Muhammad Badie's acceptance speech -Newly elected as MB Chairman

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Translation: Muhammad Badie's acceptance speech

Muhammad Badie, the newly-elected supreme guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, delivered an acceptance speech today to an audience of Brotherhood members. We'll post some thoughts on the speech (and Badie's election) a little later; for now, though, we're posting a full English translation of the speech, along with a PDF version. It's after the jump.

Sunday, January 17,2010 16:57 - The majlis

Muhammad Badie, the newly-elected supreme guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, delivered an acceptance speech today to an audience of Brotherhood members. We'll post some thoughts on the speech (and Badie's election) a little later; for now, though, we're posting a full English translation of the speech, along with a PDF version. It's after the jump.

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

Praise be to Allah and Blessing on His messenger, companions and followers

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I greet you with the Islamic greeting; Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings;

It is the will of Allah that I undertake this huge responsibility which Allah has chosen for me and a request from the MB Movement which I respond to with the support of Allah. With the support of my Muslim Brothers I look forward to achieving the great goals, we devoted ourselves to, solely for the sake of Allah.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

At the outset of my speech I would like to address our teacher, older brother, and distinguished leader Mr. Mohamed Mahdy Akef, the seventh leader of the MB group a strong, dedicated and enthusiastic person who led the group's journey amid storms and surpassed all its obstacles, thus providing this unique and outstanding model to all leaders and senior officials in the government, associations and other parties by fulfilling his promise and handing over the leadership after only one term, words are not enough to express our feelings to this great leader and guide and we can only say "May Allah reward you all the best".

We say to our beloved Muslim brothers who are spread around the globe, it is unfortunate for us to have this big event happening while you are not among us for reasons beyond our control, however we feel that your souls are with us sending honest and sincere smiles and vibes.

As for the beloved ones who are behind the bars of tyranny and oppression for no just reason other than reiterating Allah is our God, and for seeking the dignity, pride and development of their country, we sincerely applaud and salute them for their patience, steadfastness and sacrifices which we are sure will not be without gain. We pray that those tyrants and oppressors salvage their conscience and that we see you again in our midst supporting our cause, may Allah bless and protect you all.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As you are aware, the main goal of the Muslim Brotherhood Movement (MB) is comprehensive modification, which deals with all kinds of corruption through reform and change. "I only desire (your) betterment to the best of my power; and my success (in my task) can only come from Allah." (Hud-88) and through cooperation with all powers of the nation and those with high spirits who are sincere to their religion and nation.

The MB believes that Allah has placed all the foundations necessary for the development and welfare of nations in the great Islam; therefore, Islam is their reference towards reform, which starts from the disciplining and training of the souls of individuals, followed by regulating families and societies by strengthening them, preceded by bringing justice to it and the continuous jihad to liberate the nation from any foreign dominance or intellectual, spiritual, cultural hegemony and economic, political or military colonialism, as well as leading the nation to development, prosperity and assuming its appropriate place in the world.

As a result of this comprehensive understanding of Islam the MB were described as Salafists, Sunni, political organization, sports group, scientific and cultural associations, economic companies and a social idea, as provided in the Quran "But seek, with the (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on thee, the Home of the Hereafter, nor forget thy portion in this world: but do thou good, as Allah has been good to thee, and seek not (occasions for) mischief in the land: for Allah loves not those who do mischief." (Al-Qasas, 77)

The Muslim Brothers understand that the Quran and Sunnah include all rules, which may be applied to every aspect of life, and the nation has to choose the best for it. According to these rules, which include many alternatives and jurisdiction, options, may change according to the custom, time and place.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Although our ideas, aims and objectives are clear, many people try to define us differently and attribute different goals and objectives to us; therefore, we keep re-introducing ourselves, our principles and our stances to the current affairs.

Initially, I would like to tell those who back the unity of the group that those who sincerely work for their God, religion, and country must be as one unit, despite having different opinions. Those who think that different opinions in the group cause disunity or affect the brotherhood do not fully understand the MB. The MB has all promised Allah to toil for his sake as one unit.

The MB operates according to rules and regulations, which are under continuous review, and development without contradicting the basic principles and the MB with this regard accept the advice and wisdom of all as they follow the aphorism "God bless those who show me my defects".

