An unlikely first lady: Egypt president’s wife rejects title

[Roasted Cashew]

CAIRO: Naglaa Ali Mahmoud wears an Islamic head covering that drapes down to her knees, did not attend college and never took her husband's last name, because that is a Western convention that few Egyptians follow. She also refuses the title of first lady, in favour of simply Um Ahmed, a nickname that identifies her as the mother of Ahmed, her eldest son.

Egypt has a new leader, Mohamed Morsi, the first president to hail from the Muslim Brotherhood. And it also has Mahmoud, 50, whose profile is so ordinary by contemporary Egyptian standards as to make her elevation extraordinary.

With her image as a traditionalist everywoman, Mahmoud symbolizes the dividing line in the culture war that has made unity an elusive goal since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak. For some, she represents the democratic change that the revolution promised. But to some in the westernized elite, she stands for a backwardness and provincialism that they fear from the Islamists of the Muslim Brotherhood.

"I can't call her a first lady under any circumstances ," said Ahmed Salah, 29, a banker. "She can't be an image for the 'ladies' of Egypt."

Her image has become the subject of a rancorous debate on websites and in newspapers. A column in the newspaper El Fagr asked: How could she receive world leaders and still adhere to her traditional Islamic standards of modesty?

However, Dalia Saber an engineering lecturer, said, "She looks like my mother, she looks like my husband's mother, she probably looks like your mother." For her, Morsi and Mahmoud were what the Arab Spring was all about: regular people in power.

Source:
Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/w...w/14484738.cms

Canada.com
http://www.canada.com/life/Egyptian+...839/story.html



The title first lady is absurd because if you have a female president her husband will not be called First Man. This American "innovation" is derogatory towards women and I am happy that Egypt has done away with it.

[Muhammad]

:salamext:

But to some in the westernized elite, she stands for a backwardness and provincialism that they fear from the Islamists of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Someone who is modest and rejects fancy titles is now to be feared? Rather we see those that relish in fame and power demonstrate the greatest backwardness. It reminds me of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) who was the Messenger of Allaah and the leader of the Muslims, and yet he lived such a simple and austere life that those who came to visit him were surprised at his simplicity.

May Allaah (swt) keep Umm Ahmed steadfast and guide her and her husband, Aameen.

...Everyone should realize that a successful Egyptian model means success for all Muslims around the world. It will open the doors to real change in all Arab and Muslim countries. We also appeal to Muslims outside of Egypt to support their brothers in Egypt in this regards. There are many ways to support them which cannot be covered in this short article.

We advise the new Egyptian government to start a new page in Egypt’s history and to avoid any act of revenge against parties or individuals, including those who used to persecute them. Their model should be our Prophet (peace be upon him); he pardoned all the people of Quraish when assuming overarching leadership.

The new Egyptian government should not repeat the momentous mistakes of the Sudanese leadership (who were also part of the Brotherhood). The Sudanese government over-compromised in regards to Islamic laws out of fear of external powers and anti-Islamic groups within Sudan. We have seen what they achieved after all of their compromise; they neither pleased their Lord nor the powers. Instead they lost almost one third of Sudan as well as destroying the economy. They forgot the fundamental divine law:

“Whoever has the Hereafter as his main concern, Allah will fill his heart with a feeling of richness and independence; he will be focused and feel content, and this world will come to him in spite of it. Whoever has this world as his main concern, Allah will cause him to feel constant fear of poverty; he will be distracted and unfocused, and he will have nothing of this world except what was already predestined for him.”[5]

We should all remember the main divine code regarding establishing Islam on earth:

“Allah has promised those who have believed amongst you and performed righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them [therein] their religion which He has preferred for them and that He will surely substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me, not associating anything with Me. But whoever disbelieves after that - then those are the defiantly disobedient.”[6]

http://www.islam21c.com/politics/542...mohammed-morsi

[Roasted Cashew]

May Allaah (swt) keep Umm Ahmed steadfast and guide her and her husband, Aameen.

:amin:

[Muhaba]

how can they know without giving her a chance? judging a book by the cover? give her a chance & she may prove herself better than all the last ladies of the world.

"I can't call her a first lady under any circumstances ," said Ahmed Salah, 29, a banker. "She can't be an image for the 'ladies' of Egypt."

Egypt has many Muslim women who cover. she's "an image" for those ladies. she may not be an image for the uncovered ladies of egypt but then western style first ladies aren't an image for hijabi women either.

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[جوري]

Someone who is modest and rejects fancy titles is now to be feared? Rather we see those that relish in fame and power demonstrate the greatest backwardness. It reminds me of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) who was the Messenger of Allaah and the leader of the Muslims, and yet he lived such a simple and austere life that those who came to visit him were surprised at his simplicity.

May Allaah (swt) keep Umm Ahmed steadfast and guide her and her husband, Aameen.

