By Rachid Khouya
Morocco World News
Es-Smara, March 3, 2012
Dear Sheikh Zemzemi,
You tricked us once, but you can’t keep tricking us all the time
I’m writing in response to your video where you tried to clarify your stance and play the role of victim by attempting, unsuccessfully, to convince us that how you obtained your transport license is legally and religiously acceptable, because according to your logic that’s a habit that kings and rulers have followed with scholars like yourself. You have even been digging deeper in history by comparing your situation with the companions of the prophet. Pardon me, there is no room for comparison here, brother.
I am so sorry Sir, though I do teach English language, let me tell you that Moroccans are not that brainless and gullible as you may think. We have all studied Islamic education and we do understand religion. Therefore, I assure you that we are not that stupid to believe your futile and absurd way of thinking and your poor and baseless justifications.
First of all, when I first heard your video, the first thing that came to my mind is that you are using the same logic that all corrupt nations described in the Koran had used with all prophets and messengers of God. In the Koran, it is repeated many times that when messengers asked their non-believing tribes and corrupt nations to worship God alone, their answer was “this is what our fathers and forefathers used to do and we can not depart from their ways.” They had done and had said the same as you because they were resistant to change, just as you are.
Secondly, you confessed that you had asked the king to give you the license, which means it was not provided because you had earned it. He didn’t give the license to you from his own good will or because you deserved it. This is called begging, which is religiously, if we may say, hateful and detestable. Besides, you confessed that this was not the first time you received gifts from the king. Didn’t you know that it is narrated that the prophet Mohamed (PBUH) said, “Do not be importunate in begging. By Allah! If one of you asks me for something and I give it to him unwillingly, there is no blessing in that I give him.” I think the words of the messenger do not need much explanation, especially if we know that you are a scholar and you must be the first one to teach people these narrations. But unfortunately you mention only what you like from the Koran and the Hadith.
But as some readers may need some light shed on the narration mentioned above, let me quote the commentary from Riyad-us-Saliheen (Gardens of the Virtuous People, pg. 395) about that Hadith: “Here one has been prevented from making demands to others importunately, pressingly and persistently because even if one gets something in this way, it will be bereft of blessing.” What do you think Sir? You keep asking the king importunately and this is banned by the messenger of Allah.
Thirdly, you may say that this is not true and that you deserve it. Well the king paid once for your operation and saved you from death as you said, so why ask him again and again, taking into account that you were a member of the parliament and that you receive a pension for this service (some 7500dh) for life. Why do you want more? Isn’t that a sign of greediness?
Did you forget the point of view of the religion that you are preaching and using concerning the topic of greediness? Maybe, it is my task to remind you again of this story that you will find in the same book on page 392 that says:
“Hakem Bin Hizam said: I asked the messenger of Allah (PBUH) to give me, so he did, I asked him again, so he did, and I asked him again, then the messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: ‘O Hakeem! That money is sweet green, whosoever take it without greediness, it is blessed for him, and whosoever takes it in greed, it is not blessed for him, and he becomes as one who eats and does not satisfy his appetite….’ Then Hakeem said to the prophet: I swear by who has sent you by right! I will never ask anyone after you.”
So how can you compare yourself with such companions like Hakeem and with the messenger?
Finally, let me say that God delays unveiling the truth but he never forgets. Sooner or later, the truth will appear and those who dance do not hide their faces, as the Moroccan proverb says. You have been tricking us all by your white clothes and fabricated speeches but you have never thought that this day would come when you would be discovered. Abraham Lincoln, the man who brought about the emancipation of the slaves said: “You may fool all the people some of the time, you can even fool some of the people all of the time, but you can not fool all the people all the time.” So, be sure, you tricked some Moroccans for sometime but now you can not keep on tricking all Moroccans all of the time.
Rachid Khouya is a teacher of English in Es Smara city, south of Morocco. He obtained a Bachelor Degree in English studies from Ibn Zohr University in Agadir. He published many articles and stories in different regional and national Moroccan newspapers. He is an active member of MATE (Moroccan Association of Teachers of English). He is interested in education, human rights and citizenship (Email: [email protected]).
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Morocco World News’ editorial policy
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