Grand Imam of Al-Azhar decries abundance of money, arms trade in Mawlid speech

“The abundance of money and the trade in arms have become the only criterion for distinguishing good from evil, or rather have become the non-negotiable rule in the conflicts, struggles and wars of our world,” said Egyptian Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb in his speech at the Mawlid Al-Nabawi (Prophet Muhammad’s birthday) celebration.

The Grand Imam added that the principle of mercy is the first victim lost when men rush towards worshiping the idols of selfishness and liberating themselves from the controls of religion.

“Prophet Muhammad’s heavenly mission saved nations that were almost collapsing. Compare the situations in Rome, Northern Europe, Egypt, India and the Arab Peninsula when he received the divine revelation to the situation 200 years afterwards,” the Sheikh added.

He noted that the Prophet was keen to end slavery and asked his companions not to say “slave” or “maid”.

As for supporting women’s rights in Islam, Sheikh El-Tayeb said that Prophet Muhammad’s daughters received more of his mercy than the male sons, which contradicted his society’s norm of preferring the son over the daughter.

“Prophet Muhammad’s methodology is a map of survival for Arabs and Muslims in their civilizational battle,” Sheikh El-Tayeb said.

Muslims worldwide celebrate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad in Rabie al-Awal, the third month of the Islamic calendar.