SOME STEPS TOWARD PRACTICAL REFORM
Your Excellency,
Having given a clear presentation of the spiritual sentiments that should prevail within the nation in its modern renaissance, we would like to point out, by way of conclusion, some of the practical manifestations and results which these sentiments should dictate. We are going to mention here only the broadest topics, since we are well aware that each one of these questions requires extensive, broad and detailed study, taxing the energies and capacities of even specialists. We know too that we have not yet fully analysed all the requirements and demands of the nation, nor all the manifestations of the renaissance. We do not believe that to fulfil these demands will be a simple matter which can be accomplished overnight, and we know there are manifold obstacles before us which will require vast patience, great wisdom, and a long running determination. We know all this and can take it in our stride. Besides this, we know that where there is genuine resolve, the way will be made plain, and that if a strong willed nation chooses the path of virtue, it shall, by the will of Allah Almighty, attain what it desires. Stride forward, and God will be with you !
Following, are the principal goals of reform founded on the spirit of genuine Islam:
Political, judicial and administrative goals
(1) An end to party rivalry, and directing the political forces of the nation into a unified front.
(2) Amending the law, such that it conforms to all branches of Islamic legislation.
(3) Reinforcing the armed forces, and increasing the number of youth groups; igniting in them the spirit of Islamic jihad.
(4) Strengthening the ties between all the Islamic countries, especially the Arab countries, to pave the way for a practical and serious consideration concerning the departed Caliphate.
(5) Spreading the Islamic spirit throughout all departments of the government, so that all its employees will feel responsible for adhering to Islamic teachings.
(6) Keeping a close eye on the personal conduct of all its employees, there should not be any dichotomy between ones private and professional life.
(7) Setting the hours of work in summer and winter ahead, so that it will be easy to fulfil religious duties, and bring an end to late hours.
(8) An end to bribery and nepotism, promotion should only be given to those who have the capability and have a legitimate claim.
(9) Weighing all governmental acts in view of Islamic rules and teachings, National holidays, receptions, official conferences, prisons and hospitals should all be compatible with the Islamic teachings; hours of work should be arranged such that they do not conflict with the Salah times.
(10) The employment of graduates of Al-Azhar in military and administrative positions, and their training.
Social and educational goals
(1) Conditioning the people to respect public morality, and issuing law bound directives on this matter; the imposition of sever penalties for moral offences.
(2) To deal with the ‘woman issue’ – In a way which will both elevate her position and provide her protection, in accordance with the Islamic teachings. So that this issue (socially the most important) is not left at the mercy of the biased pens and unorthodox notions of those who are either deficient or excessive.(in their opinions)
(3) An end to prostitution, both clandestine and overt: and to recognize fornication as a crime, whatever the circumstances, a detestable crime whose perpetrator must be flogged.
(4) An end to gambling in all its forms: games, lotteries, racing, and casinos.
(5) A campaign against drinking, similar to the one against drugs: its prohibition, and the salvation of the nation from its effects.
(6) A campaign against ostentation in dress and loose behavior; the instruction of women in what is proper, with particular strictness as regards female teachers, pupils, physicians, and students, and all those in similar categories.
(7) A review of the curricula offered to girls and the necessity of making them distinct from the boys’ curricula in many of the stages of education.
(8) The prohibition of Free Mixing between male and female students; and to consider privacy between a non-Mahram (marriageable) male and female a punishable crime.
(9) The encouragement of marriage and procreation, by all possible means; promulgation of legislation to protect and give moral support to the family, and solve the problems of marriage.
(10) The closure of morally undesirable ballrooms and dance halls, and the prohibition of dancing and other such pastimes.
(11) The inspection of theatres and cinemas, and a rigorous selection of play scripts and film rolls.
(12) The censorship of songs, and a rigorous selection and inspection of them.
(13) The careful selection of lectures, songs, and subjects to be broadcast to the nation; the use of radio broadcasting for the education of the nation in a virtuous and moral way.
(14) The confiscation of provocative stories and books that implant the seeds of skepticism in an insidious manner, and newspapers which strive to disseminate immorality and capitalize indecently on lustful desires.
(15) The supervision of summer vacation areas which will bring an end to the wholesale confusion and promiscuity which nullify the soul purpose of going on holiday.
