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Thursday, February 15, 1996
The Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar Reverend Ulemas Dear Brothers One of my most cherished occasions is this spiritual encounter in which we commemorate the dawn of divine revelation and the light of Islam which was the last of heavenly messages, and, came for the righteousness and welfare of mankind. It is " Laylatul Qadr the worthy night which " is better than a thousand nights, the angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their God with every bidding. Peace be it until the break of dawn ". As we celebrate this blessed night we actually commemorate the dawn of our great religion and the radiance of a transcendent faith . On this blessed night we should remeber those righteous principles laid down by the Holy Quran. Each one of us should stop and revise his march along the right path to rectify his march along the right path towards success. No doubt, our great religion, which dawned upon us on this blessed night, has laid down humanitarian principles and underlined values whereby the happiness of mankind is attained. Likewise, our benevolent Prophet, who received God's revelations and conveyed his message to mankind, has set a good example in the application of these values and principles. The principles in the Holy Quran and the values applied by our great Prophet have brought together the Arabs after dissension transformed bedouinism and tribanism into civilization and urbanism led the Arabs to the right path after they had gone astray, taught them after they had been ignorant, liberated slaves, imposed justice for the appressed, and confirmed equality among all human beings. Through these transcendent principles and values, a great Islamic civilization was established. This civilization was not based on hegemony and terrorism ,nor was it set up on the manipulation of the weak by the strong, but rather on deep-rooted principles most important of which are the freedom of thought and creed, equality brotherhood, peace, sanctification of the individual and the society, encouraging useful knowledge and respecting sublime art Islam has underlined individua1 and spiritual freedom, as well as the freedom of' creed and thought. Islam has liberated man and made him God's successor on earth and preferred him to all his creatures. Islam has liberated man from slavery except to God . It stressed that no man whatever he may be, can be useful or harmful to another without God's will. This is represented in the Prophet's words ( peace be upon him ) "If you ever ask, ask God, if you need help ask for it from God, and rest assured that if the entire world has gathered to your benefit, it can only do so with the help of God, and if the entire world was gathered to harm you, it cannot harm you against God's will, and that is it. " Regarding the freedom of creed, Islam maintains that embracing any religion is based on one's free will and sincere choice . It should not be imposed by force or coercion but rather by conviction and listening to the voice of reason. Many verses of the Holy Quran urge man to think, deliberate and follow the sound findings reached by the forerunners, while other verses criticise rigidity of thought, imitation and annulment of the mind and intellect. Islam has unprecedently laid down the priniciples of equality and justice in all its tenets. Fourteen centuries ago, Islam said all people are equal. It abolished discrimination based on race, colour or class. A man is superior to another only by his devotion to God and his benevolence. God Almighty says, " The most beneficent is the most devout. " In his turn, the Prophet emphasized the meaning of equality by saying, " Behold, you are all descendants of Adam, and Adam was from dust. No Arab is superior to a non-Arab, nor is a white man better than a black except by his devotion to God." Thus, Islam has dismantled racial discrimination, and admitted the equality of mankind, fourteen centuries ago before modern civilization became aware of this fact that was ratified by the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights in the wake of World War II. Islam has entrenched the principle of justice to the farthest extent. It is an indispensable ordainment to uphold justice even with a rival or enemy. Penalty must be inflicted even if the culprit is an ally or a relative. In this context, Omar, the Caliph, advised Abu Moussa Al Ashaary, whom he apppointed as supreme judge, to be fair and square with everyone so that the prestigious would not be eager to obtain his injustice and the weak would not be desperate of his justice. As for the principle of brotherhood, it has been asserted in the verses of the Holy Quran as well as in the Prophet's Tradition. God Almighty says, " The faithful are but brothers." This assertion of brotherhood was not confined to the Holy Quran and the directives of the Prophet only but was actually and practically applied by him when he emigrated to Medina where he urged his supporters and emigres to deal with each other as brothers. His supporters in Medina willingly shared their money, their life with the emigres in sincerity and love. Thus, it was a vivid example of brotherhood in religion which was almost as if they were true brothers. Islam has glorified the principle of peace making it the basics of relations among Muslims and non-Muslims. This principle of peace is greatly honoured as it is one of God's Almighty names. Peace is also a name attributed to Paradise and is the word of greeting among Muslims. Hence, peace is essential in relations as God Almighly says "Fight those who fight against you and don't be aggressive." and asked His Prophet to tell the aggressors that they were wrong-doers and perpetrated injustice. Thus, these two instances clearly indicate that Muslims only fight when they are attacked. They should avert starting an aggression and accordingly the Prophet only fought to deter aggression against Muslims or in self defence, or to liberate the oppressed. The Islamic armies' mission was to defend religion without transgressions. People in liberated countries were left to chose any religion freely. They only embraced Islam after being fully convinced. They had the right to keep to their religions, exercise their rituals, preserve their places of worship and share equal rights and duties with Muslims. Thus, peace was the basics of Islam and war was an exception to which Muslims resort to as a defensive or preventive measure or for the liberation of the oppressed to whom they give an opportunity to see the radiant light of God. These are the main principles of Islam whereby Islamic civilization prospered. Islam was concerned with sublime ideals and values which were basic elements of Islamic civilization. Morality is confirmed in Islam and is the aim of all the Prophet's teachings. Actually the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that he was chosen by God to complement morality. The Holy Quran and the Prophet's Tradition sanctified fruitful work and sincerity in performing it. Work rejuvenates life and provides people with sufficiency and prosperity which are the aims of our Creator in deputising man to inhabit the earth and fill it with life. God says in this connection "He created you from earth and made you inhabit it", that is, asked you to make it flourish with life and prosperity. This can only be achieved through meticulous work, creativity and production. There are numerous Quranic verses encouraging people to work and placing