The America I Have Seen

8/13/2019 The America I Have Seen

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ashf ul Shubuhat Publications

TheAmericaIHaveSeen:

IntheScaleofHumanValues(1951)BySayyidQutbashShaheed


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SAYYIDQUTBwasEgyptsmostprominentIslamicactivistandthemost

famousmemberoftheMuslimBrothersorganizationuntilhisexecutionby

Nassersregimein1966.Oneofhisbiographerscompareshisoverallstandingas

anIslamicthinkerandactivisttothatofAyatollahKhomeini.Heistheauthorof

severalworksonIslamistideologyincludinghisradicalMilestones(1964)forthe

publicationofwhichhewashanged.In1948,hewassentbytheEgyptian

MinistryofEducationtotheUnitedStatestostudyAmericanpedagogical

methods.HestudiedatWilsonsTeachersCollege(nowtheUniversityofthe

DistrictofColumbia);theUniversityofNorthernColoradosTeachersCollege,

whereheearnedanM.A.ineducation,andatStanfordUniversity.Uponhis

returntoEgyptin1950,hepublishedanaccountofhisstayintheUnitedStates

intheEgyptianmagazineAlRisalaunderthetitle,TheAmericaIHaveSeen.

ThesameaccountwaslaterincludedinabookeditedbyAbdalFattahal

Khalidiunderthetellingtitle,AmrikaminalDakhilbiMinzarSayyidQutb

(Americafrom

the

Inside

through

the

Eyes

of

Sayyid

Qutb).

The

title

page

has

a

drawingoftheAmericanflagshownpartlyfoldedwithabloodstained,black

stripedflagbeneathit.Americamayappeartobeonething,butinsideitis

somethingelsetotally.

FirstEpisode

America:Location

and

Privilege

America,theNewWorld,isthatvast,farflungworldthatoccupiesintheminds

eyemorespacethanitreallydoesonthisearth.Imaginationsanddreams

glimmeronthisworldwithillusionandwonder.Theheartsofmenfalluponit

fromeveryvalley,menfromeveryraceandcolor,everywalkoflife,andevery

sectandcreed.

America,thevastexpansesoflandthatstretchfromtheAtlantictothePacific.

Americaistheinexhaustiblematerialresources,strengthandmanpower.Itisthe

hugefactories,unequaledinallofcivilization.Itistheawesome,incalculableyields,theubiquitousinstitutes,laboratories,andmuseums.Americangeniusin

managementandorganizationevokeswonderandadmiration.Americas

bountyandprosperityevokesthedreamsofthePromisedLand.Thebeautythat

ismanifestedinitslandscape,inthefacesandphysiquesofitspeopleis

spellbinding.Americaconjuresuppleasuresthatacknowledgenolimitormoral


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restraint,dreamsthatarecapableoftakingcorporealshapeintherealmoftime

andspace.

AmericasShareofHumanValues

ThisgreatAmerica:Whatisitsworthinthescaleofhumanvalues?Andwhat

doesitaddtothemoralaccountofhumanity?And,bythejourneysend,what

willitscontributionbe?

IfearthatabalancemaynotexistbetweenAmericasmaterialgreatnessandthe

qualityofitspeople.AndIfearthatthewheeloflifewillhaveturnedandthe

bookoftimewillhaveclosedandAmericawillhaveaddednothing,ornextto

nothing,totheaccountofmoralsthatdistinguishesmanfromobject,andindeed,

mankindfromanimals.

TheMeasureofCivilization

Thetruevalueofeverycivilizationthatmanhasknownliesnotinthetoolsman

hasinventedorinhowmuchpowerhewields.Nordoesitlieintheyieldshis

handshaveharvested.Mostofthevalueofcivilizationslayinwhatuniversal

truthsandworldviewstheyhaveattained.Theseachievementselevatefeelings,

edifyconsciences,andadddepthtomansperceptionofthevaluesofalllife,and

humanlifeinparticular.Theyincreasethedistancebetweenmanandanimalin

feelings

and

behavior,

through

mans

estimation

of

life

and

things.

Asfortheinventionoftools,thewieldingofpowers,orthemakingofobjects,

thesethingsareinandofthemselvesweightlessinthescaleofhumanvalues.

Theyservemerelyasindicatorsofanotherfundamentalvalue,thatistheextent

towhichthehumanelementofmaniselevated,howfarhisstepshavetaken

himfromtheworldofthingsandtheworldofanimalsandwhathasbeenadded

tohishumanaccountofwealthandreflectionsonlife.

So,inhisfeelingsforthislife,thisfundamentalvalueistheplaceofcomparison

andbalance

between

one

civilization

and

another

and

one

philosophy

and

another.Moreover,itisthelastingaccountandisrelevanttofuturecivilizations

whereastoolsbreakdownandobjectsperish,onlytobereplacedbynewertools

andobjectsfromonemomenttoanotheranywhereonthisearth.


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TheFieldofAmericanInnovation

ItappearsthatallAmericaningenuityisconcentratedinthefieldofworkand

production,somuchsothatnoabilityremainstoadvanceinthefieldofhuman

values.Americasproductivityisunmatchedbyanyothernation.Ithas

miraculouslyelevatedlifetolevelsthatcannotbebelieved.Butmancannot

maintainhisbalancebeforethemachineandrisksbecomingamachinehimself.

