Fâris al-Khouri (1873-1962)

He was a Syrian statesman and thinker born in Kfer Hasbaya of today’s Lebanon and previously belonging to Ottoman Syria. In 1897, he earned a B.S., a duly general cultural certificate with no specialty in any branch of sciences or arts. He taught mathematics and Arabic.

He was summoned to administer the orthodox schools in Damascus before he was appointed an interpreter for the British Consulate from 1902-1908.

He learnt both French and Turkish on his own and became skilled in them and studied law and worked as a lawyer in Damascus and, in 1908, earned a law license. He joined the Union and Promotion Association as his first political experience.

In 1914, al-Khouri was elected a representative of Damascus in the Ottoman parliament and, in 1919, he was appointed a member in the Syrian Advisory Council proposed to King Faisal. Along with some of his fellows, al-Khouri sought to found the Arab Institute of Law and was one of its professors. He also took part in the foundation of the Arabic Scientific Academy of Damascus.

He was appointed the Minister of Finance along the three cabinets formed in the era of King Faisal. Following the French colonization of Syria in 1920, al-Khouri turned to work as a freelance lawyer and was later elected head of lawyers for five consecutive years. He was appointed a professor in the Arab Institute of Law to teach the principles of finance and legal tribunals.

He has three books of law: The Principles of Legal Tribunals; A Brief Volume in the Science of Finance; and The Deed of Penalty.

The truths of Islam conquer the untruths of Communism

“I believe, with certainty, that we could fight the destructive theories which threaten both Christianity and Islam only with Islam. It is that which deactivates and puts an end to Communism because Islam’s truths conquer and dash Communism’s untruths.”

Challenge of Islam

“I believe in Islam, its capability of reforming the conditions of Arab society and its ability to stand against all foreign principles and theories, whatever appealing they might seem to their claimants. My opinion has been and still is: we could seriously struggle against Communism and Socialism only with Islam, which alone is able to destroy and exterminate them.”[1]

Corporal punishments prescribed for crimes are maintenance

Muhammad al-Farhâni, his (Fâris al-Khouri’s) disciple, reports from him concerning his satisfaction with Islamic law, his saying: “Undoubtedly, you remember, when setting the state’s general balance, the great amount of funds assigned as salaries and expenses to public security, police and courts.

However, should Islamic law be enforced, according to which the hand of a thief would be cut off (as punishment for the crime of theft) say in Aleppo, another lashed (as punishment for the crime of drinking wine) in Deir al-Zour, a third stoned to death (as punishment for fornication) in Damascus and so on in all cities, those crimes would come to an end and three-quarters of the budget would be saved for the state.”

“During the Ottoman era, there were three courts in Damascus and their judges spent most of their time in their offices without any work to do. In comparison with our present conditions, the multiplication of courts in those days goes back to the deterioration of manners, spread of corruption, and carelessness about the undeterring punishments imposed by the state, simply for nothing other than the absence of the application of Islamic law in ruling.”[2]

[1] Adapted from Yûsuf al-Qaradhâwi, Islamic Solution Details, 242.

[2] Muhammad al-Farhâni, Fâris al-Khouri and the Unforgotten Days, 272, Adapted from Yûsuf al-Qaradhâwi, Islamic Solution Details, 244.

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