it next to faith, such as " Say, work, for God, His Prophet and ¢the faithful will see your work and those who perform good deeds". Moreover, there are many instances of the Prophet's sayings that urge people to work hard and well for example, "God likes those who carry out their work carefully". He also asks people to continue their work until the very last second of their lives on earth by saying that if the hour of Judgement has come and one of you has a twig in his hand, he has to plant it if he can. In Islam, the veneration of useful knowledge reaches a point at which Ulemas become the inheritors of the divine messages of prophets. Seekers of such knowledge in Islam are on a par with those Mujahideen fighting in Allah's name. No wonder then that the pursuit of knowledge is a means towards higher status. Allah puts it most eloquently when he asks, "Are those with knowledge and those without treated equall. The respect accorded to sublime art is also mentioned in the Holy Quran with various verses drawing attention to the beauty of nature and to the wonderful creations made by Allah. Such verses, besides asserting the greatness of the Creator and his unmatched creative ability, are also meant to none human feelings and sentiments and educate the senses and the mind; which is exactly the goal of every sublime art. These are the main principles and values Islam has laid down as the pillars of its state. The facts of history have proven that such principles and values were no mere slogans but were established facts, applied conducts and commitments, as the Islamic civilization itself testifies to that. The Islamic civilization which is a humanitarian one in the first place, has long been esteemed as a model civilization, with everyone giving it credit for supplying modern civilization with the power to renovate itself and continue to rise. As we celebrate this blessed night-Laylatul Qadr- we recall these sublime principles and fine values, which early Muslims were committed to while building one of the greatest societies and one of the finest civilizations and also were inspired by them in dealing with the challenges and problems facing them. It, therefor contradicts Islam that some people affiliated to the religion should reject principle of just and comprehensive peace, or that some others should go to extremes and maintain that war is necessary to spread Islam. Such stances run counter to one of the fundamentals of the religion that peace is the ultimate goal and that if rights could be restored thereby, then there is no need for bloodshed and hobbling the movement of progress. Allah, praise His name, is most vindicated when He exhorts," And if they choose peace, then choose it too and depend on Allah". It is also one of the upright religion's precepts that religion should not spread by resorting to force and that faith could never take root in the hearts with the edge of the sword. Allah admonishes against resorting to coercion in this regard. Moreover, the weakness of moral values for some Muslims has marred the image of Islam in the eyes of others. This is a serious question that must be dealt with quite carefully, as it involves an unforgiveable insult to an upright religion that is based on tolerance, freedom, justice and intransigence. Failure to endow knowledge with its due veneration and the lukewarm enthusiasm shown to it have together led to widening the circle of ignorance and thrown some Islamic societies into the abyss of blindness, thus making such societies an easy prey for ideological invasion and economic exploitation and left them defenceless under the domination of those enjoying scientific superiority and technological edge. The disrespect for fine art has, furthermore, soured the good taste of many people and rendered them thick-skinned with petrified and unfeeling hearts; all of which-are sure signs of backwardness. Allah Himself denouncs such an approach and says in His Holy Quran that no one should prohibit Muslims from enjoying His wonderful creations and bounty. Sick tastes and cruel hearts also leave one unable to make the right judgements, because one is then deprived of the traits of gentleness and mercy and is far from being tolerant and capable of reconciling with others. When one reaches such a stage, one becomes isolated, aloof and hostile to society. Grand Imam Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Venerable Ulemas Dear Brothers I believe you agree with me that remedying all these negative aspects should be through adhering to Islamic principles and values, as provided by Islam's essence and the conduct of the Prophet. I, therefore seize this opportunity to appeal to all Muslims worldwide to make this celebration, of the anniversary of the Night in which the Holy Quran began to be revealed to our Prophet, an incentive to return to Islam's principles as confirmed by the Holy Quran and to its values as established and applied by the Prophet. We want our Islamic nation to unite through fraternity, progress through freedom and enjoy stability and happiness through equality, justice and democracy. We also want our Islamic nation to restore security and safety through love and peace. We want our Islamic nation to retrieve its status as a good example and its worthy image through good manners and upright conduct. We also want it to return to its wealth, self-sufficiency, prosperity and welfare through fruitful work and dedicated performance. We want our nation to re-occupy its position of leadership and great civilization through useful and sound knowledge and through constructive action. We are on the threshold of the 21st century with all alert countries and advanced nations bracing themselves for entering the new century. Some countries have in fact already prepared themselves for that. We have no option but to equip ourselves for stepping into the coming century; fully geared to tackle its challanges and problems. We are in dire need of piety through unity and fraternity and through renouncing division, rifts and hostility so that we may be a power to reckon with and a nation respected by the strong and capable of keeping abreast of the dashing procession that awaits no one lagging behind or shows no mercy to the weak. We are in great need of realizing freedom and establishing the rules of equality and justice, so that ours should not be mere physical strength lacking in moral aptitude that invests strength with civility as a constructive power that cooperates, speaks the language of the times and uses the logic of science and enlightenment. We are badly in need of applying the sublime and fine principles and values of our religion which have given our predecessors strength and might and enabled them to set a good example, thus becoming virtually the best nation ever was on the face of the earth. Let our celebration of Laylatul Qadr marks a pledge to turn a new leaf in the life of our nation and admit with courage our slips and then proceed to put right our shortcomings and weaknesses. This is my candid message to all fellow Muslims in this blessed Night. It is my hope that my message will be received by open hearts and minds and that it will inspire Muslims' wills, so that we may change our lot to the better and so that we may deserve Allah's help in our drive to realize our aspirations and advance our nation. "Allah changes no people for the better untill they make an effort first". Many happy returns on the occasion and may all world Muslims be well. God bless you all. |
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