Because of this article, my half brother Abdellateef Sa’ed and others have been arrested since May 28th. This article was published in Arabic on May 4, 2007 to announce our first project of publishing all my writings to be available for free on our site. The Egyptian regime has arrested Abdellateef and his friends to stop this peaceful intellectual project.
Please look at the high light lines.
Ahmed Subhy Mansour





In the name of God the Most Merciful and Most Companionate

Dr. Ahmad Sobhy Mansour

The Essence of Life For Free

Thirty Years of Tormenting Research

1. As if they were secret documents and they were barely allowed to be seen. Though, they were in display for the researchers to use. I am talking about those who restricted the access to the manuscripts in the Egyptian National Library. That was when it was moved to the new building on the Nile Cornish in Cairo in the mid-seventies. I used to spend most of my time searching through the Mamluk Era manuscripts collecting the material for the Doctorate: The effect of Mysticism in the Mamluk Era. Finding the right manuscript after great effort was an opportunity to be utilized before the manuscript Section closes at 1:00 PM. In the beginning, photocopying was forbidden, and then it was allowed after routine complicated procedure that consumed a lot of time. So, it was imperative to copy everything related to the Mamluk life and mysticism by hand. In addition to the manuscripts, other documents like history sources of mysticism original and parts printed and authenticated needed to be copied. That was the first stage in research: the collection of the scientific material.
2. After the collection of the research material, it would be organized and put in the order of its importance to the research. Some of it go into the skeleton and the essence of the research, others are put into a margin. Some of the material would be used as a standby for later use, others would be an index for the research. Some of this stuff might not be needed immediately but useful and being shelved for future use. With organizing the information based on its degree of importance, a lot of research material was compiled to become the source for future research projects. This compilation after the Doctorate thesis was kept in a large suitcase as a witness to the huge effort at the time of the Doctorate thesis preparations.
3. In 1977 I presented my Doctorate thesis after 18 months from the application date. The thesis was 1500 pages dealing with the effect of Mysticism of belief, thoughts, politics and civilization in the Mamluk era. This thesis was based on the Holy Qur’an. This action did not set well with the Clergy and the thesis discussion and evaluation were delayed for three years. Then we arrived at a compromise to omit some parts after my insistence not to change what I wrote. I omitted almost two thirds of the thesis. Then it was approved and passed with first class honor in October 21, 1980. I was later promoted to a professor in the Islamic History department in the Faculty of Arabic language at Al-Azhar in Cairo. To face the Clergy of Al-Azhar, it was imperative to stick to the Holy Qur’an. So, in 1977 I started reading Qur’an again verse by verse and studying it very thoroughly. I spent two years solely engaged in this study. After I finished, I thanked Almighty God believing more than before that this Book is from Him and I was a bit slacking in my thesis and easy on Al-Azhar Clergy and I should have been stricter in delivering the truth. Also, I discovered new knowledge in Qur’an and ideas nobody else said anything about. I converted all these into new book projects and new research ideas. Some of these had been published and others are waiting. All what I published and what I am going to publish is the resultant of this Quranic study during 1977 and 1978.
4. I diverted my attention to Sunnah, prophet heritage, after the Mysticism. Manuscripts were not needed due to the fact that the Sunnah resources were abundant and available including the Narrations, Hadith, and the sources from the Abbasid era. However, the critique aspect of it was absent. A whole tormenting process started for books projects about Sunni heritage, Umayyad, Abbasid and Fatimed history. This collection benefited me in 1985 in authoring five books all at once and I made them curriculum texts on my students. This action caused the second persecution at Al-Azhar. During those two years of persecution, I was available for research, authoring and oration in the mosques. Consequently, the amount of information and tens of books, fully and half completed, was inflated.
5. At the end of 1987 I was sent to prison. When I came out, I decided to immigrate. I took with me all my unpublished papers and writings in two big cases and left to America in January 1988. I was a guest of Rashad Khalifa, who utilized my hardship and declared himself a messenger of God. He asked me to support him. I left him and escaped from his mosque. I took all my writings and wandered from one place to another. I returned to Egypt in October 1988 to find myself under arrest at the airport. I spent the worst two nights in my life in the State security prison in (Lathoghly). I was placed in a dark tight room that does not fit for more than twenty people. However, it was crowded with multiples of that number. I found myself standing on one foot so as not to step on somebody else’s head or face of those I could not see or they could not see me. However, those people were better off than me. At least they found some room to sit. Meanwhile a team of officers from State Security was examining my papers. I was interrogated by (my officer) and after that he told me while bidding me farewell: I did not know you were a scenarist. We did not confiscate your papers and books. These were all what you have. I told him these are the “buildings” I erected. But my colleagues in the University erected buildings in Nassr City. He said please do not deny (Sunnah) and do not attack Al-Azhar Clergy. Be kind to yourself and start new comfortable life.
6. Of course, I did not follow his advice. I returned home and started organizing my papers. Each subject was placed in a large envelope. These envelopes contain smaller envelopes containing the sections and topics of each research. Each smaller envelope contains the material. Each envelope contains the details of it written on it so I could arrive at any information very easily whether it was fro Qur’an, heritage or history. From 1989 to 2001, I devoted my time for research, seminars and striving in the field of human rights and enlightenment. Each day passed, reading got more and more involved and the volume of research and information got inflated together with the Quranic and heritage discoveries. Also, this lead to increase in the volume of completed and half completed books. I used to refer to this wealth of information whenever I was asked to write a book related to Qur’an or Heritage. All done in a record time. Some of these books I wrote fast based on this wealth of information: All the ten books I published at Al-Azhar such as: Assayed Al-Badawi, Qur’an Only, Prayers in Qur’an (Part One), The Sinful Moslem, The Quranic Anecdotes, The realities of Death in Qur’an…etc. In addition to 500 articles published in the Egyptian and Arab Press. However, those that have not been published are even more.

