The Honorary President of the Makhzoumi Foundation and Beirutiyat – and his wife Mrs. May, Lebanon Grand Mufti Sheikh Abed El-Lateef Daryan officially inaugurated the Ramadan Village, an event organized on Dar Al Fatwa’s land in Verdun.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Deputy Ali Bazzi, representative of Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Deputy Ammar Houry, representative of Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Al Hariri and former Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, and Mrs. Leila El-Solh Hamadeh Vice President of Al-Waleed bin Talal Humanitarian Foundation, in addition to a number of ministers, deputies, ambassadors to Arab and foreign countries, religious leaders, businessmen, public figures, and the press.
In his speech, the Honorary President of the Makhzoumi Foundation Engineer Fouad Makhzoumi welcomed Grand Mufti Daryan and the rest of the attendees, before addressing politicians currently in office, asking them to invest more efforts into securing a decent life for citizens and improving socioeconomic conditions. Makhzoumi wondered about the future of Lebanon’s upcoming generations, especially in light of the ongoing sectarian and religious mobilization. He also called upon politicians to finalize all pending matters, question political negligence, reinforce justice and strive to build a healthier economy all while finding appropriate solutions to imperative matters including the salary scale, the electricity crisis, the election law and other pressing files.
Makhzoumi went on to stress the importance of education and the need to further improve Lebanon’s educational sector in order to arm the new generations with knowledge and enable them to stand up to modern-day challenges. Moreover, he highlighted the need to consider dialogue as a main tool for Lebanese citizens to get to know each other better, quoting Pope John Paul II who described Lebanon as “more than a country”. To end, Makhoumi stated: “Despite the fact that Lebanon is surrounded by the same type of war that torn the country apart in 1975, we are still able to joyfully celebrate together the upcoming advent of the holy month of Ramadan, sheltered from the conflicts and anger that are preying on neighboring Arab populations. We need to maintain Lebanon as a beacon for concord and acceptance, a beacon of great value because Lebanon IS of great value.”
Following his word, Engineer Fouad Makhzoumi proceeded by offering Mufti Daryan the Ramadan Village shield.
From his end, Grand Mufti Daryan who also delivered a speech during the inauguration ceremony, said: “This is indeed a special gathering with the holy month of Ramadan just around the corner. Having all of you together is a true reflection of Lebanon’s real image, the image of agreement and understanding between compatriots, the image of solidarity and unity between the members of different religious communities. Every year, the Makhzoumi Foundation organizes a festival that brings people together from all walks of life in preparation for the holy month of Ramadan on this Dar Al Fatwa land which we dream to transform, God’s willing, into the new Dar Al Fatwa headquarters. A dream we hope to see come true based on available funds and the initiative of this honorable community. The Makhzoumi Foundation is a respectable social and educational association. I’m here to say to Mr. Fouad Makhzoumi that you don’t need to be a politician to be socially active, after all political stands last only a day or two. The real value lies in establishing social and humanitarian foundations that work hard to ensure a better future for our children and grandchildren.”
Finally, Grand Mufti Daryan and Engineer Makhzoumi presented honorary shields to a number of social associations in recognition of their social activism and ongoing efforts towards achieving social welfare throughout more than 50 years, namely: Makassed Philanthropic Islamic Association of Beirut, the Social Welfare Institution – Dar Al Aytam Al Islamiya, Dar Al Ajaza Al Islamia Association, Dr. Mohammad Khaled Social Foundations, the Islamic Center in Aicha Bakkar, the Child and Mother Welfare Society, Al Birr Wal Ehsan Association, and the Muslim Scout Association.
In addition to the speeches, the Ramadan Village inauguration ceremony featured religious chants inspired by the holy month.