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Saturday, January 24, 1998
The Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar, Reverend Ulemas, Dear Brothers and Sisters, On such a night every year, in the last ten days of this glorified month, the hearts of millions of Muslims all over the world meet to celebrate an honourable occasion called "Laylatul Qadr" in which the light of the last of Heavenly inspiration started to be revealed to mankind; the Holy Qur'an guiding to the straight path, conveying righteousness and calling for justice and peace. It was revealed through the faithful Angel Gabriel to our Prophet Muhammad (peace and praise be upon him) on a blessed night in which God differentiated between right and wrong. Hence it is the Worthy Night which is better than a thousand nights and is by God's will "Peace until the rising of the dawn". Today, Muslims, as well as the whole world need celebrations which bring together their ranks and feelings, make their lives happy, ease life’s burdens in a difficult time and stimulate honourable human values, many of which are about to vanish in the rush to headlong race, and wild desire to monopolize fruits of progress and welfare whose doors were widely opened by the power of science. With the celebration of this great night, Muslims now more than ever need to have an honest and serious pause with themselves to remember the consequences of the big responsibility with which God has charged them when He blessed them with the message of Islam. So, it was an honour and a duty, by virtue of which, together with good beneficial deeds, rather than pretence, dependence or raising slogans, was destined to be the best nation ever created to make the world prosperous by the power of science and work and with the determination of sublime believers. Thus, seeking the satisfaction of God who guided them to Islam and entrusted with its responsibility and made all believers witnesses to all people based on the values of justice, mercy, tolerance and peace. Reverend Ulemas, Brothers and Sisters, While having this pause, we have to ask ourselves two major questions: First: Did we, in Egypt, play the role that God has chosen for us when He bestowed upon us an abundance of resources, labour force, a unique geographical and political position among nations, and a wisdom attained by an age-old historic and cultural experience? Second: Did our Islamic nation honour the responsibility emanating from God's choice as most blessed nation? Has the contemporary generation of such capabilities, experiences and methodology of thought and work that qualify them to pursue the long march which mad earlier Muslims during their eras of awakening and prosperity the leaders of science and knowledge and grand partners of comprehensive human civilization? The answer to these two questions, will be, as I think, as follows: First: As regards us in Egypt, our contemporary generation has inherited heavy burdens and faced accumulated problems, some of which have been long neglected or steps of their reform have failed. This situation has led Egypt to a juncture of two never-interesting roads. One of them is stagnation, slowdown, self-satisfaction through inflated slogans unaccompanied by serious, presistent work. This road undoubtedly leads to inevitable regression. The other road begins with an honest and truthful close survey of reality with all its strengths and weaknesses. The march will proceed forward with determination, facing challenge with tireless efforts whereby the recent generation will forge its way forward in all walks of life, armoured with the most recent operating of techniques and construction technologies in the East and the West, believing that science is not limited to a specific country and that wisdom is not confined to a specific nationality. According to the guidance of our glorious Apostle, "Wisdom is the common pursuit of believers; whenever he finds it he is the most entitled thereto." Nowadays we in Egypt can, thanks to God's grace and blessing, affirm that we surmounted many obstacles and passed through the narrow impasse into the field of abundant opportunities. Our society is now full of many examples of distinction and superiority. Many achievements have been fulfilled in industry, agriculture and services. We can with pride decide that distinguished Egyptian competent professionals have emerged, many of whom were born in the era of challenge. This generation has unlimited aspirations to achieve distinction, high performance and ability to compete with others. Nowadays, this generation is our strongest weapon on the road of civilizational competition for which we have prepared ourselves in submission to God and in allegiance to the homeland. No doubt, the democratic atmosphere which we adopt and keenly pursue and enhance has positively contributed to the making of these achievements. At the same time, this atmosphere has opened the door before the criticism of those involved and shouldering responsibility for public work. If this criticism sometimes exceeds the limits of objectivity and fairness, then it is our duty in this holy night to preserve our self-confidence and say to the good-performer "well done" and to the bad-performer "You have done wrong". Self-confidence and sense of pride in one's achievements are two main pillars of the progress of nations. Allow me, as I seek in this holy night to stress self-confidence and stimulate further resolve to proceed towards major goals, to remind all sons of Egypt that we still have a hard way and continuing work ahead of us. But, we do believe that resolve is often as strong as those who possess it (where there is a will, there is a way) and that great souls settle not for no less than grand objectives. Second: As for our Islamic nation, whose sons gather tonight to observe this sacred Islamic occasion, it has two major challenges to confront inevitably at the same time without hesitation, slackeness or self-importance. The world around us is moving at a fast pace, all nations vie for a better position out of their belief that static and sedentary people who turn their backs on work indulge heavenly in dreams shall have no place on the map of a new world. This is a world where all barriers have been removed where various cultures and people are meeting not only to interact and get closer but also to compete. On this arena, none will survive but those who are well-prepared and equipped with the strongest weapons on top of which are closing ranks, adopting creative science and maintaining up work and production. The first challenge, which is the biggest, is "reform at home" and changing the reality of the Islamic nation in Islamic countries and societies. As long as it is a matter of life, present and future, we have to admit that, on the threshold of a new century, most of the Islamic societies are still adopting a life style that cannot cope up with the new challenges. This is quite clear in the negative attitudes of some people as to effective participation in