Humanitarian Rights in the Time of Appearance of the Mahdi (pbuh) Or World Promised Saviour

Religious Leaders

Argue only in the best way with the People of the Book, except with those of them who act unjustly. Say, "We believe in what was revealed to us and in what was revealed to you: our God and your God are one (and the same); we are devoted to Him." (31)

Syria´s Grand Mufti Ahmad Badr Al-Din Hassoun opening his address to Members of the European Parliament, on Tuesday 15th of January 2008, saying: "Religion gives civilization its moral values but culture is something that we built", he stressed adding that religion "is the work of God" whereas civilization is created by mankind.

"We do not believe, in our region, in the multiplicity of religions. Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohamed (Pbuh) came with one single religion". Therefore, "there is no holy war, because a war can never be holy; it is peace that is holy".

Then they came up and laid hands upon Jesus and seized him. And Behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off this ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish buy the sword." (32)

Interreligious dialogue recognizes the plurality of the world´s religious systems as a valuable resource for discovering and working together toward a common goals.

Dialogue begins with the willingness to question and to be questioned. Dialogue requires an effort to comprehend the inherent value of difference in this complex global society. Dialogue is the only instrument to achieve a real peaceful world based on mutual respect and understanding.

"All states shall take effective measures to prevent and eliminate discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief ….(…..) All states shall make all efforts to enact or rescind legislation where necessary to prohibit any such discrimination." (33)

Civil Society

We live in a society that we call developed, a society that produces great masses of scorned, exploited, hungry human beings; a society whose supreme value is money. A society that has achieved an unparalleled technological development during the last few decades and that possesses the sufficient economic, cultural and spiritual capacity to achieve a more just and supportive universal social order for all, without excluding anybody.

"No one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." (34)

The pillars of society are those people who provide its spiritual and moral vision to the society . They are righteous people with courage who realize the truth within themselves and are willing to take responsibility for their community.

We are all conscious today that our world has become a virtual communicational unity, that its nations and regions are increasingly economically interdependent, and that war is insanely destructive. The survival of the human family requires urgently the articulation of ethical principles. "Treat people in such a way and live amongst them in such a manner that if you die the will weep over you; alive they crave for your company."(35)

V.- Guiding Principles from the Book of Ben Sira

Duties toward the Poor and the Oppressed (36)

My child, do not cheat the poor of their living, and do not keep needy eyes waiting. Do not grieve the hungry, or anger one in need.

Do not add to the troubles of the desperate, or delay giving to the needy.

Do not reject a suppliant in distress, o turn your face away from the poor.

Prudence and Common Sense (37)

"Do not contend with the powerful, or you may fall into their hands.

Do not quarrel with the rich, in case their resources outweigh yours; for gold has ruined many, and has perverted the minds of kings.

Concerning rulers (38)

A wise magistrate educates his people, and the rule of an intelligent person is well ordered.

As the people´s judge is, so are his officials; as the ruler of the city is, so are all its inhabitants.

The government of the earth is in the hand of the Lord, and over it He will raise up the right leader for the time.

Human success is in the hand of the Lord, and it is he who confers honor upon the lawgiver.

Concerning humility (39)

The poor are honored for their knowledge, while the rich are honored for their wealth.

One who is honored in poverty, how much more in wealth!

An one dishonored in wealth, how much more in poverty!

Responsible use of wealth (40)

If one is mean to himself, to whom he will be generous? He will not enjoy his own riches.

No one is worse than one who is grudging to himself; this is the punishment for his meanness.

The miser is an evil person; he turns away and disregards people.

Do good to friends before you die, and reach out and give to them as much as you can.

The temptations of Commerce (41)

A merchant can hardly keep from wrongdoing, nor is a tradesman innocent of sin. As a stake is driven firmly into a fissure between stones, so sin is wedged in between selling and buying.

If a person is not steadfast in the fear of the Lord, his house will be quickly overthrown.

VI.-Final Comments

By faith we believe and understand that the worlds were created by the Word of God.

By faith Enoch was taken so that he did no experience death.

By faith Noah, warned by God about events yet not seen he built the ark to save his household.

By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance and he set out not knowing where he was going.

By faith Moses left Egypt without fear of Pharao´s anger and he lead the people through the dessert to the promised land. Without faith is no possible to please God.

It is hard to believe that science, technology, politics and economics can effectively offer a unifying vision of the complexity of our world today and find the solutions to our everyday increasing problems.

Our world is in a state of imbalance created by man´s misuse. The appearance of the Mahdi (Pbuh) or Saviour will restore and balance the earth.