Heisunabletoshouldertheburdenofexhaustingworkandforgeaheadonthe

pathofhumanity,heunleashestheanimalwithin.

America:ThePeakofAdvancementandtheDepthofPrimitiveness

TheresearcherofAmericanlifewillstandatfirstpuzzledbeforeawondrous

phenomenon,aphenomenonthatexistsnowhereelseonearth.Itisthecaseofa

peoplewho

have

reached

the

peak

of

growth

and

elevation

in

the

world

of

scienceandproductivity,whileremainingabysmallyprimitiveintheworldof

thesenses,feelings,andbehavior.Apeoplewhohavenotexceededthemost

primordiallevelsofexistence,andindeed,remainfarbelowthemincertainareas

offeelingsandbehavior.Buttheconfusionvanishesafterscrutinizingthepast

andpresentofthispeople,andthereasonthatthiszenithofcivilizationhas

combinedwiththisnadirofprimitivenessisrevealed.

TheBalancedCompositionofMan

Intheancientworld,manfirstbelievedintheunknownpowerofnatureand

arounditwovemythsandlegends.Then,hebelievedinreligion,andhissoul

wasfloodedwithitslightsandrevelations.Then,hebelievedinart,andhis

yearningsmaterializedascolors,tunes,andrhythms.Andfinally,afterhisself

hadbeentornbetweenamyriadoffaiths,colorsoffeelings,differing

manifestationsoflifesimages,andtheexaggerationsofimagination,hebelieved

inscience.Thisbeliefinsciencetookplaceonlyafterhissoulhadbeentamedby

religion,hissensesedifiedbyart,andhisbehaviorprunedbyconvocationand

afterhisvaluesandprincipleshadbeenshapedbytherealityofhistoryandhis

freeyearnings.

And

while

these

principles

and

values

may

or

may

not

have

been

fulfilledindailylife,atleasttheyfoundechoesintheconscienceandinfeelings.

Therewashopeoffulfillmentbecausethemerepresenceoftheseprinciplesand

valuesintheabstractworldwasagreatstepformankindonthepathto

humanity,andaluminousbeamofhopefortheireventualrealizationindaily

life.


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TheDeformedBirthoftheAmericanMan

InAmerica,manwasbornwithscience,andthusbelievedinitalone.Infact,he

onlybelievedinonekindofscience,andthatwasappliedscience.Sincehe

receivednatureasanuntamed,stubbornvirgin,andfoughttobuildhis

homelandwithhisbarehands,appliedsciencewashisgreatestallyinhisviolent

struggle.Appliedsciencereachedouttohimwitheffectivetoolsforcreating,

building,organizing,andproducing.

AmericaasaVirginLand

TheAmericanhasnotyetfinishedwiththebuildingstage,forthereremain

interminable,incalculableexpansesofvirginland,untouchedbyanyhand,and

virginforestsuntroddenbyanyfoot,andminesthathaveneitherbeen

excavatednor

depleted.

There

remains

for

the

American

the

continuation

of

his

firstconstructioneffort,inspiteofhishavingachievedthepeakoforganization

andproduction.

ThePsychologicalStateoftheFirstAmericans

Andwewoulddowellnottoforgetthepsychologicalstatethatwaveafterwave,

andgenerationaftergenerationofAmericansbroughttothisland.Forthey

broughtablendofdiscontentwiththelifeoftheOldWorldandthedesirefor

freedom

from

its

rigid

traditions

whether

they

were

onerous,

corrupt

traditions

orsoundandnecessaryones.Thispsychologicalstatespringsfromanenduring

desireforwealthbyanymeans,andforthepossessionofthelargestpossible

shareofpleasuresandcompensationfortheeffortexpendedtoacquirewealth.

TheOriginoftheAmericans

Andwewoulddowellalsonottoforgetthesocialandmentalstateofthe

majorityofthesefirstwavesofimmigrantswhoformedtheseedsofthisnew

nation.Forthesewaveswerecomposedofgroupsofadventurers,andgroupsof

criminals.The

adventurers

came

seeking

wealth,

pleasure,

and

adventure,

while

thecriminalswerebroughttothislandfromthelandsoftheBritishEmpireas

laborforconstructionandproduction.


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AppliedScienceandHumanValues

Thesecombinationsofentanglementsandofwavesofpeoplenaturally

encouragedandfosteredprimitivecharacteristicsinthisnewnation,andignored

andresistedtheelevatedcharacteristicsofsomeofthenationsindividualsand

groups.Sotheprimalurgeswererevitalized,asifmanretracedhisfirststeps,

withonedifference,inthecaseofAmerica,primitivemanisarmedwithscience,

withwhichhewasborn,andwhichguidedhissteps.Andscienceinitself,and

especiallyappliedscience,playsnoroleinthefieldofhumanvalues,orinthe

worldofthesoulandfeelings.Andthisnarrowedhishorizons,shrankhissoul,

limitedhisfeelings,anddecreasedhisplaceattheglobalfeast,whichissofullof

patternsandcolors.

TheStruggleoftheFirstAmericanwithNature

Andonemaybeamazedwhenreadingthestoriesofthefirstpilgrimsto

Americainitsearlydays,andimaginetheirepic,amazingstrugglesagainsta

defiantnatureinfarflung,desolatelands,andevenbeforethis,bravingthe

oceanshorrificsquallsanditsconqueringwaves,intheirsmall,fragilevessels.

