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 Sha'ban 9, 1422 AH/ October 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
Imam Ali (a.s.): The Path to Salvation
“Hasten to do good, for no deed is little when accompanied by piety”
Every now and then, we find that we need to go back and consult Imam Ali (a.s.), for he is the one who said: "If all the barriers were removed, my belief would not have increased." He is the man who lived solely for Allah and left nothing for himself: "And of the people is he who sells himself, seeking means to the approval of Allah. And Allah is kind to [His] servants." (Surat al-Baqarah 2:207).
Ali (a.s.) lived with the Messenger (p.) from the day he was born until Muhammad (p.) met his Lord, and learned all his knowledge.
Did not the Prophet (p.) say: "I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate. Whoever wants to enter it, has to go through the gate." The Imam used to preach and advise round the clock, even on his death bed, telling them about all that they need to strengthen their ties with Allah, with one another and with life around them.
Furthermore, when we read Ali (a.s.), we find out that he was not talking for those who lived at his age but rather for all generations. Because he is telling the truth, which is not, by its very nature, limited to a certain time or place. So, let us benefit from some of his teachings.
The Imam was asked about the meaning of Good ("And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good...") (Surat Ali 'Imran 3:104).
Contrary to what some people believe, good does not mean to have a lot of money or children, but a lot of knowledge: "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" (Surat az-Zumar 39:9). Knowledge is the balance of value man is weighed with.
The Imam (a.s.) says: "The worth of each of you is what he masters." In the light of this, he who loves the good for himself ought to seek to learn and acquire knowledge. Each field in life has its own knowledge and science: politics, religion, economy, trade… etc. Man has always to live in a state of readiness that makes him eager to learn… Knowledge makes you enlightened while living in ignorance is living in darkness… You do not have to go to college to learn… You can learn from experience. Public wisdom advises us to consult those who were in the same situation, "and don't ask a doctor about your carpentry."
We have to learn from the experiences of those who came before us, and especially from the learned and wise ones… The woman at home and the worker in his factory could listen to the Islamic radio stations that provide a lot of education in various fields or they could ask Islamic scholars when they meet them. This is what makes the community an educated one.
Saying "we do not have time" is not true, for we have ample time, to the extent that we go out to spend time… Spending time in doing nothing is killing time, and such a nation—a nation that kills its time—is a nation that does not respect its age.
Thus, we have to make use of our time to learn about all that we need in our life and religion… We have to know how to pray, fast and perform pilgrimage, as well as the essentials and details of what we do in life.
Imam Ali (a.s.) continues his talk about the good by saying: "and to become more tolerant and prudent." Tolerance and prudence are the basis of morals, for you have to be tolerant and prudent to face crisis, endure pains, and forebear the harm of others… "You have to boast of your worship of Allah." For it is actions and not talks that count, and worship is by no means fasting and praying only. It is also how you act towards yourself and towards others. You have to obey Allah in everything you do… Our traditions tell us that "the best worship is chastity..." and "if you do good you ought to thank Allah and if it was bad or evil you ought to ask for forgiveness. The good of this world is best for two men: one who repents if he sins and one who hastens to do good, for no deed is of little worth if it is accompanied by piety. How could what is accepted be little?"
There is another saying of the Imam which we tend to repeat because it is very important… "Do not use Allah's grace in disobeying Him"… It is not logical that Allah gives you one of His graces and you use it to fight Him with it… But since everything in this world is a grace that Allah has bestowed, then you cannot disobey Allah…
Yet there are many in this world whom you teach and educate, but once they start on their own they use what they have learned to hurt you. If this is inappropriate among human beings, how could we act like this with Allah?
Dear loved ones:
The time will come when we have to stand before Allah and be judged. We have to be prepared for such a day and think before we do any action or say anything: does it please Allah or not. "The Day every soul will come disputing for itself, and every soul will be fully compensated for what it did, and they will not be wronged." (Surat an-Nahl 16:111). Are you prepared for this day?
We ask Allah, the All-Mighty, to help us against ourselves with what He helps the faithful believers against themselves… we ask Him to guide us to the right path, the path He is satisfied with.
