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Sunday, July 07, 1996
President Mubarak’s Speech on the Anniversary of Prophet Muhammad’s Birth The Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar, Honourable Ulemas, Dear Brothers, There are certain days in history which are considered beacons that light up the path and guide those who follow it to their aspired goals. Some of these landmark days are not only everlasting but also challenge the calamities of time. No doubt, among these landmark and immortal days in history, a day in which the entire world was brightened by the birth of the Prophet of mankind and the best that ever has been, Muhammad, peace be upon him. On this day, God has given mankind one who will revive their humanity, help them to rise from their fall and guide them towards the right path, welfare and peace. Since the creation of man, prophets and their messages have consecutively appeared. Each prophet or messenger has laid down a foundation stone in the edifice of faith, and upgraded the spirit of virtue. Eventually, life became in dire need of someone who would complete the message of God to man, rectify his monotheism, improve his norms of life by a just Sharia or legislation, and set right his manners by sublime virtues. Hence, God brought about the birth of Muhammad on this blessed night for the salvation of mankind, and to receive His message, resign to His will, fulfill the responsibility of the message, thus embarking on the greatest revolution in human history. This peaceful and tolerant revolution that is complete and comprehensive. A revolution brought human beings out of darkness, redeemed them from the abyss of loss, rectified their minds by the purest creed, regulated their lives by the most exalted Sharia, corrected their behaviour by the most sublime values, thus achieving the greatest change in the history of mankind towards welfare and the right course. Hence, we do not exaggerate if we say that this birth was the beginning of true redemption and elevation of the entire world. We are happy to celebrate this day for we greatly appreciate its value, and are fully aware of the benefits of this memory, as God has said, "And remind for surely the reminder is for the benefit of the believer." As I have said on previous occasions, the best means to celebrate this munificent anniversary is to derive from it a lesson and a good example by revising the past, follow its best achievements, meditate the present with its positive and negative aspects, and lastly aspire for the future and predict its vistas and dimensions. If we meditate the past in the light of the Prophet's biography, we find that the past had witnessed radical transformations in the life of the Arabs and those around them, thanks to the values and principles of the Prophet's message. From dispersed and lacerated tribes, the Arabs became one nation. They left behind them a bedouin life of loss and backwardness and embraced a wonderful progressive civilization. They moved from an isolated and dependent society to an interrelated and independent entity which had its considerable contribution to the progress of human civilization. Islam has entrenched new values in the hearts of the faithful. These values are based on tolerance, mercy, cooperation and justice among mankind, as well as the respect for the value of work. It fights discrimination, injustice and bigotry. It refrains from extremism and eccentricity, harming others, malice and hatred. Thus the Islamic society was set up on a firm basis because values are the guarantee for a solid structure and upright behaviour. Values are the criteria for a sound social fabric. They are the element of balance between self and common interests. They form man's role on earth in making peace, spreading welfare and predicting glory and progress. Hence, the world gained from the great Islamic civilization which preserved the consequent civilizations and interacted with other cultures without fear or hesitation, taking from and adding to them, thus enriching human experience and supporting its march over the years. This is the aggregate of what we can benefit from the past as we celebrate this occasion. As for looking into the present, we find that our nation is internally suffering from certain negative phenomena that dilapidate its strength, obstruct its march, threaten its being, at a time other nations are engaged in the battle of comprehensive development as well as a scientific and technological revival. They make great achievements in the various spheres amidst ferocious competition where survival is for the fittest and strongest who is capable of keeping pace with progress and procuring the components of the science and information revolution. In this arena, there is no room for the weak and the small entities, nor for the entities that are indulged in impeding negative aspects and dispersing conflicts. Though our upright religion is based on the principles of rights and justice, stresses the non-aggression on the land and property of others, and underlines the freedom, dignity and security of all, yet we find some related to the Islamic nation are involved in the infringement on the rights of their Muslim brothers. They threaten their peace and security disregarding their rights, the brotherhood and neighbourliness which are persistent in Islam. Moreover, some who are related to Islam have in the recent years resorted to the interference in the affairs of some sisterly Arab and Islamic countries through conspiracies, sabotage and supporting terrorism, undermining security and stability in a bid to have spheres of influence outside their borders and subordinate these sisterly Islamic peoples to their hegemony. They exercise pressure, blackmail, and threats. These deviant people have forgotten that our upright religion