19 November 2010
BEIRUT: Muslim religious clerics called for unity and coexistence during sermons to mark Eid al-Adha.
Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani delivered his Adha sermon at the Mohammad al-Amine Mosque in Downtown Beirut Tuesday in a ceremony attended by an array of political figures and a number of ambassadors.
Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awad Osseiri was present along with Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Ghazanfar Roknabadi and the two figures sat next to each other during prayers.
During his sermon, Qabbani touched upon Lebanese domestic affairs and said the country was experiencing a difficult, delicate and dangerous period.
He added that all groups were looking for a solution and said: “We are not helpless but we might be neglectful.”
Qabbani explained that the Lebanese were capable of solving current problems through cooperation and dialogue, and rejected all violent speeches.
“It is not acceptable for anyone to use threatening and violent language to convince others,” he said.
Qabbani said the Lebanese were neglectful in terms of protecting each other, their dignity and their future.
Qabbani called for both justice and stability, and voiced hope that two would be achieved.
The cleric condemned sectarianism and underlined the need to preserve equality between Muslims and Christians in Lebanon.
He also condemned the harming of Arab Christians, especially at the hands of Muslims.
Vice President of the Higher Shiite Council Sheikh Abdel-Amir Qabalan held Adha prayers at the council’s headquarters Wednesday.
During his sermon, he voiced optimism concerning the political meetings that have been taking place, especially between Lebanese and Syrian leaders, Syrian and Saudi leaders, as well as Arab and Iranian leaders to solve the current deadlock.
Tensions have mounted in the past months over the indictment to be issued by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon probing the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Qabalan then called for religious tolerance and for “consolidating national unity and supporting coexistence and rejecting deceit.”
Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Naeem Hassan also called for unity during his sermon and warned of rising tensions.
“Does it escape their minds that rising tensions threaten national unity and lead Lebanon toward its fall and toward chaos?” he asked, referring to political leaders and asking them to remain calm and avoid violent language.
“There is no solution for the Lebanese other than dialogue,” he added, stressing that national unity was Lebanon’s primary source of strength.
Hassan received congratulations from leading political, military and religious figures and from Ibrahim Amine al-Sayyed, representing Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
Qabbani also received congratulatory phone calls from leading figures, though he apologized for not receiving congratulations in person due to the passing away of Tyre Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Dali Balta. – The Daily Star
Copyright The Daily Star 2010.
