Presidential hopefuls Amr Moussa and Hamdeen Sabbahi on Tuesday attended the last day of Sufi Muslim celebrations marking the death of Imam Hussein, a grandson of Prophet Mohamed, comparing the January uprising against Hosni Mubarak to Hussein’s revolt in the seventh century.
Sufi doctrine stands as the antithesis of Salafi Islam, given its high level of mysticism. Sufis adopt certain rituals, such as sanctifying shrines and celebrating the birthdays of the prophet’s family members and Sufi saints, practices considered un-Islamic by the more conservative Salafi Muslims.
During the celebration organized by the Sufi Shabraweya order, Moussa expressed his pleasure at marking the martyrdom of Hussein, whom he described as the leader of the first revolution in Islam.
Moussa, the former Arab League secretary general, said Egypt had long suffered mismanagement, and that Egyptians have to bear the responsibility for rebuilding their country.
Sabbahi said Hussein struggled against corruption and dependency, which were also goals of the 25 January revolution.
Hussein ibn Ali was killed during the battle of Karbala in Iraq in AD 680 after refusing to pledge allegiance to the new caliph, Yazid ibn Muawiyya.
Party newspaper Al-Wafd reported that supporters of Moussa and Sabbahi campaigned for their candidates during the event.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
