Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Features
  • Comment
  • Store
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
    • Submit Press Release
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Arab Radio Podcast intro
    • Radio Baladi Detroit
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Free eNewsletter
    • eNewsletter SignUp
    • View past eNewsletters
  • Toggle search form
  • Piotr Hofmanski, president of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague
    International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued for Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin Civil Rights
  • Orand First Responders candidates Matthew G. Rafferty and William Bonnar Jr.
    Arab Democrats endorse Rafferty and Bonnar in Orland Fire District race American Arabs
  • Paul Vallas addressing the Arab American Democratic Club on Feb. 12, 2023
    AADC releases its endorsements for the April 4, 2023 non-partisan elections American Arabs
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12 American Arabs
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC’s Humanitarian Mission to Lebanon American Arabs
  • Glory to God int he Lowest by Author Rev. Donald Wagner
    Book Review: Glory to God in the Lowest: journeys to an unholy land American Arabs
  • Popular Ziyad Brand Green Za'ater. Photo courtesy of Ziyad Brothers
    Appeal of Mediterranean foods continue to rise among consumers Culture
  • Suzan Atallah seeks election to Palos Park School District 118 Activism
  • Shadin Maali has been named Emgage’s new Senior Director of Growth and Operations
    Emgage hires former Illinois Congressional aide to help expand their reach Activism
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd American Arabs
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action American Arabs
  • Citgo Gas Station and Quik Mart at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago ordered closed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot because a street gang member with an AK-47 killed someone in front of the store. Only Arab and Muslim stores are being closed by the Mayor
    When Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot targeted Arab businesses in 2021 and 2022 Activism
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast Arab News
  • State Rep. Cyril Nichols interviewed on live Arab American radio in Detroit with host Ray Hanania Friday Dec. 9, 2022
    Nichols discusses need to improve Arab-Black relations in Chicagoland American Arabs
  • Voting sticker issued to voters in Cook County elections in 2016. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Gov. Pritzker Announces Six Appointments to Boards and Commissions — no Arabs included American Arabs

Arab Muslims are telling their Pharaohs, get off my back!

Posted on October 10, 2016October 10, 2016 By Abdennour Toumi No Comments on Arab Muslims are telling their Pharaohs, get off my back!
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

Loading

Arab Muslims are telling their Pharaohs, get off my back! A’ashora’s Day makes a connection between Judaism and Islam, Arabs have been forced to fast for decades for their freedom and basic civil political rights.

By Abdennour Toumi

Abdennour Toumi
Abdennour Toumi

Muslims in the world are observing A’ashora, the first day of a ten-day observance marking the beginning of the Muslim New Year, 1438 AH, in the holy month of Moharem. Muslims both Sunna and Shia’a accord a special intention for this day marked by fasting and prayer in daily observances. 

It is known particularly to Western viewers as a mourning day of the Shea’a, commemorating the death of al-Hussein Ibn Ali, grandson of the Prophet Mohammed.

Ziyad Taste of the Middle East

For forty days, worshipers walk in the streets, wearing dark clothes, whipping themselves on the chest and the head to express their collective punishment. For the Sunnis, it is considered a minor holiday of respect, for pupils and public servants, a day off from school and work.

For adults, it is a day of “zakat,” a day when the fortunate give to those less fortunate, a socio-economic act that is important because zakat (charity) is the third pillar of Islam.

A’ashora’s Day makes a connection between Judaism and Islam. This is considered a day of fasting by the Jews of Yethrib, a day of repentance and expiation. On an historical note, when the Prophet Mohammed was exiled from Mecca to Medina, he noted that the Jews were fasting that day, so he asked them for the reason of their fast.

arab-summit-new-midea_horo

They answered that it was in memory of the day when God gave victory to the prophet Moses (Moussa) in delivering the children of Israel from the tyranny and injustice of Pharaoh.

A’shora also coincides with the turmoil of Arab uprisings and the flowering of jasmine bushes and orange branches throughout the land. In those years Arabs were telling their Pharaohs, “get off my back! Tyranny and social injustice have no place in our homes and public places!”

Arabs have been forced to fast for decades for their freedom and basic civil political rights. However, during the Arab Spring uprisings, the people threw down the modern-day Pharaohs, Ben Ali, Saleh, al-Gadhafi, and Mubarak; though they are still not free from the iron hands of Pharaohs’ guardians as in Egypt and Syria.

This dilemma is complicated because the “Pharaoh of Damascus” finds refuge in the regional and super powers’ palaces, while his armies are chasing his people to the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas to exile, seeking refuge in European countries.

The list is still long, nonetheless, Arabs have reached a point of no-return and no-fear.

img_7078

The “Mullah-crats” in Teheran and their proxies in Baghdad, Yemen and south Beirut in Lebanon feel that public punishment rhetoric will save them from any public disenchantment of their people anytime soon.

