Ahram Online reviews Egyptians oldest relationship with their Creator.
The phrase, "a nation that is naturally religious," is often affiliated with Egyptians. Though not quite applicable nowadays given the rise in violence and sexual harassments, there is some truth to the matter.
Allah(O God) is how Egyptians usually praise all beauty, in their daily rituals. When we are asked how are we doing, the initial answer is usually alhamdu lellah (thank God) regardless of the circumstances. Allah (God) is vividly present in the essence of our folk literature.
"The God, the Creator was known in its abstract form to ancient Egyptians, hence such relationship between Man and his creator, how he would be grateful for all the good things and how he is watching over people; that's why Islam found a fertile land to flourish in Egypt," explained Ibrahim Abdel Hafez, late head of Folk Literature in an exclusive interview before he passed away.
"Such a relationship was most elaborated in the realm of agriculture, the main profession of ancient Egyptians. They plant and wait for God to bless their crops- depending on God's bliss is also deeply rooted in our ancient culture, where God in return is always by our side, always bringing victory to the victim and the oppressed and so the collective folk mind elaborated on this relationship between God and man in numerous forms, " Abdel Hafez told Ahram Online.
Proverbs that call for patience and belief in God's Esaa ya Abd wa ana asaa maak, (You do the effort and leave the rest to God), elli maaah Rabena yemshi ala al maya, (When God is on your side, you can walk on water) and numerous proverbs that we've inherited from ancient Egypt reveal such belief, he added.
"On a parallel note, the brilliance of folk literature comes from how it draws upon the stories of prophets based on each of the following primary sources: the writings of Ibn kathir, Al Thaalabi, New and Old testaments, then focus on one theme," explained Abdel Hafez.
"This is found in the folk stories affiliated with the prophet Ismail and his relationships with both his wives Sarah and Hajar, and how God saved Hajar and her son Ismail when she was alone in the desert with the miracle of underground water. The folk story is even rhymed and sung in moulids," he explained.
There is the story of Prophet Youssef and El- Aziz's wife who tried to seduce him and the focus was on the jealousy theme. As for prophet Ayoub the Egyptian, the theme was on how his patience on his ailment was divinely rewarded.
Adopting the same line of thought is the folk saints stories. Here Hafez emphasises the fact that Egyptians do not view saints as any replacements for God, Egyptians view God's utmost powers manifested in the powers he granted his wallies (Saints).
"Actually they believe that wallies or saints have such gifts and supernatural powers because they are close to God. That's why Egyptians visit the shrines of such wallies, " he added. "The story of Sufi Walli El-Said Al-Badawi and Khadra Al-sharifa the daughter of the sultan that was abducted and taken out of Egypt. Here Khadra asked El-Said El-Badawi for help, and at that time he was buried in Tanta, so he came for her rescue in the form of a pigeon and flew back with her to Egypt safe and sound. The super natural powers of a walli are a blessing from God. Hence, he crossed time and space in-order to save her. One of the twenty powers of Wallis also includes the ability to walk on water."
However, in folk stories, usually God rewards the good fellow with magical gifts so he starts up by being poor then God grants him a fortune. The folk stories always emphasise that no evil deed is left unpunished. "Daqa b daqa w en zeidt zad el sakka (A knock for a knock and the more you go, the more the water seller will follow your path) is a vivid example. The folk story tells of a man who cheated on his wife with his neighbour, only to realise that his wife is cheating on him with the water seller," he added.
Also, the common saying of leave all your weights to Allah and be patient, are also folk cross cutting motifs that emphasise the deep faith of Egyptians in a God that never lets them down no matter how hard things get.
Folk literature always reminds us to keep the faith, no matter what happens, after all 'He who has god on his side can walk on water'.
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