Where Is Sectarianism Headed? – Farag Foda
A Critical Analysis of Religious and Political Conflict in Egypt
Author and Historical Context
Farag Foda (1945–1992) was a secular Egyptian intellectual who earned his doctorate in agricultural economics from Ain Shams University.
He was assassinated in 1992 by the militant group al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya for his outspoken opposition to a theocratic state.
His book Where Is Sectarianism Headed?, published in 1987, forms part of his broader intellectual project alongside works such as To Be or Not to Be, The Absent Truth, and Before the Fall.
In this work, Foda analyzes the roots of sectarianism in Egypt, exposing how religion is exploited for political ends—particularly by groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and Al-Azhar.
Structure and Core Arguments
1. Diagnosing Sectarianism: From Social Phenomenon to Political Tool
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Sectarianism as political exploitation: Foda argues that sectarianism is not the inevitable result of religious diversity but rather a deliberate tool wielded for political gain. Political and religious elites manipulate sectarian rhetoric to rally supporters and inflame passions.
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The role of religious institutions: He sharply criticizes Al-Azhar, once a beacon of moderation, for becoming a player in sectarian conflict. He cites the infamous 1992 statement by the “Front of Al-Azhar Scholars,” which declared him an apostate, as an example of turning intellectual disagreements into religious warfare.
2. The Roots of Sectarianism in Modern Egyptian History
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The impact of the 1967 defeat: The military defeat triggered the rise of religious movements presenting themselves as divine alternatives to “failed secular regimes.”
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Sadat’s policies: Foda blames President Sadat for empowering Islamist groups in the 1970s as a counterweight to the Left, only to lose control of them—paving the way for extremism.
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The 1971 Constitution: The amendment making Sharia “the principal source of legislation” marked, in Foda’s view, a decisive step toward politicizing religion and legitimizing a theocratic state.
3. Sectarianism and Terrorism: Two Sides of the Same Coin
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Creating the “Other” as enemy: Sectarianism casts religious or doctrinal difference as an existential threat.
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Sanctifying violence: Religious decrees are used to justify attacks on dissenters—such as the notorious call for Foda’s death published in Al-Nour newspaper.
4. The Civil State as the Solution: Separating Religion from Politics
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Religion belongs to society, not the state: Foda insists that only a civil state guarantees pluralism. Public affairs must be governed by secular law that protects the rights of all citizens regardless of faith.
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Critique of the “Islamic State”: He derides the idea of an Islamic caliphate as nothing more than “an Arab Qurayshite caliphate that carried nothing of Islam beyond the name.”
5. Secularism: Not an Enemy of Religion
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In defense of secularism: Foda rejects the branding of secularism as atheism, defining it instead as a practical mechanism for governing diverse societies. Secularism prevents any single religious group from monopolizing the state.
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Applied models: He cites Turkey and Tunisia as examples showing that secular governance can coexist with Islamic identity.
The Historical and Social Context of Sectarianism in Egypt
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From theological disputes to sectarian identities: Foda traces how early doctrinal disagreements, such as Sunni–Shia conflicts, hardened into rigid sectarian identities in the modern era, particularly with the rise of the nation-state.
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The role of colonialism: He condemns Britain’s divide-and-rule strategy, which entrenched sectarianism in places like Iraq and Lebanon.
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The struggle over history: Sectarianism, he argues, rewrites history to serve partisan narratives, deepening divisions.
Foda’s Vision for Solutions: Toward a Pluralist Society
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Reforming education to eliminate curricula that reinforce sectarian prejudice.
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Modernizing religious discourse, transforming Al-Azhar into a platform for dialogue rather than decrees of excommunication.
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Passing laws criminalizing sectarian discrimination and incitement.
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Promoting civic culture by spreading values of citizenship through media and civil society.
Impact of the Book
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Clash with Al-Azhar: The book sparked fierce conflict with the religious establishment, particularly after Foda accused the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Gad al-Haq, of “harnessing religion in service of politics.”
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The Muslim Brotherhood: Foda exposed how the Brotherhood weaponized sectarianism to expand their influence, particularly through their 1984 alliance with the Wafd Party—a move that led Foda to resign from the party.
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Aftermath of assassination: Foda was not killed for this book alone, but for the entirety of his work, which was seen as a bold challenge to entrenched dogma.
Comparative Perspectives
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Azmi Bishara (Sect, Sectarianism, Imagined Sects): Like Foda, Bishara sees sectarianism as a product of failed modern states, but adds a deeper sociological analysis of sectarianism as an “imagined community.”
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Khawla Hamdi (Where to Escape?): Her novel explores the consequences of sectarianism in post-revolutionary Tunisia, echoing Foda’s point that sectarianism is a regional Arab problem, not just Egyptian.
Relevance Today
Nearly four decades after its publication, Where Is Sectarianism Headed? still poses urgent questions:
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Looking ahead: The title itself—“Where to?”—captures Foda’s warning: sectarianism leads either to civil war or dictatorship.
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Core message: A civil state remains the only safeguard against sectarian fragmentation; religion must remain a personal matter, not an instrument of rule.
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Enduring legacy: Foda’s martyrdom turned the book into both a historical document and a symbol of resistance to extremism, illuminating the roots of violence in the region.
“What I have written may lack the craftiness of politicians, but it does not lack sincerity… If you are afraid, do not speak; if you speak, do not be afraid. I chose to speak, and as for fear—I have never known it.”
—Farag Foda, conclusion to Where Is Sectarianism Headed?
Table: Key Ideas in the Book vs. Contemporary Realities
| Core Idea in the Book | Contemporary Expression (2025) |
|---|---|
| Warning against the fusion of religion and politics | Rise of authoritarian regimes using religion to justify repression |
| Call for a civil state | The Arab Spring (2011) and its collapse highlight the difficulty of democratic transition |
| Sectarianism as a gateway to terrorism | ISIS as the starkest example of sectarianism turning into systematic violence |
| Reformist role for Al-Azhar | Recent Al-Azhar initiatives for interfaith dialogue (e.g., “Freedom of Citizenship” conference) |
Farag Foda’s Where Is Sectarianism Headed? remains indispensable for understanding the tangled relationship between religion and politics in the Arab world—and a testament to the price of free thought in societies resistant to self-critique.
For the original summary in Arabic
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