In 2014, after taking control of territory in the Sunni heartlands in Musul, Iraq and Req’qa, Syria, ISO proclaimed itself a caliphate, calling Arab states illegitimate and proclaiming itself the exclusive authority over the Islamic world.

Hence, ISO targets Shea’a Muslims and Sunnis alike, not only in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan and Pakistan, but attacking Shea’a shrines everywhere. This delirium will undoubtedly give some “legitimate” political capital to the Mullahs to appear as zealous guardians of the Shea’a heritage.

The situation is totally out of control for the so-called “New Iraq.” The lack of trust in and incompetence of the Iraqi leadership have left the civilians to fend for themselves in dealing with violence and uncertainty. It has become a matter of survival for the country now, because its ethnic-sectarian history of social co-existence is disappearing from memory, and national unity is under fire as never before in its modern history.

Iraqi Sunna and Shea’a have cohabited peacefully for centuries. They have a very solid social web that holds them together — inter-marrying, managing businesses, fighting for their country and showing their patriotic pride. For instance, during the first Gulf War with Iran (1980-1988), the majority of Iraqi Arab Shea’a fought with their fellow Sunni Arabs and Kurds against the Iranians.

Yet, Iraq is an example to be considered closely in the sectarian comportment that is positioning the country and the region under a geo-strategic (Sunna-Shea’a) hegemony in a triangular suspension between Tehran-Riyadh and Ankara.

A dream of social cohesion is dissolving every night as people leave  their neighborhoods and their properties behind and flee the country if they can.  Society is dissolving even faster due to the daily bombing and the killing of civilians in the name of Iraq or “Islam” and these atrocities have served to deepen the wounds of a sectarian war.

One must say the origin of this ethnic-sectarian disintegration with its socio-political themes was the initial invasion which led to the absence of a strong political power and the loss of a cohesive military institution to maintain law and order in the main Iraqi cities.

Ultimately, Iraq has paid for the contempt of the neo-cons in U.S. foreign policy affairs in the Middle East and their hawkish allies in Israel’s Likud party.

In sum, A’ashora is still a commemoration, whether you mourn or fast. It should be viewed in the Arab world as a day of freedom like the Jews — why not learn from the Jewish tradition of the exercise of power in their theocratic state and let, in the long run, tolerance thrive in Arab societies as it does in Jewish society.

Today Israel is a model of “democracy” for Jews people in the eyes of the West, so let the Arabs try out their “democracy and get rid of their “Pharaohs” — maybe Arab democracy will be seen as a model as well.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Abdennour Toumi
Follow me:
Abdennour Toumi
Abdennour Toumi:
- France correspondent for The Arab Daily News.
- www.bareed-areej.com Editor-in-Chief
رئيس تحرير مجلة بريد الأريج
- Political consultant at IMPR a Think-Tank based in Ankara, Turkey.
- Member at the European Observatory for Arabic Language Teaching based in Paris, France.
- Affiliated with Sociology of Islam Journal and contributor at Middle East Studies / International Studies, Sociology of Islam and Muslim Societies Center, Portland State University in Portland, OR.

EDUCATION: Diplôme des Études Approfondies (DEA) in Political Science from Toulouse University I, France. Master’s degree in Law from Algiers University, Algeria.

Email im at: nourhty@gmail.com
Abdennour Toumi
Follow me:
Latest posts by Abdennour Toumi (see all)
  • The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Is the Neither-Peace-nor-Security As-sumption Dominating Again? - June 7, 2021
  • Algeria: “I Can See Clearly Now” - August 5, 2019
  • Majesty Mohammed VI and General Gaïd Salah Tear Down This Wall! - July 29, 2019

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
Arab World, Bloggers, Christian & Muslim, Commentary, Middle East, religion Tags:A'ashora, Islam, Moharem, Muslims, religion, Shia, Sunni

Post navigation

Previous Post: Shimon Peres Nuclear Research Center and Israel’s WMD
Next Post: Election: A Moral Dilemma For Arabs, Muslims

Related Posts

  • Mansour Tadros, who died on March 28, 2020. Photo courtesy of the Tadros family
    Community mourns passing of Mansour Tadros American Arabs
  • Olmos argues “race” is not a label for divisions at diversity conference American Arabs
  • Jordan government, King criticized for mishandling Israeli killing of unarmed Judge Ali Younes
  • Politics on the French Beach Abdennour Toumi
  • Outfront Media Dishonors USS Liberty Vets and Friends American Arabs
  • Ali Kazak Received by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia H.E. Bill Hayden on 29.5.1990 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
    Israel’s Lobby in Australia must register under new law Arab World

