Dec.  11, 2001

Grand Imam of Al-Azhar,
Dignified Ulemas,
Brothers and Sisters,

In this blessed night every year; Lailutul Qadr that was described by Allah in His Book as “a peace to peoples until dawn rise”, it has been our habit on such occasion to face up our own conscience before Allah. Following dedicated worshipping days and nights of this great month, is time to have a pause to examine our affairs all over the Arab world and Islamic nation. We thank allah for all what He helped us to achieve, as well as for the good deeds He has made easy for us to perform.

    We promise Allah Almighty to complete the course already started by re-invigorating our determination to face up the huge challenges confronting our nation as it strives hard to restore its prestige among peoples. In pursuit of our everlasting message throughout human history, we seek to build a sublime civilization based on belief in Allah, elevation of man’s status, respect for his freedom, protection of his rights and communication and interaction among followers of different civilization.This stems from a belief that points of agreement and common interest are more wider and deeper than those of dispute and difference.

    We pray to Allah Almighty in this blessed night to forgive our compatriots their recent as well as earlier sins, guide them to the straight path, rid the world of evil and corruption and clear the earth of those who spoil it and attempt to terrorize peaceful people for no known reason except for misunderstanding and psychic rancour. These are causes for ruining interests and destroying stability, peace and safety of societies.

    Dignified Ulemas
Brothers and Sisters
We meet tonight amidst international highly grave and complex circumstances that cannot be ignored or disregarded.

    It is a sorrowful paradox that 2001 declared by the UN as a year of inter-civilizations dialogue where peace could be achieved, banners of justice hoisted and cordial and fraternal relations exchanged among people. Nevertheless, before its close, this year witnessed an unprecedented sorrowful tragedy. That was the attack against the biggest US city last September that claimed the lives of thousands of innocent men, women and childern , and it dissiminate a global sense of fear, worry and sympathy for the future of security and peace.

    Egypt as well as all Arab and Islamic countries expressed their categorical condemnation of the terrorist act as well as their sympathy for its victims and all the American people. Moreover, Egypt has unequivocally and unhesitatingly announced its complete willingness to cooperate with the international community in chasing, uprooting and eliminating terrorism. In taking such stance, Egypt has had the precedence in as much as it had the earlier initiative of continually warnning against the danger of terrorism. This has become a serious and regretable international phenomenon that cuts across continents and borders, between countries and civilizations.

    In spite of all these facts, the emergence of some Arab and Moslem names on the list of suspects in this atrocious terrorist act has opened gates of fire against Islam and Moslems. Hence it is our duty to warn against its dangerous trend as some have, out of ignorance or malice, jumped to the conclusion that all Arabs and Moslems are somehow responsible for the growth of terrorism.They further held Islam, with its culture and civilization, a suspect in this case, depicting it as religion that justifies violence and allows killing and devastation and hence should be taken only as a foe or enemy to the Western civilizations, its values and principles.

    Despite the fact that top officials of the US and many other European countries have earnestly sought to denounce this erroneous orientation; praising Islam as a religion; a civilization and values, yet the impact of malicious propaganda and the negative propagation, through the media, of such misrepresentations has overshadowed official statements. Consequently many Arabs and Moslems have been exposed to unfair and unjustifiable treatment as if each and every Arab and Moslem stood accused until proved innocent.

    Thus, overnight Islam has turned into an untrustable enemy. This attitude was in conflict of the fact that Islam has played its role as a major partner in the process of building a new world order based on inter communication, close ties, cooperation and exchange of accumilated historical experiences as well as a system of common moral values.

    In this respect, the government and people of Egypt adopted a clear-cut, objective and responsible stance, although, in the tumults of rage and excitement or under the influence of certain biased circles, failed to understand its content and overarching objectives.

    On my part and on the behalf of the people of Egypt, I have expressed the three components of this stance, which please allow me to reiterate before this gathering that bear a major responsibility for expressing the vision of Egypt as well as Arab and Moslems of this tragedy. This way we can foil any misrepresentation and clear away any pretexts or any grounds for biased and prejudiced circles seek to sow seeds of dissention, alienation and hostility among nations.

    First: in the name of all Egyptians; in the name of Islam in which we believe and take pride, we do condemn violence and denounce terrorism declare to Allah that stand clean handed of them both. We hereby alert, in a vocal and unequivocal tone, to the dangers that threaten humanity as a whole should it omit to chase, uproot and eliminate this phenomenon. Therefore, we have called for a rapid move by the international community, within the framework of the United Nations, its adopt all mean and measures to be approved and shared by all countries for a tight international pursuit of terrorism and terrorists.

    Here, in the name of Egypt and its civilization; in the name of Islam and its values and principles; even in the name of all religions, we do believe in the dignity of man; the sanctity of his life, property and honour as well as in his right to live in security, peace and stability. Hence, we reject all forms of aggression against innocents anywhere and any time irrespective of underlying reasons or their nationality, beliefs or political affiliations.

    According to true Islam, diversity of creeds, sects, nationalities, cultures and civilizations is a Heavenly ordained convention, and a universal unchangeable law. In this respect Allah Almighty says in the Holly Quran, “And if thy Lord had willed, He verily would have made mankind one nation, yet they cease not differing, save him on whom thy Lord hath mercy; and for that He did create them”.

    Islam also sees that concilliation, coexistence and dialogue between nations is the way to maintain pluralism and co-operation by all people, regardless of their creeds and religions, in good-doing and piety, rather than in evil-doing or aggression. Therefore, Islam is a religion of security, peace, fraternity and co-operation as it unequivocally calls Moslems to cooperate with non-Moslems in maintaining justice and good-doing.

