We present the speech by Cheikh Abdul Monem El Zein at the meeting of the Russia - Islamic World strategic vision group in Grozny, Chechen Republic.
Thank you, Mr. President,
Ladies and gentlemen,
and may God's peace, mercy and blessings be upon you.
I would like to begin by thanking the President of the Chechen Republic, and the administration of this group for convening this conference. I speak about myself when I say, that I am used to be honest and truthful in all situations, despite all troubles I get from doing so.
So I say honestly and frankly:
Terrorism is divided into three things:
First, reasons, secondly treatments, and finally results.
Among the reasons of terrorism:
There are old reasons and there are modern reasons.
Of the old reasons: the emptiness of the youth, the emptiness in the creed and the emptiness of work, and underdevelopment as well. All leading to the involvement in terrorism.
But nowadays or recently, reasons have changed. The main example is the support of some Western and Islamic countries for terrorism openly and publicly. There are also poisoned educational programs by the thoughts of atonement in the schools of many Muslim countries. Unfortunately, in the programs or curricula of these schools from the elementary grades, to universities, we find poisonous ideas calling for atonement (Takfir), terrorism, renunciation of others and taking people out of religion and getting them out of everything that suits them. And also one of the reasons, and let us not hide behind our fingers and acknowledge the existence of this reason, is the political stance supporting and defending terrorism.
This was in the field of the causes.
Now speaking about the treatments.
First of all, we need to promote the correct and perfect explanation of the Islamic religious thoughts, and I have talked about this clearly in the past two years in Moscow and in Kazan.
Secondly, we need to remove all the sources of hatred and negativity and the idea of the atonement that has been planted deep in our souls. As the famous Arab proverb states, Here is the stud of the horse (Which means here is the main point). Because putting down the fires of all conflicts in the countries of the Islamic world cannot be done unless we remove and erase these ideas or beliefs, and the hatred from the Islamic community.
Thirdly, we need to dry all political, financial and military support, which is neither my authority nor the authority of people like me. This drying is based on a sincere and honest decision taken by those who are really concerned.
Finally, in this case, in the way of treatment, the demolition of the so-called incubating environments for atonement or Takfir. Poor environments have been deceived by the idea of Takfir. If we show these environments the truth, they will definitely abandon this incubation of atonement, and this responsibility falls primarily on the speeches of Muslims in their mosques, and their celebrations.
Muslim speeches, unfortunately, contain many mistakes, and inappropriate teachings, that are being promoted in Friday prayers, on holidays, on every occasion, even on the birth of the Prophet, peace be upon him and his family. Even on that occasion, we find speeches about Takfir, about hatred and about Islam in the most horrible pictures.
Thirdly, talking about results, I say frankly, no matter how much that frankness costs me:
Fighting terrorism has become a trade. There are human beings who claim to be part of the fight against terrorism, who trade in it and fight terrorism only in seminars, mosques and forums, fighting it with good speeches and nice words that people want to hear. These traders, on the other side, have supported terrorism under the cover or publicly. Supported it by all means: financial means, weapons, political backing and all possible kinds of support.
So I say: If intentions are true and efforts are united by all parties, ending terrorism forever is easy. Otherwise, we will remain vicious and spin in an endless circle. Here, I must declare that I know very well and highly appreciate the efforts made by the Russian Federation under the leadership of its President, Vladimir Putin, with the leaders of the States that wish to end the state of terrorism. I appreciate these efforts, but I look forward to something, and I hope that the administration of the group will deliver this aspiration to President Putin and offer him this idea. I look forward to a call for a summit, which will be organized by President Putin, in which all countries on both sides of the conflict will be called to. Both countries that really and truly fight terrorism, and countries that support terrorism with money, arms and youth and facilitate the transit to the hotbeds of tension and destruction. Invite all countries that can apply pressure in this area for such a conference, and all meet in a frank and genuine session with a sincere intention towards the salvation of this disease, because I really feel that the effective decision is in the hands of the leaders of those countries, not in the hands of the arms holders and fighters.
If these leaders who can really deliver meet, only then we can end this plague. Otherwise, the famous Arab proverb that says:” the cook of the poison is the one eating it” will be applied on us.
Some countries that claim suffering from terrorism today unfortunately made, facilitated or at least contributed to the emergence of this suspicious situation.
I conclude by saying with all honesty and faith in my heart that Islam is truly and absolutely innocent of all these wrong ideas, of all these criminal practices, and unfortunately all of this happened in the name of Islam. I apologize to Islam. I say to him with regret, O Islam, our sons have spoiled you. Our children have distorted this Islam, as some philosophers of the West have once said: Islam is a shining diamond, covered by Muslims who prevented or denied the world its shine and light. I say this word and I apologize to you, ladies and gentlemen, and may peace and mercy and blessings of God be upon you all.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"