Assoonasthesepilgrimslandedupontherocks,withtheirvesselsdestroyedor

damaged,theyfacedtheunchartedforests,thetortuousmountainmazes,the

fieldsofice,thethunderinghurricanes,andthebeasts,serpents,andverminof

theforest.Onemaybeamazedathowallthisdidnotleaveashadowuponthe

American

spirit

and

inspire

a

belief

in

the

majesty

of

nature

and

that

which

is

beyondnature,openingfortheAmericanspiritawindowonthingsthatare

morethanmatterandtheworldofmatter.

TheSecretoftheDeformedAmericanCharacter

However,thisamazementvanisheswhenoneremembersthatmixtureofthe

earlyAmericanpilgrimsandtheirsurroundingconditions.Theytacklednature

withtheweaponsofscienceandthestrengthofthemuscle,sonothingexisted

withinthembesidesthecrudepowerofthemindandtheoverwhelminglustfor

thesensual

pleasure.

No

windows

to

the

world

of

the

spirit

or

the

heart

or

tender

sentimentwereopenedtotheAmericansastheywereopenedtothefirst

humans.Agreatdealofthisworldofspirit,heart,andtendersentimentwas

preservedbythefirsthumans,andmuchofthiscontinuedtobepreservedeven

intheageofscience,andaddedtotheaccountofhumanvaluesthatendured

throughtime.


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Andwhenhumanityclosesthewindowstofaithinreligion,faithinart,andfaith

inspiritualvaluesaltogether,thereremainsnooutletforitsenergytobe

expendedexceptintherealmofappliedscienceandlabor,ortobedissipatedin

sensualpleasure.AndthisiswhereAmericahasendedupafterfourhundred

years.

SecondEpisode

TheAmericanPrimitiveness

Despitehisadvancedknowledgeandsuperlativework,theAmericanappearsto

besoprimitiveinhisoutlookonlifeanditshumanitarianaspectsthatitis

puzzlingto

the

observer.

This

clear

contradiction

may

make

the

Americans

appearasaneccentricnationintheeyesofforeignerswhoobservethelifeofthis

nationfromafarandareatalosstoreconcilesuchanindustrialcivilization,with

itspreciseorderandorganizationoflabor,withsuchprimitivenessoffeeling

andmanner,aprimitivenessthatremindsoneofthedayswhenmanlivedin

junglesandcaves!

PrimitivenessinAthletics

Itseems

the

American

is

primitive

in

his

appreciation

of

muscular

strength

and

thestrengthofmatteringeneral.Totheextentthatheoverlooksprinciples,

values,andmannersinhispersonallife,inhisfamilylife,andinhissociallife,

exceptintherealmofwork,andeconomicandmonetaryrelationships.This

primitivenesscanbeseeninthespectacleofthefansastheyfollowagameof

football,playedintheroughAmericanstyle,whichhasnothingtodowithits

name(football),forthefootdoesnottakepartinthegame.Instead,eachplayer

attemptstocatchtheballwithhishandsandrunwithittowardthegoal,while

theplayersoftheopposingteamattempttotacklehimbyanymeansnecessary,

whetherthisbeablowtohisstomach,orcrushinghisarmsandlegswithgreat

violenceandferocity.Thesightofthefansastheyfollowthisgame,orwatchboxingmatchesorbloody,monstrouswrestlingmatches...isoneofanimal

excitementbornoftheirloveforhardcoreviolence.Theirlackofattentiontothe

rulesandsportsmanshiptotheextentthattheyareenthralledwiththeflowing

bloodandcrushedlimbs,cryingloudly,everyonecheeringforhisteam.Destroy

hishead.Crushhisribs.Beathimtoapulp.Thisspectacleleavesnoroomfor


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doubtastotheprimitivenessofthefeelingsofthosewhoareenamoredwith

muscularstrengthanddesireit.

AmericanLoveforPeaceAnIllusion

AndwiththisprimitivespirittheAmericanpeoplefollowthestrugglesof

groupsandparties,andthestrugglesofnationsandpeoples.Icannotfathom

howthisstrangeillusionthatAmericanslovepeacetookrootintheworld,

especiallyintheEast.

TheAmericanandtheHungerforWar

Indeed,theAmericanisbyhisverynatureawarriorwholovescombat.Theidea

ofcombatandwarrunsstronginhisblood.Itisevidentinhismannerandthisis

whatagrees

with

his

history.

For

the

first

waves

of

people

left

their

homelands,

headingforAmericawiththeintentionofbuildingandcompetingand

struggling.Andoncethere,someofthemkilledothers,astheywerecomposed

ofgroupsandfactions.Thentheyallfoughtagainsttheoriginalinhabitantsof

theland(theredIndians),andtheycontinuetowageabloodywaragainstthem

untilthisverymoment.ThentheAngloSaxonskilledtheLatinosandpushed

themsouthtowardcentralandsouthernAmerica.ThentheseAmericanized

peopleturnedagainsttheirmothercountry,England,inadestructivewarledby

GeorgeWashingtonuntiltheyobtainedtheirindependencefromtheBritish

crown.

