Views on the MB and Islamist Movements

Views on the MB and Islamist Movements
By Rafeeq Habeeb
Ikhwan online

Due to many aspects, it becomes crucial to discuss the relation between the Moslem Brotherhood with other Islamist movements. The widespread controversy over the modern Islamist current caused by international and local changes is on one side. The Islam application to everyday life is on the other side.

The mutual ties between the MB and Islamist movements in Egypt are limited. Meanwhile, the MB develops good relations with some Islamist movements, which adopt similar thoughts, in some Arab and Islamic countries. .

The Moslem Brotherhood connections with other Islamist movements are controlled by three principles. Firstly, the movement should be consultation-governed, Shora. Secondly, it should believe in the generality of the Islam. Thirdly, it should be non-violent.

The third principle is logical; for it is unreasonable to cultivate ties between movements that hold views of forceful reform with that of peaceful-motivated reform. On the other hand, both the first and the second fundamentals should be reviewed, especially since the Moslem Brotherhood does not follow these principles regards its relation with different political powers, including liberalism.

It is apparent that the scale of cooperation and coordination among the Islamist movements in Arab and Islamic countries is not up to expectation. For example, both the Moslem Brotherhood and the Ancestry Movement do not have remarkable communication. In addition, most of the Islamist movements, in Egypt, believe that the MB is willing to retain the leadership of the political Islamism.

Besides, there are additional considerations that provoke sophistications among the Islamist movements; the varying stances toward certain issues such as women, Christians and democracy along with security pursuits. For each movement averts to have ties with the others in fear of being hurt, accordingly. Perhaps, the international siege over the Islamist current is an operative force in such complexes.

 

However, there is a group of peaceful Islamist movements that should encourage pan-dialogue and even formation of alliance. Nevertheless, some of these movements are less organized than the Moslem Brotherhood. Others, however, avoid the participation in the political action. Subsequently, they prefer to escape the tough security measures imposed on the MB.

The final outcome of these factors is the lack of cooperation among the Islamist movements. This separation coincides with noticeable political activity, partly based on cooperation among various political currents.

The Ancestry Movement had undergone many developments. It kept for a long time remote from the political action. Yet, since it has renounced violence, a new peaceful phase in its history commenced in 2005, when it initiated its methodology of the political reform.

Consequentially, coordination among the Egyptian Islamist movements grows potential. Yet, the prevailing conditions diminish this possibility.

But what is the value of the Islamist movements’ cooperation? The ultimate aim of such joint action is to formulate a unified Islamic vision that deals with the political and social questions. This goal is essential if the Islamist movements are eager to restore the role of the Islamic authority in life. Therefore, both the Moslem Brotherhood and the Ancestry Movement have a leading role. They should agree upon a declared vision of the Islam function in the different aspects of life. In fact, this objective is urgent.

Actually, the Moslem Brotherhood should grasp that its Islam-inspired methodology regards various issues of the political action, in fact, lays down general principles and utmost targets. In other words it ought to be an outline that all Moslems approve. For example, if the MB adopts certain stance toward the role and rights of women, it will imply a fundamental that Moslems settled on. To achieve this goal, there should be an agreement over the critical issues among the most popular and effective Islamist movements.

 

 

In other words, the existing divergence among the Islamist movements hinders the achievement of this end. Consequently, the Islamist movements should perform its supposed duty; to find generally approved basics. Otherwise, their struggle to bring the religious and civilization authority back down to earth will convert into a conflict over their different notions of this authority.