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I would like to highlight and stress the following points:

We are a group of Muslims and not the Muslim group, since one group cannot monopolize Islam, and praise be to Allah, the MB is extremely popular in all countries of the Arab and Islamic worlds because of its moderate call which stems from the pure Quran and Sunnah.

Our approach and movement are linked and based on each other, the latter is based on the former and our motto is cited in the Quranic verse: "And those who came after them say: "Our Lord! Forgive us, and our brethren who came before us into the Faith, and leave not, in our hearts, rancor (or sense of injury) against those who have believed. Our Lord! Thou art indeed Full of Kindness, Most Merciful." (Al Hashr, 10).

We believe in gradual reform, which can only be achieved through a peaceful, and constitutional struggle based on persuasion and dialogue and definitely not through coercion, hence we reject violence in all its forms by either governments or individuals.

The MB group believes that the ruling system should maintain personal freedoms, consultation (democracy), and to obtain the legitimacy of the authority from the nation, identification of powers and separating between it, is the closest ruling system to Islam and they accept no alternative. From this perspective they participate in political sessions and demand the reformation of the system via the available and peaceful means such as parliamentary and community work which they consider as a duty. They have to fulfill to their understanding of their religion and sincerity to their nations.

With regards to our stance from the Egyptian regime, we emphasize that the MB were never opponents to the regime, even if the regime constantly imposes restrictions on them, confiscates their money and frequently arrest its leaders. However, the MB has never hindered in facing the corrupted policies in all areas and always provides recommendations to get past the continued crisis, which the regime has subjected our country to. They raise the sons and daughters of this nation on virtues, morals and helping others, which all benefits the nation, citizens and the state's institutions.

The MB emphasize that their stances from systems are primarily based on praising the good and opposing the bad, hence they do not oppose anything for the sake of it.

With regards to our Christian brothers in the Arab and Islamic world, our stance is very clear as they are partners and participants in building the civilization of this nation, our colleagues in defending it, partners in its development and dealing and cooperating with them is an Islamic obligation. "Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just." (Al-Momtahena, 8)

The MB believes that citizenship is based on cooperation and full equality in the rights and obligations, except for personal matters, which are according to everyone's faith.

The MB strongly rejects and condemns all kinds of sectarian violence, which is frequent and announces their rejection to all these painful incidents as Christians along with Muslims make one social and cultural community. They also call for frankly discussing the reasons behind this tension and finding solutions to remove all sensitivities to restore the nation as a healthy unit.

With regards to women, the MB has previously illustrated promoting all the rights of women in the economic, social and political field. "The Believers, men and women, are protectors one of another: they enjoin what is just and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, practice regular charity, and obey Allah and His Messenger" (Tawbah, 71). We call on all Muslim women to play their role generally and to keep up to date with the current affairs as this benefits our Muslim and Arab nation.

Democracy or (Consulting) is our essential tool, which we strive to adopt and consolidate. All our institutions or associations in the group are based on consulting and democracy beginning from the Boards of People to the office of the Guidance Bureau itself. The MB emphasize that democracy at its core means the non-abolition or cancellation of the other party's opinion and the adopting of the majority's decision.

With regards to Islamic, national powers, political parties, intellectual and cultural elites, the MB believe that everyone should take part in the development and reform and they refuse any exclusion of any individual or association or the marginalizing of any individual's role. They accept the plurality of parties and the freedom for the parties to be established without restrictions as long as it is established within the framework of the Constitution. They believe in the transmission of power between different parties and groups through free and fair elections since the country is for all and its reform is unexceptionally the responsibility of each individual.

The MB prioritizes the Palestinian case and considers it as the most important case for the nation, which measures the standard of loyalty to Islam, and Arabism and they do not spare any efforts to make this cause the first interest of ruling systems and nations until Palestine is free, God willing.

The MB unwaveringly supports the Arab and Islamic nation and supports its fair stances and important issues. They do not hesitate to offer advice to all bodies and Islamic or Arab associations both at the official and public levels and they never stopped sacrificing for the sake of the nation whenever needed.

