Do you see any benefit for the Salafi movement specifically in Jordan, now that the government has announced easing of certain matters or democracy, as they call it?

The questioner: His EminenceThe Shaykh : Do you see any benefit for the Salafi movement specifically in Jordan, now that the government has announced easing of certain matters or democracy, as they call it, especially given that there is some restriction on them 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 is painful to all the Salafis: 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 is overwhelmingly composed of people who are religious in Islam with a Salafi orientation. Otherwise, things will remain as they were, because those who steer the ship of state are on the same methodology as before these elections. It is 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 "Abd al-Aziz al-Khayyat." He used to harass the imams of the mosques and the Islamic callers with severe harassment, and by virtue of his position, he imposed on them not to proclaim the truth and to respond to some political desires. Then another person succeeded him, and he is now under trial, and we hope that he will be better than his predecessor. This is all I have.

The questioner : The Islamic parties say that they did not enter the elections except to try to correct some of the wrong situations?

The Shaykh : They cannot do that. And can the shadow be straight while the stick is crooked?