The Religious Authority, Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah, is highly concerned about the various crises in the entire Muslim region. Thus, in the past days, he followed closely the developments in Somalia and their effects on the African continent and the Islamic and Arab situation in general. He also followed the Iraqi situation and the consequences of the execution of Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi former president, taking into consideration the chosen time and the way in which the execution was done. He also expressed his fear of the aggravation of the dangers of the sectarian game that America is trying to stir in the entire region, according to close sources to The Sayyed.

Nevertheless, His Eminence was particularly concerned about the Lebanese issues, especially, the Islamic situation and the aggravation of the sectarian tension that required from His Eminence and his staff to mobilize in order to blockade all what may split the Sunnis and Shiites in Lebanon. Although, Fadlullah is a conversationalist character that is open on all sects, who believes that he is responsible for the Islamic sphere in particular. Thus, he becomes disturbed whenever he hears all what pours the sectarian oil on the political fire, and this incites him to act to prevent this on all levels”.

After the three appeals that he had made during the last two weeks, firstly, to the Nation, through the message of Pilgrimage, secondly, to the Shiite and Sunni religious scholars and, thirdly, to the Lebanese on the occasion of the Eids, it seems that His Eminence has heard “tender” words from “the other party” and received homage from Fouad Siniora, the Prime Minister.

This homage was not limited to the two phone calls that Sinora made to H.E: the first was to ask about his health and the second was to wish him happy Eids. However, Siniora sent to His Eminence a delegation that was anxious to convey Siniora’s opinion regarding the current developments, asking The Sayyed to interfere to resolve the issues through mediating, or giving advises…”. The homage was also represented by a visit made by a delegation of MP Saad Hariri, the Head of Future Parliamentary Bloc.

Sources close to the Religious Authority clarified that Siniora wanted to emphasize, through his delegation, that “he supports every word The Sayyed said in his unifying statements and that he is ready to do what H.E. deemed right, especially regarding the issue of the Islamic unity, and thus, he is at The Sayyed’s beck and call.”

The delegation also heard advices from His Eminence some of which are the call “to emphasize that the religious scholars should not involve themselves in the political atmosphere to direct it to sectarianism… in addition to using the Grand Serail for this purpose”, because it is ridiculous to present the issue as if it is a problem between the Shiites and the Sunnis, while, the government is supposed to be a “Lebanese government” that belongs to all Lebanon.

The same sources clarified that Siniora’s delegation has conveyed his fear that the eleventh minister might play a blocking role, whereas, Fadlullah sent him assuring words telling him that he had received assurances from “Hezbollah” that this minister will not play such a role, since, it aims at a real participation that will rebuild trust among all parties.”

Fadllulah also sent a message to Siniora telling him: “the current phase needs a hero, be the hero of this phase”, emphasizing that he also has to follow the path of President Rafik Hariri who was contrived in simplifying the complicated issues, triumphing over difficulties and reaching solutions, while, they want us in Lebanon to complicate what is simplified.”

He also emphasized the importance of “ceasing the skirmishes that are lunched through the mass media and that stir up sectarianism”.

As for the delegation of Hariri, it has been asked to convey to the young deputy an invitation to speak to the popular basis in a tone that refuses the logic of sectarianism, and not only to call people to protect the Islamic unity. Besides, His Eminence stressed on the importance of “stopping the media skirmishes that provoke sectarianism, adding that this it is necessary to go on the ground in order to prevent these skirmishes”. Besides, Fadlallah demanded this from all other concerned parties.

In addition to this call, H.E. gave Hariri an advice telling him: “Be Rafik Hariri”.

Sayyed Fadlulah also sent many messages and advices to all parties and concerned persons, while, the close sources to His Eminence did not state if He is in the point of a comprehensive and global mediation amid the diversity of mediations and the continuity of the impasse.

* Al-Akhbar Daily