Following are excerpts from an interview with Egyptian cleric Abd Al-Maguid Al-Shazli at a comrade's funeral, which was attended by Egyptian presidential candidate Hazem Abu Ismail. The interview was posted on the Internet on February 24, 2012.
Abd Al-Maguid Al-Shazli: "The Islamic nation is alive and well, and ultimately, it will be victorious. This presentation is meant to [inaudible]. Then the banner of jihad was raised in Afghanistan by the mujahid sheik Osama bin Laden, may Allah have mercy upon him and accept him among the righteous. When Osama bin Laden was martyred, the banner was raised by Ayman Al-Zawahiri, and the message of jihad continued to be borne by the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.
"Then Afghanistan vanquished America. America wishes it could find a way to save face while leaving Afghanistan. Then Iraq was invaded. The Islamic resistance formed in Iraq inflicted [great] losses upon America, despite the presence of the Shi'ites there, as well as Sunnis who collaborated with the Shiites and the Americans. The banner of jihad did not and will not fall.
"Then came the February 25 Revolution, and there were martyrs. […]
"There will be an Islamic revolution in Egypt. When it comes, bear arms, in order to serve as the defenders of the Islamic revolution, who will protect it from any military attack. The banner of jihad will be raised in Egypt. […]
"Even at times when the [mujahideen] were beaten by their enemies, the cause continued to exist. It was shifted abroad and continued to exist there, and from there, it will soon be shifted back into Egypt, when Egypt will witness a comprehensive Islamic revolution, which will be defended by a Sunni Islamic revolutionary guard. This guard will use arms, not just words, to fight for this revolution. This time will come. It is not far off." […]
