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Speech
H. E. Prof. Dr. Hamid Bin Ahmad AL- Rifaie
To
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What
is happening in
our
world?
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is a great privilege to address this venerable gathering of
religious, cultural and intellectual leaders from all over the world, who are here to discuss their mutual interests and the current world situation.
So, It is a pleasure talking to you regarding issue of the world current crisis.
First of all,
let me please explain some conceptions regarding the expression of civilization according to my
understanding:
·
What is civilization?
Civilization is: Construction the Earth and establishing Life.
Life& home are civilization.
Construction of the civilization in my opinion consists of two parts:
·
What is the materialistic part of civilization?
It is the fruit of an exploiting the resources of Earth in favor of
life. It is a common human heritage, because every nation through the history has made some thing of this joint legacy.
·
What is the cultural part of civilization?
It is the cultural performance in establishing and applying the
materialistic part of civilization in the life of the communities.
·
I think, we can say:
Civilization is an integral construction compounded of the
civilizational units according to the cultural diversity of the human communities, in other word, it is a cumulative construction in accordance with
the human cultures throughout the history.
In the light of antecedence ideas, I believe that the civilizational
diversity comes mainly from the cultural diversity.
Also, I think that culture is the standard of difference and
preference between the civilizations.
·
Surely, the moral performance in life is an essential character and the strongest safeguard of civilization.
·
The well known American President Mr. Roosevelt once said: “It is not what we have that matter for being a great nation, yet what
really matter is the way in which we use what we have.”
·
Mr. Richard Nixon, the former American President said: “In the 20th centaury, our technological progress has been far more
advanced than our political one, and we should not allow to happen in the next century, In order to decrease the chances of war and increase the rates
of participation in the benefits.”
·
Once, Confucius was asked to abandon one of three:
He abandoned military, then asked to abandon one of the latter
things, he abandoned food to emphasize the importance of order for life.
·
Jesus says: “What is the use if mankind gained the world and loses himself.”
·
Also, Jusus says: “ I didn’t come to cancel the right but to continue it.”
·
Prophet Mohamad says: “ I was sent to continue (message of the previous Prophets) the high standards of morals.”
·
Holy Qur’an tells us: That Allah Almighty has prescribed each nation a law and a clear way, and ordered them to compete in good deeds,
48/5.
·
Once, an Arabic poet said:
ÅäãÇ ÇáÃãã ÇáÃÎáÇÞ ãÇ ÈÞíÊ
ÝÅä åã ÐåÈÊ ÃÎáÇÞåã ÐåÈæÇ
In English:
Truly, nations are morals,
If their morals disappear,
Nations will disappear too.
I don’t think, that anyone can argue that the human progress today
is suffering from a sharp crisis of values. Undoubtedly, the tragedy of the deterioration of human dignity and violation of human rights are a painful
consequence of the crisis of values that is aggravated today in the world.
But what is the source of the crisis of values in our world?
Are they educational reasons? Or
Are they cultural reasons? Or
Is it a political one?
I think it is a cumulative crisis comes as a result from multiple
causes (Religious, Educational, Cultural and political Causes).
However, how can we deal with this central crisis in our life?
Outset, we have to confess that we are all responsible this crisis,
because upbringing and education of the human generations are a joint responsibility.
Therefore, we have to revise the curricula of the cultural formation
of the generations to make them more harmonious with our aspirations in crystallizing a common culture; for realizing a fair world charter based on
three pivots:
These three launching points must be regarded as a basis for our
common culture in order to establish a safe human coexistence.
For achieving such a noble end we have to work together to realize
the following five necessities of the human communities:
I think that the adoption of a universal charter for justice is the
first practical step towards achieving and activating the above mentioned necessities in the life of humankind.
But the questions that impose themselves here are:
Is it easy to adopt a universal charter for justice?
What is the available path to realize such a big goal?
What are the expected obstacles in the path of this noble aim?
Truly, these are very serious questions, and we have to think deeply
to answer them.
For my part, I think there are three huge challenges, which serve as
stumbling block before our aspirations. We have to overcome them in order to achieve a world charter for Justice and peace. These are:
I think that tackling the third one of the above mentioned three
items; must be the starting point of our project for tackling the first and the second items. In order to achieve that; we have to exert our efforts
to explain the importance of the role of the NGOs in activating the UN. To realize this aim we have to present our common project regarding the world
moral charter of Justice and peace.
For my part, I think that our common project must focus on the
following three main challenges, if we wish to dissolve the current world crisis regarding peace:
I think if we succeeded in presenting a reasonable and practical
solutions to the above mentioned challenges; surly, the others will listen to us more respectfully.
In this regard let me please to present my perspective as follows:
v
The moral challenge:
It goes without saying that, religion and culture are the main
components of the behavior of individuals and communities. Therefore we have to focus on the religious and cultural values which they plant the love
of justice and peace in the soul of the generations.
