Do you see any benefit in the Salafi movement, particularly in Jordan, when the government announced the easing of certain matters or democracy?
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The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : Do you see any benefit in the Salafi movement, particularly in Jordan, when the government announced the easing of certain matters or democracy—as they call it—especially given that there is some restriction on it there?
The Shaykh : Up until the day I was there before this trip of mine, I did not see any difference between the state of the da'wah (calling to Islam) and what it might become after these elections. In fact, what happened caused pain to all the Salafis when some of the ministers who were known for opposing the Salafi da'wah since it began to spread in Jordan took over some of the ministries. This means that there is nothing new unless the government, in which the overwhelming majority of the people are religious in Islam with a Salafi orientation, is established; otherwise, matters will remain as they were, because those who steer the ship of state are on the same methodology as before these elections. It is well known to all Muslims, whether they are Salafis or not, that the Ministry of Awqaf (Endowments) in the previous era was one of the worst ministries under the presidency of that man known as Abdul Aziz al-Khayyat. He used to harass the imams of the mosques and the Islamic preachers severely, and by virtue of his position, he forced them not to display the truth and to respond to some political desires. He was succeeded by another person who is now under trial, and we hope he will be better than his predecessor. This is all I have.
The Shaykh : Up until the day I was there before this trip of mine, I did not see any difference between the state of the da'wah (calling to Islam) and what it might become after these elections. In fact, what happened caused pain to all the Salafis when some of the ministers who were known for opposing the Salafi da'wah since it began to spread in Jordan took over some of the ministries. This means that there is nothing new unless the government, in which the overwhelming majority of the people are religious in Islam with a Salafi orientation, is established; otherwise, matters will remain as they were, because those who steer the ship of state are on the same methodology as before these elections. It is well known to all Muslims, whether they are Salafis or not, that the Ministry of Awqaf (Endowments) in the previous era was one of the worst ministries under the presidency of that man known as Abdul Aziz al-Khayyat. He used to harass the imams of the mosques and the Islamic preachers severely, and by virtue of his position, he forced them not to display the truth and to respond to some political desires. He was succeeded by another person who is now under trial, and we hope he will be better than his predecessor. This is all I have.