TheTrueMotivationsfortheManumissionofAmericanSlaves

ThentheNorthfoughttheSouthunderthecommandofAbrahamLincolnina

warthatwascalledthefreeingoftheslaves.Butitstruemotivationwas

economiccompetition.TheslavesthathadbeencapturedfromcentralAfricato

workinthelandwerefragileandcouldnotwithstandthecoldclimateofthe

North,sotheyweremovedtotheSouth.Theresultwasthatthebuildersofthe

SouthfoundcheaplaborthatwasunavailableintheNorth.Sotheyachieved

economicsuperiority.

For

this

reason,

the

Northerners

declared

war

for

the

manumissionoftheslaves!

AmericaEmergesfromIsolation

Theperiodofisolationpassed,anditspoliticsended,whenAmericaenteredthe

FirstWorldWar.ThenitenteredtheSecondWorldWar.Nowitisstartingawar


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inKorea,andathirdworldwarisnotfarbehind!Ireallycannotunderstandhow

thisillusioncameintobeing,giventhisnationshistorywithwarfare.

TheAmericanViewofDeath

PhysicalvitalityissacredtotheAmerican,andweakness,nomatterwhatits

cause,isacrime:acrimethatcannotbeatonedforinanyway,acrimethat

remainsundeservingofcompassionorcare.Thematterofmoralsandrightsare

anillusionintheconscienceoftheAmerican,hecannottasteit.Bestrong,and

youwillhaveeverything.Orbeweakandnoideologycanhelpyou,andthere

willbenoplaceforyouinthegreatrealmofliving.Asforhimwhodies,hehas

committed,naturally,thecrimeofdeath.Helosesallhisrightstocareand

respect!Didhenotdie?

AmericansJoke

About

the

Injured

IwasatGeorgeWashingtonHospitalinthecapitalcity,anditwasevening.

Suddenlytherewassomecommotionofunknownoriginthatdrewmuch

attention.Andthepatientswhowereabletomovebeganleavingtheirbedsand

theirroomsandcomingintothehallwaytotakeacloserlook.Thentheybegan

togathertogetherinquiringaboutthesourceofthisspectacleinthehospitals

usuallyquietlife.Welearnedafterawhilethatoneofthehospitalsemployees

wasinjuredinanelevatoraccidentandwasincriticalcondition,indeed,hewas

in

the

final

round

of

death.

One

of

the

American

patients

went

to

see

for

himself,

andreturnedtotellthosegatheredinthehallwaywhathehadseen.Whenthe

ghostofdeathlingersinaplace,thereisnogreaterreverencetoit,normore

solemnitythaninahospital.ButherewasthisAmericanwhobeganlaughing

andchucklingwhilehemimickedtheappearanceoftheinjured,dyingman,and

thewayhisneckwasstruckbytheelevator,hisheadcrushed,andhistongue

dangledfromhismouthonthesideofhisface!AndIwaitedtoseesignsof

disgustordisapprovalfromthoselistening,butthevastmajorityofthembegan

laughingjoyouslyatthisodiousact.

Laughingbeside

the

Corpse

of

aLoved

One

ForthisreasonIamnotsurprisedwhensomeofmyfriendsrelatewhattheysee

andhearaboutdeathanditsimpactontheAmericanconsciousness.Afriend

oncetoldmethathewasattendingafuneralwhenthebodyoftheheadofthe

householdwaspresentedinaglasscoffinaccordingtoAmericancustomso

thatthefriendsofthedeceasedcouldpassbyhisbodytobidhimthefinal


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farewellandgazeuponhimforthelasttime,oneafteranotherinalongline.

Whentheprocessionended,theyallgatheredinthereceptionroom.Whatstruck

himwasthattherewasnorespectastheybeganmockingandmakingjokes

aboutthedeceasedandotherindividuals.Hiswifeandfamilytookpartinthis,

givingrisetojoyfullaughterinthecoldsilenceofdeath,aroundthebodythat

wasshroudedinburialcloths.

AnAmericanWomanCarouseswhileHerHusbandsCorpseLiesatHome

TheDirectoroftheEgyptianStatescholarshipsinWashingtonwasinvitedtoa

partywithhiswife.Beforetheengagement,hiswifefellill,sohecalledupto

apologizefornotbeingabletoattendbecauseofthisemergency.Butthehosts

repliedthattherewasnoneedtoapologizeashecouldattendthepartyalone,

whichwouldactuallybeagoodstrokeofluck,sinceoneofthewomeninvitedto

theparty

had

lost

her

husband

suddenly

before

the

party.

She

thus

would

have

beenalonethere,soitwashergoodfortunethatshecouldnowhavea

companion!

AnAmericanWomanSpeaksofHerRecentlyDeceasedHusband

IonceenteredthehouseofanAmericanwomanwhowashelpingmewithmy

EnglishduringthefirstperiodofmystayinAmerica.SoIfoundthereoneofher

femalefriends,andtheywerehavingaconversationthatIcaughttheendof.

This

friend

said,

I

was

lucky

because

I

had

taken

out

insurance

on

his

life.

Even

histreatmentcostverylittlebecauseIhadinsuredhimwiththeBlueCross,and

shesmiled.

Thensheexcusedherselfandleft.IremainedwiththewomanofthehouseandI

assumedthatherfriendhadbeentalkingaboutherdog,andIwasamazedthat

shedidnotexhibitanysignsofdistressathisdeath!ButnosoonerhadI

observedthisthanshesaid,withoutmyasking,Shewasspeakingofher

husband.Hediedthreedaysago.