Religiously, we have to develop the meaning of religiousness to
involve all life affairs. We have to believe that there are two kinds of worships:
What do I mean with constructional worship?
In a word, it is establishing of life. On the other hand it means
every effort that may be exerted to bring good to humankind. So, every body anywhere must feel that he works to bring good to himself and to others,
because that is the straight path towards gaining the blessing of God.
Culturally, constructional worship demands of us to build the culture
of the human generations on the basis of the following principles:
vThe
economical challenge:
I think that the main components of the economical crisis in our
present world are:
How can we deal with this crisis? Regarding this question I suggest
the following main goals:
1.
Rebalancing between the culture of production and the culture of consumption in the behavior of generations,
2.
Rebalancing between technological progress and moral performance,
3.
Putting an end to the Monopolization of the vital resources of life.
4.
Adopting the principle of respecting the right of ownership; and legislation of utilization among communities, regarding the vital resources of
life.
v
The political challenge:
I think it is the biggest challenge in the world today!
Why?
Because International communities have became very close. Truly, we
are living in global village complex, and our interests have become very overlapping. That means we are in need to a joint system to administer our
common affaires within the frame of respecting the private system of each country. Every nation or every country prefers to administer her affairs
according to her private culture and traditions, in order to realize such equation between a joint world system and a private regional system; we have
to discover the common ground of human cultures.
For achieving such an important aim; we have to activate the role of
the NGOs within the UN. In respect to this end; I suggest the following steps:
In this case the skeleton plan of the UN will become as follows:
International Court of Justice
General Secretary
Ass. Gen. Secretaries
Secretariat
International Security Council
World Parliament
Economical & Social Council
World Center for Economic and Social Studies
General Assembly of GOs
General Assembly of NGOs
In accordance with the above mentioned proposal. The world
qualifications (Governmental & Civilian) will work side by side to develop and to activate the UN, so as to enable it to create an equitable world
order. Then and only then the political challenge will be dissolved in favor of the World Peace.
Finally and once again, to correct the abnormal situation in the
world, and to put an end of the crisis of justice and peace we need to:
To realize these main noble ends, we have to write in the name of
this venerable meeting to the UN, the International, continental, and regional organizations, to explain our vision and project regarding the current
world situations.
Thank you and May Allah Almighty helps us
By
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Islam
and Dialogue of Civilizations
Speech
of H.
E. Prof. Dr. Hamid Bin Ahmad AL–Rifaie President
of International Islamic Forum for Dialogue |
To
the
World
Public Forum “ Dialogue of Civilizations ‘’
September 3 – 6, 2003 - Rhodes, Greece,
On
behalf of the International Islamic Forum for Dialogue and World Muslim Congress
Based in Jeddah – Saudi Arabia, which coordinate today among more than one
hundred International Islamic Organizations in the various fields of dialogue
all over the world.
I would like to express my great pleasure as I address this grate World Forum; that is being held at complicated international circumstances for inter-studying and consultation on noble goals, at the top of it and most important is establishing Justice and Peace among people, And also for putting an end of the military phenomenon of the human relations, and rejecting culture of violence and conflict among civilizations.
When
we believe in dialogue of civilizations that means certainly, we reject theory
of the clash among them.
On
the other hand, that means we believe in the cultural diversity and we respect
the cultural specialties of the nations.
But
how can we support and enhance our perspective and position against those who
insist on the culture of clash and conflict among civilizations?
I
think it is one of the huge challenges that face the intellectual and wise
people all over the world, the thing that motivates us to work together to
overcome such challenges.
Regarding
this big noble goal I think we have to exert our joint efforts to crystallize
the components of the world common culture, to become a starting point of our
solidarity against the culture of clash, war, violence and terrorism throughout
the world.
Islam
has been always interested in this important issue. Prophet Mohammad peace be
upon him in his historical address at the last pilgrimage announced seven
pillars as a base of the world common culture as the following:
1.
O, people your Lord is one.
2.
O, people your Father is one.
3.
O, people your properties and bloods are sacred.
4.
O, people your Lord has committed for Himself not to commit injustice, do
not commit it.
5.
O, people your Lord has forbidden exploiting necessity of the needy
6.
O, people your Lord has exalted the honesty, and you have to exalt it.
7.
O, people your Lord has created woman and man as two counterparts, for
taking on their responsibilities in life on the base of the equitable
integration between them.
Islam
also has put five supreme goals and called all people to enter into competition
for realizing them:
1.
Intellectual security.
2.
Religious security.
3.
Social security.
4.
Moral security.
5.
Economic security.
For
clear understanding of the previous principles we should know that Islam is
mainly, consists of three parts:
·
Creed.
·
Law.
·
Message.
