From: Habib Yousafzai <habibyousafzai@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Nov 16, 2010 at 3:03 AM
Subject: [bangla-vision] GRAND MUFTI DENOUNCES VIOLENCE, INJUSTICE
GRAND MUFTI DENOUNCES VIOLENCE, INJUSTICE
Arafat reverberates with Labaika
Arafat (Saudi Arabia), Nov 15: Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh said Islam is based on justice and equity, which renounces terrorism, extremism and injustice.
In his Khutba-e-Hajj (Hajj Sermon) from Masjid-e-Nimra at Arafat he said those who are harbouring plans to spread anarchy and chaos in the globe have, in fact, turned their backs to the teachings of the Messengers of Almighty Allah.
Around three million white-robed pilgrims reached Mount Arafat and its surrounding plain on Monday as the Hajj, the world's largest annual pilgrimage, converged on the site of the Prophet Muhammad's (SAW) last sermon.
Chanting Labaika Allahummah Labaika…. (Oh God, here we come, answering your call) pilgrims set off to reach the top of Mount Arafat, a hill dominating the plain of Arafat.
Condemning Western occupation of foreign lands, the Grand Mufti said; "Islam forbids the occupation of a country, and the unlawful shedding of civilian blood, and the destruction of crops and cattle."
"The rights of people in third world nations is not as it is in other countries, and it is unacceptable that nations occupy these lands and rape them of their riches," he said.
"But violence cannot be cured with violence and neither can terrorism be cured with force, but by lifting injustices levied on oppressed peoples," he told the pilgrims.
Al-Sheikh stressed that Islam is a religion of "great mercy" and that it preached equality. He said those preaching violence and misleading the youth are working against teachings of the religion.
The Imam said there was a need to adopt religious ethics in our individual and collective life and strictly adhere to the teachings of the great religion. He said Islam is a religion of moderation and we should strike a balance in our lives.
He said the spirit of Islam was to establish peace in the world as only then family life can strengthen, mosques can be built and worship of Allah Almighty carried out. He said it has been clearly mentioned in the Holy Quran that Khilafat would be given to those who would turn chaos into peace in the world.
Sheikh Abdul Aziz referred to the difficulties posed to the Ummah because of the global developments and said we can face them squarely through cohesion and unity.
He said only a just economic system, propounded by Islam, can help address ills of unemployment and price-hike.
He said Islam is not a theoretical religion; instead, it is a practicable Deen (code of conduct).
The Grand Mufti said Allah sent the Last and Final Prophet (SAW) with complete code of conduct and this (Shariah) is in harmony with human nature, as it caters to all man's natural and material needs.
Imam Abdul Aziz also exhorted Muslims to strive for Rizk-e-Halal (permissible livelihood), avoid spendthrift and share their wealth with those who are poor and indigent.
About 1.8 million Muslims were in the holy city of Mecca on Monday for the first day of Hajj.
Saudi Arabia's Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, who is overseeing Hajj this year, was quoted in the Saudi Press Agency as saying that the pilgrims this year amounted to the "highest number ever recorded."
An additional 1.6 million local residents are expected, bringing the total anticipated number of pilgrims to more than 3.4 million, Prince Nayef said.
The pilgrims have come from a total of 181 countries.
Hajj is the largest pilgrimage in the world. Among the various rituals associated with Hajj, significance of climbing Mount Arafat forms the highlight.
The significance of Mount Arafat is that it is the hill on which Prophet Muhammad (SAW) delivered his last sermon. A pillar now stands there on the peak, in order to mark the spot, where Prophet Muhammad (SAW) gave out the last sermon.
Mount Arafat is also known as the Mount of Mercy (Jabal ar-Rahmah). It reaches about 70 m in height.
According to Islamic history, it was on Mount Arafat that Adam and Eve, separated for 200 years following their expulsion from the Heavens, met and recognized each other and were reunited. Here too they were forgiven by Allah for their transgression after offering their repentance.
At sunset the majority of pilgrims - on foot, in wheelchairs or by bus - descended Arafat and head to al-Muzdalifa for night stay in the open. They will again proceed to Mina in the morning for the stoning of the devil ritual at Jamaraat.
The stoning ritual coincides with the Eid al-Adha, or the feast of sacrifice, which starts on Tuesday for most Muslims around the world.
This year, a new Chinese-built, $2bn metro line opened connecting Mecca with Minna and al-Muzdalifa, which lie along the route to Mount Arafat.
On the remaining three days of the Hajj, the pilgrims continue the ritual stoning before performing the Tawaaf-e-Widah and then heading home.
7 OPEN HEART SURGERIES CONDUCTED
Seven open-heart surgeries have been conducted on pilgrims from different nationalities this year, according to Deputy Minister of Health for Planning and Development Muhammed Khushaim, speaking at a press conference on Sunday.
"We had to interfere this way to safe their lives, as we are in the Kingdom consider the life of every pilgrim very precious to us. And one of our top priorities is to minimize the mortality rate among pilgrims. Therefore, we never hesitate to conduct even heart surgeries to pilgrims when needed."
Khushaim pointed out that the Ministry of Health has designated two hospitals in Makkah for major surgeries needed for pilgrims. The first is Noor hospital and the other is the giant medical complex, King Abdullah Medical City, which opened last year.
Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colours and races here in this ancient Holy Land, the home of Abraham(AS), Muhammad(SAW) and all the other Prophets of the Holy Scriptures. For the past week, I have been utterly speechless and spellbound by the graciousness I see displayed all around me by people of all colours.
MALIK EL SHABAZZ
(Malcolm X) wrote in 1964
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