Kuwaiti Vacationers in the Mountain Visit Sheikh Al-Aql

His Eminence Sheikh Al-Aql of the Unitarian Druze Community, Sheikh Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna, emphasized the close historical ties between Lebanon and the State of Kuwait and with the Kuwaiti people, which have been reinforced in our Mountain region thanks to our Kuwaiti brothers who reside annually during the summer season across the Mountain. Despite the current difficult conditions facing Lebanon and the region, they chose to return once again, which clearly demonstrates the fraternal relations and solid bonds between the two countries, the love of our Kuwaiti brothers for Lebanon, and the Lebanese people’s appreciation for their Kuwaiti brothers. He affirmed the deep gratitude of the nation, and the Mountain in particular, for what the State of Kuwait has provided to Lebanon throughout the tribulations it has endured and continues to face, having never failed in its commitment to friendship and love; for our part, we always strive to develop relations between our two countries for the benefit of both brotherly peoples and to strengthen the bonds of friendship and joint cooperation.

His Eminence Sheikh Al-Aql made these remarks while receiving a delegation of Kuwaiti summer vacationers in the Jurd Aley area at his residence in Shanay, led by former Minister and Member of Parliament Khaled Jumaian Salem Al-Jumaian, on a visit of goodwill and appreciation to His Eminence. The delegation expressed its appreciation for the longstanding, warm relations with the people of the region in general.

The meeting also touched upon the necessity of strengthening this partnership and these relations through contributing to investment projects that would advance the Jurd Aley region and encourage Gulf nationals to visit Lebanon, pending the peaceful passing of the current stage, the consolidation of stability, and the revitalisation of state institutions.

He also received a delegation from the town of Hammana to thank him for participating alongside His Beatitude Patriarch Rai in the opening of the “Expatriation and Local Development Conference”. The delegation included several town dignitaries, in addition to Mr. Fadi Nasr, the conference organizer, and Attorney Major Kamel Mezher.

He also received retired Brigadier General Dr. Ghazi Mahmoud, followed by Colonel Dr. Mansour Ashti and a number of visitors from the Mountain, Rashaya, and Hasbaya.

His Eminence Sheikh Abi Al-Muna conducted a tour of the Upper Metn, during which he visited Mr. Najib Sarieddine in Bzebdine in the presence of his brother Sheikh Camille Sarieddine and members of the family. He also visited the venerable Sheikh Salman Mounzer in the town, and then offered condolences in Ras el-Metn on the passing of the late mother of Sheikh Abu Khaled Samir Mkarim, in the presence of the venerable Sheikh Abu Fayez Amin Mkarim and judges Gandhi and Said Mkarim. In the town of Al-Qalaa, he offered condolences on the passing of the late Abu Firas Nazih Al-Awar, brother-in-law of attorney Nashat Hilal, head of the Legal Committee in the Confessional Council. He had previously offered condolences on the passing of the late Abu Bassam Shamel Zeineddine at the Druze Community House in Beirut, and on the late Sheikh Abu Farid Kamal Shayya in Bteghrine.

His Eminence Sheikh Al-Aql participated in a religious gathering at the “Zanbaqiya Khalwa” in Kfar Nabrakh at the invitation of the town’s sheikhs, alongside the participation of revered sheikhs: Abu Zeineddine Hassan Ghannam, Abu Fayez Amin Mkarim, Abu Daoud Mounir Al-Qadamani, Abu Hassan Adel Al-Nimr, and a gathering of sheikhs from the region. This was preceded by a visit to Sheikh Shawqi Kamal Al-Din at his home in Batloun.

On another note, His Eminence Sheikh Al-Aql sponsored the opening of the second Center for Monotheistic Culture in Baaqline in cooperation with the Religious Committee of the Confessional Council and the Council’s Department of Religious and Educational Affairs, with the participation of committee heads: Religious Committee head Sheikh Hadi Al-Aridi, Cultural Committee head Sheikh Imad Faraj, Financial Committee head Dr. Imad Al-Ghusseini, several council members, the Director General of the Confessional Council Mazen Fayyad, as well as advisors, prominent figures, and ladies.

In his opening address for the new center, Sheikh Abi Al-Muna praised the initiative, affirming the “tireless endeavor with all our energy, intention, and determination to expand the network of centers in accordance with our aspirations and primary program, and our diligence in promoting monotheistic culture through our work as one unified team within the Mashyakhat and the Council’s committees, to uplift the community on various fronts.”

He added: “Promoting culture begins first with establishing centers such as those initiated in Abey, followed by Baaqline, Rashaya, Aley, Qornayel, and at the Shrine of the Prophet Shu'ayb (PBUH) in Al-Kfeir and Choueifat, with aspirations to open others across various regions, also through essential contributions from donors. These are our duties and responsibilities in spreading culture. Certainly, these religious culture centers are not a substitute for Majalis and Khalwas; rather, they serve as a fundamental step toward paving the path of commitment and consolidating the spiritual identity of our youth, which we cherish as the foundation for preserving the self and society, regardless of the multiplicity of other identities such as national, economic, or others.”