We have to be prepared to change our present modes of living to ensure the future of mankind in this world. Adequate our needs according to the needs of all people of the world and enter in a new and truthful understanding of the meaning of sharing.

The Mahdi (Pbuh) or Saviour, knows that deep in the hearts of men is the aspiration for justice and love, but we need to end with the fear that stop us from living according to the light of God.

Today, from all corners of our planet we hear the cry of despair of displace people, stateless people, emigrants; no matter how we call them, they suffer from the same disease: poverty , hunger, isolation and scorn.

Among His most important concerns is the welfare of the poor and dispossessed. Half the world´s populations enter this category and present an enormous challenge to the goodwill of men. The Mahdi (Pbuh) or Saviour of the world will inspire the goodwill that will put an end to injustice and corruption.

Slowly, people will become aware that to share the resources of the world is in their own best interests and will willingly accept the need. This will end the suffering of the poor.

"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (42)

Are we moving forward towards the Mahdi (Pbuh) or Saviour of the World most important concern?

VI.-Bibliography

-The Qur´an, a new translation, M.A.S. Abdel Haleem, 2004, Oxford University Press, Inc., New York,m USA. -The Spiritual Formation Bible, 2006 Harper and Collins Publishers, United Kingdom. -Ibn Talib, Ali , Nahjol Balgha, Compiled by: Sayyid Shareef Ar. Razi, 2003, Ansariyan Publication, Qum, Islamic Republic of Ir?n -Küng Hans, El Judaismo, pasado presente y futuro, 1993, Editorial Trotta, S.A., Madrid. -Küng, Hans, El Islam, historia, presente, futuro, 2006, Editorial Trotta, S.A., Madrid. -Küng, Hans, El Cristianismo, esencia e historia, 1997, Editorial Trotta, S.A., Madrid. -Ay?car, R. MIguel, El Evangelio y los Santos de las Grandes Religiones, Editorial Alpuerto, S.A., Madrid.

• Beck, Ulrico, La sociedad del riesgo global, 2006, Siglo XXI de Espa?a Editores, S.A. Madrid. -Corm, Georges, La fractura imaginaria, las falsas ra?ces del enfrentamiento entre Oriente y Occidente, 2004 Tusquets Editores, S.A., Barcelona. -Al Hambali, Ibn Rayab, Compendio de Conocimiento y Sabidur?a, 2004, International Islamic Publising House, Riyadh.

**VII.-Notes **

(1) Ali Ibn Talib (pbuh), Saying 53, Najhol-Balagha (2) Genesis 25, 9-10 (3) Genesis 12, 1-3 (4) Genesis 13, 14-15 (5) Qur´an, Sura 2, 124 (6) Exodus 3,7-8 (7) Qur´an 7, Sura 7,104-105 (8) Matthew 2, 20-21 (9) Jeremiah 31, 15 (10) Matthew 2, 20-21 (11) Qur´an, Sura 9, 20-21 (12) Qur?n, Sura 5, 82-83 (13) Ali Ibn Talib (pbuh) Serm?n 203, Najhol-Balagha (14) Ali Ibn Talib (pbuh) Serm?n 202, Najhol-Balagha (15) Ali Ibn Talib (pbuh) Letter 45, Nahjol-Balagha (16) Luke 10, 36-37 (17) Qur´an, Sura 59,8 (18) Luke 17, 12; 16-18 (19) Ali Ibn Talib (pbuh) Sermon 208, Najhol-Balagha (20) Matthew 12, 24 (21) Luke 18, 24-25 (22) Mark 12, 42-44 (23) Matthew 6,1;3-4 (24) Ali Ibn Talib (pbuh) Sermon 208, Nahjol-Balagha (25) Talmud, Baba Kamma 93a (26) Isaiah 42,1 (27) Ezekiel 3, 21 (28) Matthew 7, 13-14 (29) Nyika Proverb, Kenia and Tanzania (30) Ali Ibn Talib (pbuh) Saying 201, Najhol-Balagha (31) Qur´an, Sura 29, 46 (32) Matthew 26, 51-52 (33) Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Believe, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 36/55, 25th of November, 1981. (34) Forty hadith of an-Nawawi 13 (35) Alib Ibn Talib (pbuh) Saying 10, Najhol-Balagha (36) Sirach 4, 1-4 (37) Sirach 8, 1-2 (38) Sirach 10, 1-2; 4-5 (39) Sirach 10, 30-31 (40) Sirach 14, 5-6; 8 ; 13 (41) Sirach 26, 29; 27, 2-3 (42) Matthew 22, 36-40