(16) Restricting the business hours of cafes; supervising the activities of their owners; instructing them as to what is in the best interest of the public; and not allowing them to stay open for such long hours.
(17) The utilization of these cafes for teaching illiterates reading and writing; assisting towards this end, the rising generation of elementary school teachers and students.
(18) To resist harmful customs, whether economic, moral, or anything else; turning the tide of the masses away from such practices, and orienting them to that which is beneficial, or educating them in a way which conforms with their best interests. This involves such customs as weddings, funerals, birthdays, the zar (a meeting of supernatural-believers), civil and religious holidays, etc. Let the government set a good example in this respect.
(19) Due consideration for the claims of the moral censorship, and punishment of all who are proved to have infringed any Islamic doctrine or attacked it, such as breaking the fast of Ramadan, wilful neglect of prayers, Insulting the faith, and similar such matters.
(20) Merging the elementary village schools with the mosque, and a thoroughgoing reform of both, as regards employees, cleanliness, and overall custodial care, so that the young may be trained in prayer and the older generation in learning.
(21) To appoint religious education as a basic subject in all schools as well as in the universities, each according to its type.
(22) To encourage the memorization of the Qur’an in all the free elementary schools: making this memorization mandatory for obtaining diplomas in the areas of religion and language; The memorization of at least a part of the Qur’an should be a must in all schools.
(23) The establishment of a firm educational policy which will enhance and raise the level of education, which will unify its goals and purposes; bringing the different cultures represented in the nation closer together, and making the first stage of its process dedicated to instilling a virtuous, patriotic spirit and an unwavering moral code.
(24) To pay attention to the Arabic language at every stage of education; and the use of Arabic alone, as opposed to any foreign language, in the primary stages.
(25) Emphasis on the Islamic, national and cultural history, as well as that of the Islamic civilization.
(26) A consideration into the means of gradually forming a national uniform
(27) An end to the foreign spirit in our homes with regard to language, manners, dress, governesses, nurses, etc; All this should be corrected especially in upper class homes.
(28) To give journalism a proper direction, and to encourage authors and writers to undertake Islamic subjects
(29) Attention to be given to matters of public health by spreading health information through various means; more so via hospitals, doctors, and mobile clinics and facilitating the means of obtaining medical treatment.
(30) Attention to be given to problems of villages, regarding their organization, their cleanliness, the purification of their water supply, and the means to provide them with culture, recreation, and training.
The Economical Goals
(1) The organization of zakah in terms of income and expenditure, according to the teachings of the Sacred Law; using it to carry out necessary benevolent projects, such as homes for the aged, the poor, and orphans, and strengthening the armed forces.
(2) The prohibition of usury, and the organization of banks with this end in view. The government should be an example in this domain by relinquishing all interest due on its own particular undertakings, for instance in the loan granting banks, industrial loans, etc.
(3) To encourage (the development and number of) economic projects; providing jobs for the unemployed; the transfer of those in the hands of foreigners to the purely national sector.
(4) To protect the masses from the oppression of multinational companies, keeping these within strict limits, and obtaining every possible benefit for the masses
(5) Improving the situation of junior civil servants by raising their salaries, granting them steady increases and compensations, and by lowering the salaries of senior civil servants.
(6) To reduce the number of government posts, retaining only the indispensable ones; and an equitable and scrupulous distribution of the work among civil servants.
(7) To encourage agricultural and industrial counselling; giving importance to the production level of the peasant and industrial worker.
(8) To be concerned about the technical and social problems of the worker; raising his standard of living in numerous respects.
(9) The exploitation of natural resources, such as uncultivated land, neglected mines, etc.
(10) Priority over luxury items to be given to necessary projects in terms of organisation and execution
This is the message of the Muslim Brotherhood. We submit it, and place ourselves, our talents, and all we possess in the hands of any committee or government desirous of taking a step forward, hand in hand with an Islamic nation, toward progress and advancement We will answer the call, and we are prepared to sacrifice ourselves. We hope that by so doing we will have fulfilled our trust and said our piece, for religion means sincerity toward Allah, His Apostle, His Book, the Imams of the Muslims, and their community at large. Allah is our sufficiency; He is enough; and peace to His chosen worshippers!
Source: Islamic Basics by Hasan Al-Banna
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