Algerian thinker highlights 7 mechanisms leading to establishment of peace

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
All praises be to the Almighty God and all greetings be upon Mohammad (PBUH), the Divine Messenger.
At the beginning I wish to thank the Word Forum for Proximity of the Islamic Schools of Thought for providing me with the opportunity to participate at this great Islamic unity conference. In my speech I wish of refer to practical ways and means for establishment of peace within the Islamic world. It goes without saying that realization of peace is a far-reaching and multilateral process. Some people think that peace is just against what we know as war while the reality is that peace is against different forms of conflicts and disputes. Frankly speaking, I am referring to the same intellectual conflict the ideological dispute.
Hatred, jealousy and selfishness are among other forms of conflict. For the same reason Islam has always been speaking of peace having also defined its mechanisms as well; the mechanisms that are far-reaching and multilateral. Calling everyone to Towhid is of great significance in the peace process.

When we are speaking of the practical mechanisms for establishment of peace, we do not mean just establishment of peace from the military aspect but a peace with a far-reaching and multilateral nature. The peace process starts from our understanding and wisdom extending to military and political arenas.
Now I wish to refer to seven mechanisms which will finally lead to the establishment of a far-reaching Peace. The first mechanism is in favor of the intellectual reform. Based on this mechanism we need to deal with provocative and pro-sectarian way of thinking. Mass media of our enemies are always using the provocative and pro-sectarian way of thinking for stirring up division and conflict among Muslims. And to this end they openly take disadvantage of the religion.

This was the first mechanism. As you know our enemies during the soft war against Muslims always use intellectual capacity as a means in favor of disintegration and disunity within the Islamic Ummah. In order to have a successful peace process we must particularly attend to its different aspects including cultural and intellectual one in this regard.

Out of the most important aspect we can refer to the academic one. Out of other related areas we can refer to writing novels, production of movies and series that can influence people in general in favor of establishment of peace. It is to be noted that our enemies have always been using the same tools or means in favor of their ill-intentions and satanic purposes.
As an example on what our enemies have already done we can refer to the writing of the Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie. The enemies through this book tried to stir up division among Muslim people deviating their rightful approach. Therefore, we need to deal with such ill-intended measures by our enemies.

I believe that attending to cultural and artistic affairs is one of the most important means and ways to deal with the ill-intended measures. Thank the Almighty God that the Islamic Republic of Iran has played its role and its responsibility in this respect quite well. But the second mechanism that I wish to refer to is related to utilization of the mass media and all communication tools and means. You, all, know well that our enemies are quite strong in this are abusing mega mass media for stirring up division among Muslims in order to dismantle the Islamic front. For the same reason those who are seeking to establish peace within the Islamic territories shall use all means and ways in order to deal with enemies and their adopted mechanisms. Muslims shall not limit themselves to the traditional and old media means and tools because these tools affect limited number of people. Making every effort to establish a vast and far-reaching social foothold in this respect is an inseparable part of the efforts needed to be done in favor of establishment of peace.

And for the same purpose all those who wish to witness establishment of peace among Muslims shall not limit themselves to a certain layer of the Islamic society and their efforts shall cover all layers of the Islamic societies. Today our enemies intend to identify rifts within the Islamic Ummah front therefore Muslim shall not limit themselves to certain tools and shall use all possible social networks for this purpose. Here I wish to refer to social networks like Facebook and Twitter. Our enemies are using these networks in order to impose their beliefs upon the Islamic societies therefore we all need to use the same tools to foil their plots.

Muslims shall use networks like Facebook based on the desired social norms already defined by Islam; the norms that do not have anything in common with those of adopted by enemies of Islam including Zionism. Therefore, we need to deeply think how to provide the required tools and means in order to deal with the enemies’ plots. Naturally, within the same respect, realization of this sublime goal requires immense and time-consuming efforts by all and particularly Ulamas.

But the third mechanism relates to using and adopting a soft and flexible strategy based on wisdom and avoidance of resorting to those tools that are used by our enemies against the Islamic unity. This is the reality that our enemies always resort to false accusations and lies in order to strike blows upon our unity. It goes without saying that these tools are ones that we are not allowed to resort to.

As peace loving people, we should try to implement the pure Islam introduced by Muhammad (PBUH) and avoid the said unacceptable means and tools. When Prophet Moses (PBUH) was going to Pharaoh, the Almighty God said to him: " And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear the Almighty."
Accordingly, we should not resort to provocative means. This occurs while some Muslims unfortunately, made the huge mistake and resorted to the afore-mentioned tools. It goes without saying that resorting to such a tool harms Islam preventing its further spread throughout the world. We should know that the realization of a far-reaching peace will not be possible within a short period. Therefore, all Muslims shall take their time, using their wisdom and rationality. They need to avoid provocative moves.

