Allama Sayyed Ali Fadlallah patronized the iftar held by Al-Mabarrat Charitable Association in honour of the generous benefactor Hajj Akram Hammoud, at the Al-Saha heritage village restaurant - Airport Road.
The ceremony began with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by a welcoming speech by Sheikh Fouad Khreis, after which the choir of the Lady Khadija Mabarra presented an anthem inspired by the occasion, then the students of Al-Hadi Institution for Hearing and Visual Impairment played a heritage musical piece.
After that came Allama Fadlallah's speech, in which he pointed out that duty and fidelity make it incumbent upon us to honour those who supplied the journey of these institutions and stood alongside it, and whose role and marks are clear and prominent in raising these edifices that have extended throughout this homeland.
His Eminence added: These institutions take pride in those people who were not sparing towards them with their money, their capacities or their love, and who extended a helping hand to them - and without them they would not have reached this stage of excellence, progress and development, of caring for those in need, and of all these scholarly and educational energies. He held that fidelity to them is that we be equal to bearing this trust, to pursuing this journey with every effort and responsibility, and to working to develop it at every level so that it may carry out the mission-driven, humanitarian and moral role for which it exists, in the service of its society and in easing its pains and its aches.
His Eminence continued: The responsibility placed upon us is great, especially amid the challenges facing its work, to keep it a beacon of openness, dialogue, love and tolerance. He affirmed that its doors will remain open to serve every needy, poor and sick person, far from any other considerations we have become addicted to in this country. And our slogan will remain: “Wherever people need us, we will be”.
His Eminence expressed his regret at the state of indifference and irresponsibility the political class lives towards this homeland and its people, especially with the growing talk of the imminent lifting of subsidies on basic materials and goods, while it remains drowning in trading accusations and in obstructing solutions, waiting for an event or a change that may occur here or there.
His Eminence addressed those working in these institutions, saying: You are the safety valve of these institutions; without your patience, your effort, your perseverance and your sacrifices they would not have endured, grown and developed. Our hope in you remains great, that you will be faithful to them and will remain the essential support alongside them in times of ease and of hardship.
In closing His Eminence presented a commemorative shield to the honoured Hajj Akram Hammoud.
