Love Allah Through Actions, Not Words - 21/12/2001

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 Shawwal 06, 1422 AH / December 21, 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

Love Allah Through Actions, Not Words

Love of Allah

One of the teachings of the Islamic doctrine that tells us how to demonstrate our belief in the oneness of Allah is by loving Allah and asking Him to love us. We love Allah, and expect Allah to love us. Our relationship with Allah should be based on love. Even when we fear Allah we are not afraid of Him as we are afraid of tyrants. For Allah does not persecute or wrong anyone. We are afraid of Allah as we are afraid to lose the love of someone whom we love. In that case, we would try not to do anything that might offend him and we would rather do everything that he likes, to ensure that this love will go on and will keep getting stronger.

Thus, we fear Allah by not disobeying Him, for we are afraid to lose His love, and consequently His compassion and forgiveness.

How to Love Allah

Allah has told us in the Holy Quran about how to love Him. He said: "And of the people are some who take other than Allah as equals [to Him]. They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in love for Allah." Surat al-Baqarah (2:165). They take other people as equal to Allah, and obey them. But those should know that Allah alone is worth this kind of love. For we might love people because of their beauty, knowledge, strength, or because they were good to us. If we turn to Allah, we find out that He is the one Who created us, and gave us life, beauty, strength and graces. He is the source of all strength, beauty, wealth, etc., and those who are strong or beautiful and the like have gained their attributes from Allah.

Therefore, if we want to love other people because of certain traits that they possess, we should love Allah more for He is the One Who created them and gave them these traits. Therefore, praise belongs to Allah alone, and we love other people because they are nearer to Allah; we love the prophets, because they are the beloved messengers of Allah. Thus, love is for Allah alone, and any love for others is associated with the love of Allah. But how do we love Allah?

Loving Allah could only be manifested by obeying Him and His Messenger. For the Messenger’s instructions are those of Allah; aren’t we commanded in the Quran to take what the Messenger gives us, and refrain from what he prohibits us. If you abide by this rule then you love Allah, for if you love someone you obey him.

Let us now read some of the texts that teach us how to love Allah, and who are those that Allah loves and those that He does not. When Jesus Christ (p.) was asked about what could be done to make Allah love us, He said, "Hate this world, you will be loved by Allah." But Jesus (p.) did not mean that we ought to leave the world and stop earning our living. What he meant was that we should not let this world be our only concern in such a way that happiness in this world is the only happiness and misery in this world is the only misery.

Allah told Muhammad (p.) while he was ascending to the sky that Allah loves all those who love Him and love each other and depend on Him. He also told His Messenger that Allah’s love has no end or goal.

Moreover, Imam As-Sadiq said that Allah said: "There is no way that My servants can show their love to Me, better, than performing the duties I ordained." The Messenger also told us that Allah loves those who are prudent and forgiving when they are angered. Imam Al-Baqir, on his part, warned us that we cannot love Allah unless we hate and confront His enemies. He also said: "Who always mentions death will be loved by Allah." For he remembers always that he is going to meet Allah. The Messenger told one of the believers who asked about how to become one of these loved by Allah and His Messenger that he should love what Allah and His Messenger love and hate what They hate.

Allah loves those who "spend of your substance in the cause of Allah, and make not your own hands contribute to your destruction, but do good; For Allah loves those who do good." Surat al-Baqarah (2:195). Be good to people and learn the joy of giving. Allah loves those who like to give. He also "loves those who are true to Him in repentance and purify themselves." Surat al-Baqarah (2:222). If you sin remember to turn to Allah for forgiveness, for He loves those who repent and promise never to go back to disobeying Him. He also loves those who fight for His cause and do not become weak if they meet hardships. "And with how many a prophet have there been a number of devoted men who fought (beside him). They quailed not for aught that befell them in the way of Allah, nor did they weaken, nor were they brought low. Allah loves the steadfast." Surat Al 'Imran (3:146).

Allah also loves those who endure whatever happens to them and who are always patient.

He also loves those who are merciful and good hearted. He says to His Messenger in the Holy Quran: "It was by the mercy of Allah that you were lenient with them (O Muhammad), for if you had been stern and fierce of heart, they would have dispersed from round about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult with them upon the conduct of affairs. And when you are resolved, then put your trust in Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him)." Surat Al 'Imran (3:159).

By putting your trust in Allah, Allah means that you have to do all that you can to ensure that you will reach good results, and then if you become wary of the future, you should depend on Allah and put your trust in Him.

Thus, putting your trust in Allah does not mean that you sit at home and wish that everything you want will be sent to you. It is to be a hard worker, who does everything possible and then trusts that Allah will reward his work with the best results.

Allah also loves the just. "But if you judge, judge between them with equity. Indeed, Allah loves the equitable." Surat al-Ma'idah (5:42). And justice is absolute; it should be applied on all, even one’s parents: "O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allah is ever, of what you do, Aware." Surat an-Nisa' (4:135).

Even if it were with your enemies: "O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do." Surat al-Ma'idah (5:8). Allah also loves those who uphold their unity: "Indeed, Allah loves those who fight in His cause in a row as though they are a [single] structure joined firmly." Surat as-Saff (61:4). He wants the nation to freeze all its differences and be unified in any battle it fights against its enemies.

Imam Zein al-Abideen says: "Allah loves all those who have sorrow in their hearts" because of their sins, "and every thankful worshipper." Allah loves those who do good especially those who give charity in secret.