Ameen... Erdogan's wife also sports a veil.. is it something to be ashamed of now? Sob7an Allah.. Also she should have no role in politics... Egyptians despised Jihan and Suzanne the two previous 'first ladies' with passion. She should concern herself with charity and projects for women and children but completely stay in the background and completely away from politics.. people really have had it with these greedy harpies and want someone to do well for Egypt not well for Israel, America his wife kids and yes men in his circle.. enough already.

[جوري]

btw your article is wrong, according to Wiki Arabic she studied in los Angeles like her husband and worked as a translator
حياتها

ولدت في حي عين شمس بالقاهرة وحصلت على الثانوية العامة، ودرست في لوس أنجلوس بالولايات المتحدة في بيت الطالب المسلم كمترجمة فورية للأمريكيات اللاتي أشهرن إسلامهن، وعملت مترجمة في المركز الاسلامي بكالفورنيا بالولايات المتحدة. وكانت أحد الأعضاء الفاعلين في تنظيم الإخوان المسلمين^[1].
هي ابنة خال الرئيس المصري الدكتور محمد مرسي وتزوجت منه عام 1979 ولديها أربعة أولاد وفتاة هم: أحمد وشيماء وأسامة وعمر وعبد الله ^{[2] [3]}.
http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%86%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A1_%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85% D9%88%D8%AF

I knew there was something off frankly as one thing Egyptians prize in their poverty and that's their education.
I guess when someone wants to paint somebody as all that is awful and backwards, a veil has to be on their head and an education stripped from their mind.

[Aprender]

She should concern herself with charity and projects for women and children but completely stay in the background and completely away from politics..

Yes. This. This exactly.

[Santoku]

CAIRO: Naglaa Ali Mahmoud wears an Islamic head covering that drapes down to her knees, did not attend college and never took her husband's last name, because that is a Western convention that few Egyptians follow. She also refuses the title of first lady, in favour of simply Um Ahmed, a nickname that identifies her as the mother of Ahmed, her eldest son.

Egypt has a new leader, Mohamed Morsi, the first president to hail from the Muslim Brotherhood. And it also has Mahmoud, 50, whose profile is so ordinary by contemporary Egyptian standards as to make her elevation extraordinary.

With her image as a traditionalist everywoman, Mahmoud symbolizes the dividing line in the culture war that has made unity an elusive goal since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak. For some, she represents the democratic change that the revolution promised. But to some in the westernized elite, she stands for a backwardness and provincialism that they fear from the Islamists of the Muslim Brotherhood.

"I can't call her a first lady under any circumstances ," said Ahmed Salah, 29, a banker. "She can't be an image for the 'ladies' of Egypt."

Her image has become the subject of a rancorous debate on websites and in newspapers. A column in the newspaper El Fagr asked: How could she receive world leaders and still adhere to her traditional Islamic standards of modesty?

However, Dalia Saber an engineering lecturer, said, "She looks like my mother, she looks like my husband's mother, she probably looks like your mother." For her, Morsi and Mahmoud were what the Arab Spring was all about: regular people in power.

Source:
Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/w...w/14484738.cms

Canada.com
http://www.canada.com/life/Egyptian+...839/story.html



The title first lady is absurd because if you have a female president her husband will not be called First Man. This American "innovation" is derogatory towards women and I am happy that Egypt has done away with it.

Good for her, assuming this is done for the right reasons.

[Kyle]

Good, "First Lady" is biddah!!! Simple enough!

[Pygoscelis]

I always thought it was weird to be calling somebody "First Lady". I think it is something that happens when your country lacks a figurehead and your leader becomes that celebrity role. I couldn't tell you if the UK's prime minister is married. I don't even know the name of my own prime minister's wife. But I do know all about the US's first ladies and even the wives (and husbands) of those who run for the office.

[Abdul-Raouf]

It reminds me of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) who was the Messenger of Allaah and the leader of the Muslims, and yet he lived such a simple and austere life that those who came to visit him were surprised at his simplicity.

Money/Wealth - when it is more than needed - It troubles.

I want to follow him... may Allah make it easy.. InshaAllah

[جوري]

I am afraid they'll try to assassinate him.. He's not president material in that way you know.. I don't know how to explain it.. he's a good guy but he's not tough and there are really evil people in Egypt, the entire old regime is still there doing their thing, not to mention the rumor mill against this guy and his family..
I keep making du3a that Allah swt make him steadfast, firm and able to fulfill immediate things at least but I am afraid for him & Egypt in the upcoming few months, especially with that military council which is really akin to the Alwaites of Syria.. ruthless angry pigs who exercise their might on civilians instead of Israel their natural enemy & it is because they themselves are Zionists...

May Allah swt save us.. surely these are very trying times for practicing Muslims..

[MysticSoumeya]

Let's just hope that the new president will try to end up the plight and harrassment many Egyptian women are enduring.