30 Years of Tormenting Publication in Egypt

Before I immigrated to America, I shouldered my reformed thinking project in Egypt and being chased by the Government, Al-Azhar and the Extremists. Suffering was exacerbated by poverty since it was very difficult to make living as a writer only. Research writing was not enough to be devoted for. Writing about entertainment was not enough to make living, so you can imagine writing about something painful to the people and lighting the wick under them to wake them up. The latter will harvest curses only and requested by the very few. Even though, they would not buy anything. So, most of what I published were on my own expense and from my family’s. The publishing houses that reluctantly accepted to publish for me paid me nothing worth mentioning.
I was forced to change course and write about Drama so I could finance my other writings. I was successful in selling a film scenario to Oxeer Company. The film was never produced due to inappropriate circumstances. The TV censorship refused several productions. With the aid of Mr. Wahid Hamid, I produced ten episodes from the series (Ibn Eyas Courts). These series went through the Moslem History. I wrote it under my son’s name (Mohammad Ahmad). The TV censorship liked it and asked to expedite the rest of the thirty episodes to be completed before Ramadan. However, once they knew I was the real author, they prohibited me from entering the TV building and referred me to the State Security to interrogate me. Even though, I went ahead against all odds and published a lot. However, circumstances were controlling the quality and the quantity of what I write and publish. Due to lack of resources and the confiscation, I was successful in publishing 23 books. They are several others not published. Even the ones that escaped confiscation, it became difficult to obtain after they vanished from the markets. Some of the books I published did not deliver my full view in fear of repercussions. The publishers used to dictate to what I should omit since they became equally responsible about the contents. I did not find the right time to execute all what I planned for in my projects. Nor only because of security chasing and following and not feeling safe, but also I spent most of my time trying to make living from writing. Every time I was a bout to conclude a book, an opportunity appeared for a paid article or research. I diverted my attention to it to make living and be self-sufficient.
Based on that, the material I collected for the books and researches could be categorized into two areas:
1. Incomplete projects and researches. These I have neither the time nor the energy to complete alone. It needs partners for help. I am very willing to concede these for whom they have the ability to proceed with them. This is the next project (The research Projects in Qur’an and heritage) and I shall talk about it in a future article.
2. Completed projects, published and unpublished. Some of them were almost done except they require minimal effort to complete. These are publishable and our topic today.

Project of Publication

Now, thank God, I was liberated from Al-Azhar dominance and the State Security. I became able to write whatever I want and fear none but the Almighty God. It is now with the Internet and freedom, the opportunity to publish my work on Ahl-Al-Qur’an website for free has arrived. It was essential to re-write this work on the Computer so as to be published on the Internet. Now for almost a year, a team from Ahl-Al-Qur’an is working hard to re-write all what was published and not published of my work. Work is continuing and there is enough material to start the project of publication, i.e. publishing one book or research bi-weekly.
Thanks to Mr. Abdul-latif Saeed, the head of the publishing team, few of my works were published on Ahl-Al-Qur’an website (e.g. The Qur’an and only, The term of rescinding, No Omitted and No Eraser in Qur’an, Interpretation, The Narration in Hadith, The Tormenting of Grave and the Bald Snake, and tens of other writings).
This is the opportunity to publish all my work and place it on Ahl-Al-Qur’an website to be available for everyone to read, translate and paper publishing. Every publishing house has the right to translate and publish my work for five years without monopoly. I am hoping, God willing, t publish the book (The Sinful Moslem) on the website by May 1, 2007., then the second book (The freedom of Opinion between Islam and Moslems) by May 15, 2007, (The rights of child in Qur’an and the Moslems’ Civilization) by June 1, 2007, (The effect of Tribal Prejudice in Umayyad State), (Principles of Historical Research), (Islamic Democracy), (The philosophy of Quranic Legislation) and (Mohammad Abdo School of Enlightenment between Egypt and Tunisia). The publication will continue by weekly.

