'Compassion and Patriotism' - Events by the Indonesian Branch of the Muslim Council of Elders

The Indonesian branch of the Muslim Council of Elders organized a series of events on the island of Lombok to promote various values, including compassion, patriotism, and community service. These events align with the council's mission to spread and enhance the values of peace and coexistence.

Events included lectures, seminars, and morning sessions and involved several scholars from Al-Azhar. In one of the morning sessions held at the ‘Love of the Homeland’ Mosque, Dr. Salah Al-Din Al-Shami, a member of the Al-Azhar Heritage Revival Center, discussed a serialized Hadith from the collection of Al-Hafiz Al-Faqih Alaa al-Din Ibn Al-Atar Al-Shafi'i. Dr. Al-Shami provided commentary on the Hadith and highlighted some of its benefits.

Dr. Al-Shami also emphasized the tradition among scholars of Hadith to present this particular Hadith as one of the first lessons to their students, hence its name, the serialized Hadith. This Hadith is also known as the Hadith of compassion because it includes the famous saying, "The merciful are shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Show mercy to those on the earth, and the One above the heavens will show mercy to you." He pointed out that the quality of compassion is at the forefront of noble character traits that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) encouraged and practiced, showing kindness to both the young and the old, friends and foes. 

In the evening lecture at the same mosque, Dr. Al-Shami spoke about the significance of love for one's homeland and serving the community. He also explained that the message of the mosque encourages these values, citing Ibn Abbas's statement that helping his brother in need was more beloved to him than secluding himself in the mosque. He concluded by emphasizing that worship that extends its benefits to others is more beloved to Allah than worship that benefits only the worshiper and that the best among people are those who benefit others the most.