Egypt's Contemporary Muslim Movement

Note: this is a personal study guide for my course on Islam.

Fadwa El Guindi explores the contemporary Islamic movement in Egypt, comparing it the revival of women wearing the veil. She notes the apparent contradiction of a modern, college-educated woman veiling herself entirely, and eventually concludes that this (along with the movement) is part of the balancing act between tradition and modernity. El Guindi contends that religiousness was connected to the defeat in the Arab-Israeli War and its affect on the nation's psyche - the belief at the time was that the decline in religious activity was the cause of the defeat. This impact continued to the time of her study and helped in the creation of an alternative Islam. However, El Guindi asserts that there is a difference between the impact of the war and on the Islamic movement that began in the early 70s. The Ramadan Crossing is seen as defining the beginning of this movement. In regards to the veil, it is seen as an option for women to either be vulnerable (not wearing the veil) or untouchable (wearing the veil). The movement should not simply be seen in terms of a social protest, but as reaffirming traditional values while maintaining modernity.