The Council of Muftis calls on Lebanese to rally around the state as 'the only path to salvation'

The Council of Muftis of Lebanon, meeting at Dar al-Fatwa under the chairmanship of the Grand Mufti Abdel-Latif Derian, stressed Tuesday the need for all Lebanese to "rally around the state," considered "the only path to salvation" in the face of crises and threats weighing on the country.

In a statement issued after the meeting, the Council said that such a return to the state would "restore security, stability and peace of mind," rebuild "the unity of the state and the practice of its natural role," and allow the army and legitimate security forces "to fully exercise their authority over the whole territory."

The muftis also emphasized the need to rebuild "a strong, capable and just state that protects all Lebanese and restores its role and sovereignty," recalling in this regard the government's decision last August to restore the monopoly on weapons, "so that no equipment remains in the hands of any organization outside the state and its legitimate forces."

On Sept. 5, the Lebanese Army presented the government with an action plan on the ground, with the first phase, which concluded at the end of 2025, focusing on the withdrawal of Hezbollah's weapons south of the Litani River.

Weakened by its recent war against Israel, Hezbollah agreed to hand over its arsenal in this region, but so far refused to disarm in the rest of the country in the face of continued Israeli attacks.

The Council of Muftis' statement also said that Lebanon must be "neither a base nor a corridor to destabilize its Arab environment."

It also called on the international community, particularly the U.N. and the Security Council, "to fulfill their responsibilities regarding the maintenance of international peace and security," and to compel Israel to withdraw from all occupied Lebanese territories and to stop its "daily hostile acts," especially attacks against civilians and the destruction of homes, in violation of the cease-fire agreement reached in November 2024.

The muftis also deplored the "fabrications" and "attempts aimed at implicating Dar al-Fatwa" in the case known as 'Abu Omar,' in which a mechanic from Akkar posed as a high-ranking Saudi representative to politicians, telling them they could obtain Riyadh's backing for their campaigns, candidacies, and activities in exchange for payments.

Finally, reaffirming their commitment to non-interference in the work of the judiciary, the Council also reiterated its support for the parliamentary democratic system, the holding of the next parliamentary elections within constitutional deadlines, the implementation of the Taif Agreement, the respect of the Constitution, and support for the government's reform efforts, "with a view to justice and the general interest."