JEDDAH: Sheikh Tawfik Assayegh, imam of Allami Mosque in Jeddah, has called upon Muslims to set a good example in their lives by following the teachings of the Holy Qur’an.
Assayegh, whose melodious Qur’an recitation attracts thousands to his mosque for Taraweeh and Qiyamullail prayers, urged Muslims to return to the Qur’an and Sunnah in order to strengthen their unity.
He said the Qur’an was full of miracles that could not be counted. “It’s an endless blessing. A person will receive immense satisfaction and enjoyment from reading the Holy Book.”
Sheikh Assayegh said a number of cancer patients had achieved recovery after he recited the Qur’an on them. “The Qur’an’s healing effect is marvelous,” he pointed out. Assayegh also spoke about Lailat Al-Qadr (the Night of Power), when the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). “It is a gift from God to Muslims,” he said.
According to the Qur’an, Lailat Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months. “This means a person who engages in worship and other righteous deeds during this night would get the reward of doing such deeds over 83 years,” he explained.
Allami Mosque attracts a large number of young men and women thanks to Assayegh’s unique recitation and his positive approach toward people.
“I don’t do anything special for these youth except I love them and listen to their problems and share their sorrows,” he said, adding that he interacts with them through his website and social programs.
“The result is really encouraging. Some of them have set up teams to clean mosques while some others actively participated in rescue and relief work following the Jeddah floods.”
Assayegh opposed the present way of getting tough against young troublemakers, saying it would have negative impact. “We should reach out to the youth, bring them closer, express our love toward them and encourage them to uphold moral values.”
He denounced the move by a nondenominational church in Gainesville, Florida, to burn copies of the Holy Qur’an to mark the 9/11 attacks in the US. “All Muslim organizations across the world including governments and academic institutions should protest this anti-Qur’an campaign peacefully and create public opinion against this heinous act,” he said.
He also denounced the Florida church’s attempts to link the Qur’an with terrorism. “The Qur’an itself that calls for love, mercy and peace is a good reply to this false allegation,” he pointed out.
“The Qur’an has ruled over Christians in Egypt and Syria and other Muslim countries and they have lived peacefully under its rule and teachings,” he explained. Spelling out the important teachings of the Qur’an, Assayegh said it calls for monotheism, justice and peace.
“It is the message of truth and light. It takes man from the slavery of man to the slavery of God. It teaches us to do good to our parents and not to kill any person and not to usurp others’ wealth. It is the duty of Muslims to follow its teachings in their dealings and all situations of life,” he said.
Sheikh Assayegh plays an important role in settling family and other disputes in an amicable manner in association with the reconciliation committee under the Makkah governorate. He urged Muslims to use the early morning hours to recite and memorize the Holy Book. -arabnews
