drastic in all the realms of life, especially the social, political, and economic. A revolution might be bloody, like the French Revolution or a white one like the Egyptian Revolution in 1952.
In effect, a revolution has two targets: the old which it aims at uprooting due to its including injustice, coercion, and corruption; and the new which entails establishing freedom, democracy, justice and equality. This done against shedding heroes’ blood and a people’s sacrificing all its possessions in order to attain a good life.
The Glorious Egyptian History
Egypt’s modern history is a gallery full of painting that show her people’s fighting against despotism. Egyptians rebelled against Napoleon and the French occupation twice from 1798 to 1801. Despite the Egyptians’ suffering, they never stopped struggling. On May 1805, there were three conflicting powers in Egypt, namely, the Ottomans, Mamlukes, and the British. At that time, the ruler was appointed by a decree from the Ottoman State which assigned Khorshid Pasha the affairs of Egypt. Yet, the people’s will represented by sheiks and scholars led by Umar Makram found Mohammed Ali the best to rule the country. So, they united to delegate him, defying the three powers and compelling the Ottoman Sultan to issue a decree assigning Mohammed Ali the country’s affairs. Thus, the Egyptian will-power emerged victorious in choosing the ruler for the first time in modern history.
In 1881, when corruption and foreign intervention increased, Ahmed Urabi led resistance and demonstrations. Though the British colonized Egypt, the people never stopped struggling: whereby Sa’d Zaghlul resumed it until the British government banished him, along with three of his Wafdist colleagues in 1919, which ignited the revolution anew in Cairo, only to spread throughout the entirety of Egypt.
All the peoples’ classes participated in these revolutions: be they laborers, peasants, or students. Likewise, the true unity between Christians and Muslims showed itself. Moreover, women did not stand still when their fatherland needed them. Rather, they took part with men, which pressured the British to set the banished leaders free.
This was followed by the Free Officers’ Revolution on July 23, 1952, ousting the monarch and giving rise to the republican regime. The revolution demanded independence, the evacuation of the British troops from the country, improving the economic conditions of the Egyptian community, and establishing social justice and democracy. Most of the Egyptians supported this revolution.
January 25 Revolution
The year 2011 started by incidents that gave rise to severe congestion amidst Egyptians, especially the youth. They started by the social media in arranging and coordinating demonstrations until the revolution broke out. This outbreak was ascribed to humiliating the people and the spreading of corruption in the State’s sectors, thereby, leading to the deterioration of social, political, and economic conditions.
The 2010 parliamentary elections led to further congestion. The revolution demanded a good life, freedom, and social justice. Ex-president Hosni Mubarak abdicated, assigning the Military Council the country’s affairs.
A People’s Revolution
According to the Egyptian history, revolutions used to be ignited by elites and scholars, or the army. Afterwards, the people would support them. Yet, the situation was different in that revolution: for the youth ignited it, to be joined by all the people’s classes. Then, the army supported it. The youth were bold and perseverant enough to insist on having their demands fulfilled. The people joined them to support the revolution. History repeated itself to prove the people’s unity and authenticity. Muslims prayed in the Square, and were surrounded by Christians in a historic scene. Indeed, the Egyptian people who are fond of their fatherland have got used to sacrifice and giving.
Be not surprised: for whoever worked wonders on his land and reached mysteries that the world still does not know cannot offer save more wonders. The Liberation Square has become a symbol of freedom. It was decorated by a memorial that immortalized its martyrs.
A Revolution Observed by the World
The January revolution was closely observed by the whole world. Everybody started monitoring the incidents taking place in Egypt, only to stand amazed by a people who yearned for life and did attain it. Abul Qassim al-Chabi writes:
Should peoples refuse to die
Fate is sure to answer.
Darkness should die away
And bonds are sure to shatter.
I do declare in the universe:
Ambition is life’s fire
It is the spirit of victory
Should souls to life ever yearn
Fate is sure to answer.
Eventually
The 25 January Revolution was a return to the people’s unity in a great patriotic epic which has to endure. We are in need of the work and ideas of those who toil diligently to resume the march and for the country’s dignity.
Egypt is the Egyptians’ fatherland where everybody is filled with abundance. Justice is her path. Everybody is equal in rights and duties. We do trust that Egyptians are capable of overcoming hardships. I’d like to conclude with the wonderful words of Tawfiq al-Hakim in his “The Return of the Spirit” (Awdatul Ruh) through a dialogue between two archaeologists, one of whom is British and the other is French:
The French: This people who you think is ignorant knows a lot of things with its heart, not intellect. Great wisdom runs in its blood, yet it doesn’t know, and strength in his soul, yet it doesn’t know! This is an ancient people. Bring a farmer and take his heart off from his body. You’ll find residues of tens of thousands of years from experience and knowledge that had accumulated over one another, yet it doesn’t know! Indeed, it doesn’t know. Yet, there are critical moments when such knowledge and experience come out to help him. Yet, it doesn’t know where they sprung from. This explains to us, the Europeans, those moments of history in which Egypt witnesses a great mutation in no time, works great wonders in the blink of an eye! Do not be amazed at this united, homogenous people that is fond of and ready for sacrifice when it works another wonder apart from the pyramids! If a country works a wonder like the pyramids, then it will not be too weak to work other more amazing ones! This is a true story. Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