More Related Articles

Hoda Kotb named among Women of Influence for 2014 American Arabs
AIPAC Commends Obama’s Failure to Recognize Palestine’s Rights Arab World
Lifta Palestine. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia World community should do more than rejecting Israel’s baseless terrorist accusation against Palestinian NGOs Arab World
Paris company releases new Yom Kippur war game app American Arabs
The new King of Saudi Arabia, Salman Bin Abdel Aziz Saudi King urges American understanding on Yemen challenges Arab World
Jewish settler terrorists burn Christian Arab land at the only Christian village in the Israeli occupied West Bank, Taybeh. Photo courtesy of Maria Khoury Israel excludes Christians, Muslims in new Jewish-only neighborhood building Arab World

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • راى حنانيا. Ray Hanania
    Call me Arab, don’t call me MENA writer argues
    March 18, 2023
  • Ghassan Rubeiz
    Two parallel uprisings in Israel
    March 11, 2023
  • Racist anti-Arab Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot poses with Edwards Realty President Ramzi Hassan posted on Facebook on posted June 3, 2022 right after the second press conference demanding that Lightfoot end her discrimination.
    Illinois Review skewers Mayor Lightfoot ally Ramzi Hassan
    February 22, 2023
  • Tiktok.com/@RayHanania
    Israeli-push behind effort to ban Tiktok in the United States
    January 19, 2023
  • 300x300-ZIYAD02.jpg
  • 300x300-RAMADAN02.jpg
  • 300x300-ZIYAD01.jpg
  • 300x300-RAMADAN01.jpg
  • NEWS
  • Piotr Hofmanski, president of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague
    International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued for Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin
    March 19, 2023
  • Orand First Responders candidates Matthew G. Rafferty and William Bonnar Jr.
    Arab Democrats endorse Rafferty and Bonnar in Orland Fire District race
    March 17, 2023
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC’s Humanitarian Mission to Lebanon
    February 22, 2023
  • Paul Vallas addressing the Arab American Democratic Club on Feb. 12, 2023
    AADC releases its endorsements for the April 4, 2023 non-partisan elections
    February 21, 2023
  • NEWSWIRE
  • Popular Ziyad Brand Green Za'ater. Photo courtesy of Ziyad Brothers
    Appeal of Mediterranean foods continue to rise among consumers
    February 16, 2023
  • Suzan Atallah seeks election to Palos Park School District 118
    February 9, 2023
  • Shadin Maali has been named Emgage’s new Senior Director of Growth and Operations
    Emgage hires former Illinois Congressional aide to help expand their reach
    February 8, 2023
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12
    January 18, 2023

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

First Installment of the Property Tax

POPULAR POSTS

  • Illinois Review skewers Mayor Lightfoot ally Ramzi Hassan Illinois Review skewers Mayor Lightfoot ally Ramzi Hassan By Ray Hanania Illinois Review, one of the conservative movement's most respected ... posted on February 22, 2023
  • Two parallel uprisings in Israel Two parallel uprisings in Israel By Ghassan Michel Rubeiz Israel is currently shaken by two parallel revolts. In what seems ... posted on March 11, 2023
  • Suzan Atallah seeks election to Palos Park School District 118 Suzan Atallah seeks election to Palos Park School District 118 Currently living in Orland Park with her supportive husband and ... posted on February 9, 2023
  • Call me Arab, don’t call me MENA writer argues Call me Arab, don't call me MENA writer argues Columnist Ray Hanania argues that the term MENA to describe Arab ... posted on March 18, 2023
  • Arab Democrats endorse Rafferty and Bonnar in Orland Fire District race Arab Democrats endorse Rafferty and Bonnar in Orland Fire District race The Arab American Democratic Club released its official endorsements ... posted on March 17, 2023
  • AHRC Holds Meet and Greet with MDOC AHRC Holds Meet and Greet with MDOC In an effort to keep dialogue with government agencies, AHRC held a Meet ... posted on March 13, 2023

Recent Posts

  • International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued for Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin
  • Call me Arab, don’t call me MENA writer argues
  • Arab Democrats endorse Rafferty and Bonnar in Orland Fire District race
  • AHRC Holds Meet and Greet with MDOC
  • Two parallel uprisings in Israel
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Glory to God int he Lowest by Author Rev. Donald Wagner
    Book Review: Glory to God in the Lowest: journeys to an unholy land
    February 18, 2023
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast
    December 15, 2022
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Comedian Ramy Youssef courtesy of his Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ramysfaceboo/
    “Ramy” cable series melds Arab world reality with every day American life
    October 22, 2022
  • The Ray Hanania Radio Show Live Wed 5 PM EST in Detroit, Washington DC, Ontario and on Thursday in Chicago. Watch the program live at Facebook.com/ArabNews
    Second Season of “The Ray Hanania Show” Arab American radio launches April 6
    April 4, 2022
  • American Arab CHamber President HassanNijem accepts the Proclamation from Chicago Ald. Roderick Sawyer at the Chamber dinner March 30, 2022
    Chicagoland celebrates Arab American Heritage Month
    March 31, 2022
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at Gab.com, MeWe.com and IDobbinate.com, the alternatives to Facebook and Twitter Censorship.

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2023 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme