Fighting the culture and practices of corruption

Sayyed Fadlullah: To the Lebanese we say that they could have benefited of their diversity to reinforce their own freedom in taking their own decisions, using their opening upon the regional and international powers to defend their country and making the others respect them. The Lebanese should plan for a platform for the Lebanese future.

Asked in his weekly seminar the following question:What is the Islamic view towards diversity and multiplicity?

The Religious Authority, Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah, said:

Diversity in human life is a reflection of the greater diversity in the universe, which Allah wanted to be an element of development and vitality that enables man to achieve the great goals that He wanted man to attain.

In this respect, if contrast is a negative quality since it represents divergence and conflict, it is a positive quality as it plays a important goal in correcting any diversion since it provides positive criticism that enables the others to see the other side of the picture.

Thus people can benefit of the positive side of diversity that enables civilizational interaction that man cannot do without. The Quran has made knowing the other peoples a basis for the development of the human race. He wanted those who have embraced Islam not to feel inferior or superior to those of a different race or color, or even a different way of thinking, since its one of God's Ayahs in creation, and because this divergence could lead to dialogue and mutual understanding which will in turn lead to promote peace instead of war.

But if human diversity does not necessarily lead to war, differences in political or ideological affiliations should also promote dialogue instead of fanaticism.

On the Islamic level, diversity has the potential to act a significant catalyst of ideological and jurisprudent creativity provided those responsible could lay the foundation for an objective and rational dialogue that leads the masses to embrace the spirit of coexistence and accepting existing differences, and does not lead them to follow their instincts by telling them that diversity is equivalent to internal fighting.

In today's world there is a big diversity of religions, including Islam, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism Buddhism… etc, that are quite diverse in their culture and spiritual base that could enrich human interaction, the journey of seeking truths and human integration.

Yet these religions might have lived certain periods of fanaticism that led to drawing the lines of separation and even to wars, due to the mentality of accusing the other of unbelief that legitimates the killing of members of other religions.

In the Arab world, there are several kinds of these diversities that are either religious, racial or political, which have been causing many divisions among the people. Lebanon, for example, which is unique in its political cultural and religious diversity, has not been able to turn into a unified country for its citizens, in which all Lebanese live the spirit of citizenship which opens up on all Lebanese. The Lebanese detached themselves away from the spirit of their religions and sects and adopted a kind of confessionalism that boosts about the number of those following the sects, thus adopting a spirit of tribalism which paved the way for many internal wars that although claimed to be religiously motivated was serving political tends or individuals that claim to be serving the interests of religious sects.

It is painful that these sectarian slits has enabled the international and regional powers to turn Lebanon into an arena for all the problems of the region and to a place that exports all the confessional and sectarian sensitivities and perhaps at one time a bridge for all problems to other countries, until the Lebanese became unstable politically.

We say to the Lebanese that they could have benefited of their diversity to reinforce their own freedom in taking their own decisions, using their opening upon the regional and international powers to defend their country and making the others respect them. The Lebanese should plan for a platform for the Lebanese future...

Since the problem in this country lies in that it does not have a plan for the future. Things have been tailored to serve the influential individuals or sects. A consequence of this has been the lack of a civilized electoral law.

We say to the Lebanese: Do you want a unified country in which all citizens enjoy equal rights and duties?

You talk about national unity, but what are its components and the ways to maintain it and reach a national reconciliation?

Is it between individuals or does it involve the national issues? Are you with the humane unified Lebanon or with the tribal confessional one that is bound to fall down both on the civilization level or the political one?