I do not think that relijon was the main reason to end the Masonic activity in the Arab States at the first place ,I have seen old pictures of many Muslim clerics wearing the masonic jewelry & the apron, and I mean a very high rank clerics , do you know that Most of the clergy in the al-Azhar mosque (the second reference to Muslims in the Islamic & Arab world after saudia arabia ) were freemasons !! and late about the 60s .
the proplem happend after the Sudden decision of the Egyptian President Abdel Nasser in 1964 to suspend the masonic activity , not to mention that nasser was a freemason him self , he refused the execution of King Faruq after the coup by nasser and the militarys because king faruq was a freemason brother , this is something I was told by a very old high rank freemason who I know and trust .
Also I learnd (as my information) that the Catholic Churchs had from long years ago, a tough stands about Freemasonry , yet ... freemasonry Flourished and remain in the West .
I Think that politcs then relijon played a majer role in ending the masonic activity in the middle east, More specifically , the Arab-Israeli conflict has had the greatest impact on this , the first indictment in the Arab world to freeMasonry is that masonry secretly jewish which supporting Israel against the Arab states, and then (some clergy) whos seeking to power and influence, accusing it of anti-Islam , I know that religious afraid from the freedom of belief and free thinking which Freemasonry calls for, but some of the most important Muslim clerics were freemason , so This is vey important in my opinion , to know the main reasons so we can find the Solution and treatment.
The problem is that the negative attitude of Freemasonry had accumulated so much in the arabic world , but things started to changes little slowley and some lodges starts to active with a low profile .. of course this better than nothing, deeply I think that the honorable grand lodges in the west countries can take more Initiative to wards freemasonry in the arabic world .
Dear Jordan visitor:
Thank you for your entry on this subject.
ON:
I Think that politcs then relijon played a majer role in ending the masonic activity in the middle east, More specifically , the Arab-Israeli conflict has had the greatest impact on this , the first indictment in the Arab world to freeMasonry is that masonry secretly jewish which supporting Israel against the Arab states, and then (some clergy) whos seeking to power and influence, accusing it of anti-Islam
When you say that “Masonry Secretly Jewish which supporting Israel…”, I must confess that this logic does not make sense and is maybe one person’s opinion.
There is a Grand Lodge in Israel and the same in most major world countries. Masonry is not a political entity; but, the support of fellowship and charity amongst men.
I do agree with you, that fear of independent thinking can become a challenge to the dogma of a region. Again, thank you for your entry.
Ronald Doucette - Forum Moderator
To follow up on these ideas and issues. This belief that Freemasonry is part of a Zionist movement is not only untrue, it is not possible. The modem version of Freemasonry was created in 1717, hundreds of years before the modern movement to create Israel or as some have called it the Zionist Movement.
Until this misconception is laid to rest, it will be a big hurdle for the Fraternity to overcome in the Middle East.
As a follow-up, I know this board’s main function is to answer questions about the fraternity and to assist those in answering questions about becoming Masons. I would like to take a second too note that while we have deviated a little bit, we as a fraternity and people of this world have made some big steps.
Dialogue is always a key to peace and the subjects discussed in this posts and those similar are indeed unique and passionate. There are many great aspects of our fraternity and the Middle East. In time these things will come together.
Thank You ! Jacob Descheneaux
There is no islam ! Islam Ended Since Yazeed Bin Mo’awyah Killed Al Hussein ...
We are born muslims ! is that true ??? is that enough ??? i have a very big NO !
Islam is a relation between you and god, you and people, ” jews, christians, satanics .... ” and the most important YOU AND YOURSELF !
Brothers all, I think that this thread has a very great potential. I have exchanged a number of PMs with Lion of Jordan, in which I have noted a number of his observations on Masonry in the Middle East and I have asked him to continue to give me information.
I have to confess that, like 99.5% of the population of the U.S., I am nearly totally ignorant of the teachings of Islam and of the Holy Q’ran. While I have given a good bit of study to the history of the Middle East, ancient and modern, I am suspicious that much, if not most, of it is biased in one direction or another, and I would welcome the views of men who actually live there.
Perhaps you could start a new thread on Masonry in the Middle East, or Masonry and Islam, or Masonry in the Islamic World. We would have plenty of questions and you can enlighten us. We will, of course, adhere strictly to the Masonic principle that religion and politics in themselves are not a proper subject for discussion among Masons except as they touch upon the teachings and practice of Freemasonry.
