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E L I T E 9

Al-Maqrizi’s Rescue and

Uncovering the Corona Plight

BY: Prof. Dr, Mohamed Soffar , professor OF political science

TRANSLATED BY: Nadine Hesham
The attentive reader – in Straussian terms – can extract abstract
The outbreak of the coronavirus, with the ensuing panic and havoc
patterns of how the ruling authorities in Egypt, throughout the
all around the world, serves to remind of the devastating crises
different ages, dealt with such crises and catastrophes, basing
elaborated upon by Taqi al-Din al-Maqrizi in his short treatise
this abstraction on accounts of humorous yet tragic incidents. In
‘The Rescue of the Nation Through Plight Eradication’ (Eghathatt
the first scenario, the ruling government might not interfere at
Al Omma be Kashf Al Ghomma). The death toll described by this
all, turning a blind eye to the situation and propelling a severe
historian surged to the extent that burials became difficult and
crisis, or matters might solve themselves by the good will of
corpses were left lying in the fields, houses, streets and sidewalks;
God. In another case, the government might interfere in a much
creating a rotten scent and deserted cities. Accordingly, al-
positive way by addressing the roots of the crisis in terms of
Maqrizi, in his description of this ravaging phenomenon, opted for
imposing its control over markets, setting prices and quantities
an Arabic term (the two deaths) that indicates more numerous and
and punishing exploiters. In this way, it can stop the
frequent death than usual. Although he mentions a lot of details
deterioration or at least remedy the destruction. In the third
about the atrocities committed during these crises, his thesis is
scenario, the government might interfere in a negative way by
much simpler: it tackles the relationship between natural factors
addressing the symptoms and not actually solving the crisis
(Nile shortage, wind, dust, plagues and diseases) and social
itself. This is done by reframing the situation as an issue of
catastrophes which are accompanied by forms of destruction of
giving out charity to the poor and needy, which is an illusion
life (rising prices, disappearing commodities, cultivation loss,
intended to divert attention from the government’s
famine, rupture of daily life, emigration and desertion) as an
responsibility.
indirect result.

Against the backdrop of this theoretical framework presented
The effect of natural causes reaches the human domain
by al-Maqrizi, the question arises of what to make of the current
(psychological, social and historical) through a two-sided gate:
pattern of government response to the corona ordeal. Al-
economic corruption (market manipulation of prices and quantities
Maqrizi gives us a true classification of the historical positions
of goods and food) and political decay (aggravated political
of governments towards crises of all times, a classification that
struggle and ruler’s inability to perform state functions).
would be extremely useful in evaluating the current measures
This means that destruction of life is not inevitable; the gate can
being taken. However, it is difficult to do this evaluation right
be sealed by good measures and good governance, which will
now due to several factors, such as the general and not
either preempt the catastrophe and prevent it, or stop it from
unprecedented bureaucratic confusion in dealing with
worsening, or reverse its course and remedy it. In other words, al-
emergencies, as well as the overwhelming and reckless
Maqrizi places a large share of responsibility on the human factor,
disregard for the seriousness of the virus and its ramifications
both economically and politically, whether in initiating or
by the people. In addition to the sea of rumors and
rectifying these catastrophes. There are also pieces of evidence in
disinformation about the situation domestically and
the text that al-Maqrizi was referring to in the Quranic tale of
internationally, as well as the mocking commentaries and
Joseph’s crisis management – through what is known as the
photoshopped pictures of the virus, people, officials and pretty
strategic reserves policy – as the ideal case of good governance.
much everything and anything.
issue 18, April 2020 #Stay_at_home