Regrettably, there are some who claim acting in favor of peace, while they resort to unacceptable means. Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, refers to them as "English Shias". These people follow the same path of the Salafist resorting to perverted methods in calling people to infallible Imams. This is a totally unacceptable deviation in calling people to the infallible Imams. Adopting such an approach not only is in clear contrast with Islam and sublime Islamic teachings but it is considered as an indirect war against Islam. Therefore, we should attach highest significance to values introduced by our Imams and invite others to act the same. Let us in this respect refer to a quotation from Imam Hassan (as): "You shall make us proud and not disappointing us.”
We shall not forget that we need to present an ideal model for peace. People usually think of the operational dimensions and aspects of peace rather than its intellectual ones. Therefore, if we present an ideal and operational model for peace, they will be fascinated acting on its favor. Thank the Almighty God, the Islamic Republic of Iran has already introduced such a model since its establishment in about forty years ago. During this time, we have witnessed that the Islamic Republic has made all its efforts in assisting the Islamic world, Islamic nations as well as the oppressed ones.

The Islamic Republic has extended it support to those who even have been among its former enemies. The Islamic Republic has never responded to those who have been standing against it. And all the time its interaction with all parties has been taken place based on wisdom and rationality. Within the same respect in the Holy Quran we read: “Good and evil [conduct] are not equal. Repel [evil] with what is best. [If you do so,] he between whom and you was enmity, will then be as though he were a sympathetic friend.” And this approach adopted by the Islamic Republic of Iran has so far followed by immense promising consequences and feedback. Even some who were enemies to the Islamic Republic after experiencing wisdom and tolerance of the Islamic Republic turned around and reconsidered their positions. As another example we refer to Hezbollah Party in Lebanon. You, see, that Seyyed Hassan Nasrollah has always been seeking assistance of all Lebanese even with those who are insulting him all the time.
In spite of all these insults he is acting based on wisdom extending his services to Lebanon and the resistance front. Our brothers in Iraq and Yemen also act similarly. In short Iran, Hezbollah as well as our Iraqi and Yemeni brothers have afforded to present an ideal model in favor of peace.

Another point is steadiness in our call to peace. Inviting to peace shall be a non-stop process. Now, I give you an example: "Youssef al-Qarzaawi", an Egyptian personality. At the beginning, he adopted the policy in favor of Islamic unity and intimacy among Muslims. But he unexpectedly changed his position and reconsidered all he was struggling for. Therefore, his call failed. What we do in favor of peace must be purposeful and to this end we must use all tools and means. The undesired circumstances should not make us to withdraw from our quest. A true harbinger of peace is the one who acts based on his beliefs in a non-stop manner; even if all the people come to oppose him.
The last issue that I wish to mention is that the Islamic world should not become hostage of political interests and orientations. Because it is related to our religion and the Holy Quran. Our religion is Islam and its message is peace. The name of our religion is Islam which inert alia means peace. A true believer possesses a peaceful approach, a pure heart and blessed with wisdom. Jealousy, hatred and corruption have no place in the heart of a believer.

Psychologists refer to those who possess these heinous characteristics as disobedient and arrogant individuals. Such an arrogant and disobedient desire within the heart of a human being will usher him towards conflict, division and disputes. Such a human being even if he wishes to obey his religion will do everything in order to meet his innate ill-desires. Therefore, any call or move in favor of peace shall be subject to observance of ethical, Islamic and spiritual values in all areas.

On the same basis I believe tools like satellite networks ,… shall bring such dimensions and observations into their attention. We shall avoid doing those historical researches which might lead to division and confrontation. Of course, doing such researches might be useful from the historical view point but it is possible they provoke ordinary Muslim people pitting them against each other.
Therefore, we need to rely upon the Islamic values and ethics as well as honesty and Irfan (mysticism); the Irfan that makes hearts of all Muslims clean. As I mentioned before we also need to give priority to cultural and artistic dimensions and aspects in favor of peace and I am well aware that the Islamic Republic of Iran has already made very promising measures in this regard. But we shall not limit ourselves to what we have done until now.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has gained precious achievements in preparing ground for establishment of peace among Muslims. In order to complete these achievements, we need to give further priority to holding such conferences and seminars as well as cultural and artistic events and measure.

We should focus our efforts on promoting peace in a far-reaching manner. We need to attach highest significance to the promotion of Islamic values and Islamic ethics free from arrogant and disobedient ethics and heinous approaches. We, all, shall invite people to "practical Irfan /mysticism". I heard a beautiful speech by H.E. Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His Eminence emphasized the need to pay attention to practical Irfan rather than the theoretical one. Practical Irfan actually invites us to Islamic ethics that will lead us to the Almighty God.
Thank the Almighty God that we can enjoy sublime teachings we can extract from the Holy Quran, the divine traditions, culture presented and introduced by our Imams as well as great people and personalities in the course of History of Islam assisting us to this end. In my speech I mentioned included the most important and necessary mechanisms for establishment of a far-reaching peace among members of the Islamic Ummah. At the same time, it is necessary for us not to limit the Islamic Ummah to the Islamic territories. I am speaking of the Islamic Ummah because all of us belong to a single identity. Separating Muslims nations is a plot hatched to stir up division among Muslims.

The Almighty God has called us as a single Ummah. Within the same respect the Almighty God in the Holy Quran stipulates: “The faithful are indeed brothers. Therefore, make peace between your brothers and be wary of Allah, so that you may receive [His] mercy” and He adds: “Indeed this community of yours is one community, and I am your Lord, so be wary of Me” according to which we shall enjoy the Islamic brotherhood and the Islamic unity.
We need to focus on the single Islamic Ummah rather than countries in the Islamic geography.