In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
The Religious Authority, Grand Ayatullah H.E. Sayyed M. H. Fadlullah delivered the two Friday prayer sermons at the Imamain Al-Hassanain Mosque on Thul-Qi’da 1, 1421 AH/ January 26, 2001, AD. Several prominent religious scholars, dignitaries, officials, and thousands of believers attended the Jumu’a prayer. (Edited version of the Sermons)
The First Sermon
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
The Vitality of Reconciliation
Allah says in His Glorious Book: "Not that is good are their secret conversations, except for he who orders charity or that which is right or conciliation between people." Surah An-Nisa (04:114)
"The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers." Surah Al-Hujurat (49:10)
"And fear Allah and amend that which is between you." Surah Al-Anfal (08:01)
"Whoever intercedes for a good cause will have a reward therefrom." Surah An-Nisa (04:85)
Thus, there are many verses that talk about reconciliation between people. Any division within a family will lead to its breaking up. Any division in the society will make it unbalanced.
For a society to be balanced, its social classes should complement each other. Each should give his experience, opinions and efforts. They will all cooperate over public issues. These issues affect the very existence of the society. In contrast, a fragmented society is one whose individuals do not enjoy peace and security. Its energies are wasted and directed against one another. This leads to a general weakness and social decline. Allah has warned us against this by saying: "And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart." (Surah Al-Anfal 08:46)
I do not believe that there is anything wrong with people having different backgrounds. These can be social, political and religious backgrounds. Allah did not make all humans one nation. But this does not mean that we should fight and destroy each other. We should rather discuss what we differ upon. Why should everyone say that they are right and the others are wrong? You are only human beings. You may be scholars, individuals or even a religious group. Your ideas originate from your forefathers, your environment, your schools and what you have read or heard. But all this is limited. Your fathers might have been wrong. Allah has told us about those who used to say: "We found our fathers upon a religion, and we are in their footsteps [following]." Surah Az-Zukhruf (43:23) Allah answered them: "Even if their fathers did not understand anything nor were they guided?" Surah Al-Ma'idah (05:104)
"[We would say], 'Even if I bring you better guidance than that [religion] upon which you found your fathers?'" Surah Az-Zukhruf (43:24)
I have my own point of view and you have yours. Neither of us is infallible. Let’s sit down and talk. Allah says: "And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger." (Surah An-Nisa (04:59)
The problem we have in our community is that each of us considers that he is right and the others are wrong. We become preoccupied with the disagreements between us. We forget about the enemy.
Thus, the issue of reconciliation is a vital issue for the well-being of the community. This applies within the same family, religious group or society. We all say that there is no God but Allah and that Mohammad is His messenger. It is our duty to reconcile amongst ourselves. Reconciliation does not mean that one party should completely yield in. We should know where we agree. We should know how to put our differences into perspective. Let’s learn how to comfort one another and not tire each other out. Our problem is unfortunately that the parents, the Sheikhs and the teachers teach us how to tire each other out. We are torn apart at all levels. On the Islamic level, we have the Sunnis and the Shiites. On the national level, we have the Christians and the Muslims. Amongst the Shiites we have added differences. There are differences between political parties. There are divisions between those who emulate different religious authorities. What has religion to do with all that?
We have already stated the verses in the Holy Quran that talk about the importance of reconciliation. In his turn, the Messenger (p.) said when talking to a man called Abou Ayoub: "Shall I tell you about a good deed that Allah and His Messenger love: Reconcile among those who differ."
Imam Ali (a.s.) said: "One of the things that brings happiness is to seek to reconcile people."
To those who take an oath not to reconcile among those who differ, Allah says: "And do not make [your oath by] Allah an excuse against being righteous and fearing Allah and making peace among people." Surah Al-Baqarah (02:224)
When we confront the social fragmentation in our Islamic reality, we have to make every effort. We must study peoples’ differences and learn what they agree on. We can use what they agree on to solve what they differ over. The differences could result in spoiling our religion, our politics and our society. They could cause us to lose our strength. This is especially true when they turn into a kind of partisanship. Therefore, we should all seek to be closer to Allah. We can do this by preparing groups of people. These people should have knowledge and experience. They should be well informed about religion. They can help people enter into dialogue on what they differ over. This will help love spread amongst us. Let love be the means that one could convince the others with. Love builds our society, our homeland and our nation. Hatred and malice build nothing. Love those with whom you differ to guide them to the right path. Love those with whom you agree to meet with them on the basis of obeying Allah. Those who lived in hatred died. Their hatred turned into ashes when they themselves turned into ashes. They left the hatred to those who came after them. But those who lived in love returned to Allah , the Most Exalted and were rewarded by His heavens.