He continued: “No matter how much we are physically alienated from the homeland, it is not true estrangement unless it is a spiritual one. The goal of these centers is to strengthen spiritual and faith affiliation, help protect the Ma'roufi family based on monotheistic values, and care for it starting from upbringing to marriage and raising children, and even in cases of separation if they occur, God forbid. Responsibilities are shared amid this family disintegration, and our duty dictates promoting Ma'roufi spiritual, social, and moral values. Therefore, among our goals is creating investment projects for endowments within an institutional framework channeled into a special sovereign fund or otherwise to support orientations and achieve objectives. This is by no means a detachment from national partnership, but rather a source of strength for the nation when we are all strong within our communities and families; we are certainly not in a position to beg for partnership. Hence, with the blessing of the youth and the Religious Committee, we develop this work together, and we are also developing the Monotheistic College in Abey and graduating youth within the same framework to assist us in this mission.”

He concluded: “Blessed is this new center, and gratitude goes to those who contributed to establishing it; our hope is that its message is fulfilled and its purpose accomplished.”

Following the opening, the head of the Religious Committee, Sheikh Hadi Al-Aridi, delivered a religious lecture entitled “Faith is Knowledge and Action,” focusing on the linguistic and terminological definition of faith, the dimensions of faith between the heart, the tongue, and adherence to the pillars, the relationship between inner faith and physical deeds, the increase and decrease of faith and their signs, and knowledge and practice, providing core examples on sincerity of action and the virtue of honesty as an embodiment of sound doctrine based on monotheistic spiritual and legal dimensions, beginning with the traditions on faith in God, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and divine predestination, both its good and bad, as well as the monotheistic doctrine.

The gathering began with speeches by Sheikh Yahya Abdul Khaleq, Sheikh Ibrahim Zeineddine, and the head of the Religious and Educational Department in the Confessional Council, Sheikh Fadel Salim, who thanked Mrs. Hiyam Fawzi Daw Abu Ayyash, the primary contributor to providing the center.

At the Community House in Beirut, His Eminence Sheikh Al-Aql met a leadership delegation from the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) led by Vice President Wael Al-Hassanieh, which included: Dean of Labor Sultan Al-Aridi, General Delegate of the Chouf Mazen Al-Imad, and Mr. Radi Abdul Salam, mandated by party leader As'ad Hardan, to thank His Eminence for his national stances, particularly regarding the Majdal Shams massacre.

Al-Hassanieh stated after the meeting: “We were honored to visit His Eminence Sheikh Al-Aql, Sheikh Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna, primarily to thank him for his national stance regarding the discord that Israel attempted to sow through the Majdal Shams massacre. This stance thwarted the Israeli enemy’s scheme as well as sedition within the Lebanese entity. We commended the national role played by His Eminence and the community in general. The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss general economic and social matters and the obstacles preventing citizens from attaining their rights. The role His Eminence plays on the broader national level is essential to protect Lebanon, given the existential Israeli threat to our society. Necessity here dictates protection against the risks and Israeli attempts to strike at Lebanon and the Arab surrounding, Judaize it, and transform it from its national status into cantons and certain decentralizations advocated by some. Our strength lies in being united hand-in-hand to support the single national project.”

His Eminence Sheikh Al-Aql also met with Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) Leadership Council member Kamel Al-Ghusseini, as well as the party’s Beirut Internal Agency Commissioner Bassel Al-Oud.

Sheikh Abi Al-Muna also received the President of the “Qawluna Wal Amal” Association, Dr. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Qattan, accompanied by Sheikh Jamal Al-Rafi'i. Al-Qattan presented His Eminence with a copy of his book “The Concept of Condition and Its Authority Across Legal Theorists: A Comparative Study Among All Islamic Schools of Jurisprudence,” emphasizing “the importance of national solidarity today in confronting Israeli aggression against Palestine and Lebanon, to protect the nation from Israeli threats.”

Among the visitors to His Eminence was a delegation from Al-Jinan University, comprising Public Relations Officer Mohammad Al-Arab and academic lecturer Yaqzan Al-Taqi, delegated by the Chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees Dr. Salem Fathi Yakan, University President Abed Yakan, and his Vice President for the Sidon branch Dr. As'ad Al-Naderi, to discuss educational and university matters and to enable a segment of students to pursue their higher education at the university’s branches in Tripoli and Sidon.

He also received a delegation from the “Social Work League” headed by Reda Atef Saad, including Attorney Fadi Bou Mghalbieh and Mrs. Hala Camille Sarieddine, to discuss diaspora support for university students. He likewise met with retired Brigadier General Khaled Hamadeh, followed by author and educator Mrs. Abeer Arbid and her husband.