Al-Haddad: Islam Promotes Comprehensive Citizenship, Love of One's Homeland
Mohamed Mandour
Dr. Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Haddad, Member of the Muslim Council of Elders, Member of the UAE Fatwa Council, Senior Mufti, and Director of the Fatwa Department in Dubai, affirmed that Islam came to promote citizenship in its comprehensive sense—one that is based on harmony and cooperation among all members of society to achieve social cohesion and mutual support in times of need.
This, he noted, was exemplified by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) upon his arrival in Madinah, where he promptly laid the foundations of citizenship among the people of the city through what is known as the Charter of Madinah. The Charter preserved the rights of all citizens—regardless of their religion or tribal affiliation—including the tribes of Aws and Khazraj, as well as the emigrants.
His Eminence made these remarks during the ninth episode of the Ramadan program Human Values with the Elders, which is broadcast on the official social media accounts of the Muslim Council of Elders.
He emphasized that every member of a nation bears the responsibility of protecting and defending their homeland against anyone who seeks to harm it, so that society may remain safe and secure, where people support and protect one another. He noted that the saying 'Love of one's homeland is part of faith' reflects this principle, as true faith and Islam are not complete without a sense of peace and stability. If fear overwhelms a person—whether for their life, wealth, or family—they will be unable to properly fulfill their religious and social obligations.
Therefore, every individual must live in peace and security in their homeland and serve as a faithful guardian of it, just as they would protect themselves.
Dr. Al-Haddad added that this sense of responsibility must stem from a deeply rooted psychological conviction before it becomes a legal obligation. Without such inner conviction, a person may remain indifferent to the loss or destruction of their homeland.
This has been a recurring and observable reality throughout the history of the Muslim world, both past and present—homelands have only been compromised when national consciousness was absent.
Almighty God offers a powerful example in the Glorious Quran of the consequences of both national stability and decline, as He says: 'And Allah presents an example: a city which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every location, but it denied the favors of Allah.
So Allah made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear for what they had been doing.' (The Quran, 16:112) This, Dr. Al-Haddad said, is a vivid and divine warning to those who endanger the safety and security of their nations.
read more
Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685
NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria
Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO
Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided
News
Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks
News
Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank
News
Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region
News
One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid
News
Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers
News
Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia
News
Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content
Lifestyle
Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe
Videos & Features
Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO)
News
Ireland Replaces Former Israeli Embassy with Palestinian Museum
News
Israeli PM Diagnosed with Stage 3 Prostate Cancer
Lifestyle
Maguy Farah Reveals 2025 Expectations for Pisces
News
Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies
Arts & Culture
New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
See - Sada Elbalad
5 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Pakistan's Amb. to Egypt Meets Alkhidmat Foundation President to Review Humanitarian Relief for Gaza
Rana Atef Pakistan's Ambassador to Egypt Aamir Shouket met on Friday with Dr. Hafeez ur Rahman, President of the Alkhidmat Foundation. Hafeez briefed on his organization's ongoing humanitarian relief activities for Gaza particularly related to Eid-Al-Adha animals' sacrifice carried out in Egypt. The ambassador commended their role and assured continued support for this noble humanitarian cause. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan
Al-Ahram Weekly
12 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
How Egypt is managing energy deficit in a sweltering summer? - Energy
As soaring summer temperatures put unprecedented strain on Egypt's power grid, the country grapples with a widening chasm between natural gas production and consumption. With daily output declining and demand surging, particularly for electricity generation, energy security has emerged as a critical national concern. While some reports warn of a looming crisis, new developments suggest Egypt is not passively enduring the pressure. Instead, the government is pursuing a multi-pronged approach: importing liquefied natural gas (LNG), reactivating emergency fuel sources such as mazut, negotiating with key partners like Israel, and accelerating long-term investments in renewable energy and international contracts. Egypt faces an apparent shortfall in its natural gas balance, with daily production dropping to around 4.5 billion cubic feet, against consumption of approximately 6 billion. This discrepancy places the system under increasing strain, particularly during peak summer