Andit

appeared

to

her

that

Iwas

stunned

that

her

friend

could

speak

this

matteroffactlyaboutherhusbandmerelythreedaysafterhisdeath.Her

seeminglysoundandconvincingexcusewas,Hewasill!Hehadfallensick

morethanthreemonthsbeforehisdeath!


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TheFuneraloftheBirdsinEgypt

Mymemorytookmebacktoascenethathadaveryprofoundemotionaleffect

onme.Indeed,theeffectshavelastedonmymindformanyyears.Ihadinmind

towritedownthisthoughtunderthetitle,TheFuneraloftheBirds.Thiswasa

sceneofagroupofchickensweraisedinourhome.Thechickensgathered

silently,spellboundandshockedaroundachickenthathadbeenslaughtered.It

wasanemotionalsurpriseforeveryonewhohadbeeninthehouse.Asurprise

unexpectedfrombirdsaslowontheevolutionaryscaleasthesechickens.

Indeed,theshockwassogreatthatwedidnotdareslaughteranotherchicken

withinthesightofthisgroupofbirds!

TheSadnessoftheRavensoverTheirDead

Andthe

sight

of

the

ravens

when

one

of

their

own

dies

is

asight

that

many

are

accustomedtoseeing.Itisasightthatishardtodescribewithoutmentioning

thatthesebirdsmustknowsadness,emotion,andkinship!Foragroupof

ravenswillhoverincircles,shriekingandwailing,untiltheycarrythebodyof

thedeceasedoneandflyaway.Allthispointstothegravityofdeathinthe

worldofbirds!

TheDroughtinAmericanLife

The

sanctity

of

death

may

be

a

natural

instinct.

So

it

is

not

the

primitiveness

of

feelingthathaserasedthesanctityofdeathintheAmericansoul.Rather,itisthe

droughtofsentimentalsympathyintheirlives,andthefoundationoftheirlives

uponmonetaryandmaterialmeasures,andsheerphysicalgratification.

AmericansintentionallyderidewhatpeopleintheOldWorldholdsacred,and

theirdesireistocontrastthemselveswiththecustomarywaysofthepeople

there.Otherwise,theAmericanswouldsay,whatmeritdoestheNewWorld

haveovertheOldWorld?

TheFeelingsofAmericanstowardReligionArePrimitive

Andwhatissaidabouttheirfeelingstowarddeathmayalsobesaidabouttheir

feelingstowardreligion.


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ChurcheswithoutLife

ThereisnopeoplewhoenjoysbuildingchurchesmorethantheAmericans.To

theextentthatIoncestayedinatownwithnomorethantenthousand

inhabitants,yetwithinitIfoundovertwentychurches!Andmostofthemdonot

gotochurchonSundaymorningsandevenings,butinsteadongeneralholidays

andholidaysforlocalsaints,whofaroutnumberthesaintsofthecommon

MuslimsinEgypt.Allthisnotwithstandingthereisnoonefurtherthanthe

Americanfromappreciatingthespiritualityofreligionandrespectforits

sacraments,andthereisnothingfartherfromreligionthantheAmericans

thinkingandhisfeelingsandmanners.

ChurchesforCarousalandEnjoyment

Ifthe

church

is

aplace

for

worship

in

the

entire

Christian

world,

in

America

it

is

foreverythingbutworship.Youwillfinditdifficulttodifferentiatebetweenit

andanyotherplace.Theygotochurchforcarousalandenjoyment,or,asthey

callitintheirlanguagefun.Mostwhogotheredosooutofnecessarysocial

tradition,anditisaplaceformeetingandfriendship,andtospendanicetime.

Thisisnotonlythefeelingofthepeople,butitisalsothefeelingofthemenof

thechurchanditsministers.

TheClubsoftheChurchandTheirAttractions

Inmostchurchesthereareclubsthatjointhetwosexes,andeveryminister

attemptstoattracttohischurchasmanypeopleaspossible,especiallysince

thereisatremendouscompetitionbetweenchurchesofdifferentdenominations.

Andforthisreason,eachchurchracestoadvertiseitselfwithlit,coloredsignson

thedoorsandwallstoattractattention,andbypresentingdelightfulprogramsto

attractthepeoplemuchinthesamewayasmerchantsorshowmenoractors.

Andthereisnocompunctionaboutusingthemostbeautifulandgracefulgirlsof

thetown,andengagingtheminsonganddance,andadvertising.

AChurchs

Party

Program

Thisisanexampleofthetextofanadvertisementforachurchpartythatwas

postedinthestudentsunionofoneofthecolleges.

Sunday,October1st,6:00P.M.snacks,magicgames,puzzles,contests,

fun


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Thereisnothingstrangeinthis,fortheministerdoesnotfeelthathisjobisany

differentfromthatofatheatermanager,orthatofamerchant.Successcomes

firstandbeforeeverything,andthemeansarenotimportant,andthissuccess

willreflectonhimwithfineresults:moneyandstature.Themorepeoplethat

joinhischurch,thegreaterishisincome.Likewise,hisrespectandrecognitionis

elevatedinthecommunity,becausetheAmericanbyhisnatureistakenwith

grandeurinsizeandnumbers.Itishisfirstmeasureofthewayhefeelsand

evaluates.

