Author: Obaidullah Nimruzi
Philosopher of Afghanistan; Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan (Part 27)
The Dawn of the Awakening Movement in Egypt: From Economic Dependence to Colonial Domination
The Coronation of Isma’il Pasha: The Beginning of an Era of Extravagance and Carelessness
At this time, Egypt was like a fertile field passed down through the generations of Muhammad Ali’s family. Eventually, this inheritance reached Isma’il Pasha, who ascended the throne of Egypt in his youth, driven by personal ambitions. He began receiving congratulations and holding receptions even before burying his predecessor, Sa’id Pasha. Soon after, Isma’il plunged into luxury, indulgence, and reckless spending, on a level matched by few rulers in history.
The Suez Canal: A Gateway to Wealth or a Door to Colonialism?
It was Muhammad Sa’id Pasha who granted the concession for digging the Suez Canal to Ferdinand de Lesseps. The idea of connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea via an artificial canal dated back to the times of the Pharaohs, the Ptolemies, the Romans, and later, the Arabs. In modern times, European capitalists strongly supported the project, viewing it as a means to promote trade and secure profits. Alongside them, French socialists—particularly followers of Saint-Simon—advocated for the canal as well, believing it could fulfill socialist ideals and unite East and West like one family.
Foreign Loans: A Chain Around Egypt’s Neck
With full access to the national treasury, Isma’il Pasha threw its doors open to the canal project and spent enormous sums on promoting it, without any budgeting or accountability. These actions led to a financial crisis, and for the first time in Egypt’s history, he resorted to foreign loans.
Modernity at the Expense of Independence
Like other members of Muhammad Ali’s dynasty, Muhammad Sa’id Pasha leaned toward Europe, especially France. He sent Egyptian students abroad and welcomed foreign settlers to Egypt. This policy led to the rise of companies and projects mostly run with foreign capital. When Isma’il Pasha came to power, he aimed to transform Egypt into a European-like state, but the internal resources were insufficient. Like his predecessors, he turned to foreign investors and recklessly borrowed huge sums. Under his rule, Egypt’s debt soared to £100 million, paving the way for colonial interference.
Magnificent Palaces, Widespread Poverty
Only a small portion of these loans was spent on public welfare projects. The majority went into building luxurious palaces, courtly pleasures, political bribes, and lavish displays. Unproductive night parties, aristocratic banquets, and extravagant amusements presented a deceptive image of progress and modernization. In reality, the Egyptian people gained nothing from these careless policies.
“Little Paris” or a Mirage of Civilization?
Isma’il Pasha saw himself as a European monarch and dreamed of transforming Cairo into a “Little Paris.” He redesigned the city’s layout, built splendid bridges over the Nile, paved and lit the streets, installed fountains and statues in public squares, and expanded recreational venues and dance halls. Yet, he paid no attention to Cairo’s impoverished neighborhoods.
A Glorious Court, A Poor Nation
He built over 30 lavish palaces across Egypt, including those in Alexandria, Giza, Upper Egypt, and the Nile Delta. He renovated the Abdin Palace to replace the old citadel as the seat of government, built the Gezira Palace to host Empress Eugénie, constructed the Qubba Palace for his crown prince, and even established a grand palace along the Bosphorus. These palaces were adorned with the most expensive furnishings and rare gifts.
A Ruler—but Not for His People
In political affairs, Isma’il Pasha offered generous privileges to foreigners. He granted special concessions to European companies, established mixed courts, and appointed foreign judges alongside Egyptian ones, allowing foreigners to control their own legal matters. He followed British and French policies, even as these two colonial powers competed for dominance in Egypt.
The Sale of the Suez Canal: A Deal That Brought Egypt to Its Knees
Eventually, Isma’il Pasha dealt a fatal blow to Egypt’s independence by selling his shares in the Suez Canal to Britain. Seeing this as a strategic move, Britain immediately paid the price for the shares. Meanwhile, the Suez Canal Company remained under French control, turning Egypt into a battleground for colonial rivalry.
Arrival of Foreign Inspectors: The Beginning of Colonial Rule
Isma’il Pasha even allowed European inspectors to examine government accounts, oversee the national budget, and eventually take control of Egypt’s economy. He appointed two European ministers—one British and one French—to his cabinet, giving them the power of veto over government decisions. The head of this administration was an Armenian named Nubar Pasha, known for his pro-British stance.
As a result of these policies, Egypt effectively became a colony under the economic and political control of European powers. Financial crises and growing debt opened the door to direct colonial intervention and ultimately led to Egypt falling under colonial domination.
Intellectual Awakening in Egypt: From Reformism to Revolutionary Thought
Amid Egypt’s economic turmoil and increasing foreign influence, Sayyed Jamal al-din Asadabadi entered the country on December 13, 1871 (1st Muharram 1288 AH). At the time, Isma’il Pasha was still at the height of his power and did not perceive any threat from Asadabadi’s reformist ideas. Thus, the Egyptian government welcomed him warmly. Riyad Pasha, Isma’il’s minister, even granted him an annual salary—an unprecedented move in Egypt, reflecting the government’s respect for his scholarly status. However, in reality, the authorities were well aware of his potential influence on Egypt’s intellectual and political atmosphere.
Egypt Between Two Powers: Independence from the Ottomans, Dependence on the West
At that time, under the rule of the Muhammad Ali dynasty, Egypt considered itself independent from the Ottoman Empire and did not want to be subordinate to the Ottoman Sultan. On the other hand, in pursuit of his dream to turn Egypt into a European nation, Isma’il Pasha had made the country heavily dependent on Western investors. In this context, the presence of Sayyed Jamal al-Din—who held awakening and anti-colonial ideas—could have two contrasting effects: on the one hand, he supported Egypt’s independence from the Ottomans; on the other, his views directly opposed Isma’il Pasha’s economic and political alignment with foreign powers.
Continues…
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References:
1. Kifah al-Shaab, vol. 1, pp. 141-156.
2. Asr Ismail, vol. 2, p. 155, quoted from the book Al-Hakim al-Mashreeq al-Zaman.
