Sheikh Akl sponsors the reconciliation banner for the Hatoum family in Kfarselwan

Participating alongside the Sheikh Akl, who attended heading a delegation of Sheikhs including committee chairs, members of the Druze Council, and advisors, as well as officials from the Sheikhdom of Akl and the Druze Council, were: the venerable Sheikh Abu Fayez Amin Makarem, Sheikh Hani Al-Andari (representing the venerable Sheikh Abu Saleh Mohammed Al-Andari), Sheikh Marwan Fayyad, Sheikh Farhan Mahmoud, Sheikh Mohammed Halawi, MP Hadi Abul-Hassan, former MP Fadi Al-Aawar, the Socialist Progressive Party’s Interior Commissioner in Matn Issam Al-Masri, Judge Sheikh Gandhi Makarem, and a large number of Sheikhs from the town and the region, along with representatives of security leaderships, including Brigadier Generals Yousef Najm and Ayad Abu Dergham, and Lieutenant Colonel Wissam Baz, in addition to several social, civic, municipal, and mayoral figures.

After the general reception at the hall for the Sheikh Akl, the accompanying delegation, and participants in the presence of the family of the late Nazem Najib Hatoum, Sheikh Abilmona accompanied the family delegation of the late Makram Mazen Hatoum, arriving from Ras Al-Matn, led by the venerable Sheikh Abu Fayez Amin Makarem and Judge Makarem. In an introductory speech preceding the handshake between the two families, the Sheikh Akl said:

Our dear family, Kfarselwan unites us just as Ras Al-Matn, Matn, and the entire Mountain does. It is a blessed gathering, a blessing to honor and crown pure intentions and noble efforts. We adorn it with kind words, smiling faces, and forgiving hearts… we add mercy to those we have lost… we wash away hatred with forgiveness, distance with closeness, and injustice with pardon… Today, there is no speech here except for nobility, dignity, and love… hands shake, hearts meet, and true men embrace… We are here to bless the handshake and the reconciliation… We, with our venerable Sheikh Abu Fayez, the Sheikhs, the figures of Matn, and those present… what you have done and are doing without hesitation increases your honor and appreciation in our eyes and your reward with God… Go ahead and record in your unifying hall a glorious day that will never be forgotten… shake hands, forgive, and reconcile… Turn the page of pain and open the page of hope… May God grant you success.

Following the handshake announcing the reconciliation banner, the program began with an introduction by Sheikh Zein Al-Khodor, followed by Sheikh Hussein Al-Maghribi, who blessed the meeting “in the name of the people of Kfarselwan, as it brings joy, reform, and closeness between relatives and one family, who did not spare efforts in providing men, forgiveness, and tolerance, stemming from the blessing of the turbans, which, if anything, indicates pure hearts and brotherhood. We extend our thanks to everyone who strove for this, which must bring forth goodness, and we express full appreciation for your efforts, Sheikh Akl Dr. Sami Abilmona, praying to God to grant you lasting success in repeating such meetings that remove bitterness and plant joy and pleasure, taking your hand for the banner and glory of the community.”

Mukhtar Fawzi Al-Maghribi gave a speech “thanking God Almighty for His guidance and abundant generosity in holding this blessed meeting, which the people of righteousness called for, in the presence of the pure Sheikhs on this blessed day and through the reconciliation contract, and by the light of the intellect which radiated through the Sheikh Akl, the light of comforting hearts, in the presence of the sponsor, the venerable Sheikhs, and this meeting of sound reason. Blessed are the hands that shake, for pain has disturbed our rest, and the body is one; if one of its members suffers, the whole is affected. We deeply hope that the spirit of reconciliation will be crowned with faith in God and the essence of generosity, tolerance, and the courage to take the initiative, and that the winds of hours of abandonment have gone never to return. We wish you a bright hope, adherence to our known customs, the loftiness of tolerance, the honesty of commitment, and the keeping of promises. We extend our thanks to all who strove to reach this happy ending and these results, hoping it is a good opening to end some disagreements that have not yet cleared. Blessed is your victory over pain, and as a wise man said, ‘Victory is for the strong in their souls, not the weak.’"

The Hatoum family speech was delivered by the Mayor, Engineer Bassam Rafiq Hatoum, welcoming those who blessed the reconciliation banner between two noble families, the family of the late Najib Mohammed Hatoum and Abu Ghassan Karim Nasib Hatoum. This would not have been accomplished without pure hearts and the tireless efforts of the sincere to establish reconciliation and tolerance among the members of the one house. We thank everyone who strove, and we especially thank the Sheikh Akl who sponsored and attended, as he is the watchful eye on the affairs of the community and the one always striving for gathering and the greatest supporter of dialogue among the citizens of the nation, let alone within the community. No matter how much we praise His Eminence, we cannot do him justice. May God water him from the fountain of certainty. We beseech God for the straight path.

In conclusion, the Sheikh Akl spoke, saying:

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

The Almighty said in His revelation: “And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous who spend [in the cause of God] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people - and God loves the doers of good.”