    In this context Allah almighty says in the Holy Quran, “Allah forbiddeth you not in regard for those who warred not against you on account of religion and drove you not out from your homes, that you should show them hindness and deal justly with them. For Allah loveth those who are just” Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and prayers of Allah be upon him) confirms this meaning when he talks about non-Moslems saying: (They have the same duties we have as well as the same rights we have ).

    Second: In order to effectively and successfully combat terrorism we need to examine its cause, the political, economic and social climate that leads to its escalation and widening in scope, inside different countries, or on the international arena beyond. The steadily contineous deteriorating conditions of oppressed peoples or those suffering under the yoke of foreign occupation, coupled with failure by the international community, for one reason or another, to find just solutions for these problems can, by hook or by crook, push those oppressed and coerced to react to aggression with counter violence. In so doing, they can possibly reach dimensions difficult to be concieved by those who have never suffered from oppression, nor have ever been aware of the danger of frustration and despair that can prompt oppressed people to sacrifice meaningless lives where they have no right or dignity.

    In recognition of these facts, we were determined to speed up the resumption of the peace negotiation in the Middle East with the object of reaching a comprehensive and just settlement, not only on the Palestinian, but also on the Syrian track, in addition to completing withdrawal from the occuppied strip in South Lebanon. Thus the chains of peace can be completed and the peoples of the region can live in security, peace and stability.

    Third: is the unequivocal warning from the danger of involving Islam and Moslems as if they were a party responsible, even beyond sight, for the 11th September events. We categorically reject such presumptions and hereby declare that injustice and aggression can never sprout out of any religion. Such erroneous implication is likely to trigger sentiments of envy, hatred and rancour. It is also likely to set apart peoples who were destined, by God’s will, to come closer, converge and cooperate for the sake of the common goals of humanity at large.

    Therefore, esteemed Ulemas, you have a special trust to undertake; a trust that only you can bear. It is the trust of clarifying the truth about the real message of Islam, that was revealed to confirm the scripture before it.

    This is evidenced in the Holy Quran as follows: “The messenger believeth in whatsoever hath been revealed unto him from his Lord and (so do) the believers. Each one believeth in Allah and His angles and His scriptures and His messengers-we make no distinction between any of His messengers.” In his last words to all the world Messenger of Allah Muhammad (prayers and peace be upon Him) said in his farewell pilgrimage,: “People.. your blood, your money and your honour are inviolable until the Day of Resurection”.

    In addition to this, Prophet Muhammad was so dedicated to respect for such inviolability that he strictly prohibited the killing of innocent civilians who did not participate in fight even in ligitimate war which believers engaged in to defend their land and sanctities.

    He also forbad killing women, elderly and children. He thus subjected “war” to Islamic law (Sharia) and the rule of law, so that war would not turn into a savage unihibited surge, unbecoming of man whom Allah has made His successor on earth. Esteemed Ulemas, this is our standpoint, as we repeatedly declared earlier and continue to adhere to and insist on. It is also so unequivocal that it cannot be misunderstood, nor overbid.

    All will definitely realize, even, that by adopting this standpoint, we truly seek from long experience to protect existing humans against the evils of terrorism. In this pursuit, we use legitimate ways and means that maintain the unity of peoples and rule of law. This would also ensure that its general rules are applied to all addressed without distinction between major or minor, strong and weak, rich and poor or distinction on account of religion, race or gender.

    Venerable Ulemas,
We, Egyptian, Arabs and Moslems, are fully interested in resuming the friendly dialouge between followers of different civilizations. This springs from a deep vision, of purely humane roots, a true moral orientation and full awarness of the common dangers awaiting all parties.

    This is likely to take place should this generation fail to establish a new world order, different from the one that has born such malignant fruits that we had all suffered from during the past century. These included wars, genocide, oppression of the weak, diffusion of the spirit of violence, struggle, hate and terrorism.

    The latter has so exceeded all limits that our planet has almost turned into an insecure and unfit place for good and equitable human living. We, who believe in Allah as well as in the freedom and sanctity of man do want a world ruled by law rather than brute force; a world ruled by true faith in pluralism and concomitant requirement for global participation in administering affairs of the present and shaping the image of the future. This is our preference rather than attempts of exclusion, alienation and premeditated liquidation of others.

    Lastly, we want a world ruled by a culture of peace and dialogue, a moral system that governs human behaviour in all its moods and champions issues of justice, mercy and communication between people.

    In this context, we call upon all Ulemas and advocates in the light of the significant progress of humanity over the past century, to reconsider carefully the content of the religious discourse used in addressing people.

    Heavenly scriptures have been and will always be for individuals and nations the primary source of noble moral values, based on the concept of liability before God; a common feature to all religions. Here emerges the role of Ulemas, advocates and intellectuals in bringing about this shift, aspired- for by peoples of the World, to a future where security and fraternity prevail.

    Ulemas and thinkers can accomplish their role only when they redouble their efforts so as to clarify the common features for all religions and to make it easier for people to do good with a feeling of satisfaction and happiness. In presenting elements of religious and moral commitment they should take into consideration the right order of priorities, so that major goals and human objective may not be lost amidst minute details and titbits. This would ensure that younger generations will be able to grasp the major reason behind sending Messengers and prophets to guide and present the right religion as mercy to all people.

    Esteemed Ulemas,
Brothers and Sisters,
We have great hope and stronger resolve that through close and faithful cooperation, and a high and deep sensitivity to common ideas and surrounding perils, we can extract out of the depth of crisis a beam of light that illuminates our future course and opens the gates to more just, more merciful, more secure and peaceful world.

    In this blessed night, I ask God to accept our prayers, and help us fulfil our duties and have mercy on us so that our Islamic nation can attain its prosperity.

Many happy returns of this occasion for you and our nation as a whole.
May Allah’s Peace and Mercy be upon you.