Reisu-l-ulemas Prayer in Auschwitz

The Aladdin Project, UNESCO and the City of Paris

A universal appeal for peace and mutual respect

Against Holocaust denial, racism anti-Semitism,

Islamophobia and xenophobia

Auschwitz, February 1, 2011

Muslim Contribution

By

Mustafa Cerić, Ph.D.

Grand Mufti of Bosnia

الحمد لله ربّ العالمين!

الحمد لله الذي خلق السموات و الارض!

الحمد لله الذي له ما في السموات و ما في الارض!

الحمد لله الذي لم يتخذ ولدأ و لم يكن له شريك في الملك و لم يكن له ولي من الذل و كبره تكبيراً!

الحمد لله الذي  نجّانا من القوم الظالمين و له الحمد في الآخرة و هو الحكيم الخبير!

الحمد لله الذي أذهب عنّا الحَزَنَ و سلامٌ علي جميع الانبياء والمرسلين!

الحمد لله الذي صدق وعده  فسبِّح بحمد ربّك بالعَشِيِّ والابِكار!

و سَبِّح بحمدِ ربّك قبل طلوع الشمس و قبل الغروب و سَبِّح بحمد ربِّك حين تقوم!

له الملك و له الحمد و هو علي كل شئ قدير!

Reisu-l-ulema with general director of UNESCO Irena Bokova and Turkish minister Egemon Bagis

Praise be to God, the Master of the worlds!

It is appropriate to say it here in Auschwitz that if we really want to prevent future genocides we must do much more than sympathize with the victims. We have to comprehend the psychological depth of the perpetrators of genocide and indifference of genocide observers.  

Reisu-l-ulema holds speach in Auschwitz

We have to learn what makes some persons, who were once normal, to hate other persons and people to the extent that they want to systematically and methodically eliminate them all! But we also need to learn about those who support genocide against innocent people or observe it from the distance! We need to learn more about them too!

Reisu-l-ulema with the surviving victim from Auschwitz Ida Grinspan from France

We need to learn about the holocaust and genocide not only as of historical facts but also as a means to teach our children about the dangers of racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and other examples of human intolerance.

We must teach younger generations to appreciate democracy and human rights and encourage them to reject hatred, intolerance and ethnic conflicts so that "never again" is really true, so that neither Auschwitz nor Srebrenica ever happen again!

Reisu-l-ulema with the director of Aladdin Project Anne-Marie Revcoleschi

Reisu-l-ulema inside of Auschwitz

Reisu-l-ulema reads prayer

Today, here in Auschwitz we are united in hope that our future will be better than our past so let us prayer together:

• Our Lord, if we sin, give us the strength of Adam's repentance!
• If disaster befalls us, teach us how to build Noah's Ark!
• If despair darkens us, enlighten us with Abraham's honest faith!
• If we are threatened by a tyrant, empower us with Moses' courage!
• If we are offered hatred, save us with Jesus' love!
• If we are expelled from our homes, strengthen us with Mohammed's desire to return!
• Our Lord, we ask you to unite our hearts in humanity!
• Our Lord, we ask you to strengthen our steps towards truth and justice!
• Our Lord, we ask you to unite our will towards peace and security!
• Our Lord, we ask you to take away the violent sword from tyrants and empower the weak with a trust in truth and justice.
• Our Lord, do not let success deceive us
• Nor failure takes us to despair!
• Always remind us that failure is a temptation that precedes success!
• Our Lord, teach us that tolerance is the highest degree of power and that the desire for revenge is the first sign of weakness!
• Our Lord, if you deprive us of our property, give us hope!
• If you take from us the blessing of health, provide us with the blessing of faith!
• Our Lord, if we sin against people, give us the strength of apology!
• And if people sin against us, give us the strength of forgiveness!
• Our Lord, may grief become hope!
• May revenge become justice!
• May mother's tears become prayers that Auschwitz and Srebrenica never happen again, to anyone and anywhere! Amin!

أللهم اليك اشكو ضعف قوتي، و قلّة حيلتي، و هواني علي الناس، يا ارحم الرحمين.

انت رب المستضعفين، و انت ربي.

الي من تكلني؟ الي بعيد يتجهمني؟ ام الي عدو ملكته امري؟

إن لم يكن بك علي غضب فلا ابالي، بلا عافيتك هي اوسع لي.

أعوذ بنوروجهك الذي اشرقت له الظلمات،

صلح عليه امر الدنيا و الآخرة من ان تنزل بي غضبك، او يحلّ علي سخطك.

لك العتبي حتي ترضي, و لا حول و لا قوّة الا بك.