Muslim preachers call for unity on Prophet's birthday
Muslim religious leaders called on the country in sermons marking Prophet Mohammad’s Birthday to stand united to confront dangers threatening civil peace amid rising political tension ahead of the confirmation of a U.N.-backed tribunal’s indictment expected to accuse Hezbollah members in the assassination of former statesman Rafik Hariri. Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani said Monday rapprochement among Lebanese factions would preserve the stability and security required to rebuff foreign attempts to instigate internal strife.Qabbani added that while Arab states and Lebanon bickered over domestic issues with divisions threatening their ranks, Israel continued to look for ways to deal a blow to the Palestinian cause.
“While we are distracted with our domestic problems and political conflicts, danger is standing on our borders,” Qabbani said. “The Palestinian cause has been sidelined and shadows of divisions are threatening our region. The only way to confront dangers, crisis and plots is unity.”
Echoing Qabbani, Vice President of the Higher Shiite Islamic Council Sheikh Abdel Amir Qabalan said that the people of Lebanon should seek unity and cooperation among their ranks to support justice and reform.
Qabalan urged political leaders to promptly form a government tasked with implementing national reform and “rebuilding the country.”
Qabalan hailed “martyr [former] Prime Minister Hariri, the resistance’s martyrs and all Lebanese martyrs,” as he voiced hope that “the Islamic nation stand united against its enemies.”
As the Special Tribunal for Lebanon investigating Hariri’s assassination nears the confirmation of its first indictment, Lebanon’s rival political blocs remain divided over support to the court. March 14 parties have said they intend to boycott Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati’s government.
Mikati’s Hezbollah-led government is expected to halt cooperation with the tribunal after caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s government collapsed last month, following his refusal to do so.
Warning political parties against attempts to govern unilaterally, Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Naim Hassan said Lebanon was governed by “compromises among its factions while attempts to takeover and divide always led to conflict and chaos.”
“We call on the Lebanese to unite since it is necessary that officials under the current circumstances in the region listen to the people’s demands and quickly form a government that saves the country,” he said.
Hassan also urged political leaders to reject inter-Muslim strife and seek unity among Arabs. “The Israeli entity continues its settlement building and violations against Islamic and Christian sacred places in Jerusalem and elsewhere in light of the absence of a united Palestinian stance as well as an Arab and Islamic position to confront dangers,” he added
