Darwish from Tripoli: It is unacceptable for the second capital to be a breeding ground for waste

Grand Mufti of the Republic Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian visited the Dar al-Fatwa (House of Fatwa) in Tripoli, where he was received by the Mufti of Tripoli and the North Sheikh Muhammad Tarek Imam, the Secretary of Fatwa and Chief Reciter Sheikh Bilal Baroudi, the Head of the Endowments Directorate in Tripoli Sheikh Bassam Bastani, along with Sharia scholars, judges, members of the Supreme Sharia Council, and members of the Tripoli Endowments.

A meeting was then held chaired by Mufti Derian, attended by Abdel Razzaq Qarhany representing Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and MPs Ashraf Rifi, Faisal Karami, Taha Naji, Ihab Matar, and Abdel Aziz Al-Samad.

Initially, Imam addressed Mufti Derian saying: "Firstly, we begin by praising God for His blessings and favors, and we pray and send peace upon our master Muhammad and all prophets and messengers. Then allow me to thank His Eminence the Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif Derian, for hosting us at the Dar al-Ifta of Tripoli. He welcomes us in this house because all Houses of Fatwa are under his authority, supervision, and guidance. His word is supreme in the Dar al-Fatwa of the Lebanese Republic and all other Houses of Fatwa. We thank him for welcoming and hosting us."

He continued: "From here, His Eminence is the highest and first reference Islamically and nationally; we see him as such, and he should be so. His Eminence and this high position play this pivotal and fundamental role in our country, Islamically and nationally, when we all rally around him, and when he draws from his support base those matters that make this position enjoy all the prestige, presence, and advanced role it deserves. We have never known His Eminence except as a pioneer in national and Islamic work, zealous for endowments and their issues, and for the issues of all Lebanese. Therefore, we thank His Eminence and renew our thanks."

He concluded: "And we say, meaning Shura... Shura (consultation) in our Islam, this word came in the Holy Quran, and we teach people consultation and advice even before there were councils for it. So welcome to him."

For his part, Mufti Derian said: "A blessed and distinguished morning in the presence of the Mufti of Tripoli and the North, Vice President of the Supreme Islamic Sharia Council, and the presence of honorable MPs and virtuous scholars. Firstly, thank you for your distinguished meeting. When we visit Tripoli, we first visit our people there, because between Beirut and Tripoli there is a national and Islamic relationship. As in Beirut, coexistence and national unity are embodied, so too in Tripoli and the North. The people of Tripoli are people of moderation and balance. The people of Tripoli, with their wise and prudent leaderships, exert every possible effort to unify the Tripolian arena and preserve Islamic-Christian unity in this city, which is rightly considered the second capital of Lebanon, the city of knowledge and scholars, and also considered the best model for the entire North."

He continued: "We, His Eminence the Mufti, the honorable MPs, and the virtuous scholars, follow together these days the issues concerning Tripoli, the fatwa of Tripoli, and the endowments of Tripoli. The esteemed members of the Supreme Sharia Council from Tripoli are making commendable efforts to cooperate with the city's notables and MPs, and with Mufti Sheikh Muhammad Imam, in addressing many issues concerning the Tripoli region generally, and especially some areas suffering from crises. We all never fall short in making efforts to try to alleviate the severity of crises during the time our beloved country passes through accumulated and major crises."

He added: "On this blessed morning, I want to extend my greatest greeting to our people in Tripoli, who are patient and steadfast in facing all the crises they suffer. Tripoli needs much, much more. I do not want to list the suffering of our people in Tripoli because I am present in the Dar al-Ifta of Tripoli, and the attendees are also from our people in Tripoli, so they know well what Tripoli needs in terms of great attention. Undoubtedly, the honorable MPs are making great efforts to address these crises passing through this beloved city to its people, beloved to our hearts, and beloved to all Lebanese."

He said: "I fully know the efforts of the honorable MPs, and we also want the Municipality of Tripoli and the Union of Municipalities in Tripoli and its surroundings to have an active role in lifting this suffering from the city of Tripoli. It is absolutely unacceptable, in any form whatsoever, for the second capital to be a breeding ground for waste. This is not how Tripoli is treated, nor its streets, nor its people. The other important matter: We all need to unite, rally, and demand that the state makes great efforts to lift the suffering from our people in Tripoli and our people in the North generally."

He added: "Tripoli is dear to my heart just as it is dear to the hearts of my people. And I consider it also an essential part of this beloved homeland. Tripoli has always embraced the state and its institutions greatly. In these circumstances, it is incumbent upon the state to do what it should towards it and towards its people. My visit to the Dar al-Ifta of Tripoli I consider a natural visit. Just as I attend the Dar al-Fatwa in Beirut daily, I consider coming to the Dar al-Fatwa in Tripoli also a natural thing, because I consider the Houses of Fatwa in all Lebanese regions as one House of Fatwa in the general orientation that preserves the dignity and honor of Muslims and Lebanese."

He continued: "My message to the notables and references of Tripoli: Unite in vision and also unite in work for Tripoli, and this exists and requires more attention. I will not prolong because I committed to myself not to speak in politics on this day, but there are urgent issues I touched upon in my speech. And I have full confidence that the Mufti of Tripoli and the North, Sheikh Muhammad Imam, is fulfilling his religious and national duty required in the most complete way, and we and he are in daily consultation regarding many religious issues and issues concerning the Lebanese and issues concerning Tripoli."

He concluded: "All greetings to His Eminence and all greetings and appreciation to the MPs of Tripoli and its notables. We are always with you and beside you, and we will wait likewise at all times and in all crises. May God bless your morning all, and I consider this morning a distinguished blessed morning by meeting with you. And of course, as His Eminence the Mufti mentioned, I have the great honor to be your guest in Tripoli. Thank you for this distinguished meeting, and thank you very much for all the welcome you showed us this morning. Thank you all."