Venerable Sheikhs, esteemed figures, ladies and gentlemen, our people in Kfarselwan, Ras Al-Matn, and neighboring villages, blessed participants…

Today, we and you hasten toward forgiveness from God Almighty… forgiveness that restores comfort and security to our souls and wipes the tear of sorrow from our eyes.

We hasten toward a unitary paradise that grants us happiness and reassurance, and overwhelms us with mercy and grace… a paradise prepared for the righteous who sacrifice and rise above harm, who fear God and fear none but Him.

We hasten today to ask for pardon from Him Almighty for what our hands committed in moments of anger and abandonment, and to spend, forgive, and be generous in ease and hardship, just as our beloved people are spending, being generous, and forgiving today, healing their wounds with generosity and faith, restraining anger, pardoning one another, and doing good in intention, word, and deed, for God loves the doers of good.

We all pass, beloved ones, through difficult circumstances, at different levels. Life is unstable, conditions are volatile, thoughts scatter between one position and another, confusion often possesses us, the responsibilities of life are complex and pressing, and conflict exists within each one of us and between us and those we live with, even in the same family, and there is a latent fear of the unknown that is often accompanied by psychological stress and nervous tension.

Unfortunately, some of us reach a stage of despair and lose hope in their situation, thinking that the world has tightened around them and there is no way out of their plight except by committing a mistake or sin, as if the space of hope has vanished and the boundaries of life ended at this incident or that dilemma.

This thinking is wrong and perhaps indicates a lack of faith and an imbalance in one’s psychological state. Life is a constant arena of struggle that cannot end, and anxiety exists and cannot be eliminated, but the wise believer can choose what is better and less bad, and that is the task of the intellect. The intellect is the leader and the Imam, and the difference is great between facing matters with rationality and faith and leaving ourselves exposed to petulance, anger, suspicion, and impulsivity that puts us in the path of the wind and leads us from a mistake to a sin and from bad to worse.

These are the traits of humans since ancient times. Cain killed his brother Abel and “became one of the regretful,” and the brothers of Joseph (PBUH) threw him into the well to get rid of him, then returned asking for forgiveness, saying: “O our father, ask forgiveness for our sins; indeed, we have been sinful.” The school of seeking forgiveness and pardon was the dominant one, as seeking forgiveness is among the traits of the great, and pardoning when capable is a trait of the noble and the prophets and messengers (PBUH). Behold the Prophet of God, Joseph, pardoning his brothers who tried to kill him and separated him from his father; he pardoned them when they reached Egypt and he was capable of taking revenge on them. The Almighty said regarding him that he said to them in generosity and grace: “No reproach upon you today; God will forgive you, and He is the most merciful of the merciful,” meaning there is no blame on you; I have forgiven you and left your affair to God. He is the Forgiving and Merciful. And it is stated in the Book of God: “And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one between whom and you is enmity [will become] as though he were a devoted friend.” Yes, brothers, responding to evil with good is what pleases God, and forgiveness is what begets love, and God pardons those who forgive and pardon. Those are the ones who have a reward with their Lord and do not regret. The Almighty said: “But whoever pardons and makes reconciliation, his reward is [due] from God.”

O brothers and beloved ones,

Kfarselwan today pardons and forgives, wipes away the tear and lights the candle, the tear of pain and the candle of hope. Kfarselwan is established today in its unity and towers in its tolerance, more than it is always towering and established throughout time.

Kfarselwan is the strongest and highest side of the gilded copper plate, which, if struck in Matn, its sound is heard on the other side, whether in Chouf, the coast, the heights, the west, Wadi Al-Taym, or others. Kfarselwan rings out today loudly with the voice of honor and pride, the voice of goodness and faith, the voice of love and preserving brothers… the voice of tolerance and forgiveness, so the sound is heard everywhere.

Kfarselwan is the one family, the one heart, and the towering, lofty mountain. In its populated spaces, we meet, and in the hall of one of its luminaries, we gather and ascend, with the intention of mending the rift and gathering the fold, and by the blessing of God, the grace of the prayers of the righteous, the drive of the concerned, and the impact of the words of contentment, submission, and acceptance, we raise the white banner alongside the white turbans and the faces of noble goodness, and we launch the oath of reconciliation from which there is no return, from the mouths of the kind and forgiving and from the hearts of the loving family of Hatoum, all of them, so that the blessed sons of Matn and the people of goodness, virtue, and religion may bless it.

My brotherly Sheikhs, esteemed participants…

Today, we and our beloved people in Kfarselwan turn a painful page in the history of a noble family, to open a new white page and work to fill it with the letters of love, the words of brotherhood, and the lines of dignity, realizing that the hour of anger, challenge, and surging emotions leading to harm and killing is a hateful, wretched hour that does not reflect our authenticity, values, and true courage. Rather, the hour of patience, intellect, pardon, and love is the most sublime hour that represents the Unitarians and the people of the mountain, and it is what the path of monotheism and the logic of humanity calls us to.

