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 Safar 27, 1423 AH / May 10, 2002, 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
Commemorating the Passing of the Prophet (p.): The Primacy of Action
Addressing His Prophet, Allah says:
"Indeed, you are to die, and indeed, they are to die." Surat az-Zumar (39:30).
"And Muhammad is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed on before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels? And he who turns back on his heels will never harm Allah at all; but Allah will reward the grateful." Surat Ali ‘Imran (3:144).
"And We did not grant to any man before you eternity [on earth]; so if you die - would they be eternal?" Surat al-Anbiya’ (21:34).
Tomorrow, the 28th of Safar, is the commemoration of the passing of the Prophet. On this painful day in which the direct contact between earth and heaven was broken, we have to learn about Muhammad’s last days, according to the historians.
The Prophet’s Will
The late sheikh al-Mufid (may Allah bless his soul) wrote in his book "Al-Irshad": When the Messenger felt that he was severely sick, he took Ali (a.s.) and they were followed by a group of Muslims and went to al-Baqi‘ (the cemetery of Medina). There he said: "I was commanded to ask forgiveness for the occupants of Baqi‘." He added when he reached an overlooking spot: "Peace be upon you, occupants of the graves. I congratulate you on your situation compared to that of the living."
It was as if he was saying to them that leaving this world and meeting their Lord is better than living. It was as though he was feeling the pain and bitterness that resulted from the movements and plots of the hypocrites; that is why he added: "Trials are coming like the dark pieces of night." He knew that many plots were in the making, especially that he was witnessing that some people stalled in executing his commands, and even forgot what he had said at Ghadir (a place on the road between Mecca and Medina) that Ali (a.s.) is the master of all those who consider Muhammad to be their master.
Then, when the Prophet was about to die, he asked for some papers to write a book that will save the Muslims from deviation after his death forever. But the people did not obey right away. Instead, some said that the Quran was enough, while others considered that he was hallucinating. Then, when they were quiet, they asked the Prophet if he still wanted the papers, but he felt that it was useless having said what they had said. He also wanted many of the believers to join the Army, but some people stalled without a valid excuse, thus creating the circumstances for a conflict that followed his death when Imam Ali (a.s.) was deprived of his legitimate position as caliph.
From this story, we learn that visiting the graveyard is lawful, in contrast with those who say it is not.
Secondly, we notice that the Prophet greeted the people there, which gives us an idea that it is as if their souls are there, and that he can greet them. Thus, when we go to the cemetery, we can greet the dead there and ask Allah to forgive them, and not turn our visit into a social call.
Doing Good Is the Only Key to Heaven
Then the Prophet turned to Ali (a.s.) and told him: "Gabriel used to show me the Quran once every year, but this year he did it twice. I believe it is because my time has come," and he added: "I was given the choice between the wealth of this world and Heaven, and I chose Heaven and meeting my Lord." The Messenger used to live in seclusion in the mosque for the last 10 days of the month of Ramadan, but in his last year he changed it to 20 days. Then he left for his home and stayed in bed for 3 days. He then went to the Mosque, with a band on his head and helped by Imam Ali (a.s.), who held his right hand, and al-Fadl ibn al-‘Abbas, who held his left hand. He then made a speech in which he told the people that he was about to die and asked them to ask for their trusts or debts, if there were any. Then he said: "O People, there is nothing between any person and Allah that would make Him bestow His grace on him or keep an evil away except one’s actions." Meaning that there are no advantages for anybody, and no lineage or social and economic position will get him nearer to Allah. Such a statement when the Messenger is the one who is saying it, means everybody without exception – "No one should claim or wish so, for by Him who sent me as a prophet calling for the right, nothing saves except deeds coupled with mercy—you should act in doing good and ask Allah to forgive your sins. If I would sin, I would have fallen down. O Allah, have I conveyed?"
It is as if the Prophet was repeating two Ayahs in the Holy Quran: "It is not [possible] for you to do so, but [only] if Allah wills. And indeed, Allah is Knowing and Wise." Surat at-Tawbah (9:28) and "Say, 'Indeed I fear, if I should disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day.'" Surat al-An‘am (6:15). Do not say that since we are Muslims we will not go to Hell. It is not a matter of wishes. The relationship between Allah and man is based on the latter’s action. And he who disobeys Allah does not have any privileges. True, there is intercession, but it is only for those who do good, and being related to someone or having a certain social rank will do you no good. That is why the Prophet said: "The only thing that saves is action with mercy."
Being Related to the Prophet Is No Privilege
It is reported that when the Prophet was on his deathbed, he was accompanied by his uncle al-‘Abbas ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib, his aunt Safiyyah, and his daughter Fatimah al-Zahra (a.s.). He turned to each of them, calling him/her by name, and saying: "Do good for the sake of Allah, for I can do nothing for you," even if it were Fatimah (a.s.), his daughter. That is why Imam Ali (a.s.) said: "Muhammad’s friend is he who obeys Allah even if he is not related to him, while Muhammad’s enemy is he who disobeys Allah even if he is a close relative."
Being a relative of Muhammad only means that your responsibility is greater. That is why it is reported that when someone saw Ali ibn al-Hussein (a.s.) crying in prayer despite the fact that his grandfathers were the Messenger and Imam Ali (a.s.), while his grandmother was Fatimah (a.s.) and al-Hussein (a.s.) was his father, he told him that Allah created Heaven for those who obey Him even if they were slaves, and He created Hell for those who disobey Him even if they were from the nobility of Quraysh (the most noble Arabian tribe).