Those Whom Allah Does Not Love

Those whom Allah does not love are the aggressors. "Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Indeed, Allah loves not aggressors." Surat al-Baqarah (2:190).

He loves not those who engage in usury. "Allah destroys interest and gives increase for charities. And Allah does not like every sinning disbeliever." Surat al-Baqarah (2:276). But He loves those who give in charity. "The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing." Surat al-Baqarah (2:261). He does not love the wrongdoers. "But they who believe and do righteous deeds - We will surely assign to them of Paradise [elevated] chambers beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. Excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers." Surat al-'Ankabut (29:58).

The wrongdoers are anyone who behaves with others or even with himself in a way that offends their rights.

Imam Ali (a.s.) said: There are three kinds of wrongdoing: one that is forgivable, one that is not forgivable and the third kind is the one that could not be left unpunished (as though nothing happened). The one that is forgiven is the trivial wrongdoings that one hurts himself with. The one that is not forgiven is ascribing partners to Allah. While the third kind is the wrong doing of others.

Imam Ali says: Never try to wrong anyone who does not have anybody to support him except Allah.

Allah also does not love the treacherous. "And do not argue on behalf of those who deceive themselves. Indeed, Allah loves not one who is a treacherous sinner." Surat an-Nisa' (4:107). And the boastful: "Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful." Surat al-Hadid (57:23). He loves not the wasters: "But waste not by excess, for Allah loves not the wasters." Surat al-A'raf (7:31).

Our master and prophet Muhammad bin Abdullah (p.) says: "Allah loves most those who do good to others."

Thus Allah wants us to be faithful to Him and to love Him by obeying Him and refraining from committing sins.

Furthermore, our love for Him should be manifested by loving fellow men and benefiting them. When Christ (p.) says that Allah has made me blessed wherever I go, he meant that wherever I went I benefited people.

Let us use our energy and potentials in this life; we should not let it die with us, but we should give it to those who need it.

Let us read Allah’s saying: "Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope." Surat al-Kahf (18:46). "And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah." Surat al-Muzzammil (73:20).

Let us work, "Soon will Allah observe your work and His Messenger and the believers." Surat at-Tawbah (9:105).

The Second Sermon

In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

A Critical Stage Faces the Nation

The American war against the Intifada continues through the pressure America is exerting on the Palestinian Authority to dismantle Hamas and the Islamic Jihad organizations, for they have crossed the red line in confronting the Israeli occupation. For America does not allow anyone to destabilize the Israeli security. There is no problem as long as the struggle is restricted to the territories of the Palestinian authority, but when it reaches the lands of the Zionist entity it turns to terrorism, even if it were in retaliation against Israeli terrorism.

The American pressure is dragging along European and Russian pressures.

Although these pressures are not as tough as the American pressures, they all repeat the same demands: Stop the Intifada, and let Israel be the judge in how serious the cease-fire is. They turn from one demand to another so that they would force the Palestinian authority to use all its security apparatus to hunt the Mujahideen, detaining the activists and closing the welfare and educational institutions, which would lead to violent clashes and the fall of martyrs and injured Mujahideen. This is what Israel wants and this is what we are afraid of, especially as they do not have any card to play in the negotiations and that the international community is not ready to pressure Israel while the Arab and Muslim countries are unable to interfere, being weak and dependent on the US.

This explains why the conferences they make say one thing in public and another thing in private and why they resort to oppression against their peoples.

The PA’s Responsibilities

We call upon the P.A. to engage in an objective dialogue with the Mujahideen of the Intifada, especially Hamas and Jihad, a dialogue that distances itself from all the exchanged accusations. We also call upon the Mujahideen to study the ways and means that secure the continuity of the Intifada to end occupation without compromising the Palestinian national unity that takes into consideration the intense pressures exerted on both the Intifada and the P.A.

We warn against any action that will lead to Palestinian internal fighting. For this means that what Israel could not achieve on the battlefront will be presented to it as a gift. We trust that the Palestinian people will be able to endure all the pains and pressures, and will be able to overcome the current crisis and resume their struggle as strong as ever. Any Palestinian internal fighting is unlawful, for it betrays the Palestinian blood as well as the Palestinian cause.

Afghanistan: A New Phase in the Continuing War

Afghanistan is still living the mobile war that moves from place to another led by the American blind rage and the pursuance of revenge without any consideration for the interests of the Afghani people. America had entered the country to stay there at least politically if not militarily, for its aim is not to get rid of Al-Qaeda but to extend its influence over the whole region. As for the new regime, it is a puppet that executes American plans, especially if the international forces are deployed, being British in appearance but American in actual fact.

We feel worried and concerned about the future of this country that moves from one tragedy into another, and we hope it will find the way to reunite and become aware of the international conspiracy that is being executed on its lands.

Meanwhile, we are also keeping an eye on the American threats to Islamic organizations under the pretense of fighting terrorism while in fact they aim to end any real opposition to the American policies and to the Israeli presence. This is what we notice in the repeated mentioning of the operations abroad of the Islamic Resistance.

We also call for a unified Arab and Muslim stand against the threats to Somalia and Iraq, even if it is only to throw fear in their hearts, and they might even include Syria and Lebanon, even if only as an act of intimidation. The recent violation of Lebanese skies may well be a message to Lebanon, which needs a unified stand whether by the Lebanese or the nation as a whole, since it is a very critical issue that could determine the future for a long time.