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 Ramadan 15, 1422 AH / November 30, 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
Faith Over Force: The Lesson of Badr
The 17th of the month of Ramadan marks the anniversary of the Battle of Badr, the first battle between the Muslims and the pagans. The Muslims who were in Medina, having left Mecca after suffering from all kinds of torture and persecution, were eager to fight the pagans. And this was the battle in which they were able to win despite that they were few in number and very ill-equipped. Allah bestowed the blessings of victory on the Muslims, by the panic He filled the hearts of the pagans with, and by the angels that were sent to help the Muslims. The Quran has dedicated many verses to talk about this battle, focusing on the points of weakness the Muslims exhibited, for He, the Most Exalted, wants us to know that it is not unnatural to feel weak while confronting a major threat, but the nation ought to change its weak points into strong ones.
Displaying the Strength of Muslims
The battle started when the pagans deployed their troops after the Muslims attacked a Quraishi trade convoy that was on its route from Syria to Mecca, to show that the Muslims were controlling the strategic road of Quraish’s trade, and that they had become a force to reckon with. The convoy was able to flee to another road, yet the pagans decided to attack Medina and marched until they reached a place called Badr. Meanwhile, the Messenger was trying to encourage the Muslims to fight. But fighting Quraish was no simple matter, so some of the Muslims were afraid and told him that this is a very strong army. But others from the Ansar (Muslims of Medina) said: "We will not tell you as Musa’s people told him: ‘You go and fight along with your Lord, we are waiting for you.’ We say: ‘You go with your Lord to fight and we will go with you…’" Thus, the Messenger went to fight with but a few men who were neither well-equipped nor well-armed.
The best and most truthful way to tell you what happened is to recite the Quranic account: "[Remember] when your Lord inspired to the angels, 'I am with you, so strengthen those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved, so strike [them] upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip.'" Surat al-Anfal (8:12)
"That is because they opposed Allah and His Messenger. And whoever opposes Allah and His Messenger - indeed, Allah is severe in penalty." Surat al-Anfal (8:13)
"That [is yours], so taste it.' And indeed for the disbelievers is the punishment of the Fire." Surat al-Anfal (8:14)
Victory is Only from Allah
"And victory is not except from Allah. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise." Surat al-Anfal (8:10)
This is the lesson that the Muslims should learn: to have faith in Allah and in themselves, and be always sure that Allah will let victory be on the side of the believers: "Already there has been for you a sign in the two armies which met - one fighting in the cause of Allah and another of disbelievers. They saw them [to be] twice their [own] number by [their] eyesight. But Allah supports with His victory whom He wills. Indeed in that is a lesson for those of vision." Surat Al 'Imran (3:13)
This is what we have noticed and witnessed in Badr, as well as in the victory of the Mujahideen in Lebanon, although they were a small force compared with the Zionist occupiers, but they were able to make a new Badr.
This is the lesson of Badr: Muslims should have confidence in Allah and in Islam, and they should fight for the cause of Allah and the right, without taking their own interests into account. As we face several arrogant forces in our age, we should keep the lessons of Badr in mind: "O you who have believed, if you support Allah, He will support you and plant firmly your feet." Surat Muhammad (47:7)
The Second Sermon
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
A New American Initiative
America has once again sent its envoys to the region to freeze the Intifada, in an effort to find an Israeli solution to the Palestinian problem by providing some cosmetic moves that might attract the Arabs and drug the Palestinians, but which in reality tries to secure the Israeli economy and security, especially as all the Arab regimes are impotent and cannot oppose any arrogant pressures.
In a few days, America will receive its strategic ally, Sharon, in a process that aims to pressurize the Palestinians. It will start by the uttering of this butcher of some vague words that are meant to polish his image so that the Americans could conduct the political negotiations under the slogan of the necessity of providing painful concessions. Then the Americans will once again be able to say, just as they said when Barak was the prime minister, that the Palestinians are the ones to blame because they refuse to offer concessions regarding Jerusalem, the return of the refugees, the settlements, and a viable and real Palestinian state. Since these demands are not compatible with real politics, in view of the fact that Israel holds all the cards: the land, the weapons and the American support.
This means that the Palestinians should be thankful for what Israel is giving them, regardless of how trivial it is.
We do not trust America, or its president, who refused to receive the president of the Palestinian Authority (P.A.) as he should have, being an honest broker… Thus, we hope that the Palestinians would consolidate their internal unity, as it was demonstrated in the martyrdom operation of Afula...
They should be fully aware of the importance of this unity as the major source of force they possess. The P.A. should study the concessions, which are more fatal than painful, in a responsible way so as not to lose its people. In their turn, the Arabs and Muslims should hold their national and Islamic responsibilities and rise to the level of the challenge, for this stage could have a considerable impact on the future and on the nation as a whole.
The Unknown Fate of the Afghani People
In Afghanistan, the international powers are trying to install an interim government without a popular referendum to find out the opinion of the Afghani Muslim people, who had experienced the rule of unpopular governments that were imposed on them as a result of the interference of America and some of its allies in the region…
Now, once again, America is imposing its will on this devastated country, which it took part in aggravating its tragedy and killing its poor people under the pretense of fighting terrorism, which America itself helped in creating the conditions for its emergence and spreading.
As for the United Nations, it has turned into a tool in the hands of the US, as well as an exchange center in which the major powers make their deals at the expense of the Third World.
In addition to all the atrocities of the war, the Afghani people were victims of a new massacre in which hundreds of chained prisoners were killed because they were said to have "rebelled."
The truth of the matter is that all Al-Qaeda fighters, regardless of their nationality (Arabs, Palestinians, Chechens… and others), should be liquidated…
These prisoners should have been presented to court if they had committed any crimes, but they were executed in cold blood because the U.S. administration wants to appear victorious in the eyes of the American people, even if it meant violating all human values and international laws.
We feel worried about the future of the Afghanis, which seems very dim, for the war is not over, and America intends to stay for several years, under the cover of a multi-national force… We are afraid that Afghanistan will turn into an American military and political base to besiege several countries in the region, especially Iraq, which was threatened recently by the American president.
We ask all the oppressed nations to learn the Afghani lesson and be prepared to face these new threats.
Lebanon in the Dark
As Lebanon watches the dark screen in the region, it had to live in the dark itself as a result of a power blackout… We hope that this power problem, which is really a minor detail of the economic and political crisis, is not a prelude for much bigger problems. We also hope that these smaller problems will not make us shift our attention from the bigger issues of the region. Because by doing so, we would have lost the first battle in the war of freedom and justice.