O noble and loyal ones,

It is true that the merit of this reconciliation and this meeting of relatives goes to the seekers of good among the town's reformers, the enthusiastic ones from the Hatoum and Al-Maghribi families and everyone, and to everyone who previously sought it among venerable Sheikhs, respected politicians, and wise men. However, the fruit of reconciliation had not yet ripened. We admit and say: we would not have reached this unifying day to taste with you this blessed fruit were it not for the good souls from the two precious families, and were it not for a glimmer from a bright, noble young man here, and wisdom from a good, kind Sheikh there, and were it not for the acceptance and responsiveness of all the brothers, sisters, children, and grandchildren of these two suffering yet forgiving houses. In my first visit a few weeks ago to their homes, I heard words from the children, brothers, and those present that make eyes tear up from their soundness and hearts pulse from their sincerity, due to the nobility, dignity, authenticity, faith, and generosity of character they contain, sensing in their words the Almighty’s saying: “And the retribution for an evil act is an evil one like it, but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation, his reward is [due] from God. Indeed, He does not like wrongdoers.” This is what I adopted and built upon, so I encouraged, and I encouraged my brothers to accomplish this task and hold this banner, so that Matn, the mountain, and history may witness that we are a people who deserve the title of Bani Maarouf, of whom it is true what I once said:

O Bani Maarouf, if the question is posed, you have a lead that the mountains record

Your noble Sheikhs are people of virtue, and your women are the epitome of purity and perfection

And above the hills of your dignity are youth, defiant of oppression, heroes, and men

O Bani Maarouf, through monotheism you are a loftiness that cannot be touched or reached

Protectors of honor and homelands always, and people of pardon if the dispute is settled

This is our history and this is our heritage, preserved and will not be lost with God’s help, through the stability of leadership, the blessing of the Sheikhs, and the drive of men. As for Kfarselwan, it will be remembered, and Matn and the mountain will remember, and we will all keep in our living memory the names of good men who settled the dispute, pardoned, and honored the seekers of good by accepting compromise and reconciliation and turning the painful page of the past. We honor them today with the presence of this gathering of venerable Sheikhs and noble people. A greeting to you, noble Nazem Hatoum, O promising, wise, and poised young believer, and to your dear brother Makram, O beloved ones who rose above the wounds and your patient, believing mother. A greeting to you, brothers of the late Nazem, O beloved ones: Yasser, Bassam, Samir, Ajwad, Naji, Moqbel, Nizar, Jawad, and your families. A similar greeting to you, O wise uncle and grandfather content with God’s will, Sheikh Abu Ghassan Karim Hatoum, and to you, Mazen Karim Hatoum, O father who lost the apple of your eye, Makram, and who overcame the barrier of sadness and separation, and to your dear brothers Hussein, Amin al-Din, Nasib, Mubarak, and all family members.

I will not increase the names and praise, but allow me to say: what I touched from all of you and your families heralds goodness that will return to you tomorrow with an abundant harvest, carrying for you appreciation from people and pride, and mercy and success from God. Trust that beautiful patience has a great reward, and that your work is appreciated by God and in society. May God grant you success and protect you, and make you an example for others, being patient, seeking help from God, spending and sacrificing for the sake of God, and repelling evil with good. May you attain the reward of what you have done today in peace of mind and well-being for yourselves, your families, and your children, and may the House of Paradise open its doors to you, for the Almighty says: “And those who are patient, seeking the countenance of their Lord and establish prayer and spend from what We have provided for them secretly and publicly and prevent evil with good - those will have the good consequence of [this] home.”

We are confident that what you have done today will be appreciated by the leaders of the mountain and the Sheikhs of the land, and a source of pride for the entire Unitarian Druze community at home and abroad. In fact, it will serve as a school from which generations learn, men are nourished by its lessons, and heroes emulate its path, as I said yesterday to the beloved ones Karim and Mazen and to everyone. Indeed, it will open the way for broader reconciliations in our villages and between our families, and between the people of Kfarselwan and the neighborhood, Unitarian Druze and Christians, in a way that strengthens common coexistence, fixes the unity of the mountain, and preserves its dignity.

Thank you all, thank you to the Sheikhs of Kfarselwan, thank you to the Mayor, the Mukhtar, and their companions who visited us repeatedly for follow-up and consultation, and thank you to our companion Sheikhs who accompanied us from the beginning and who joined us today. Let thoughts from this moment on be pure and clear, hearts pulsing with kindness, hands shaking, intertwined, and strong, and tongues speaking the truth, saying with pride:

We have raised our banner upon monotheism, and the awakening of the intellect has surpassed the tone of anger

A hand that shakes, a heart that speaks frankly, a mind that reconciles, a flow of literature

Let this be our common oath, and let us record in the golden record of Kfarselwan the ninth of February 2024 as a glorious history added to the glorious histories in it, in Matn, and across the mountain.

May God reward you, and peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you.