Part II remember, as a young man, the first time I attended the classes of Sheikh al-Halabi at the Azhar University. Hundreds of eager students were sitting hunched forward on the floor, ready to record each of the sheikh’s words. With an expression of pure calmness, the sheikh sat on the raised chair above the heads of the audience, waiting for any late comers to arrive. I remember how, after praising and glorifying God and passing salutations on the prophet, he had cleared his throat and said in a deep voice:
‘If something is going to change, it is because people are going to change themselves. The only way to change themselves is to know themselves. The only way to know themselves is to break free of all the things someone else has taught them and find out for themselves. I only hope y
