Background:

Shaykh Yūsuf al-Badrī says Egyptian society is as any society; the impoverished mixed with the wealthy, those who can read and those who cannot. Egypt is a mixed society, but he thinks that Egypt has many resources such as petrol, land, water and metal to make it rich. The main problem for Egyptians is that the wealth is unevenly distributed; al-Badrī thinks the solution is the introduction of an Islamic economy. One of the five pillars of Islam is al-zakāt, which can be understood as a religious tax. Al-Badrī argues the zakāt could be used to spend on the poor and in order for this to be closely watched, he wants a Ministry of Zakāt who would collect this tax from the people.

Side A:

There are many schools and universities in Egypt, but according to al-Badrī, the method of education is wrong. He calls for an Islamic revolution which the Egyptians need in order to change the laws, the system, the economy, the education and the government policies. The problem according to al-Badrī, is that a revolution always involves blood. If Islamic groups are close to governing Egypt, someone will try to imprison them. The world is afraid of Muslims says the Shaykh; but Muslims are not bad, they are loving. Muslims and non-Muslims share this earth and they should live safely and peacefully.

Some say the Egyptian government is trying its best to provide education and water in the rural areas even though it is not enough, at least there is progress. The shaykh mentions that he did not say the government is bad, but if the government made Egypt into an Islamic nation, the lives would be better. Al-Badrī believes that the lives of the Egyptians are a reflection of a wasted life. One is supposed to come to Egypt and see the “right type of Muslim”, but instead you see a mixture says al-Badrī. Those who say that they believe the government is good, badmouth the regime when they are alone. Al-Badrī says he knows a lot of people who in front of him speak their mind, but lie in front of the government.

The streets in Maʿādī are terrible; too much dust, dirty water and so on. Maʿādī has very poor areas unlike Zamālik and Miṣr al-Jadīdah, which are richer areas. The shaykh continues to criticize the current living conditions in Egypt by arguing that the spread of drugs such as cocaine, heroin, bango (hashish) and the levels of crime have increased and the amount of resources have decreased. The few government hospitals that are present in Cairo offer bad services because there is no Islamic economy and no fully implemented Islamic laws according to al-Badrī.  

The violence around Minyā and Asyūṭ (Upper Egypt) are in regards to attacks by al-Jamāʿah al-Islāmīyyah. Al-Badrī is asked to comment on the events, but he admits to not have too much knowledge on the issue. All he knows is what he has read in the papers, although he does seem to have a strong opinion on it. He says the youth [al-Jamāʿah al-Islāmīyyah] is good and they want to realize Islam but the government refuses. The Egyptian government tries to hold onto their jobs tightly. He compares it to what happened in Algiers, when the Muslims reached the majority in the People’s Assembly and everyone refused the results. Although he has called the “youth” good, he says he does not agree with their name because he does not believe in the term ‘jamāʿat’. Shaykh al-Badrī does not believe in groups in Islam. He says all Muslims are one nation, although we can make political parties, we should never make religious groups. Al-Badrī admits he thinks the events in Upper Egypt are bad, but it is due to the fact that the government did not try to understand or hear the youth, let alone cooperate with them. If there were negotiations, there would be no blood. The government allegedly prefers to use force and retaliation.

Side B:

Cornelis Hulsman pursues to ask Shaykh Yūsuf al-Badrī his opinion on the youth using violent means and weapons. He responds by making reference to the Qurʾān and says Islam said one should invite people to realize Islamic Law peacefully and safely, but not to use force. In the worst case scenario, one should be the murdered, not the murderer.

Najīb Maḥfūẓ, modern writer of Arabic literature, sparked controversy by means of his books that were in reference to Islam. Al-Badrī was allegedly among those who verbally attacked Maḥfūẓ. Al-Badrī argues that whoever said that he had attacked Maḥfūẓ, is a liar. He says he has not attacked Maḥfūẓ but has criticized him for his incorrect descriptions of Allah as well as the depictions of several prophets including Mūsā, Muḥammad and Jesus in his book “Awlād Ḥāritna” (Children of Our Alley), 1959. Furthermore he heavily criticizes Maḥfūẓ for his misconceptions of Allah who allegedly created the world and left it there in “Al-Ṭarīq” (The Road), 1964.

Ḥizb al-Wasaṭ (Center Party) is a moderate Islamist political party in Egypt. It was established as a splinter group of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) and was formed by my members of the MB. Dr. Rafīq Samuel Ḥabīb – a Coptic Christian and advisor to the MB General Guide in early 2000s and deputy chairman of MB’s Freedom and Justice Party in 2011 – was at the time closely related to the MB. Al-Badrī argues he wants both Muslims and non-Muslims to be part of his new political party. Dr. Ḥabīb was allegedly heavily criticized in his own Coptic community because he had been writing books that were not in line with the Coptic community’s principles.