Syria’s Grand Mufti: Liberation marks the shift from struggle to nation-building

Damascus, Dec. 7 (SANA) On the anniversary of Syria’s liberation, Grand Mufti Sheikh Osama al-Rifai outlined a vision for the future centered on faith, social stability, and protecting young people from ideological and cultural challenges, stressing that the Syrian revolution was rooted in moral values, ethics, and genuine religious principles, in an interview with SANA.

Al-Rifai said the revolution began with the pure instincts of young Syrians who peacefully demanded freedom and dignity.
“The demonstrations started from mosques,” he explained, “which shows the truth of this religion—because true faith is inseparable from freedom.”

He recalled the severe repression carried out by the deposed regime against peaceful protesters and highlighted the critical role played by women during the early stages of the revolution, particularly in providing medical aid to the wounded and supporting families.

“The revolution was not driven by revenge,” he said. “It was driven by values, ethics, and faith.”
The Grand Mufti described the current phase as a historic transition from armed struggle to rebuilding the state. While acknowledging the devastation left behind by the deposed regime, he emphasized that Syria’s deepest values—faith, dignity, and the desire for freedom—remained untouched.

He called on Syrians to unite around the state and to replace division with cooperation, solidarity, and compassion in order to heal the scars of the past.

Al-Refai placed special emphasis on preserving civil peace, warning that internal conflict threatens any chance of success.
“It is impossible to build a nation while we are divided,” he said. “God does not bless those who remain in constant conflict.”

He urged Syrians to stand together “as one body,” stressing that unity is the foundation of national recovery.
Concluding his remarks, the Mufti called on all Syrians—across sects and communities—to restore bonds of affection, remove hatred from their hearts, and live as brothers and sisters in mutual respect.
“This,” he said, “is the true meaning of rebuilding a nation.”

Sheikh Osama al-Rifai was appointed Grand Mufti of the Syrian Arab Republic on March 28. The mosque where he spoke (Sheikh Abdul Karim Al-Rifai Mosque) carries symbolic weight, having been one of the key religious centers where early revolutionary sermons and protests against the former regime took place.