demand. Speaking to Ahram Online, Gamal Al-Qalyoubi, Professor of Petroleum and Energy Engineering, clarified that 'the actual rate of gas production decline does not exceed 1.7 billion cubic feet per day,' stressing that the frequently cited 3 billion cubic feet gap is 'exaggerated and not an accurate reflection of reality.' Alternative plans to secure supplies To address the shortfall, the government activated an emergency plan that includes bringing in three LNG regasification vessels and a ship docked at Aqaba Port, which will be shared alternately between Egypt and Jordan. However, Medhat Youssef, former Vice President of the Petroleum Authority, believes the crisis is 'not fully resolved yet, as the fourth vessel has not arrived, and one ship has not been operating at full capacity, leading to power outages during the heatwave, particularly in rural areas.' Despite these challenges, the national electricity grid has not collapsed and has largely maintained performance under record loads. Al-Qalyoubi affirms: 'What occurred should not be considered scheduled outages, but rather limited technical failures due to the heatwave,' adding that outages in some areas did not exceed 15 minutes and praising the grid's ability to handle a daily load of 40,000 megawatts. Fuel oil returns—at a cost During periods of peak demand, the government resorts to using fuel oil (mazut) as an alternative for electricity generation. Youssef notes that this policy is not new: Egypt previously earned around $8.5 billion from gas exports by substituting gas with mazut for domestic use, capitalising on the significant price difference ($50 for exported gas versus $16 for imported mazut). Official sources report a temporary halt in gas supplies from Israel, attributed to maintenance at the Leviathan and Tamar fields. However, the implications are broader, touching on market balance and trade agreements. Al-Qalyoubi comments: 'The Egyptian market remains the primary strategic partner for Israeli gas, receiving 800 million cubic feet per day, compared to just 250 million for the Jordanian market. Any talk of price changes is technically illogical, since the contracts are binding.' Youssef, however, believes that 'the agreements may grant Israel some flexibility to renegotiate prices if Egypt increases its demand—a natural occurrence in any market.' Zohr field decline: natural, not technical The sharp decline in production from the Zohr field is a key factor in the current crisis, with output falling from 3.8 to 1.8 billion cubic feet per day. Al-Qalyoubi explains: 'The decline is due to reduced fertility of geological layers—a natural development in any field's lifecycle, not a technical failure.' He pointed to intensified exploration efforts in promising areas such as the Red Sea and the western Mediterranean, with major companies like Chevron and ExxonMobil expected to enter in 2025. Long-term contracts as a strategic hedge In light of global gas market volatility, Egypt has moved toward signing long-term import contracts with countries including Qatar, Russia, and Algeria. These agreements offer greater security in supply and pricing. Al-Qalyoubi states: 'For the first time, Egypt is adopting this type of contract, which is a highly important step that spares us from emergency tenders and negotiating under pressure.' He adds that flexible financing mechanisms are in place to reduce strain on the national budget. Youssef commends this approach: 'Major countries like China and Japan follow the same model. Extended contracts protect against price fluctuations and enhance market stability.' Despite the advantages, the state faces real challenges securing liquidity to fund imports, particularly amid rising global interest rates. Youssef reveals: 'The government is currently deferring payment for some shipments. This provides temporary flexibility but increases financial burdens in the long term.' Renewables: a long-term hope Egypt plans to expand its renewable energy portfolio, focusing particularly on wind and solar, to reduce its reliance on natural gas for electricity. Al-Qalyoubi affirms: 'The goal is to produce 28,000 megawatts from wind and 11,000 from solar within four years, reserving gas for industrial use instead of burning it for power generation.' Youssef, however, remains cautious: 'Renewables currently account for no more than 10 percent of our needs, while gas covers roughly 90 percent of the power mix. Even after nuclear plants come online, gas will remain the primary source for years to come.' Transitional strain, not total crisis Despite the pressure of summer demand and declining production, both experts agree that Egypt is not on the brink of collapse, but is navigating a transitional phase requiring swift exploration, expanded contracts, and precise demand management. 'We are not living through a sudden energy crisis, but a transitional period being managed with realistic plans,' concludes Al-Qalyoubi. Youssef adds: 'Energy security can only be achieved through a mix of production, imports, and smart financial hedging.' Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Middle East
20 hours ago
- Middle East
OPEN// Sisi arrives at Misr Mosque in New Administrative Capital for Eid al-Adha prayers
CAIRO, June 6 (MENA) - President Abdel Fattah El Sisi arrived at Misr Mosque in the New Administrative Capital early on Friday morning to perform Eid al-Adha prayers. He was welcomed by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Defense General Abdel Meguid Saqr, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed El-Tayeb, as well as several ministers and senior state officials. (MENA) R E E/