This is some idea about the writings that will appear, God Willing, later on the website bi-weekly starting from May 1, 2007:

First List: researches and Books less than 100 pages:

1. The Sinful Moslem: Published in 1987. It was confiscated and I was sent to prison because of it.
2. Freedom of Opinion between Islam and Moslems: Published by the Egyptian Organization of Human Rights and other magazines such as Cairo, in the nineties.
3. The Child’s Rights in Qur’an and the Moslem’s Civilization: Not published. It deals with the Islamic legislation care of children and its applications in different era like free education in Egypt Mamluk.
4. The Effect of tribal Prejudice in the Umayyad State: Not published. This book explains the rise, solidification and fall of Umayyad State through the tribal conflict and alliances in the Umayyad State. (This was also an essay for Masters Degree research in 1975).
5. Principles of the Historical Research: It was an academic curriculum for History Department in 1984.
6. Islamic Democracy: Not published. This proved that the Islamic democracy is the real one that transcends the current Western democracies. It also proves that opinion sharing is an essential part of Islam rites, culture and morals.
7. The Philosophy of the Quranic Legislation: Not published. This deals with the intentions of the Quranic legislations, methods and a comparison with Sunni legislations.
8. Mohammad Abdo Enlightening School between Egypt and Tunisia: Published in Egypt in two parts in the magazine of “Humanity and Development”. It was also a lecture delivered in Tunisia.
9. History and Historians: This is a study in the History material and the historians’ methodologies. It was a curriculum in the History Department At Al-Azhar University in 1984.
10. History and Historians: A study in the history of science of history and the categories of the historians. Also, it was a curriculum in Al-Azhar University, Department of History in 1984.
11. Night of Power: Not published. This proves that the Night of Power (Qadr) is the same as the night of Ascension (Isra’a) in Ramadan. The night when Qur’an was revealed as one book and then revealed in parts later. This book also demonstrates the reality of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
12. The Realities of Death in the Holy Qur’an: it was partially published in the beginning of the nineties due to the publisher’s reservations from Al-Azhar establishment. However, God’s willing, it will be published in its entirety.
13. Egypt in the Holy Qur’an: It was published partially by Al-Akhbar Establishment in Egypt in 1990. It will be published in its entirety.
14. No Omitted and No Eraser in Holy Qur’an: published briefly at the end of the nineties. It will be published in its entirety.
15. Grave Tormenting and the Bald Snake: Published with omissions due to publisher’s reservations of Al-Azhar in 1993. It will be published in its entirety.
16. Analytical Study for the Annual Arab reports: This was a study in Al-Ahram Strategic Report and published by Ibn Khaldoun Center in the series of the Culture of the Civil Society.
17. Al-Khidr Between Qur’an and Mysticism: Not published.
18. Civilian Punishment (Hisba) between Qur’an and Heritage: This was published more than once during Nassr Hamid AboZeid case. All copies sold out.
19. Apostle Mohammad Was capable of reading and Writing: Published in the nineties as a prolog to Jack Burk book: Re-reading Qur’an.
20. Islamic Insight on Jurisdiction and the Civil Society: Published by Ibn Khaldoun Center in the series of the Culture of the Civil Society.
21. The Style of Humor in Holy Qur’an: Not published.
22. Drama in the Quranic Anecdotes: Not published.
23. Parables in Holy Qur’an: Not published.
24. Pilgrimage (Hajj) between Qur’an and the Heritage (Sunni) Legislation: Not published.
25. Elm & Charity between Qur’an and Heritage: Not published.
26. Fasting between Qur’an and Heritage: Not published.
27. Cleansing between Qur’an and Heritage: Not published.
28. The Economical Theory in Holy Qur’an: Not published.
29. The Social Aspect in Holy Qur’an: Not published.
30. The Miracle of Vocabulary Choice in Holy Qur’an: Not published.
31. Petition between Qur’an and Sunni Religion: Not published.
32. Jinn and Angels in Holy Qur’an: Not published.
33. God’s Sacred Names in Holy Qur’an: Not published.
34. Annihilation Law between Qur’an and the Historical Reality: Not published.
35. The Moral Side in Holy Qur’an: Not published.
36. Mysticism and the Urban Legends: Not published.
37. Rulers’ Advice: The Opposition mentality for oriental Oppression: Not published.
38. Travel & Ascension between the Heritage Mythology and the Holy Qur’an Facts: Not published.
39. Psychology in Holy Qur’an: Not published.
40. Time in Holy Qur’an: Not published.
41. God’s Will & Destiny between Qur’an and Moslems Belief: Not published.
42. The Philosophy of Life in Holy Qur’an: Not published.
43. Abo-Hurrayra’s Narrations in Bukhari: Not published.
44. Bukhari Methodology in Scripting his Narrations: Not published.
45. Critique of Science of Modification and Criticism in Narrations: Not published.
46. Critique Analysis of the Book (The Rites of Women) for Ibn Hanbal: Not published.
47. Critique Analysis of the Book (The Rites of Women) for Ibn Al-Jowzi: Not published.
48. Critique Analysis of the Book (Ibn Hanbal Characteristics) for Ibn Al-Jowzi: Not published.
49. Othman Ibn Affan: A Man Killed by his Time: Not published.
50. Ali Ibn Abu Talib: A Man Rejected by His Time: Not published.
51. The Saudi State in the Light of Ibn Khaldoun’s Epilogue: Not published.
52. Diversity in Quranic Point of View: Not published.
53. The Speech Path (Vocabulary of “Say” in Qur’an): Not published.
54. Day of Resurrection Scenes in Qur’an: Not published.
55. The Facts of Day of Resurrection Between Qur’an and Modern Science: Not published.
56. The Signs of the Day of Judgment between Qur’an and the Myths of Narrations: Not published.
57. The Ten Commandments between Qur’an and the Old Testament: Not published.
58. Thoughts in Yousef (Joseph) Chapter (Soura): Not published.
59. Food in the Mysticism’s Thinking: Not published.
60. God’s Willing in Quranic Point of View: Not published.
61. Apostles’ Revelation Immunity: Published within the book (The Apostles in Qur’an).
62. The Mythology of Moderate Mysticism: Not published.
63. Islam and Human Being in Asr (Time) Chapter (Soura): Not published.


