The Speech of H. E. His Emi-nence Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Ab-dullah Al Al-Sheikh, Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia & President of the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League
The Speech of H. E. His Emi-nence Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Ab-dullah Al Al-Sheikh, Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia & President of the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League
Praise be to Allah , the Lord of the universe; blessing and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions.
At the beginning I would like to warmly welcome His Royal High-ness Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Ad-visor to the Monarch & Governor of Makkah Administrative Region; and H. E. Dr. Muhammad Ab-dulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary Gen-eral of the Muslim World League as well as distinguished scholars, researchers and other participants in this blessed Conference.
I would like also to thank the Muslim World League for its re-markable efforts in giving due care to the affairs of Muslim Nation and issues of the Muslim World via organizing conferences tackling the emerging incidents, issues and problems that disturb the mind of every Muslim and everyone con-cerned with the affairs of Islam and Muslims.
In fact, the Muslim World League has to be thanked for requesting of scholars, intellectuals and writers concerned with the Islamic affair to write research papers on these is-sues and problems and study them an academic point of view so as to present them for discussion at the Conference in order to reach reso-lutions to be agreed upon by par-ticipants so as to be taken as bases and features on the light of which practical resolutions for the issues and problems that have taken place can be adopted to achieve high in-terests of the Nation.
As regards my address on the theme of this Conference on “In-tellectual Trends between Freedom of Expression and Law of Shari’ah “I am glad to give the following points. Islam was revealed to guide mankind and lead them out from the darkness of disbelief and go-ing astray to the light of belief and guidance, which is the straight path. Allah says “People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Mes-senger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture and overlooking much. There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book.” (Qur’an, 5:15). He also said, “By which Al-lah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from darknesses into the light, by His permission, and guides them to a straight path”. (Qur’an, 5:16)
Allah has revealed His Holy Book in which there are guidance, elucidation, light and recovery for the hatred sickness in the bosoms.
Allah says, “O mankind, there has to come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers. (Qur’an 10:57). He also said,” And We have certainly sent down to you distinct verses and examples from those who passed on before you and an admonition for those who fear Al-lah. (Qur’an, 24:34)
Furthermore, this Holy Book in-cluded the explanation of all rules pertaining to creed matters such as believing in Allah, his Books, messengers, the unforeseen, the hereafter and its associated resur-rection, reward and punishment. Then all this is followed by eternal life, which is either in Paradise and blessing for the believers or Hel Fire and excruciating punishment for the disbelievers.
Furthermore, this Book has explained all rulings pertaining to man in this life such as organizing personal matters of the individual, group, Muslim family, financial transactions, judicial aspects and relations among the various strata of the Muslim society. Islam has also elucidated the prohibited mat-ters and sins that that should be averted and the consequential pun-ishment in this world and hereafter. Likewise, hasn’t left anything with-out giving lucid explanation of its ruling in clear texts in the Holy Qur’an and Immaculate Sunnah of His Prophet (May blessing and peace be upon him). Such explana-tion is done in an adequate manner that leaves no room for suspicion or deviation; and that no one has the right to violate it without due ex-cuse, argument or proof.
Whoever obeys Allah and His Prophet is promised to enter Para-dise and whoever disobeys is threat-ened to enter Hel Fire. Allah says,” These are the limits [set by] Allah, and whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger will be admitted by Him to gardens [in Paradise] under which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein; and that is the great attain-ment. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgress-es His limits - He will put him into the Fire to abide eternally therein, and he will have a humiliating pun-ishment” (Qur’an, 4:13-14)
However, in the current age and in consideration of the fact many youth have been affected by the western civilizations and the civi-lizations conflicting with the re-vealed messages, we remark that among them spread the principles that contradict the basic tenets of Islam and intellectual trends that deviated from the proper method and straight path.
Furthermore, it is noted that in many Islamic countries surfaced a wave of atheism which is repre-sented in the contradiction of the texts of the Holy Qur’an and Sun-nah, denial of the precisely defined basic principles of Religion and its creed and legislative tenets as well as conflicting with the rules of Shari’ah under the pretext of al-leged freedom and exaggeration in glorifying the status of intellect and giving it due preference over Shari’ah texts and taking it as a judge in at variance with its basic principles and precisely defined te-nets.
