"The Carnation and the Thorn" – Yahya Sinwar (story, part 37)

Season thirteen

The academic year has come to an end. The students of the Tariq Ibn Ziyad Madrasa in Hebron have passed their final exams, and the results have been announced on the bulletin board. The students, who are about to enter university, are dreaming sweetly about their future dreams. One student intended to study at the Faculty of Sharia at the Hebron University, while another intended to study at one of the universities in Saudi Arabia. Another was planning to continue his studies in Jordan.

Our older brother Abdulfattah still wanted to study at a Jordanian university, but he knew it was too late. Because he was spending more time working than studying. However, he saw a second chance in his brother Abdurahman, who was on the threshold of a university. He thought he could make his dream come true through him. When he offered his brother the opportunity to study in Jordan, he agreed and shared with his brother that he wanted to enter the Faculty of Sharia.

His friend Jamal, who enjoyed chatting on the mountains in the village of Surif, agreed to apply with him. And so, they were both accepted to the Jordanian university.

Shortly before their studies began, they traveled to Amman and, together with fellow students, rented a house in the Muhajir neighborhood, a neighborhood with a cosmopolitan atmosphere and some Palestinians of Palestinian origin.

Abdurahman and Jamal began to live in a new environment, different from life in the village of Surif or the Tariq Ibn Ziyad madrasa. Here, the way of thinking, political struggles, social customs, and influential figures in the lives of students were all very different from their previous lives.

At the Sharia faculty where they studied, girls wore headscarves. But the general order at the university was different, and Khalil, especially in the village of Surif, had a much more relaxed atmosphere.

However, Abdurrahman and Jamal did not stray from the path because they were influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood at the Tariq Ibn Ziyad Madrasa. There were also Muslim Brotherhood members teaching Sharia at the University of Amman. They were experienced professors with doctorates in Sharia. Abdurrahman and Jamal met people with knowledge and experience beyond their wildest dreams. They tried to acquire the necessary knowledge in intellectual and political struggles and immersed themselves in student activities.

A decision was made to abolish the student union at the University of Jordan. However, this did not stop the students from intervening. Among the candidates for the union, Jamal was selected to lead the "History Revival Association" at the Faculty of Sharia. Among the candidates was another Islamist movement opposed to the Muslim Brotherhood.

The association's leaders took students to historical sites and conducted cultural, political, and educational activities with them. Sometimes they organized Hajj and Umrah events. One of the association's members suggested preparing a stage play "The Scholar and the Tyrant" dedicated to Yusuf Qarzawi.

After discussions, the proposal was accepted and all the necessary efforts were made. Even a television director was hired. After repeated rehearsals and great effort, the performance was presented to the audience. The professors and doctors acknowledged that the performance was very good.

At that time, Russia had invaded Afghanistan. This event had a huge impact on the student union. Members of the Islamic union began to speak openly about Afghanistan and jihad, identifying themselves with the Muslims there and considering it an obligation to help them.

Gradually, this idea became so strong that out of the 15,000 dinars collected from the stage production of "The Scholar and the Tyrant," 5,000 dinars were sent as aid to Muslims in Afghanistan.

To be continued...