DAR AL HARB/ISLAM: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE DEPUTY HEAD OF THE MOSLEM BROTHERHOOD OF EGYPT

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Deputy Head of Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt Mohamed Habib
by Joseph Mayton

As rumors of a split within the Muslim Brotherhood came to light in local Egyptian press, Global Politician's Joseph Mayton sat down with a leading deputy of the group, Dr. Mohamed Habib, to discuss the so-called turmoil in the group as well as other pertinent issues facing the group.

Global Politician: Can you comment on the recent news that there is a split in the Muslim Brotherhood?

Dr. Mohamed Habib: I was in prison with Ali [Abdel Hafez] for 15 months in one cell before. This talk about the “alternative movement” is not correct.

GP: So you have read the book by Professor Hafez?

Habib: I saw the text [of the book] before it was printed two years ago. And it has good ideas and other ideas that need some discussion due to the severe lack of information that Ali. This is because he is on the edges of the group and far from how the group is run or what it’s vision is and how discussion is accomplished and how decisions are taken in the Brotherhood.

GP: Did you criticize his text when you saw it or make any comments?

Habib: I didn’t refuse the text two years ago, I only asked for a chance to look through it and I think I got busy, but it is not in my nature to refuse ideas. I like discussion, especially when it comes to the group.

GP: What about the points he brings up in the book and in his comments about the MB?

Habib: Those ideas are talked about now among intellectuals in Egypt, which call for the separation of politics and religion. This came from ignorance of the nature of Islam.

Islam is a whole system. It is a complete system that consists of politics, literature, economics, etc. Hassan Al Banna said “if Islam is not politics, culture, economics and a social system, then tell me, what is Islam?” Therefore, you have to accept it as a whole. There is no such thing as political work separated from religion or else we become like those who are different.

Politics then becomes dirty work that would include corruption and the pursuit of power by any means. Our case is not like that. Our case is that we work on the people to change their mentality, their behavior and attitude. Therefore, if we can change society, then we can peacefully pressure the regime to comply to the demands of the people to give them rights.

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Pertinent Links:

1) EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Deputy Head of Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt Mohamed Habib