Undoubtedly, following atheism is in fact misleading and deviation from the methodology of Islam and straight path; and that it contradicts Shari’ah of Allah and His Prophet (blessing and peace be upon him); and that it is considered sheer disbe-lief that leads the one who profess it to Hel Fire. Allah says “People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture and over-looking much. There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book. (Qur’an, 5:15) Allah also says “Indeed, Allah does not for-give association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associ-ates others with Allah has certainly gone far astray.” (Qur’an, 4:116)
The Muslim is under duty bound to obey Allah and His Prophet. Al-lah says , “Obey Allah and obey the Messenger. And beware (of evil) if you do turn back, know you that it is our Messenger’s duty to pro-claim (the Message) in the clearest manner”. (Qur’an 5:92) He says “Indeed, those who disbelieved and averted [people] from the path of Allah and then died while they were disbelievers - never will Al-lah forgive them. (Qur’an, 47:34) He says, “Say, Obey Allah and obey the Messenger; but if you turn away - then upon him is only that [duty] with which he has been charged, and upon you is that with which you have been charged. And if you obey him, you will be [rightly] guided. And there is not upon the Messenger except the [re-sponsibility for] clear notification.” (Qur’an, 24:54)
Likewise, the Muslim is also required to totally submit to the rul-ing of Allah and His Prophet and not contradict them. Allah says, “It is not for a believing man or a be-lieving woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.” (Qur’an, 33:36)
He also says, “Say: Obey Al-lah and His Messenger; but if they turn away, Allah loves not those who reject faith” (Qur’an 3:32). Furthermore, if the Muslim is in doubt regarding a particular mat-ter in the religion, he should refer it to the ruling of the precise verses and should not follow unspecific verses because following the rul-ing of such unspecific verses for securing pretexts is considered one of the virtues of those who have de-viation in their hearts. Allah says, “It is He who has sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Book; in it are verses [that are] precise - they are the foundation of the Book - and others unspecific. As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suit-able to them]. And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah. But those firm in knowledge say, “We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord.” And no one will be re-minded except those of understand-ing. (Qur’an 3:7)
Muslim should be cautious not to make his intellect a controlling element over what was definitely confirmed by a conspicuous text in the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah. Allah says (That is the bounty from Allah, and sufficient is Allah as Knower). (Qur’an 4:70)
Furthermore, the Muslim will given good tiding to be successful in gaining the satisfaction of Allah in this world and hereafter if he submits himself to the ruling of Allah and His Prophet, obeys them, directs his whims and intellect ac-cording to the texts of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah complies with the ruling of Shari’ah and lives the Islamic way of life.
We supplicate Allah Almighty to grant us all the ability to strictly follow and hold fast to the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, submit to the rulings of the eternal Shari’ah and comply with its principles so that we please our Lord and gain His satisfaction to become successful in this world and hereafter and save ourselves from His excruciating punishment.
I would not forget in this oc-casion to thank Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin AbdulAziz Al-Saud for the service to Islam unify the word of Muslims and for his incessant sup-port to the Muslim World League, the an act that helped it perform its message on the most satisfied manner. Thank is also extended to Crown Prince, Minister of Interior Muhammad bin Naif and thanks also goes to Deputy Crown Prince, Minister of Defense Muhammad bin Salaman.
Blessing and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad
Praise be to Allah , the Lord of the universe; blessing and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions.
At the beginning I would like to warmly welcome His Royal High-ness Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Ad-visor to the Monarch & Governor of Makkah Administrative Region; and H. E. Dr. Muhammad Ab-dulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary Gen-eral of the Muslim World League as well as distinguished scholars, researchers and other participants in this blessed Conference.
I would like also to thank the Muslim World League for its re-markable efforts in giving due care to the affairs of Muslim Nation and issues of the Muslim World via organizing conferences tackling the emerging incidents, issues and problems that disturb the mind of every Muslim and everyone con-cerned with the affairs of Islam and Muslims.
In fact, the Muslim World League has to be thanked for requesting of scholars, intellectuals and writers concerned with the Islamic affair to write research papers on these is-sues and problems and study them an academic point of view so as to present them for discussion at the Conference in order to reach reso-lutions to be agreed upon by par-ticipants so as to be taken as bases and features on the light of which practical resolutions for the issues and problems that have taken place can be adopted to achieve high in-terests of the Nation.
As regards my address on the theme of this Conference on “In-tellectual Trends between Freedom of Expression and Law of Shari’ah “I am glad to give the following points. Islam was revealed to guide mankind and lead them out from the darkness of disbelief and go-ing astray to the light of belief and guidance, which is the straight path. Allah says “People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Mes-senger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture and overlooking much. There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book.” (Qur’an, 5:15). He also said, “By which Al-lah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from darknesses into the light, by His permission, and guides them to a straight path”. (Qur’an, 5:16)
Allah has revealed His Holy Book in which there are guidance, elucidation, light and recovery for the hatred sickness in the bosoms.
Allah says, “O mankind, there has to come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers. (Qur’an 10:57). He also said,” And We have certainly sent down to you distinct verses and examples from those who passed on before you and an admonition for those who fear Al-lah. (Qur’an, 24:34)
Furthermore, this Holy Book in-cluded the explanation of all rules pertaining to creed matters such as believing in Allah, his Books, messengers, the unforeseen, the hereafter and its associated resur-rection, reward and punishment. Then all this is followed by eternal life, which is either in Paradise and blessing for the believers or Hel Fire and excruciating punishment for the disbelievers.