Islam Is Allah’s Trust
Having reviewed some of the events and the general atmosphere around the Prophet in his last days, we turn our attention to the following Ayah: "And Muhammad is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed on before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels? And he who turns back on his heels will never harm Allah at all; but Allah will reward the grateful." Surat Ali ‘Imran (3:144). Each prophet will live for a certain time only, and then he is bound to die. Our commitment to Islam should not end with the death of the Prophet. Islam is Allah’s trust which we should keep by learning it and by adhering to its teachings and commands in our individual and social affairs, as well as teaching it to our children, so as to make the new generation a Muslim one.
We have to learn Islam, each according to his abilities, so that we will become callers to it… We ought to make our visits, social occasions, and all our affairs full of Islam, so as to deepen its roots in our lives. The call for Islam is not the duty of the religious scholars only, but rather that of every Muslim. Moreover, we have to shoulder the responsibility of Islam as it was held by Imam Ali (a.s.), the role model and the great champion of Islamic unity, when he gave up his legitimate right of caliphate to prevent any division and strife among Muslims. We have to uphold the unity and strength of Islam to be able to face all challenges.
The Second Sermon
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
The Intifada Must Overcome American-Israeli Pressures
The Intifada (Palestinian uprising) continues, despite the "Defensive Shield" operation that was not able to establish security for the Zionists. The Mujahideen were able to penetrate deep inside "Israel" and perform a qualitative operation in the district of Tel Aviv, in retaliation for the brutal destruction of both the infrastructure and the people in Palestine.
The Enemy is preparing for a new terrorist operation, which might target the (Palestinian) Gaza Strip, whose Mujahideen are ready to conduct a heroic confrontation to defend it. The Palestinian people have broken the barrier of fear, and they no longer have anything to lose but their chains. Thus, they are going to win their freedom despite all the American pressures and despite the fact that the Arabs do not hold many political cards… for the Americans have pressured the EU, the UN, and Russia to prevent them from taking any stand that could be more balanced towards the Arabs.
The Americans and the Israelis want the Intifada to stop... They want all parties to denounce the martyr operations, although each party might have its own different reasons.
America and Israel want to accomplish Sharon’s goal in achieving Israeli security to declare victory against the Palestinian people before celebrating the so-called independence of the Jewish state, while most Arab regimes want to be relieved of the heavy burdens of the Palestinians or the Palestinian cause, and of the American pressures on the Arab officials who have promised the American Administration in their visits to Washington to pressure the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian organizations to stop the Intifada without gaining anything.
They are all saying that the alternative is negotiations, but the question is: What kind of negotiation is the one that is led by Israel, which enjoys the support of the U.S., while the Arabs cannot exert any pressure on the enemy?
In such conditions, losing the Intifada card means providing additional concessions, as if they have anything left to give.
We have noticed in Sharon’s visit to the U.S. President how he threatened the Palestinians with more killing and destruction, while enjoying an American support that talks about peace in a vague and illusive way. The Americans also talked about the enemy’s right to defend itself and condemned the Palestinian Authority, which they saw as disappointing.
They even asked the Arabs to hold the responsibility of stopping the martyrs’ operations. Moreover, we heard an American official talking about adding Syria and Libya to the axis of evil, on the grounds that Syria plans to produce chemical weapons while Libya is planning to produce nuclear weapons. Of course, he did not talk, as usual, about the Israeli arsenal of weapons of mass destruction.
We wonder if there is any country that could be considered an axis of evil more than America, which mobilizes all kinds of political, military, and economic evil against the whole world, especially the oppressed and the weak. Israel occupies Lebanese and Syrian lands as well as Palestine. Is there any national movement whose lands are occupied that fights for liberation that could be considered a terrorist movement? Is it not one of the laws of civilization that every nation has the right to defend itself against the occupier?
The American total support for Israeli terror against the Palestinians has rendered the American war against terrorism illegitimate and dissociated America from any peacemaking role in the whole world, for he who plans an aggressive, brutal war against a peaceful nation cannot be a peace broker.
On the basis of these facts, we repeat our call to the Muslims, as well as all free men in the weak world, to boycott American products as much as possible and to remain in the street to provide every political and informational support to the Intifada, as well as every other possible means.
We also call upon the Palestinian people to remain steadfast in the face of all this Zionist brutality, for this is the only way to keep the enemy in its impasse. We also call upon the Palestinian Authority to oppose the international, and in particular, the American pressure, by not committing the grave mistakes of arresting the Mujahideen or agreeing to deport them. National unity in the line of continuing the Intifada is the only road to liberation and independence. The Palestinian Authority knows that Israel will not give it any of its legitimate rights, not even the minor ones.
Massacres Against Muslims in India
We are following the massacres of the extremists against the Muslims in India, and we ask all parties to be more conscious, especially that they are all below the line of poverty. We call on the Indian government to rise to the level of the responsibility of protecting its Muslim citizens and solving the problems between them and the Hindus in a wise manner that provides peace and security for all.
Call for Islamic Unity in Afghanistan
We also believe that the wounded Afghan people should find a way to restore its Islamic national unity and stop this internal fighting so that it could achieve peace and a free and strong state that could one day liberate itself from the American arrogant hegemony that plans to turn Afghanistan into a military base that serves as a point of departure to dominate the whole region.
Lebanon: Economic Crisis and Political Feuds
In Lebanon, we are still at the mercy of the feuds between the top officials, which the citizen pays for as a result of the economic and political instability they cause.
Things have reached an unprecedented level where the whole country is about to fall, with some saying that it has already fallen and what is left is the obituary that announces the death of the country’s economy. Delaying its publishing does not mean that the problem has gone; it only means that it will have a greater impact when it is announced.
We call on the officials not only to stop the game of political feuds they are playing at the expense of the people, for they take nothing into account but their economic and political interests. We want them to be transparent and tell the people how grave the situation is. Playing with the people’s fate is playing with the country’s fate, which we still quarrel whether it is a "final homeland" without paying attention that we have become a dead people in the graveyard of politics.