It was Imam Moussa Sadr’s dream. It was Imam Mohammad Mahdi Shamseddine’s vision as well. It is also my aim to promote and encourage the ability of deprived people to acquire an education. I am thankful to God that I had the opportunity to fulfill that dream and see it come true, as our two Imams wished.

They say that whoever opens a school door closes a prison at the same time. What if he built a whole university? The Islamic University of Lebanon is a great edifice of science and learning. This place is precious and resides in the heart, as a national college for Lebanese citizens. Every year, hundreds of students graduate from this university, educated with science and knowledge to shape the bright future we want for our youth, the pioneers of this country. Founding this university meets an essential need in a world where no one should dominate, and everyone is a shining beacon of knowledge to counter the threat posed by violence. We must insist on the value of science and knowledge in delivering the image of the true Islam, as a civilized universal message that lies at the heart of the past, and expands into the future all over the world.

Our university is a national institution that welcomes knowledge seekers, no matter which religion or region they belong to. We particularly want to encourage the Lebanese people to be armed with the sciences. Science is like an ornament: it is knowledge itself, and a discipline, and an education. Keep away from violence and perversion. Be pious scholars, and charitable. Cooperate with each other to seek pure knowledge in conformity with the messenger of Allah’s saying, “Seek knowledge even as far away as China”.