They transfer the call for unity and cooperation between Arab and Islamic countries to resist the projects of colonialism, western and Zionist hegemony as they call for the unity of the nation and solving the problems within and between Arab and Islamic countries through advocating dialogue and not arms. Here we should remind our brothers in Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Pakistan that the only way to ensure the safety and security of their people would only come by committing to dialogue and agreeing on the best of these dear nations.

Our stance to the global system led by USA and the west is more than clear. We hold no animosity to the western countries, however we are against this global system, which accepts freedom and democracy for its people and denies our people the same. Its use of its economic power to assert its control over our countries and decisions. The Zionist state seeks the abolition and cancellation of our values, cultures and Islamic identity for its western values, which seeks the destruction of our faith and morals in our countries.

We call on the nation to unite in the face of the Zionist and western project and to overcome above all ideological differences, to end racism and to completely refuse and prohibit any assault on or occupation of an Arab or Islamic country league.

We call on these global systems to be just and fair and to work on bringing peace and cooperation between the peoples of the world and to promote the values of freedom and justice around the globe." All of you are sons of Adam and Adam was created from dust" (Albarraz) and the verse of the Quran "O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). (Al-Hujurat, 13)

The Arab is not better than the foreigner, and the foreigner is not better than the Arab, the black man is not better than the white man and the white man is not better than the black man, except in piety.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We look to the future with hope and concern.

Hope is the motto of true believers and it is the reason we keep working with hope. Love and brotherhood is the method in which MB face hardships and; despair is not in the attitude of believers and idleness is not of the mujahid's qualities.

Our concern includes that of all Egyptians, Arabs and Muslims; the whole humanity shares the same concern over the future of the world, which is threatened by conflicts, epidemics, and diseases and scholars pity it because of the global warming, desertification and drought. Concern is also over the unknown future of the globe led by the policies of the superpowers who desired to solely lead the whole humanity for two decades where they thought they could control the other part of the world. However, they were surprised to see rivers of blood and bodies spread in different parts of the Islamic world including Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan Somalia, Lebanon and Palestine in addition to the economic crises starting one after another with people living in anxiety and concern about their future and the future of their children.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Egyptians, Arabs, Muslims and the whole of humanity are expecting and anticipating much from you, and you - God Willing- are capable of taking this responsibility; repeatedly history has recorded your patience, steadfastness, resoluteness and productivity despite the rumours, which are always spread about you.

Offer to the world the real Islam, the Islam of tolerance and moderation, the Islam that respects the pluralism in the world, the Islam of acquaintance and cooperation for the good of the humanity.

Pass through every path and use all means possible to spread the call for Islam between people and strive truly" Therefore listen not to the Unbelievers, but strive against them with the utmost strenuousness, with the (Qur'an)." (Al-Furqan, 52).

Persist in your struggle through, statements, writings, speeches, songs, decent films and meaningful dramas. Utilize all means to shed light on facts about Islam ending all trepidation. Promote and adhere to your slogan from the Quranic verse " Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance (Al-Nahl, 126)

And dispute ye not with the People of the Book, except with means better (than mere disputation), unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong (and injury): but say, "We believe in the revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you; Our Allah and your Allah is one; and it is to Him we bow (in Islam)." (Al-Ankabut, 46)

Educate yourselves on the fine virtues and ethics, be models for people, guide them to Allah by being a good example with excellent behaviour, and participate with others in the reform of spirits and morals.

Cooperate with everyone working for the good of Islam and oppose all that is dire, continue in supporting the correct, protecting faith and fighting against infidelity.

Correct yourselves and your houses, seek the virtuous, and work to fix your communities, stand by the oppressed everywhere and restore the rights of people.

Turn to the Holy Quran and the honourable Sunnah of the prophet, the life of the honest prophet and lives of other great people, study it and get the best of it and correct your paths always and always be aware that Allah is watching what you do not what is inside you and await the victory from Allah, which is not difficult. "With the help of Allah. He helps whom He will, and He is exalted in might, most merciful." (Ar-Rum, 5)

And say: "Work (righteousness): Soon will Allah observe your work, and His Messenger, and the Believers: Soon will ye be brought back to the knower of what is hidden and what is open: then will He show you the truth of all that ye did." (Al-Tawbah, 105)

Reference:
http://www.ikhwanweb.com/article.php?id=22674