Second List: Researches and Books of approximately two hundred pages published in chapters:

1. Egypt’s Image after the Islamic Conquer: This was a curriculum in Al-Azhar Department of History in 1984. It showed the unity of the terrestrial religion in Egypt and its Pharaoic foundations from the Coptic era to the Islamic era. It will be re-published in its originality on the Internet.
2. Crusaders and Mongols Raids: It was a curriculum in Al-Azhar Department of History in 1985. It was one of five books were the cause I left Al-Azhar.
3. The effect of the Social Mysticism on Mamluk Egypt: Not published. It was dealing with the effect of Mysticism on the Egyptian Society during Mamluk era in habits, values and social structure.
4. The Effect of Artistic Mysticism in Mamluk Egypt: Not published. Deals with this effect on poetry, anecdotes and novels.
5. The Heads of Mysticism Attack Mysticism: Not published.
6. A Study in the Book of Journeys: Not published.
7. The Mystic Amorism: Not published.
8. Ibrahim Al-Dasouki: The Egyptian Mystic Guru: Not published.
9. The Judgment of Smoking Qur’an and Wahhabism: Not published.
10. Promoting Virtue and Preventing Vice, a historical fundamental Study: not published.
11. Slavery and Enslavement between Qur’an and Sunni Belief: Not published.
12. Studies in the Dynamics of Thoughts of the Arabic Civilization: This was a curriculum at Al-Azhar in 1985 and part of the five books.
13. Separation Movements in the Moslems History: was a curriculum and one of the five books at Al-Azhar in 1985.
14. The Apostles in the Holy Qur’an: Same as number (13).
15. The Effect of the Mystic Craft in the Mamluk Egypt: Not published.
16. Abo-Al-Abbas Al-Mursi: The famous Alexandria Mystic (Sufi) Guru: Not published.
17. Abo_Al-Hassan Al-Shathli: Not published.
18. The Christian Influence in Mamluk Mysticism: Not published.
19. The Pharaoic Influence in Mamluk Mysticism: Not published.
20. The Influence of Alexandria’s School of Theology in the Third Century A.D. on the Two Books of Abo-Hamid Al-Ghazzali; (The Livings) and (The Lantern of Lights).