AHotNightattheChurch

OnenightIwasinachurchinGreeley,Colorado,IwasamemberinitsclubasI

wasamemberinanumberofchurchclubsineveryareathatIhadlivedin,for

thisis

an

important

facet

of

American

society,

deserving

close

study

from

the

inside.Afterthereligiousserviceinthechurchended,boysandgirlsfrom

amongthemembersbegantakingpartinchants,whileothersprayed,andwe

proceededthroughasidedoorontothedancefloorthatwasconnectedtothe

prayerhallbyadoor,andtheFatherjumpedtohisdeskandeveryboytookthe

handofagirl,includingthosewhowerechanting.

Thedancefloorwaslitwithredandyellowandbluelights,andwithafewwhite

lamps.Andtheydancedtothetunesofthegramophone,andthedancefloor

was

replete

with

tapping

feet,

enticing

legs,

arms

wrapped

around

waists,

lips

pressedtolips,andchestspressedtochests.Theatmospherewasfullofdesire.

Whentheministerdescendedfromhisoffice,helookedintentlyaroundthe

placeandatthepeople,andencouragedthosemenandwomenstillsittingwho

hadnotyetparticipatedinthiscircustoriseandtakepart.Andashenoticed

thatthewhitelampsspoiledtheromantic,dreamyatmosphere,hesetabout,

withthattypicalAmericaneleganceandlevity,dimmingthemonebyone,all

thewhilebeingcarefulnottointerferewiththedance,orbumpintoanycouples

dancingonthedancefloor.Andtheplacereallydidappeartobecomemore

romanticandpassionate.Thenheadvancedtothegramophonetochooseasong

thatwould

befit

this

atmosphere

and

encourage

the

males

and

the

females

who

werestillseatedtoparticipate.

AndtheFatherchose.HechoseafamousAmericansongcalledButBaby,Its

ColdOutside,whichiscomposedofadialoguebetweenaboyandagirl

returningfromtheireveningdate.Theboytookthegirltohishomeandkepther

fromleaving.Sheentreatedhimtoletherreturnhome,foritwasgettinglate,


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15/21

ButIreturntoEgypt,andIfindthosewhospeakorwriteaboutthechurchin

America,eveniftheyhavenotseenAmericaforamoment,anditsrolein

societalreform,anditsactivitiesinpurifyingtheheartandedifyingthesoul.

ButwhatcanIsay?Strangethingscanhappeninthisworld!ForGodhascreated

allkindsofpeopleandthings.

SexualPrimitivenessinAmerica

TheAmericanisveryprimitiveinhissexuallife,andinhismaritalandfamilial

relationships.ForduringmystudiesoftheHolyBibleIhavecomeacrossaverse

intheOldTestamentthatdealswithGodscreationofmanforthefirsttimeand

itsays:MalesandFemalesHecreatedthem.Icameacrossthisversemany

times,butitneverheldformesonudeandlucidameaningasitdidduringmy

timein

America.

SexandDecadence

Humansocietyhaslongstruggledtobuildandforgesexualmores.Ithas

regulatedtheserelations,emotions,andfeelings,andstruggledagainstthe

coarsenessofsensationandthegloominessofnaturalimpulse,inordertolet

genuinerelationshipsflyabout,andfreeranginglongingssoarhighunfettered,

alongwithallthestrongtiesaroundtheserelationships,inthefeelingsof

individuals,

in

the

life

of

the

family,

and

in

society

at

large.

.

.

.

ThisstrugglewasisolatedfromlifeinAmericaatonce,anditrosedevoidand

destitutefromeverybeautification:(malesandfemales)astheywerecreatedthe

firsttime.Bodytobody,andfemaletomale.Onthebasisofbodilyneedsand

motives,relationshipsarebasedandtiesareestablished.Andfromthemstretch

therulesofbehavior,themoresofsociety,andthetiesoffamiliesand

individuals.

Withthetemptationofthebodyalone,devoidofanycover,strippedofall

modesty,girls

meet

boys,

and

from

the

strength

of

the

body

and

its

muscles

the

boyobtainsthesubmissionofthegirl.Andthehusbandobtainshisrights,and

thoserightsdisappearcompletelythedaythatthehusbandfailstoperformfor

onereasonoranother.


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TheAppearanceoftheAmericanTemptress

TheAmericangirliswellacquaintedwithherbodysseductivecapacity.She

knowsitliesintheface,andinexpressiveeyes,andthirstylips.Sheknows

seductivenessliesintheroundbreasts,thefullbuttocks,andintheshapely

thighs,sleeklegsandsheshowsallthisanddoesnothideit.Sheknowsitliesin

clothes:inbrightcolorsthatawakenprimalsensations,andindesignsthatreveal

thetemptationsofthebodyandinAmericangirlsthesearesometimeslive,

screamingtemptations!Thensheaddstoallthisthefetchinglaugh,thenaked

looks,andtheboldmoves,andshedoesnotignorethisforonemomentorforget

it!

