IN the past when Arabs could not differentiate between their purebred horses from the hybrid ones, they used to lock them all in one place, then deprive them of food and water until they starved. As soon as they got hungry, they would be whipped hard, and then given food and water.

The purebred horses would refuse to move to eat, but the hybrid ones would run to the food, without being bothered by the whipping they received from those who provided the food and water to them.

Despite the development and technology advances, Arabs still have some of the genes they acquired over the ages. Some of them know people by their features, but they instead differentiate the purebred from others through their behavior, slip of tongue, or the level of indifference when their slip of the tongue reveals what is in their hearts.

Hence the Arabs used to choose the purebred horses in their wars because they refuse to be demeaned, and are keen to maintain their honor.

What applies to horses applies to humans. That is why they used to choose men with pride and honor as their leader in difficult missions because he wouldn’t betray his people, he is distinguished by courage and self-esteem, and he does not fall prey to temptation and bribery. On the other hand, the traitors are rejected.

In pre-Islamic era, the most famous traitor in history was Abu Righal, who became the symbol of treason.

When Abraha decided to invade Kaaba and destroy it, he searched for an Arab guide to show him the way to Mecca. Those who were approached to be the guide had rejected the offer despite the various temptations and threats. However, Abu Raghal accepted the offer. Arabs used to stone his grave after his death.

There is no doubt that such a person exists among us today. Either he is a thief or an embezzler, or someone who plots to conspire with the enemy and point out the weaknesses of his nation.

They work to make room for the corrupt in order for them to infiltrate the pillars of some countries. Some even became aides and advisors because they know how to gain the confidence of the decision-maker.

The son of Al-Alqami, the minister of the Abbasid Caliph Al-Musta’sim, was trusted by the caliphate, but he arranged with Hulagu to kill the caliph and occupy Baghdad, under the hope that he would hand him over the emirate of Medina. Instead, Hulagu insulted and killed him after the destruction of Baghdad.

Since that incident, the methods of politics and the selection of officials have not changed. Today, some Arabs are working to betray their country in various ways because insight is absent from the mind of the decision makers who are entrusted with their nation and their people.

Otherwise, what is the explanation for the dire situation that some Arab countries have reached, the poor public finances, infrastructure, education, and the collapse of the exchange rate in a number of them?

All this and more will be witnessed by countries when the selection is made according to quotas, nepotism, or wastas. They will then retreat and be overwhelmed by crises and problems because corrupt officials care about filling their stomachs, and they don’t care if their bosses humiliate them.

In this matter, the Gulf proverb comes to mind – “Look at the face of the goat and then milk it.” This applies to a person who is beautiful in appearance and has a good face, but is useless.

When one sees the behavior of some officials with good looking faces, they realize that these officials hide corruption and treachery, and cost their countries many losses.

The question remains – Can Arabs return to that insight, and choose officials who have self-esteem and courage?

The wolves of money and personal interests have become so numerous today that we no longer distinguish between purebreds and hybrids. Some countries are threatened with their fate as a result of these hybrids.

In fact, it applies to some Arabs today, described in the Quran as follows –- “Allah has sealed their hearts and their hearing, and their eyes are dim, and for them is a grievous chastisement.”

By Ahmed Al-Jarallah

Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times