I concur! I have spent the last six years in Iraq/Afghanistan, and I lived in Saudi Arabia for a year. (I am back in the USA for a short while, then I will return to South-West Asia). I visited lodges in Saudi, and I joined Arabia lodge #882, in Dhahran.
Sadly, most Americans have little knowledge of Islam, and the teachings of the Holy Qu’Ran. More people should read the Holy Qu’Ran. It is one of the finest examples of early Arabic prose available, and it makes the transition into English quite well. I prefer the translation by N.J. Dawood.
We are now involved in two military conflicts in Islamic countries. The Western world owes a great deal to Arabic civilization. When Europe was in the dark ages, the Arabic world was pioneering dentistry, chemotherapy, anatomy, and the sciences. When Europeans were praying to the saints for cures, the Arabic world was performing cataract surgery.
When the Christians captured the library at the University of Toledo (in Moorish Spain), they found twice as many books in that one library, than in all of Christian Europe. These books were translated, and impacted Western civilization, and helped pave the way to the renaissance, and the modern world.
Masonry is absolutely forbidden, in most of the Islamic countries. It is not adviseable to display any Masonic identification or jewelry in most of these nations. I know that some brave Iraqi men, are attempting to establish a lodge in Baghdad. Masonry exists openly in Turkey and Lebanon.
A few notes on the above issues.
It is very true as The Lion of Jordan mentioned, Freemasonry and Zionism are linked for the common Arab man, sadly, this is what the man on the street believes.
Abd el Naser did ban Freemasonry in Syria back when Egypt and Syria were united, and I am very proud to be a member of the first lodge to reopen - although quiet secretly - in Syria. We are making a lot of progress, we have been operational for the past nine months now.
We are currently working hard to get the past freemasons to re join us, or some of the Syrians who have joined Lebanese Lodges.
A few notes on the above issues.
It is very true as The Lion of Jordan mentioned, Freemasonry and Zionism are linked for the common Arab man, sadly, this is what the man on the street believes.
Abd el Naser did ban Freemasonry in Syria back when Egypt and Syria were united, and I am very proud to be a member of the first lodge to reopen - although quiet secretly - in Syria. We are making a lot of progress, we have been operational for the past nine months now.
We are currently working hard to get the past freemasons to re join us, or some of the Syrians who have joined Lebanese Lodges.
Good luck! Do you think your government will approve of this?
This is terrific news, indeed! I wish you well, May the Great Architect of the Universe, guide your steps! I urge you to practice discretion, and keep vigilant. When you feel the time is right, I hope that you can exist openly, and you can keep the worldwide Masonic community aware of your progress.
Once I made the below post , I thought that it will be good to re mention it , regarding the new posts above :
Dear Sir ...
I agree with you 100% that Freemasonry is not a political entity; but, the support of fellowship and charity amongst men (I believe in this), the reason why I wrote here in the first place , is to know the opinions about how to reactivate freemasonry well in the arabic world becausee a lot of men like me dont know where to go or what to do to join freemasonry .
I think that your excellency got me wrong When I SAID that the first Charges in the Arab world to Freemasonry is that masonry secretly Jewish which supporting Israel against the Arab states , This is not my logic or my opinion for sure and ofcourse Im not fine with it , this is the decision No. 2309 of the Council of the League of Arab States , Which was Approved by the all 23 Arab countries , Which reads as follows and your excellency can chick it on the inter net :
1. Freemasonry is a movement of the Zionist , inspired by it and working to strengthen the fallacy of Zionism and its goals, as well as help the flow of funds to Israel from its members, which would support the Isaeli economy and the war effort against the Arab States .
2. Prohibition of any centers or forums for the activity of the Masonic movement in the Arab States, and the closure of any premises, are based in those countries .
Dear Sir ... now this is wrong ... really wrong and we still Suffer from it so far in the middle east , thats why I said that politics played a Major role in ending the masonic activity in the middle east, not to mention Religion, every thing changed after this decision , and when I asks many people here after an argument with them , they tells me freemasonry is Jewish , Israeli , ... , thats why I think that spreading the masonic awareness is The only solution because people in middle east dont know the goodness and the greatness of freemasonry .
