Grand Mufti Drayan: The Decision to Mediate Is Brave... Not What We Hoped for Regarding General Amnesty

The Directorate General of Islamic Endowments in Lebanon held a celebration marking the blessed anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, attended by Prime Minister Judge Nouf Salam, Grand Mufti of Lebanon Sheikh Abdul-Latif Drayan, former Prime Ministers Najib Mikati, Fouad Siniora, Tamam Salam, Hassan Diab, Interior Minister Colonel Ahmad al-Hajjar, numerous officials, former ministers and members of parliament, Head of Sunni Sharia Courts Sheikh Muhammad Assaf, Grand Mufti of Lebanese Regions, members of the Higher Islamic Sharia Council, Sharia Court judges, Acting Director General of Endowments Sheikh Zuhair Kabi, scholars, media figures, and many prominent personalities, all gathered at the Muhammad al-Amin Mosque Hall in downtown Beirut.

The ceremony began with recitations from the Quran by Dr. Sheikh Muhammad al-Bilay, followed by the event host, Dr. Sheikh Mazen Qouzi, and then a recitation of the Prophet’s noble biography by Sheikh Bilal Baroudi, Secretary of the Tripoli Fatwa Office.

Grand Mufti Drayan

Then Grand Mufti Drayan delivered a speech, stating: "We have gathered today to celebrate the blessed anniversary of our Master Muhammad ibn Abdallah, peace be upon him. It is an occasion of love and glad tidings, as it has been for over a thousand years. When the orphaned infant was born, his grandfather and uncles were joyful; within days, all of Mecca, the mother of cities, rejoiced. His aunts urged his mother to take him to visit the Sacred Kaaba, which they called 'the Ancient House,' just as Meccans used to circumambulate their children around it so that children would grow attached to it from an early age. Indeed, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) became deeply connected to this House, which the Quran mentions was built by Ibrahim and Ismail, peace be upon them, making it a sanctuary and a place of safety for all people.

The Meccans viewed the newborn as a sign of renewal within the family and their immediate surroundings. Little did they know that this new arrival would, from youth through maturity, become a creator of great change—not only in Mecca but across the Arabian Peninsula and the world. His words have become a sunnah for nearly two billion people; his actions have reshaped the course of history.

He continued: "Dear honored guests, a person dies, yet their memory endures—but over one or two generations, it diminishes and fades. But the memory of Muhammad the Messenger has grown stronger during his life and after his passing, becoming widespread and universal, reaching the farthest corners of the earth within less than fifty years.

Through his nation, his sunnah, and his message, Muhammad (peace be upon him) transformed the destinies of generations. The Kaaba, which he loved, has become the global qibla, and will remain so until God inherits the earth and all that is upon it.

In Sunan Ibn Majah, from Qays ibn Abu Hazim: A man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him), stood before him, trembling. The Prophet said to him: 'Be at ease, for I am not a king—I am the son of a woman from Quraysh who used to eat dried meat in Mecca.' Dried meat refers to dried flesh. This illustrates his complete humility (peace be upon him), as he clarified he was no king, and reminded the man of what his mother used to eat, proving he was one of them, not a tyrant to be feared. Indeed, the Prophet (peace be upon him) had declared at the beginning of his mission, when faced with resistance from Mecca’s elders: 'By God, even if they placed the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left, I would not abandon this cause until God reveals it or I perish in it.'

He added: "Dear honored guests, we too are welcoming today a great new beginning on this blessed anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, just as countless generations have welcomed it throughout history, and we welcome it in the horizon of the future.

Our ummah and our nations face challenges unlike any seen in distant times. Before us lies the genocide in Gaza, and an ongoing war in Lebanon, where martyrs fall every day. Yet before us and within us is a new era—its leader, its government, and its head have resolved to bring change and break free from the stagnation that has governed the country and its people for years. We stand with this president, this era, this government, and its head in their efforts to halt the Zionist aggression, liberate the land, and enforce state authority over all Lebanese territory. We stand with them in their endeavors to overcome the economic and living crisis. We stand with the new approach toward our sister Syria. And we stand with the strengthening ties each day with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—the kingdom that has consistently served the Two Holy Mosques and strives to ensure dignity and security for all Arab and Muslim lands. This is the essence of the new defensive alliance with Turkey and Pakistan.