TheAmericanDreamBoy

TheAmerican

boy

knows

well

that

the

wide,

strapping

chest

is

the

lure

that

cannotbedeniedbyanygirl,andthatherdreamsdonotfalluponanyoneas

muchastheyfalluponthecowboys.Ayoungnurseinahospitaltoldmevery

frankly,Iwantnothinginthemanofmydreamsbuttwostrongarmshecan

reallysqueezemewith!AndLookmagazineranasurveyofseveralgirlsof

differentagesandlevelsofeducationandclassesaroundwhatitcalledox

musclesandtheoverwhelmingmajoritydeclaredtheiropenattractionforboys

withoxmuscles!

Sex

and

the

Materialism

of

Life

in

America

Thereisnodoubtthatthisfascinationwithphysicalstrengthisindicativeofthe

vitalityofthisnationanditssensuality.Ifthisfascinationweretamedand

sublimated,itcouldleadtothecreationofagreatartthatwouldremovethe

gloominessoflifeandinfusethehumanspiritwithfragrance,andbindthesexes

withtieshigherandmorebeautifulthanthetiesofthirstybodies,burning

passions,andeyepoppingsexthatbeckonsthroughthelimbs,andisembodied

inmotionsandgestures.ButthenatureoflifeinAmerica,andthecircumstance

thatconditionedtheformationoftheAmericanpeople,doesnothelpwithanyof

this,instead

it

resists

and

fights

it.

TheMatterofSexisBiologicalinAmerica

Thewordbashfulhasbecomeadirty,disparagingwordinAmerica.For

Americanssexualrelationshavealwaysconformedtothelawsofthejungle.

SomeAmericansphilosophizeaboutit,suchasoneofthegirlsintheuniversity


17/21

whooncetoldme:Thematterofsexisnotamoralmatteratall.Itisbuta

questionofbiology,andwhenwelookatitfromthisangleitbecomesclearthat

theuseofwordslikemoralandimmoral,goodandbad,areirrelevant.Itmay

appearthatAmericansarenotonlystrange,butamusing.Someofthemexcuse

themselvesandjustifyitasonedoctoralstudentdid:Wehereareoccupiedwith

work,andwedonotwishtobehinderedfromit,andwedonothavetimeto

investinfeelings.Moreover,bookstryournerves,sowewishtodoawaywith

thisworrytofreeourselvesforworkwithrelaxednerves!

TheAmericansNerves

Ididnotwishtocommentonthesestatementsatthetime,formyconcernwas

withknowinghowtheythoughtaboutthematter.Butthereisnothingin

Americathatindicatesrelaxednerves,despiteeveryeasymeansoflife,andallits

guaranteedassurances,

and

every

ease

and

means

of

expending

extra

energy.

TheAmericansAreFreeofHumanity

Someofthemcallthisfreedomfromhypocrisyandfacingthetruth,butthereisa

fundamentaldifferencebetweenfreedomfromhypocrisyandfreedomfromthe

componentsofhumanitythatseparatemanfromanimals.Humanityinitslong

historywasnotunawarethatsexualdesiresarenormalandtrue,butit,

consciouslyorunconsciously,struggledtocontrolthem,escapingitsslaveryand

distancing

themselves

from

its

primitive

levels.

Yes,itisaneed,sowhydoeshumanityshyawayfromrealizingitsneed?

Becauseitfeelsinherentlythatcontrollingsuchdesiresistestamenttofreedom

fromslaveryandtogoingbeyondthefirstrungsofhumanitysevolution,and

thatareturntothefreedomofthejungleisagrippingslaveryandarelapseto

thefirstprimitivelevels.

ThirdEpisode

ArtisticPrimitivenessinAmerica

TheAmericanisprimitiveinhisartistictastes,whetherinhisjudgmentofartor

hisownartisticworks.Jazzmusicishismusicofchoice.Itisthismusicthatthe


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savagebushmencreatedtosatisfytheirprimitivedesires,andtheirdesirefor

noiseontheonehand,andtheabundanceofanimalnoisesontheother.The

Americansenjoymentofjazzdoesnotfullybeginuntilhecouplesitwith

singinglikecrudescreaming.Andthelouderthenoiseofthevoicesand

instruments,untilitringsintheearstoanunbearabledegree,thegreaterthe

appreciationofthelisteners.Thevoicesofappreciationareraised,andpalmsare

raisedincontinuousclappingthatcoulddeafenears.

AmericansandtheOpera

ButtheAmericanpeopleenjoytheopera,areattractedtothesymphony,crowd

theballet,andwatchclassictheatricalperformancestotheextentthatonemight

notfindaspareseat.Ithappensthatsometimesyoumaynotfindaplaceunless

youreserveitdaysinadvance,payinghighpricesfortheseshows.

FilmsandMoreFilms

Thecinemaistheartofthemasses,foritistheartofskill,polish,craft,and

accuracy.Itisbyitsnaturemoredependentuponskillthanitisuponartistic

spirit,youmaybeamazedattheAmericangeniusinit.DespitethistheEnglish,

French,Russian,andItalianfilmsremainmoreelegantthanAmericanfilms,

eventhoughtheyarelessskillfullycrafted.

The

great

majority

of

American

films

clearly

possess

simplistic

story

lines

and

primitiveemotions.Theyaregenerallypolicefilmsandcowboyfilms.Elevated,

brilliantfilmslikeGonewiththeWind,WutheringHeights,Singing

Bernadette,andsoon,areexceptionalinrelationtotherestofAmerican

production,andwhatisseenofAmericanfilmsinEgyptortheArabcountries

doesnotillustratethisproportion,becausemostofthemarefromthefinest,

rarestmoviesofAmerica.ThosewhovisitthetheaterinAmericaunderstandthis

smallproportionofqualityfilms.

