Qasem Amin

Assalam u alaikum,

Qasim Amin is the only television series that I have ever really followed closely. It's interesting because it gives me an insight into Egytian history that I don't think I could have got any other way. It is based on the true story of Qasim Amin, an Egyptian writer and thinker who lived from 1868 till 1903 . At that time the British were occupying Egypt and many famous scholars were present at that time, such as Mohammed Abdo and Jamal al-din al-Afghani (both featured in the series). The show focuses on the political, social, and intellectual conditions present at the time and amazingly for an Egyptian program, features a really strong cast of actors and actresses.

The shows are always thought-provoking. Qasem Amin obtains a law degree from France and consequently full of 'enlightened' ideas about the freedom of women: they should know how to run their own affairs, they shouldn't be forced to stay in their houses all the time, etc. etc. He wrote about his ideas in a book called Tahrir al-Mar'a (Freeing the Woman). The problem with Qasem Amin (at least how they portray him) is that he mixes up things: parts of his ideas on women are correct and others aren't. For example, he correctly identifies the fact that women should be educated becaused they're the basis for our society. They raise children and shape their character. "Behind every great man is an equally great woman." But that doesn't mean that there should be mixing between genders or that women should have to join the work-force or other things that Qasim Amin advocated.

I have to say though, even the most just laws can be twisted to oppress people. One of Qasim Amin's friends is named Hassan. Hassan's father marries women, then divorces them after he gets tired of them, then marries someone else. Of course, he still provides for them and therefore it's his "legal right" according to Islam to have four wives and marry and divorce as he pleases. The spirit of the law is just as important as the letter, if not more important. The show is really well-made in the sense that it isn't just a long diatribe; they illustrate their point through the characters and situations that arise during the course of the story. The only thing I worry about is getting indoctrinated with ideas that aren't necessarily correct, so there's a on-goingwrestling match that I have with the show.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there is an article on Qasim Amin on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qasem_Amin

The most important thing I've taken from watching Qasim Amin is that a true revolution starts with the thinkers and the people first. Qasim Amin, Mohammed Abdu, and company are constantly planning and thinking about how they can awake people from their slumber and encourage them to revolt against the British occupation. I think what's even more important is to motivate people to revolt against the erosion of our identity and our connection with Allah. It's easy to dream about going back to the 'glory' days, the days when Muslims ruled from Spain till India, the days when we decided the law, when we had the power. But that's not truly what we've come for.

The real revolution is the revolution of the heart.
Ma'asalam,
~Ameer

A Still from the Television Series

An Actual Portrait of Qasim Amin