The Third List: Books of more than 300 pages and published in chapters:

1. Al-Sayyed Al-Badawi between Myth and Fact: This was the first published book and that was in 1982. This book proved that the famous Sufi in Egypt, Ahmad Al-Badawi, was a Shiite agent disguised as Sufi to topple the Egyptian political system and establish a Shiite state in the place of Ayyubi and later Mamluk states.
2. The Egyptian Society Under the Application of the Mystic Legislature during the Reign of Sultan Qaitabai (800-873 AD): Not published. It analyzed the daily life of he Egyptians of Mamluks, Clergies, women and publics.
3. Research in the Sources of the Religious History: It was a curriculum at Al-Azhar Department of History in 1984. This book analyzes in a practical systematic way the history from the religious sources such as Qur’an, Narration books, characteristics, journeys, and the documents of supervision (Waqf) on the houses of worship, etc.
4. Mysticism and its Effect on the Mamluk State: Not published. It deals with the influence of Mysticism in establishing and consolidating the Mamluk State and its effect on its fall internally and externally. It also demonstrates how the Mystic influence contributed in the persecution of scholars like Ibn Taymeiah and his school of thoughts.
5. The Advisory Legislature between the Scholars and the Mysticisms: Not published.

The Fourth List: Large books containing volumes and published in chapters:

1. The Project of the Education Reform in Egypt: Ibn Khaldoun Center adopted this book at the end of the nineties. Two books were written. The first one was about suggestions to replace the Religious Education material that was used in the Elementary, Preparatory and Secondary stages. The second one was to reform the mentality of the teacher under the title (The Teacher’s Guide) to prove the futility of the Religious Education material used in the Egyptian system and its contradictory status to Islam and the Egyptian nationalism. A huge press campaign was erupted against these books and we had our rebuttal. We shall publish the two books and our rebuttal to the press attack and make it the third volume.
2. The Book of (Mysticism and the Religious Life in Mamluk Egypt): This book is of three volumes. The first volume is about beliefs, the second is about worshipping and the third is about morals and behaviors. It was published in limited quantity in 2004 and it was said to be confiscated. We shall republish it on the website. This was the omitted part of the PhD thesis in the late seventies.
3. Woman’s Legislations between Holy Qur’an and Sunnis: This is a three-volume book. Not published, however, some pages were published in articles such as: (Divorce Decree between Qur’an and Sunnis) and the research (The Woman’s Right to be a Head of the Islamic State).
4. In Khaldoun Epilogue: A historical, fundamental and analytical study. This is one volume of three chapters. Ibn Khaldoun Center published it in 1998.
5. The Saudi Opposition in the Twentieth Century: Not published. This is a five-chapter book deals with fundamental and historical analysis the Wahhabi opposition that exceeds the Wahhabi Saudi state. It covers the period from the Brothers during the reign of Abdul-Aziz till the contemporary Wahhabi movement that produced Osama Ibn Laden. Some of the chapters were published on the Internet at Ahl-Al-Qur’an website related to the opposition of Nasser Al-Saeed and the foundation of Moslem Brotherhood in Egypt by the Saudis.
6. Islam and the History of Moslems Terrestrial Religions: six chapters from the era of the Apostle to Ottoman Empire: Not published.
7. Persons among the History Lines: Six chapters. Deals with the unknown or little known personalities through history from the period of the companions to the Ottoman era. Not published.
8. History Unknowns: Four chapters, not published. Deals with the unknown historical events and briefs from the Islamic civilization from Umayyad period to Mamluk period.

The Fifth List: Analysis of the heritage books: All not published; some of them:

1. Sharnoubi Categories (Tabaqat)
2. Lata’f Al-Minan for Sha’arani
3. Lantern of Lights (Mishkat Al-Anwar) For Al-Ghazzali
4. Al-Qasheeriah Letter.
5. The Grand Categories (Al-Tabaqat Al-Kobra) for Sha’arani: two parts.
6. Lata’f Al-Minan for Ibn Atta’a AL-Iskandari
7. The Gem (Al-Jowhara) for Al-Dasouki.
8. Moslem’s Saheeh Epilogue.
9. The Letter for Al-Shafiay
10. The Perfect Human for Abdul-Karim Al-Geely
11. The Cloth Wearing (Libs Al-Khirqa) for Sha’arani
12. The Striving Star in Al-Rifae’s Characters for Al-Ayderous.

And tens more of mystic and Sunni resources not published yet.

This is the essence of my life, presenting it on Ahl-Al-Qur’an website for FREE.

In God we all seek strength.