His Eminence the Sheikh Al-Aql of the Unitarian Druze community, Sheikh Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna, sponsored the inauguration ceremony of a water project in his hometown of Shanay. The project includes drilling an artesian well, building two reservoirs, and connecting the water line to the public network. Work on the project began about a year ago through the efforts and contributions of the townspeople and summer residents. The event also honored those who contributed to the completion of the project, led by Sheikh Nizar Abu Jaber, and was held upon the invitation of the Municipality of Shanay and the committee in charge of executing the project.
After Sheikh Abu Jaber, a gathering of Sheikhs, and the committee visited the site of the well and reservoirs, the ribbon was cut, the project was opened, and water was released into the public network. A celebration was then held at the town club in the presence of His Eminence the Sheikh Al-Aql, the residents, and the delegation accompanying Sheikh Abu Jaber. Also in attendance were members of the Lebanese Red Cross, which provided 196 solar panels for the project.
Following an introduction by Mr. Shawki Abi Al-Muna and a visual presentation of the project's stages by committee member Rabih Abi Al-Muna, as well as speeches by him, the head of the Al-Nahda Social Charitable Association in Shanay, Camille Hamza, and the Mayor, Hussein Abi Al-Muna, Sheikh Abu Jaber spoke. He affirmed his "love for his second hometown of Shanay, where he spent the most beautiful days of his childhood and youth, as it is the hometown of his virtuous mother." He expressed his "appreciation for its Sheikhs, council, and residents," and his "constant readiness to help in whatever brings good to its inhabitants."
Sheikh Al-Aql
The ceremony concluded with a speech by His Eminence the Sheikh Al-Aql, in which he said:
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds, and prayers and peace be upon the most honorable of messengers... Honorable Sheikhs, esteemed guests, our dear people... We are pleased today to share with our Sheikhs in Shanay, the municipality, the well-drilling committee, and the residents in honoring the people of generosity and giving, who have revived the land and its inhabitants and realized with us the words of God Almighty in His Holy Book: "Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?"
Welcome to you all, and welcome to you, my brother Sheikh Nizar, son of Abadiyeh and Shanay. Your grandfather's courtyard, the club, the council, and all the houses and hills where you dug deep, from which love gushed forth and water flowed."
He added: "Shanay has never been ungrateful for a favor, whether from official institutions, political leaders, or people of kindness and generosity like you. Even if this meeting is limited only to the people of Shanay, as decided by the committee in charge of drilling the well—which sacrificed and worked for many long months with unparalleled enthusiasm—Shanay does not forget those who supported it in the past, who support it now, and will support it in the future, whether in health, education, social affairs, or otherwise. We have achieved significant accomplishments, and requirements still await us for which we need everyone's support. However, our experience has confirmed what is a duty and what should be in every one of our villages: self-reliance first before asking anyone, and taking responsibility, after which participation and contribution from this or that party will follow. We have believed, before and now, in the importance of social solidarity. We did not position ourselves as an alternative to political leadership or the state, but we care for what we must care for and rely on ourselves before relying on others, and we extend our hands for cooperation where necessary. We have linked our faith in God's bounty with faith in doing good, without which the dream would not have been realized so quickly. Doing good is a gift from God to humanity, for which one is rewarded sooner or later; for society lives by it just as the land lives by water. Without it, trees do not bear fruit and nations do not stand. Furthermore, no hope can be realized without good people who spend for the sake of God, based on the principle of social solidarity and safeguarding brothers and society. As for doing good, its reward is doubled by God, and the doer will find it present, as stated by the Almighty: 'The Day every soul will find what it has done of good present.' Sheikh Nizar is a beacon among those giving men whom history brings forth and through whom societies thrive, so their names are recorded in letters of gold—from Hatim Al-Tai to Yahya al-Barmaki and other Arab and world figures we have read about in history and literature books, and among the figures of the nation and the Ma'roufiyah sect who were blessed by God with abundance and did not withhold it from those in need, and did not hesitate to contribute to supporting projects and helping the needy, the sick, institutions, houses of worship, shrines, and retreats."
His Eminence continued: "We, Sheikh Nizar, and all of you realize what we learned from our fathers: that a person's worth is in what they do well, not what money they accumulate. Sheikh Nizar gave from his heart and only accepted the honor reluctantly and with the utmost brevity. He sought refuge from his wealth in the protection of Tawhid, and he crowned his worldly success with his religious commitment, so that what we once said rings true for him:
A person's value is not in the money they have amassed,
But in the giving that blossomed from their heart,
And glory is generosity, boldness, and sacrifice,
Not money, prestige, or greed.
Do not worship money, the Book has told us,
And said: Strive, give, and rise with piety.
How beautiful is hard work when adorned by generosity,
How wonderful are faith and the world when they meet..
"Salutations to you, dear honorable brother, and salutations to everyone who contributed to the completion of this project, including experts, engineers, contractors, and workers. Salutations to the Lebanese Red Cross, to the municipality, to the follow-up committee, and to everyone who donated and contributed by providing a service, from the town's residents, summer visitors, friends, and expatriate children. Salutations to everyone who strived with us in the past, over the years, even if we were not successful before—not for any reason other than the fact that the fruit had not yet ripened. As for those whose circumstances did not allow them to contribute until now, perhaps they will realize and initiate after they enjoy the arrival of water to their homes and the homes of their families. We all realize that this achievement would not have been realized were it not for the good intentions, cooperation, high spirits, concerted efforts, generous support from the hands of goodness, the responsiveness of officials, and the success granted by God Almighty before all else."
He concluded: "We place this achievement before our eyes to embark from it towards another work that awaits us. What was achieved in the past was realized through similar cooperation, such as the association building, for which the late former Sheikh Al-Aql, Sheikh Mohammed Abu Shaqra, laid the foundation stone in 1967; the wonderful reserve in the mountain, which began with the planting of a group of enthusiastic youth since 2000; the reopening of the public school this year through joint cooperative work; and the program we seek to achieve, with God's help and in cooperation with the region's deputies and stakeholders, to revive the town's heritage, invest in endowment lands and agricultural lands, and pay attention to the health aspect, care for the elderly, and cultural and social affairs. Always under one unified motto: 'Together we think, together we work, and together we achieve success.' May God be the guardian of care and success. May God grant you success, and peace be upon you all."
Then, His Eminence the Sheikh Al-Aql and the committee presented appreciation shields to Sheikh Abu Jaber, Engineer Samir Al-Ghosaini, Engineer Tarek Al-Awar, and Engineer Kamal Zein Al-Din.