He continued: "Dear honored guests, while facing the challenges of war and occupation, we find that long-standing major issues, unresolved for years, have now found solutions—such as the general amnesty law, which we had hoped would be stronger, broader, and more comprehensive, but which finally sees action after decades of hesitation by past regimes and governments. We hope justice will also be achieved in the Port of Beirut explosion case, restoring some peace to the hearts and minds of the victims.

The new reality heralded by this era, embraced by this government and its leader, deserves recognition and trust, especially in the face of the massive Beirut port tragedy.

Dear honored guests, we must possess the courage of hope and the courage of peace. Those among you with experience know that peace is often harder than war. Many today believe that reactions and counter-reactions should take priority. Yet the Prophet (peace be upon him), despite being the strongest party at Hudaybiyyah, chose reconciliation or mediation, despite opposition from his companions (may God be pleased with them all). That decision led to outcomes that established a new era, which the Quran calls a 'victory' (Fath).

Thus, the decision to mediate and halt attacks and massive destruction is a courageous one. In contrast, the decision to wage war may not currently be suitable for a free and dignified life, nor for a promising future.

He stated: "Our heritage greatly glorifies war and jihad. Yet our history also honors those who brought peace—such as the righteous Caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, who ended internal fighting and withdrew the army besieging Constantinople. I do not say this to condemn or endorse any particular action, but to emphasize: amid immense suffering, the Lebanese leadership’s effort to stop Israeli aggression and massive destruction is both courageous and wise. After our wars—both internal and external—we have destroyed what cannot be restored and cannot be forgotten. This path, after all calculations, is the only way forward. It requires patience, endurance, and vision focused on tomorrow—the eyes of our children and elders, who have known nothing but violence and destruction, and now deserve to hope for a better future.

He added: "Dear honored guests, the Grand Mufti’s Office considers any attack on the Presidency of the Republic an attack on the entire nation, regardless of sect. It also rejects any targeting of the first or second presidency. Cooperation and coordination among the three presidencies are essential guarantees of Lebanon’s unity and the unity of its people, enabling us to overcome our recurring crises. This is always our priority. The Grand Mufti’s Office will remain steadfast in its religious mission, following its moderate, balanced Islamic and national path, no matter how fierce the hostile arrows aimed at it may become.

On this blessed anniversary of the Prophet’s birth—the birth of joy and renewal—I wish to address the unwarranted polarization surrounding the Grand Mufti’s Office. The Office and the Presidency of the Republic have, due to wars and fitnas, lost martyrs who worked for peace and security. This institution is a fortress of national integrity, always grounded in peace, healing, opposition to division among citizens, and respect for all with good intentions and deeds. The Higher Islamic Sharia Council, established under Decree No. 18 of 1956, is the foundation of the Grand Mufti’s Office—it governs itself and holds clear legislative powers. With just a little reflection, reason, foresight, and review, we can preserve the dignity of this venerable institution and shield it from divisions and challenges. Religion is a source of soft power. We all know how much suffering has occurred—and continues—to result when religion is dragged into cycles of division, justifying violence, factionalism, and conflict with nations and societies. Let us safeguard the independence and peace of the Grand Mufti’s Office so that it remains a guardian of Muslim unity and a force for the good of our nation and its citizens.

He continued: "Dear honored guests, when asked about the character of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Lady Aisha, Mother of the Believers, peace be upon her, replied: 'His character was the Quran.' And the Quran says: 'Obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute, lest you lose courage and your strength vanish. Be patient, indeed Allah is with the patient.' None of us desires or accepts an atmosphere of national division, especially on critical issues concerning the dignity and authority of the state in peace and war, and the very existence and future of Lebanon. In this beloved homeland, dear to the hearts of all Lebanese, there is only this elected authority. May it remain our shelter from storms and breaches.

He concluded: 'On the anniversary of your birth, O Messenger of God, we ask Almighty God to reward you with the best recompense for what you have given to our ummah and communities. We also ask Almighty God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, on this blessed anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, and in the call to guidance, light, and mercy, to illuminate our hearts with the light of love, forgiveness, and peace, and to guide us all to sincere and devoted service for the peace and well-being of humanity, our nation, and our country.'