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 Rabi’ Al Awwal 9, 1422 H/ June 1, 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
Lessons from the Life of Al Imam Al Al-Askari (a.s.)
One of the infallible Imams that Allah had purified is Imam Abu Muhammad, Al-Hassan bin Ali Al-Askari (a.s.), the 11th Imam of the blessed chain of Ahl-Beit, whose death anniversary was yesterday 8 Rabi’ Al-Awwal. As usual, we would like to take this opportunity to learn about their life and teachings so as to maintain our relationship with them and base it on what nourishes the mind, elevates the soul, and gives us strength and the ability to keep following the right path. For the relation between the Messenger (p.), the Imams and us is not just a case of acknowledging their prophet-hood or imamate and then continuing to lead the life you choose.
In this respect Allah says: "Obey Allah and obey the Messenger," Surah An-Nisa (04: 59) And: "There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often." Surah Al-Ahzab (33: 21).
Do not think that it is easy to follow their model; you need to fight against yourself. Imam Ali, the father of all the Imams, told his followers that he knows they cannot live the same way he did, and asked them to, at least, help him to continue leading the pious, ascetic and righteous type of life he led.
Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir asked: “Is it enough for one of you to say, ‘I love Ali and I am his follower,’ without following him? The Messenger of Allah is better than Ali, and you cannot say, ‘I love the Messenger,’ and then not follow his commands?”
To follow the Messenger and the Imams is to be committed to their beliefs, sentiments, ideas and actions. That is why we have to learn about their sayings, actions, stands, beliefs and religious sciences.
Although Imam Al-Askari (a.s.) died young, for he was poisoned, he had a great intellectual impact on his contemporaries. He taught many religious scholars, who used to consider him as their religious authority. He had such a great social and political position that no one else matched, even some of the dignitaries of Bani Hashim. The Abbasid Caliphs also respected him and feared him, for the people used to believe in his imamate, and this made him the only legitimate leader who was feared, like all the other Imams, by the de facto rulers, who persecuted them and kept a close watch on their actions.
One of the ministers of the Abbasid Caliphs of that time was criticized by his son for showing a great respect for the Imam that he did not see his father maintain for anybody else. The minister told his son: “Were the Abbasids to lose the caliphate, none of the Bani Hashim deserves to be a caliph other than him. He is so pious, righteous, of good manners and neglectful of worldly gains…” Having heard such a testimony from his father, the son began to investigate the matter and found out that the Imam was the most respected even among the leaders and dignitaries of Bani Hashim including the Abbasids, and even among his enemies.
In another story, Al-Mutawakkil, one of the Abbasid caliphs, imprisoned the Imam. And as if this was not enough, some of the Abbasids met the jail warden and asked him to tighten the grip on him. The warden said: I have asked two of the toughest and meanest men to take care of him, but they soon began to dedicate their time to prayers.
The warden called the jailers and asked them, “what is the matter with you?” They said: “What could we do with a man who fasts all day and stays up all night praying? He does not talk and does not engage in anything other than worship. And if we look at him, we start trembling…”
On this anniversary, we ought to listen to some of the Imam’s teachings: “I advise you to fear Allah, be pious, truthful, as well as trustworthy. I advise you to return what you are entrusted with to its owners be they good or bad. I also advise you to be good neighbors…”
Imam Al-Askari, and the other Imams who came before him, used to tell the Shiites to remain integrated and not separate themselves from the other Muslims. He said:
“Pray with them. Take part in their funerals, visit their sick ones and give them what is due to them. If any of you is known to be pious, truthful, trustworthy and of good manners, I will be glad when they say he is a Shiite… You should make the people believe we are good and not bring us humiliation. Because what is good that they say about us is true, while what is bad is not. Anyone who claims a legitimacy that is written in Allah’s Book, a relation to the Prophet, and purification from Allah apart from us is a liar.”
Keep remembering Allah and death and this will keep you pious and righteous.
These are some of the teachings the Imam used to repeat to his followers, and we, being among those followers, have to abide by them and follow the right path.