A-
Creed is the source of the educational and religious formation of the Muslim,
and represents the religious spatiality that distinguishes the Muslim from the
other.
Regarding
this question Islam decided the attitude towards the non - Muslims as follows:
·
Reassuring that every citizen is free in his faith.
(Your
religion is for you and may religion is for me) 6/109 Holy Qura’n.
·
Religion should not be enforced.
(There
is no compulsion in religion). 256/2 Holy Qura’n.
B-
Islamic law (Shari’a) is the rules and values for managing life’s affairs in
the Muslim community.
With
regard to this issue Islam also decided the status of the non-Muslims in the
Muslim community.
Regarding
this, Islamic law consists of two parts:
1.
Rules on personal affairs.
With
this regard, Islam gave non-Muslim citizens to deal their affairs according to
their religion values.
2.
Rules on the common interests.
Regarding
this, Islam emphasizes that the Muslim and non-Muslim are equal without
discrimination.
C-
The Islamic message is the principles and values on the management of the common
affairs among the human communities, such as:
i.
Building the earth and investing its resources for all.
ii.
Establishing justice among all without discrimination.
iii.Respecting
human life and human dignity.
iv.
Realizing peace among human communities.
v.
Respecting the environment to be our peaceful home.
I
wish to remind you that ALLAH Has created universes for His worship that means
that there is a harmony among duties of the creatures toward their Lord
Almighty.
Hence,
we belief that there are tow kinds of the religious worship
But
material things are harmonious in worship, because ALLAH has not given them
right of choice so as to make them harmonious in service of humankind.
Therefore, we believe that material things are monotheist but neutral in their
constructional worship in order to help mankind in exploiting Earth resources.
Therefore,
Islam has been interested in the question of the differences among people. ALLAH
Almighty calls all to focus on the common goals, and put general principles to
help us in achieving the best for all, according to the following:
01.
Every one has the right to choose one’s faith.
( There is
no compulsion in religion) 256/2 H.Q.
02.
Every one is free in one’s faith.
(Your
religion is for you and my religion is for me)
6/109 H.Q.
03.
Competing in good deeds.
(To each of
you we prescribed a law and method, Had ALLAH willed, He would have made you one
nation but to test you in what has
given you; so race to good deeds ) 48/5 H. Q.
04.
Cooperation in preventing aggression against holy places.
(And was it
not ALLAH checks the people, some by means of others, there would have been
demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of
ALLAH is much mentioned) 40/22 H.Q.
05. Uniting
against those who corrupt Earth.
(And if it
were not for ALLAH checking people by means of others, the earth would have been
corrupted, but ALLAH is full of bounty to the universes) 251/2 H.Q.
06.
Enjoying life is right for all without discrimination.
(Whoever
desires the life of this world and its adornments We fully repay them for their
deeds therein, and they therein will not be deprived) 15/11H.Q.
07.
Diversity in resources and skills among people is necessary for the process of
integration among communities.
(Do they
distribute the mercy of your Lord? It is we who have apportioned among them
their livelihood in the life of his world and have raised some of them above
others in degrees that they may make use of one another for service. But the
mercy of your Lord is better than whatever they accumulate) 32/43 H. Q.
08.
Justice for all, including enemies.
(O you who
have believed, be persistently standing firm for ALLAH, witnesses in justice,
and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that
is nearer to righteousness. And fear ALLAH; indeed, ALLAH is acquainted with
what you do) 8/5 H. Q.
09.
Cordiality and charity are the base of peaceful community relations.
(ALLAH does
not forbid you be just towards those who do not fight you or expel you from your
homes. Indeed, ALLAH loves those who act justly) 8/60 H. Q.
10.
Mutual acquaintance among individuals, groups, communities and nations is a
divine command.
(O mankind,
indeed we have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes
that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of
ALLAH is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is knowing and acquainted)
13/49 H. Q.
Based
on these main principles and in the light of the current events in the world we
can say:
·
Absence of Justice among nations is the root and the source of corruption
and evil in today’s world.
·
Crippling world order and the moral deterioration are the source of
tyranny and aggression against human dignity and environment.
·
Diversity of the human systems and legislations must be a motivation for
competition among communities in order to realizing benefits and justice for
all.
·
For more than 14 centuries, Islam has warned against injustice,
oppression and aggression; therefore made justice its first priority, and
decided that:
1.
Justice, peace and safe coexistence are the origin of relations among
communities.
Conflict
is an exceptional case imposed by the tendency toward oppression and aggression.
2.
Justice is the source of every virtue and safety.
3.
Oppression and aggression are the source of every vice and corruption.
4.
Regional and world security is inseparable and integral since Earth is a
common home for all.
5.
Man and woman are partners in shouldering the
responsibilities of life on basis of the equitable complimentarity between them.
5.
Economic security
