Art of looking into petty issues

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SOME people made a fuss about a video clip that was circulated on social media in which an unknown young man — not a socialite — was speaking Hebrew. We don’t know if he was fluent in that language or was just pattering.

Even though the authenticity of that video is not known, it is unfortunate that we don’t speak Hebrew, even though our religion urges us to learn languages. This is because “Whoever learns a people’s language shall be safe from their evils”, and we have not yet found people wicked to us like the Israelites. Some Arabs like the late Saddam Hussein. Some people consider him as a martyr of the Arab and Muslim nations. May Almighty Allah resurrect them with him in Hell.

Back to the young Kuwaiti who we got to know him through articles published in the newspapers on Dec 18, he claimed to have embraced the Jewish religion. This was what sparked the huge fuss to the extent of calls being made for stripping him of his citizenship. They also demanded “fatwa” (advisory opinion) from Ministry of Awqaf on this “major” issue.

We are a country of law and Constitution, not a country of ‘fatwas’ and jurisprudence efforts.

In several articles, the Constitution of this country blocked the path of those who would want to darken the lives of the children and grandchildren of the founding fathers of this country. Article No. 29 stipulates, “All people are equal in human dignity and in public rights and duties before the law, without distinction to race, origin, language, or religion”; the keyword being “Religion”.

Also, Article No. 30 stipulates, “Personal liberty is guaranteed”. Article No. 35 crystal-clearly stipulates, “Freedom of belief is absolute. The State protects the freedom of practicing religion in accordance with established customs, provided that it does not conflict with public policy or morals”.

Are there any articles that are clearer than those in terms of freedom of belief?

Prior to the establishment of the State of Israel, Jews used to live among us. There were Jewish traders living in Iraq and they had strong relations with our traders. The question is — how did they become enemies just because they are Jews?

The Jews lived in the Arabian Peninsula during the days of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). When the call of Islam prevailed in the region, the Muslims did not fight the Jews without a reason; in fact, they fought them when they became hostile towards Muslims and Islam. Despite that, they continued living in the Peninsula in which they were born.

We do not have a dominating hostility with Israelites — the Jews. Many Kuwaitis have Jewish friends, and deal with Jews from the Western countries such as lawyers, doctors and owners of companies.

Our enmity is towards the State of Israel, its leaders, and its oppression of our Palestinian brothers for expelling them from their land.

Those who assisted the Jews for that purpose are the Western countries led by the United States of America and majority of the European nations such as England, France, Germany and others.

The question that begs to be asked is — Why don’t we be hostile and boycott these countries, which facilitated the establishment of the occupying state?

Therefore, to those who are making a fuss over the youth who converted to Judaism, enough with looking into petty issues!

By Ali Ahmed Al-Baghli

Former Minister of Oil

This news has been read 17690 times!