shouldering responsibility. Besides, are the inefficient economic conditions which are short of achieving true economic and social growth, whereby the quality and quantity of production are enhanced. Goods and services are made capable of competition in an age of an increasingly globalizing market where small and developing countries are obligated to face fierce competition and remove such sorts of protection for their goods and services. Many Islamic societies are still generally unaware of the nature of the age, the impossibility of isolation and the necessity of stepping foreword to globalization. On this blessed occasion, we need to make it open, work together faithfully and honestly for the common prosperity of the nation. As long as we live in the age of intermarriaging cultures, let me seize the opportunity of this glorious night, to remind the venerated Ulemas and intellectuals of the nation who hold the banner of thought, of the dire need to unveil the true visage of Islam not merely to correct its image in the minds of followers and statesmen of other cultures, but mainly, even before, Islam in the minds and conscience of the new generations. They got to know that Islam has great aims and a comprehensive vision of the total issues of the universe, and is not merely isolated texts, which are subjects of disputes between ignorant, unguided and narrow-minded people with subjective interests. They have to know that the Prophet Muhammad, prayers and peace be upon him, is sent by Allah Almighty, as a mercy to all people alleviating their problems, eliminating their burdens and putting an end to their sufferings. He was merciful and lenient, as witnessed by Almighty Allah. He, who wants to follow the steps of this great Prophet, has to have mercy in his heart, love and be loved, be close to people, bearing in mind, that he can never be a true Muslim unless he behaves himself in words and actions. Those who seek righteousness and faithfulness should follow the teachings of Allah Almighty and the Sunna of His gracious Prophet, and adopt a strict unequivocal attitude, against any danger that jeopardises the whole Islamic nation. It is the danger of black terrorism which aims at weakening the Islamic nation and wasting away its resources without benefiting anyone. It also opens the door to foreign conspiracy to undermine the security and stability of peoples. Thus, those terrorists who claim themselves to be the advocates and protectors of Islam, are traitors of their peoples and nation and should be strictly and persistently condemned and repelled with no mercy by faithful believers as the enemies of Allah, His Prophet and the believers. Therefore, Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful promised them the severest punishment, as in the Qur’an verse. "The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on antimate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter theirs will be awful doom". Thus, it is the duty of every Islamic country and Muslims as a whole to strictly oppose this corrupt and saboteur faction and refrain from helping such groups whose hands are soiled with innocent blood. Any responsible person should not miss the opportunity offered to him to face this dangerous phenomenon, effectively, without fear or hesitation, in all fields of education, Islamic call, information and culture. This would protect youth from being ensnared in the tangles of this black danger so as not to be deceived by their false adherence to Islam and fabricating lies against Allah Almighty. It remains to be said that Islamic solidarity which has been the object of raised slogans and statesmen and intellectuals calls, can never be true and effective unless based on a sound vision recognising Islam as a constructive rather than a destructive religion and message. It is a call for fraternity and cooperation for good deeds. Islam is not a means of dispersion and sticking to the weakest pretexts of disunity and dispute. Most probably, days and events will reveal more stable and deepened awareness of the necessity of cooperation among the sons of Islamic nation and to resolve duties, the relics of which are still existing among many countries. The second challenge facing the Islamic nation is Muslims relation with the entire world. Tonight, I do not want to elaborate on the reasons for the existing misconception of Islam and Muslims by many westerners, nor those for the deliberate attempts to distort the image of Muslims and Islam. This is well-documented and well-known to the observers of these matters. I also do not want to discuss the responsibility of mass media of Islamic and Arab states to use the most effective media in order to correct this unfair image which is about to make the world oblivious of the long history in which Muslims a considerable and laudable contribution to human civilisation with tolerance away from fanatiasm and deep conviction of the oneness of human destiny. For some people, the matter has become an attempt to drive the Muslims away from being partners to one human drive combining all nations to establish a new world order. This order is based on the one and same system of values, where all cultures essentially converge. So that it is incumbent on our Ulemas and intellectuals to resist such attempt. Also, they should build bridges with other cultures. They should call to memory the comprehensive human vision, where man is honoured as a human. According to this vision, all forms of discrimination as to colour, race or belief are rejected. Since the dawn of its history, Islam had advocated that multiplicity is a heavenly rule and law for all creatures. In addition, the Ulemas should assert, on behalf of their people, that Muslims now with a population exceeding one billion are calling for peace and security, opening their hearts for scincere and cordial relationships with all nations and peoples. They should once again advocate the sublime human values already called for by all Messengers of God, and stressed and highly honoured by the Quran; the eternal Book of Islam, that was revealed as a culmination of all earlier Heavenly Scriptures. This would block the road in the face of attempts to keep away, isolate and make the world blench from Muslims. Thus, new prospects can be opened for Muslims as well as the whole world, where the Word of God becomes supreme and religions perform their noble human role of guiding mankind in their headlong march towards a new era, where science prevails, and the light of faith should not be dimmed. Brothers and Sisters, This are my words in this blessed night. Pray to God to support our Egyptian people and our Islamic nation while fighting their noble battles based on human and spiritual principles. We also, pray to God to bless our nation and help us to fulfil our duty. Allah Almighty is the most Gracious to beseech and pray. Many happy returns of this occasion for you and our nation as a whole. May Allah’ s Peace and Mercy be upon you. |
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