Furthermore, this Book has explained all rulings pertaining to man in this life such as organizing personal matters of the individual, group, Muslim family, financial transactions, judicial aspects and relations among the various strata of the Muslim society. Islam has also elucidated the prohibited mat-ters and sins that that should be averted and the consequential pun-ishment in this world and hereafter. Likewise, hasn’t left anything with-out giving lucid explanation of its ruling in clear texts in the Holy Qur’an and Immaculate Sunnah of His Prophet (May blessing and peace be upon him). Such explana-tion is done in an adequate manner that leaves no room for suspicion or deviation; and that no one has the right to violate it without due ex-cuse, argument or proof.
Whoever obeys Allah and His Prophet is promised to enter Para-dise and whoever disobeys is threat-ened to enter Hel Fire. Allah says,” These are the limits [set by] Allah, and whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger will be admitted by Him to gardens [in Paradise] under which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein; and that is the great attain-ment. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgress-es His limits - He will put him into the Fire to abide eternally therein, and he will have a humiliating pun-ishment” (Qur’an, 4:13-14)
However, in the current age and in consideration of the fact many youth have been affected by the western civilizations and the civi-lizations conflicting with the re-vealed messages, we remark that among them spread the principles that contradict the basic tenets of Islam and intellectual trends that deviated from the proper method and straight path.
Furthermore, it is noted that in many Islamic countries surfaced a wave of atheism which is repre-sented in the contradiction of the texts of the Holy Qur’an and Sun-nah, denial of the precisely defined basic principles of Religion and its creed and legislative tenets as well as conflicting with the rules of Shari’ah under the pretext of al-leged freedom and exaggeration in glorifying the status of intellect and giving it due preference over Shari’ah texts and taking it as a judge in at variance with its basic principles and precisely defined te-nets.
Undoubtedly, following atheism is in fact misleading and deviation from the methodology of Islam and straight path; and that it contradicts Shari’ah of Allah and His Prophet (blessing and peace be upon him); and that it is considered sheer disbe-lief that leads the one who profess it to Hel Fire. Allah says “People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture and over-looking much. There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book. (Qur’an, 5:15) Allah also says “Indeed, Allah does not for-give association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associ-ates others with Allah has certainly gone far astray.” (Qur’an, 4:116)
The Muslim is under duty bound to obey Allah and His Prophet. Al-lah says , “Obey Allah and obey the Messenger. And beware (of evil) if you do turn back, know you that it is our Messenger’s duty to pro-claim (the Message) in the clearest manner”. (Qur’an 5:92) He says “Indeed, those who disbelieved and averted [people] from the path of Allah and then died while they were disbelievers - never will Al-lah forgive them. (Qur’an, 47:34) He says, “Say, Obey Allah and obey the Messenger; but if you turn away - then upon him is only that [duty] with which he has been charged, and upon you is that with which you have been charged. And if you obey him, you will be [rightly] guided. And there is not upon the Messenger except the [re-sponsibility for] clear notification.” (Qur’an, 24:54)
Likewise, the Muslim is also required to totally submit to the rul-ing of Allah and His Prophet and not contradict them. Allah says, “It is not for a believing man or a be-lieving woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.” (Qur’an, 33:36)
He also says, “Say: Obey Al-lah and His Messenger; but if they turn away, Allah loves not those who reject faith” (Qur’an 3:32). Furthermore, if the Muslim is in doubt regarding a particular mat-ter in the religion, he should refer it to the ruling of the precise verses and should not follow unspecific verses because following the rul-ing of such unspecific verses for securing pretexts is considered one of the virtues of those who have de-viation in their hearts. Allah says, “It is He who has sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Book; in it are verses [that are] precise - they are the foundation of the Book - and others unspecific. As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suit-able to them]. And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah. But those firm in knowledge say, “We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord.” And no one will be re-minded except those of understand-ing. (Qur’an 3:7)
Muslim should be cautious not to make his intellect a controlling element over what was definitely confirmed by a conspicuous text in the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah. Allah says (That is the bounty from Allah, and sufficient is Allah as Knower). (Qur’an 4:70)
Furthermore, the Muslim will given good tiding to be successful in gaining the satisfaction of Allah in this world and hereafter if he submits himself to the ruling of Allah and His Prophet, obeys them, directs his whims and intellect ac-cording to the texts of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah complies with the ruling of Shari’ah and lives the Islamic way of life.
We supplicate Allah Almighty to grant us all the ability to strictly follow and hold fast to the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, submit to the rulings of the eternal Shari’ah and comply with its principles so that we please our Lord and gain His satisfaction to become successful in this world and hereafter and save ourselves from His excruciating punishment.
I would not forget in this oc-casion to thank Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin AbdulAziz Al-Saud for the service to Islam unify the word of Muslims and for his incessant sup-port to the Muslim World League, the an act that helped it perform its message on the most satisfied manner. Thank is also extended to Crown Prince, Minister of Interior Muhammad bin Naif and thanks also goes to Deputy Crown Prince, Minister of Defense Muhammad bin Salaman.
Blessing and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad
