Author: Obaidullah Nimruzi
Philosopher of Afghanistan; Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan (Part 39)
Three Significant Events During His Stay in Paris:
Among the most remarkable events that occurred during the stay of Sayyed Jamal al-din and Sheikh Muhammad Abduh in Paris, three stand out:
1. The Secret Mission for the Sudanese Revolution:
When Sayyed Jamal al-din became disillusioned with trying to persuade the British government to withdraw from Sudan and acknowledge the importance of the Mahdist revolution, he decided to take direct action. He secretly sent Muhammad Abduh, who had been exiled from Egypt, back to Egypt in order to continue to Sudan and help organize the revolutionary movement there.
According to the plan, if the uprising succeeded, Sayyed Jamal would join him, and together they would liberate Sudan from British colonialism and establish a national and independent government—a government that would be a source of pride and a symbol of freedom from servitude for the people of the East.
However, we do not know what exactly happened at this critical stage. It remains unclear whether Muhammad Abduh actually carried out the mission, as neither the writings of Sayyed and Abduh, nor those of their companions, provide any concrete or clear evidence beyond vague and passing references. [1]
2. Muhammad Abduh’s Journey to London and His Dialogue with British Statesmen:
The second major event was Sheikh Muhammad Abduh’s visit to London at the invitation of certain British politicians. While there, he engaged in discussions regarding the situation and future of Egypt. Among the most notable of these meetings was a conversation with Lord Hartington, the British Secretary of War.
Lord Hartington asked Abduh: “Are the people of Egypt not satisfied to live in peace and comfort under the rule of the British government? Don’t they see that our rule is better than that of the Turks or this or that Pasha?” (His reference was to Khedive Ismail and Khedive Tawfiq.)
Abduh responded: “The Egyptians are Arabs and all of them are Muslims. There is only a small non-Muslim minority among them. Just like the English people, there are those among them who love their homeland. Therefore, no one among them has a natural inclination to accept subjugation to a government that differs from them in religion and race. Your Excellency, who understands the nature of nations well, should not assume such a desire exists among the Egyptian people.” [2]
Clash of Ideologies: Heated Debates Between Abduh and Lord Hartington:
Following the initial exchange, Lord Hartington resumed the debate and asked Abduh: “Do you deny that ignorance and illiteracy are widespread in Egypt? Can the common people distinguish between a foreign and a native ruler? The hatred you spoke of toward foreign domination is only found among cultured and civilized nations—not among ignorant masses!”
Upon hearing this, Abduh became agitated and responded firmly: “Hatred of foreign domination is an innate and instinctive trait that God has embedded in human nature. It does not require formal education; it is a matter of natural awareness that is clearly visible even among primitive and backward peoples. Have you forgotten the Zulu people? How they defended their land and stood against you? And how you tormented and oppressed them?”
Human Instinct or Written Knowledge? Abduh’s Clear Response to the Accusation of National Ignorance:
He further stated: “Although some Muslims may be illiterate, they are well aware of their religious principles and obligations. Friday sermons, the exhortations of mosque imams and preachers, and oral religious teachings have often substituted formal education in many areas. Through these teachings, people learn not to bow before their enemies.
They possess noble feelings and are not inferior in intellect or understanding to other nations—especially the Egyptians, who speak Arabic, the language of their religion. They grasp its profound meanings and subtle implications.
Since the era of Muhammad Ali Pasha, Egypt has opened its doors to modern sciences and new knowledge, and this scientific movement has continued on a path similar to that of Europe. The Egyptian people have benefited from these sciences to the best of their abilities. There is hardly a village in Egypt without several literate individuals. Arabic newspapers convey public news to them, and those who cannot read learn the news through others who read to them.
Thus, their religious and social awareness increases. Love for one’s homeland is a result of public education and moral cultivation, and these foster a desire for freedom and resistance against foreign domination. I do not believe that our people are behind other nations in this regard.” [3]
A Cry in the Fourteenth Issue of Al-‘Urwah al-Wusqa:
In the fourteenth issue of the Al- Urwah al-Wusqa magazine, following this conversation, a strongly worded and awakening article was published: “Where are the wise and alert scholars? Where are the naïve and deceived fools? Where are the noble men who rejected foreign domination and preserved their dignity? Where are the silent and indifferent people, so they may open their eyes and witness the dignity and honor of Eastern men standing up to the representatives of the British government?” [4[
Unmasking Colonialism: The Accusation of Ignorance and National Humiliation:
Lord Hartington’s remarks revealed the colonial mindset. He believed that ignorance and illiteracy were so rampant among Muslims—particularly Egyptians—that they were even deprived of human emotions. He viewed them as so inferior that they couldn’t distinguish between friend and foe, or native and foreigner.
Such thinking serves as a warning to every discerning individual, showing how Eastern nations were reduced in the eyes of colonialists to the level of grazing animals—beings who comprehend only hunger and physical needs. If they have feelings, they are seen as purely bodily and instinctive, not intellectual or human. In the colonialist view, these people know nothing beyond eating and drinking, and they only bond with those who dominate them or force them to labor. When they are no longer useful, they are slaughtered so their flesh can be consumed!
Such was the colonial portrayal of nations who yearned for dignity, freedom, and independence.
Continues…
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[1]. Tarikh al-Ustadh al-Imam, vol. 1, p. 38.
[2]. Previous source.
[3]. Sage of the Orient, p. 81.
[4]. Source: Allama Sayyid Jamal al-Din Afghani, Al-Urwa al-Wuthqa, no. 14.