NaturalSceneryinAmericanArt

ThereisanotherartinwhichtheAmericanshavedistinguishedthemselves,forit

ismoreamatterofskillinproductionthanofauthentic,elevatedart:itistheart

ofrepresentingnaturalscenerywithcolors,asifitwereanaccurate,true

photograph.Itisinthemuseumsofmarineandlandbiology,creaturesortheir

preservedbodiesaredisplayedintheirnaturalhabitatsasiftheywerereal,and


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theartistsbrilliantportrayalofthesehabitats,combinedwithartisticdesignof

thescenes,surpassesthelimitsofamazement.

PrimitivenessinTastesandPreferences

Nowweleavetheseelevatedlevelsofartandfeelingstodescendtothecolorsof

clothingandthetasteoffood.

TheClothesoftheAmericans

Primitivenessoftastescannotbeillustratedmoreclearlythaninthesescreaming,

loudcolors,andelaboratelargepatterns,alionoratigerleapingonthechest,an

elephantorwildoxprostratingontheback,anakedgirlstretchedonanecktie

fromtoptobottom,orapalmtreethatclimbsupitfrombottomtotop.

Sooftenourcommentatorsdospeakofholidayclothinginthevillages,orthe

weddingdressesinthevillage,withtheirgarish,primitivecolorsthatdonot

matchexceptforthefactthattheyarethemostexplosiveofcolors.Iwishthese

commentatorscouldseetheshirtsoftheboysinAmerica,letalonetheclothesof

thegirls!Andaslongascommentatorsspeakoftattoosonthegypsies,orin

CentralAfrica,IwishtheycouldseethearmsoftheAmericanyouthsandtheir

chestsandbacks,defiledwithgreenlines,snakesandserpents,nakedgirls,and

treesandjungles.RememberthisishappeninginmodernAmerica,intheNew

World,

in

the

new

universe.

TheFoodoftheAmericans

Asfortheirfood,thattooisverystrange.Youwillattractattention,andcause

disbelief,ifyourequestanothercubeofsugarforthecupofcoffeeorteathatyou

drinkinAmerica.Sugarisreservedforpicklesandsalads,whilesalt,mygood

sir,issavedforapplesandwatermelons.

Onyourplateyouwillfindcombinedapieceofsaltedmeat,someboiledcorn,

someboiled

peas,

and

some

sweet

jam.

And

on

top

of

all

this

is

what

Americans

callgravy,whichiscomposedsometimesoffat,vinegar,flour,broth,apples,salt

andpepper,andsugar,andwater.


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SayyidQutbMakesFunoftheAmericans

WewereatthetableinoneofthecafeteriasoftheUniversity,whenIsawsome

Americansputtingsaltontheirwatermelon.AndIwaspreparedtoseethese

strangefadsandalsotoplayjokesonthemfromtimetotime.AndIsaid,faking

innocence,Iseeyousprinklingsaltonthewatermelon.Oneofthemsaid,Yes!

DontyoudothesameinEgypt?Isaid,No!Wesprinklepepper!Asurprised

andcuriousgirlsaid,Howwouldthattaste?Isaid,Youcantryforyourself!

Shetasteditandsaidapprovingly,Itstasty!andsodidalltheothers.

Onanotherdayinwhichwatermelonwasserved,andmostofthesamepeople

wereatthetable,IsaidSomeofusinEgyptusesugarattimesinsteadof

pepper.Oneofthemtrieditandsaid,Howtasty!andsodidalltheothers.

TheAmerican

Haircut

Insummary,anythingthatrequiresatouchofeleganceisnotfortheAmerican,

evenhaircuts!FortherewasnotoneinstanceinwhichIhadahaircuttherewhen

Ididnotreturnhometoevenwithmyownhandswhatthebarberhadwrought,

andfixwhatthebarberhadruinedwithhisawfultaste.

AmericasRoleintheWorld

America

has

a

principal

role

in

this

world,

in

the

realm

of

practical

matters

and

scientificresearch,andinthefieldoforganization,improvement,production,

andmanagement.AllthatrequiresmindpowerandmusclearewhereAmerican

geniusshines,andallthatrequiresspiritandemotionarewhereAmerican

naivetandprimitivenessbecomeapparent.

ForhumanitytobeabletobenefitfromAmericangeniustheymustaddgreat

strengthtotheAmericanstrength.Buthumanitymakesthegravestoferrorsand

riskslosingitsaccountofmorals,ifitmakesAmericaitsexampleinfeelingsand

manners.

OftheVirtuesofAmerica

AllthisdoesnotmeanthatAmericansareanationdevoidofvirtue,orelse,what

wouldhaveenabledthemtolive?Rather,itmeansthatAmericasvirtuesarethe

virtuesofproductionandorganization,andnotthoseofhumanandsocial


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morals.Americasarethevirtuesofthebrainandthehand,andnotthoseoftaste

andsensibility.

TranslatedbyTarekMasoudandAmmarFakeeh

Takenfrom:AmericainanArabMirror:ImagesofAmericainArabicTravelLiterature.

ashf ul Shubuhat Publications

The America I Have Seen

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