The Second Sermon
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Worshippers of Allah, the Most Exalted… Be pious… For piety is the path to Heaven… Do not wrong one another and do not support the wrongdoers.
On the contrary, you ought to stand up to them each according to his potential. Do not be misled by their slogans like the one they are using now: "fighting terrorism." For you ought to differentiate between terrorism and fighting for freedom.
We have repeated several times that we are against terrorism that targets innocent civilians, but fighting the occupier is not terrorism. It is a struggle that is approved by all religions and civilizations. But they stamp all those who stand against their policies and interests or the interests of their allies as terrorism. Thus, they considered the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon and the Intifada in Palestine as terrorism. But when it comes to Israel, they considered the Zionist brutality as a form of self-defense. We ought to face such an arrogance that appoints itself a prosecutor and judge at the same time.
The War of Annihilation in Palestine
In the course of one week only, more than 50 martyrs and hundreds of injured fell in Palestine.
Scores of houses and thousands of acres of gardens were destroyed. In addition, all Palestinian cities and towns are still suffering from the suffocating siege.
All this was met by an American "understanding," a warm welcome to the enemy's foreign minister and some hypocritical words saying that it is "appropriate for the Israelis to withdraw."
There is a common language between the Israelis and the Americans in claiming that what the two parties are doing is fighting terrorism. Therefore, America is the one responsible for all these massacres, for it is the Americans who are providing all moral and physical support for the enemy.
Meanwhile, the European Union is practicing political hypocrisy, giving the Arabs verbal words of understanding and giving the Israelis sound support.
The UN is playing the part of a false witness, calling the Israelis to withdraw but with a resolution that is non-committal. The Arabs are running after America offering their support to its war against the Muslims in Afghanistan.
Thus, the Arabs have no policy towards the Palestinian question, were it not for some fluid words that practically mean nothing. The states of the Islamic Conference Organization are totally absent. The Palestinians are left on their own, for all this international and Arabic climate has only one goal: to weaken the Intifada and end it. They are now trying to pressure the Palestinian Authority to arrest the Mujahideen and hand them to the enemy.
But the Palestinians should know that Israel has entered a huge impasse, despite all its arrogance and barbarian acts.
They should also know that America will not stand with the right—even if it were for once. Their only choice is to go on with their Intifada until liberation. For this is their fate and this is the destiny Allah wants them to achieve.
Afghanistan: The Unfolding Tragedy
The picture in Afghanistan is getting more tragic every day, with hundreds of children, women and the elderly getting killed by the American warplanes. They have become their ideal target, with schools, mosques, and international relief centers being the favorite targets for these planes. Although as much as a thousand civilians have been killed and several thousands injured, the Americans are still talking about unintentional mistakes.
The question is: does America want to kill as many civilians as those who died in the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon? We believe that what is going on, with the events reaching the level of killing and dislocating a whole nation, has made the issue one that all Muslims should hold the responsibility for. They should not join any coalition that targets their fellow innocent Muslims. This is not a coalition against terrorism. What America is doing is terrorism itself, but it is the terrorism of a superpower and its ally (Israel).
The Muslims have to remember that the Prophet (p.) said: "He who does not answer the call of a fellow Muslim for help, is not a Muslim." We have to keep away in this stage from sectarian sensitivity… For our Islamic unity is our major source of strength.
Lebanon: Continuous Israeli Aggressions
Daily Israeli aggressions against Lebanon continue, with the Israeli warplanes flying over the Lebanese territories and with several border zones shelled… Meanwhile, America is offering advice—and even threats—to stop the Resistance from continuing the liberation process. At the same time, a vicious attempt is being carried out to incite internal strife with the bombing of mosques and churches. But we believe that the Lebanese have matured and will not fall for such traps. Such childish games are nothing but bubbles in a roaring river… National unity is the fortified castle the Lebanese should take refuge in.
Other vital issues like filling the vacancies in the civil service or the university, providing essential services and being balanced in studying the country's political problems, should be addressed away from the mentality of sharing the cake… The country needs qualified, dedicated and honest civil servants to develop and prosper, and not the thieves and opportunist losers who currently fill the administration.