Plenary, 16 Nov 2005
Meeting date: Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Official Report
551KB pdf
Time for Reflection
The first item of business is time for reflection. Our leader today is Mr Mohammed Tufail Shaheen of the Islamic Centre in Glasgow, who is also the president of the charity Glasgow the Caring City.
Mr Mohammed Tufail Shaheen (Islamic Centre, Glasgow):
Bismillah hir-Rahman nir-Rahim. In the name of Allah, the most beneficent and the most merciful.
Presiding Officer, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honour for me to be given this opportunity to lead time for reflection and to address the Parliament and its members. I speak to those who have the power to a large extent to shape the future of our nation.
When I first arrived in Glasgow on 6 June 1958, I was welcomed with a great sense of fairness and opportunity in this wonderful country by a friendly people, who have inspired me every day of my life. This is a country that encourages everyone to strive to be the best that they can be as individuals and to be proud to be Scottish. I am honoured to be part of this multicultural society, which is proud of its diversity of cultures and the level of mutual respect between the communities.
Scotland is home to many faiths and cultures and welcomes all. That strengthens our society. For me, the concept of fairness and equality is the essence of Islam and of society as a whole. Tolerance, compassion and love for all fellow human beings are essential to our way of life and are the roots of a decent society.
I have led a life of charity—not because I was told to, but because I truly believe that we are in this world to serve God and his purpose. I am in the fortunate position of belonging to a multifaith charity, in which we work together for the good of humanity. Through the work of that charity, I have seen the compassion and generosity of the Scottish people, especially in the aftermath of the tsunami disaster and, most recently, following the terrible earthquake that affected the north of Pakistan. Those acts of generosity keep alive my faith in humanity.
Thank you for inviting me to speak today and opening the door to greater understanding between all the faiths of our great nation.
Lord, you have given us authority. Now bestow on us wisdom and compassion as a route to right decisions. Let the Almighty God guide us all along the straight path and allow us to be the best that we can be: to be fair and just, to have insight in our debate and to have love for all as our goal. May God grant us strength and courage in order that we may work for the betterment of Scottish society and all mankind.