Introduction to the Position on the Egyptian Political Arena
Peace be upon you, dear brothers. Those who follow our comments on the mistakes of "Muslim democrats" involved in political work will notice that we have stopped publishing anything related to the Egyptian arena recently. This was intentional, given the recent escalation between the Egyptian president and his opponents to his decisions; we do not want our criticism to seem like support for the opponents of the parties affiliated with Islamic work, especially since many think with the mentality of "if you are not with Al Ahly, you are with Zamalek."
For us, the Sharia is not a subject of dispute between the two parties, and therefore, our methodology does not allow us to intervene to support one party over another as long as the Sharia is not at stake, and we revolve with it as it revolves. While we are certain that we do not wish for any party that openly opposes the religion to prevail, we hope for a matter that is one thing, and supporting it is another.
However, what prompted me to speak after this silence is the recent calls to support the president's decisions under the pretext of "supporting the Sharia," and using the Sharia as a "button to summon" the masses to mobilize the largest possible number. To those who use the Sharia, we ask you to refrain from this role, please!
You have previously toured with some scholars in the governorates, one of whom said openly: "Our choice of Dr. Morsi means choosing the Sharia," and Morsi's supporters heard this word and did not deny it. Even when he became president and we began to ask about the Sharia that was chosen by his choice, his supporters replied, "The Brotherhood is no longer applying the Sharia, but they want reform as much as they can."
If the Sharia is used in this way time after time, I fear what we fear is the story of "the shepherd and the wolf"; so that if a strong, pure, and sincere call to revive the Sharia comes out, people will say, "These are old fabrications."
The Reality of the Position on Sharia in the Official Discourse
I do not want to engage in a debate with those who have not followed us for ten months to know our motivations for what we say, nor do I speak about hidden intentions, but I say to those who associate supporting the president with supporting the Sharia: the president himself did not claim that, so do not attribute to the man what he did not say.
These are the principles agreed upon by Christianity and Judaism, as well as Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, capitalism, and socialism. This is the Sharia for him, not the Sharia that dominates the constitution completely, nor the Sharia that prevents fighting terrorism and exchanging ambassadors with the Zionist entity, nor the Sharia that prohibits loans from the International Monetary Fund.
It is the Sharia that adopts Torah texts in the curricula under the pretext of tolerance and coexistence, and it is the Sharia that says, "Whoever changes his religion, respect him," as in the curricula formulated in the new Islamic era.
Response to Claims of Hidden Intentions and Empowerment
If someone says, "The president harbors in the depths of his heart a sincere intention to apply the Sharia, and he has not pursued the policies we have criticized so far except to reach a stage that enables him to apply it, so that when he is able, he will change the black constitution that his party approves now with its contradictions to the foundations of the Sharia, and he will refrain from paying the debts of the International Monetary Fund that he borrowed," then I was not commanded to dig into people's hearts or to dissect their bellies.
To those who mix supporting the president with supporting the Sharia, support whom you will and oppose whom you will, but do not involve the Sharia in this labor and keep it away from it, and do not mix the papers, please; the battle now is not a battle of the Sharia in any shape or form.
A Call for Frankness and Clarity
Be frank with the people and say: "You support the president for fear that the matter may turn to those who oppose the Sharia openly," or because "a democratic state with a sufficient Islamic touch in your view," or because "applying the Sharia is not possible at the present time in your view." Say it frankly, and let those who agree with you agree and those who disagree with you disagree, but do not involve the Sharia in this battle.
In conclusion, I do not say this because I am from "Al Ahly" or from "Zamalek," but in support of the Sharia. I ask Allah to relieve the Muslims' distress, and peace be upon you.