Fundamentalism, regardless of its religion or sect, will not die. This is not because it is correct, but because it is linked to the interests of thousands, whose financial, social, and political power depends on it, in addition to the enormous wealth generated from it. This will remain the case as long as individuals in society choose to remain rigid and backward. Many countries have succeeded in escaping it, such as Japan, South Korea, and the Scandinavian countries in particular.

The wave of fundamentalism in Kuwait declined in recent years, but it returned in recent weeks, gaining unexpected momentum, as manifested in several confusing and dangerous indicators. In an unprecedented initiative, the ‘Pentagon’ of the ‘Awqaf’ (Endowments) Department decided to perform the eclipse prayer in 90 mosques. The decision includes determining the day and time scientifically, based on data that was not even available during the time of the Prophet.

Of course, I do not object to the decision, but the ‘creepiness’ often begins with such circulars. They start simple and innocent, but within a few years, they turn into a ritual and an obligation, then an official holiday, and so on. We also saw this with the Minister of Education’s decision to declare the last week of Ramadan an official holiday under the pretext of easing the burdens of “our children.”

Next year, the circular will include private schools, and after that, consideration will be given to easing the burdens of university and higher institute students. Then, the matter will evolve to include the last 10 days of the holiday, instead of the last week of Ramadan. Then it will develop further to include a school closure for the entire month of Ramadan, something Muslims have never experienced in their history.

So, how did we reach this situation, such that Ramadan has become difficult for 220,000 students in public schools, in an era of prosperity and air conditioning, when it was never difficult throughout Islamic history, and it is not difficult for students in private schools and various university and institute students? Therefore, the issue is not a matter of applying Sunnah or doctrine, but rather the slow and continuous creepiness towards the civil State, which we once believed we were living in.

How can we accept the official direction of various media outlets to film a company kitchen that used spoiled eggs in its desserts, while not a single semiofficial camera took the initiative to expose a professor who corrupted the minds of his students by giving them full marks without conducting any tests, just because the professor rejoiced at the rise of fundamentalist forces to power in Syria? In the company kitchen, an individual ruined the stomachs of some students and was exposed through audio and video clips. At the university, the minds of an entire generation were corrupted, and no one seemed to care! We also saw how the Minister of Education recently made extensive appointments to various critical positions. He appointed officials, the majority of whom are known for their religious and political affiliations within the ministry and in various university faculties. This is a dangerous return to the politicization of educational positions.

By Ahmad alsarraf

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