venerates the sanctity of others' properties and life. It does not allow any one, for any reason, to terrify peaceful people, kill or cause the death of the innocent. These evil-doers have forgotten God's words which say, "kill not the soul, which God has forbidden, save by right". Also God Almighty says, "whoever slays a soul, unless it be for manslaughter or for corruption in the land, it is as though he slew all men". They have also forgotten the Prophet's saying: "Every Muslim is prohibited from killing another Muslim, usurping his property or violating his honour." The Prophet also said "He who does not save his neighbour from his evil does not enter Paradise". Thus, the Holy Quran and the Prophet's Tradition have confirmed that such forms of aggression which lead to the killing of the innocent and terrifying the peaceful are absolutely contradictory to the spirit, teachings and values of Islam. In fact, they distort its image to other non-Muslim peoples. The essence and transcendant teachings of Islam call for the respect of the human soul, preserve solidarity among the peoples of the nation, close their ranks, refrain from harm as the Prophet said "No harm and no harming", which is one of the main principles of Islam. Islam is a religion of justice and mercy and is a true application of Islamic brotherhood, which ordains compassion, cooperation, solidarity and unity among brothers of one religion. The principle of adherence to peace comes next in importance to solidarity. I mean a just, comprehensive and durable peace. Such peace is, according to Islam, the basis of relations among ourselves and among others. Muslims fighting each other runs counter to Islam. Likewise, fighting others is only allowed in self-defence against any aggression, or when there are enough evidence that aggression is imminent. Therefore, peace is in the Islamic view a firm basis while war is an exception. God Almighty says, " and fight in the way of Allah against those who fight with you, and do not exceed the limits. " Hence our upright religion calls for solidarity in order to be strong dignified, and become a power to be reckoned with. It advocates peace for the sake of security and stability. We can build, reconstruct and keep abreast of civilization and progress only in an atmosphere of peace and security. For this reason we adopt a policy of solidarity and peace, and believe it is a firm strategic line to be followed. It agrees with the values of our religion which we are keen to follow. For the sake of solidarity we work hard. We spare no effort to close ranks, and unify our stance. We thank God that during the Cairo Arab Summit, the Arab leaders succeeded to unify their stance. The Arab Summit will continue to be a landmark in Arab history. We strive to realize a just, comprehensive and durable peace so that the world may rest assured that we are not war - mongers, but rather we are defending our rights and are peace lovers. Our peace is that of the honourable and the capable and not that of the weak and incapable. In demanding the Arab rights we rely on dialogue and negotiations which are civilized means that resort to international legitimacy, law and justice. To those who jeopardise the peace process or cast doubts on our pleas for peace, we say that we insist on the peace we have chosen and started because our religion calls for it and our interests are linked to cast doubts on our intentions or make us change our position because we seek a just, comprehensive and durable peace. It is a peace confirmed by agreements, and supported by the International Community because it constitutes a course that will give each party its rights and creates the required balance between rights and commitments. It also provides the necessary protection for the legitimate interests. The Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar, Honourable Ulemas, Brothers and Sisters, In my opinion, this is what this dear memory and lessons of the past, as well as indications of the present evoke in our souls. As for planning for the future, this memory necessitates the adherence to Islamic values in our dealings both within our Islamic family and with others equally. Such values and principles strengthen our front, unify our stance and render us capable of entering the coming century as a strong, impressive, dignified and independent entity. Our predecessors have rightly said "a drop added to a drop forms a wave, a wave to a wave forms a sea, and a sea to a sea forms an ocean." They also said "an atom plus an atom forms a pebble, and a pebble plus a pebble is a rock, and a rock plus a rock is a mountain". Peace is our means to security and stability, reconstruction, production and prosperity. Our experience is the best proof of that. Through peace we directed our efforts towards restoring what has been destroyed by war. We built new cities, redoubled the productive plants, expanded the agricultural land, increased production, provided services and started a new stage which we hope will have its fruitful impact on life in the good earth of Egypt. We have great hopes in realizing this comprehensive revival, and advancing progress until we reach a stage worthy of Egypt's conspicuous position in history compatible with the potentials which God has bestowed on the Egyptian people. The Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar, Honourable Ulemas, Brothers and Sisters, These are my contemplations on the anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad's Birth. I hope it would be a brotherly message to my Muslim brothers everywhere. May this message find due response that agrees with its sincerity for the sake of a better future for our nation, a future equal to its great past. May God help and guide our endeavours. Peace be upon you. |
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