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
The Religious Authority, Grand Ayatullah H.E. Sayyed M. H. Fadlullah delivered the two Friday prayer sermons at the Imamain Al-Hassanain Mosque on Thul-Qi’da 1, 1421 AH/ January 26, 2001, AD. Several prominent religious scholars, dignitaries, officials, and thousands of believers attended the Jumu’a prayer. (Edited version of the Sermons)
The First Sermon
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
The Vitality of Reconciliation
Allah says in His Glorious Book: "Not that is good are their secret conversations, except for he who orders charity or that which is right or conciliation between people." Surah An-Nisa (04:114)
"The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers." Surah Al-Hujurat (49:10)
"And fear Allah and amend that which is between you." Surah Al-Anfal (08:01)
"Whoever intercedes for a good cause will have a reward therefrom." Surah An-Nisa (04:85)
Thus, there are many verses that talk about reconciliation between people. Any division within a family will lead to its breaking up. Any division in the society will make it unbalanced.
For a society to be balanced, its social classes should complement each other. Each should give his experience, opinions and efforts. They will all cooperate over public issues. These issues affect the very existence of the society. In contrast, a fragmented society is one whose individuals do not enjoy peace and security. Its energies are wasted and directed against one another. This leads to a general weakness and social decline. Allah has warned us against this by saying: "And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart." (Surah Al-Anfal 08:46)
I do not believe that there is anything wrong with people having different backgrounds. These can be social, political and religious backgrounds. Allah did not make all humans one nation. But this does not mean that we should fight and destroy each other. We should rather discuss what we differ upon. Why should everyone say that they are right and the others are wrong? You are only human beings. You may be scholars, individuals or even a religious group. Your ideas originate from your forefathers, your environment, your schools and what you have read or heard. But all this is limited. Your fathers might have been wrong. Allah has told us about those who used to say: "We found our fathers upon a religion, and we are in their footsteps [following]." Surah Az-Zukhruf (43:23) Allah answered them: "Even if their fathers did not understand anything nor were they guided?" Surah Al-Ma'idah (05:104)
"[We would say], 'Even if I bring you better guidance than that [religion] upon which you found your fathers?'" Surah Az-Zukhruf (43:24)
I have my own point of view and you have yours. Neither of us is infallible. Let’s sit down and talk. Allah says: "And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger." (Surah An-Nisa (04:59)
The problem we have in our community is that each of us considers that he is right and the others are wrong. We become preoccupied with the disagreements between us. We forget about the enemy.
Thus, the issue of reconciliation is a vital issue for the well-being of the community. This applies within the same family, religious group or society. We all say that there is no God but Allah and that Mohammad is His messenger. It is our duty to reconcile amongst ourselves. Reconciliation does not mean that one party should completely yield in. We should know where we agree. We should know how to put our differences into perspective. Let’s learn how to comfort one another and not tire each other out. Our problem is unfortunately that the parents, the Sheikhs and the teachers teach us how to tire each other out. We are torn apart at all levels. On the Islamic level, we have the Sunnis and the Shiites. On the national level, we have the Christians and the Muslims. Amongst the Shiites we have added differences. There are differences between political parties. There are divisions between those who emulate different religious authorities. What has religion to do with all that?
We have already stated the verses in the Holy Quran that talk about the importance of reconciliation. In his turn, the Messenger (p.) said when talking to a man called Abou Ayoub: "Shall I tell you about a good deed that Allah and His Messenger love: Reconcile among those who differ."
Imam Ali (a.s.) said: "One of the things that brings happiness is to seek to reconcile people."
To those who take an oath not to reconcile among those who differ, Allah says: "And do not make [your oath by] Allah an excuse against being righteous and fearing Allah and making peace among people." Surah Al-Baqarah (02:224)
When we confront the social fragmentation in our Islamic reality, we have to make every effort. We must study peoples’ differences and learn what they agree on. We can use what they agree on to solve what they differ over. The differences could result in spoiling our religion, our politics and our society. They could cause us to lose our strength. This is especially true when they turn into a kind of partisanship. Therefore, we should all seek to be closer to Allah. We can do this by preparing groups of people. These people should have knowledge and experience. They should be well informed about religion. They can help people enter into dialogue on what they differ over. This will help love spread amongst us. Let love be the means that one could convince the others with. Love builds our society, our homeland and our nation. Hatred and malice build nothing. Love those with whom you differ to guide them to the right path. Love those with whom you agree to meet with them on the basis of obeying Allah. Those who lived in hatred died. Their hatred turned into ashes when they themselves turned into ashes. They left the hatred to those who came after them. But those who lived in love returned to Allah , the Most Exalted and were rewarded by His heavens.