Some people describe Arabs as emotional to the extreme, very passionate about events, and given to anger. Therefore, Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) counselled them against anger and emotions.
The Hadith, reported by Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him), says: A man asked the Prophet (PBUH) for advice and he said, “Do not get angry”. The man repeated his question several times and each time the Prophet replied, “Do not get angry”. (Narrated by Al Bukhari)
Modern medicine has revealed that anger and emotions raise the level of certain hormones in blood and increase the heartbeat rate, which may lead to blood pressure. Arab people have high blood pressure because they have strayed from true Islam, which is the Islam of courtesy and hard work; Islam which recommends science, knowledge and respect for the mind. There is no religion or book that grants the mind freedom and gives it value and dignity as Islam and the Holy Quran do. There are many examples and references in the Quran in this regard (‘That you may understand’; ‘to those who think’; ‘for a people who have understanding’).
The demonstration by Egyptians from various fields on June 30 to demand the fall of the regime and to end the legitimacy of democratically elected President Mohammed Mursi, who had spent one year in office; the announcement by the Minister of Defence, General Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, ending the rule of Mursi on July 3; the handover of power to the chief of the Supreme Constitutional Court, Adly Mansour; and the army’s support for the demonstrators; all these largely resemble what happened in 2006 in Thailand with then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The opposition denounced and condemned his regime, and demonstrators kept demanding the overthrow of the government to bring to an end corrupt practices that were negatively affecting the country. This resulted in a military coup on the night of September 20, 2006, and Thaksin fled the country.
After the dissolution of the ruling party, the Democratic Party won elections and formed the government. Opposition groups known as the Red Shirts Movement, who strongly supported Thaksin, formed a new party called Pheu Thai Party.
The opposition continued struggling by peaceful and democratic means until 2011, when Pheu Thai Party won parliamentary elections and the leader of the party, Yingluck Shinawatra, the younger sister of former premier Thaksin, formed the government after approval by the parliament. On August 5, 2011, she became the first democratically elected woman prime minister of Thailand. Our brothers in Egypt need to learn from the Pheu Thai Party in Thailand that the removal of a ruler is not the end of the road.
Moreover, violence leads to more violence, and Egyptians need to learn from the little mistakes that have led to so much anger against Mursi and caused the current political crisis.
The best anger is that for the sake of Allah, religion and rights. Allah defends one who subdues his anger and helps him attain victory over his enemies. Not getting angry is the best deed that man can do to please God.
Those who are angry should realise that the military cannot rule the country forever, or like in the fifties and sixties of the last century. The people, the media, civil society organisations and the international community are strongly against military rule.
There is still hope for getting out of this crisis by working together to build a strong, democratic Egypt. As the Chinese philosopher Confucius said: It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.
