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 30, 1423 AH / January 3, 2003, 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
In Memory of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (a.s.):
Words of Love and Justice
Teaching the Nation
The commemoration of the passing of Imam Ja'far bin Muhammad al-Sadiq (a.s.) passed a few days ago, on the 25th of Shawwal. The greatness of this Imam lies in that he gave Islam all his knowledge and thought to the extent that the nation no longer needed anyone or anything else.
He opened up to all people, especially those with opinions different from his own. He was quite tolerant and listened to everybody's views. That is because one should not, in matters of political, ideological, or doctrinal differences, try to insult the other or accuse him of being an unbeliever. This is the attitude of those who run out of arguments, especially since the Muslim is a caller who needs to make others listen to him to win them to his side. He has to be gentle and kind to them so that they will open up to him and listen to what he has to say.
Allah asks His Prophet in the Holy Quran: "Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best." Surat an-Nahl (16:125). That is how the school of Imam al-Sadiq used to make room for all of the other Islamic schools of jurisprudence. They used to sit around him as if they were young children in a primary school, and he used to teach, advise, and guide them. For this is the job of the religious theologian, jurist, academic, and the wise. He has to answer people's questions, and if they did not ask any, he would start talking and asking questions himself. This is what the Imam believed: to lead the people's minds and hearts to the straight path. The Imam (a.s.) could also be described as the Imam of dialogue, for he used to take every chance to sit with unbelievers to try to discuss with them issues like Allah's oneness. And they used to respect him a lot and feel that they were in the presence of a phenomenon. One of those said: "I have not seen anybody from all this lot who could be called a human being more than Ja'far bin Muhammad." Another one said: "What could I say about someone who could turn into a pure spirit if he so wishes, and could be incarnated when he wants."
The Champion of Unity
The Imam was the champion of Muslim unity, calling on his followers to integrate with the Muslim community: "Pray among their congregations, take part in their funerals, and visit their sick… so that they will say: 'May Allah have mercy on Ja'far bin Muhammad, he has educated his followers on good morals'… Be an honor to us and not a disgrace." On another occasion he told his followers: "It is very easy to earn people's satisfaction… Just stop saying anything bad about them…" Do not deal with people by cursing, but with wisdom and good instruction. "And tell My servants to say that which is best. Indeed, Satan induces [dissension] among them. Indeed Satan is ever, to mankind, a clear enemy." Surat al-Isra' (17:53).
He was saying to them what Allah has called for: "And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend." Surat Fussilat (41:34), thus making all people friends of yours without compromising your principles. In this respect, our problem might be, dear loved ones, that we are decreasing our friends instead of increasing them. Imam Ali (a.s.) said: "The most helpless is the one who cannot make a friend… He is even more helpless who cannot keep his friends."
Thus, the Imam (a.s.) wanted the Shiite Muslims to open up to the Sunni Muslims by means of conducting a dialogue about the issues they differ on, and not by cursing and accusing one another of being heretical or even questioning their faith. The Imam wanted the nation to consolidate and cooperate and wanted its members to be eager when it comes to giving in charity. He says: the Messenger (p.) said: "Give from what Allah has given you."
"And give them from the wealth of Allah which He has given you." Surat an-Nur (24:33).
"Believe in Allah and His Messenger and spend out of that in which He has made you successors." Surat al-Hadid (57:07). "This is a gateway to Heaven." But some of those listening said that they might not have anything to give, and the Messenger said: "Then support the wronged. And if you are too weak, try to guide others, and if you could not, then just do not say anything unless it is for the good." Thus, the Messenger (p.), and the Imam (a.s.) who quoted him, wanted to say that each man has different capabilities and potentials and that each man should give in accordance with his abilities.
The Second Sermon
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Our Image
The world welcomed a new year, but what is the image of the Arab and Muslim world on the eve of this new year? They are all following and waiting for the results of the Zionist elections. Yet, regardless of those results, the Israelis will continue to implement their plan of ending the Intifada, destroying the Palestinian infrastructure, and installing a satellite Palestinian regime led by Israeli agents whose images are being polished to enable them to perform their role… This is what the Palestinians should understand: Trying to introduce new leaders is a dubious scheme to execute the American-Israeli plan, which will create major obstacles on the way of liberation and independence.
The Israeli election campaign is being conducted in an atmosphere of more killing, wounding, detaining, destroying houses… etc., since the majority of the Jewish community has adopted a Nazi mentality to the extent that it sees in any potential Zionist butcher a person worthy of leading them. Such an attitude is encouraged and supported by the United States that supports Sharon, for it believes that he is able to end the Intifada and pursue its so-called war against terrorism. The American Administration fears that this Intifada, if it is not crushed, will turn into a popular regional force that will confront the American strategy of hegemony and aggression.
Therefore, the Palestinians should pursue their goals and continue their Intifada, being the only way that leads to liberation. They also have to study well the proposed internal Palestinian dialogue that could well be based on the mentality that sees the Palestinians as the problem and not Israel. In such a line of thought, the solution would be: to turn all Palestinian militant organizations into political parties whose only hope is the American "Road Map" plan. Although biased from the outset, this plan has, as a result of the successive Israeli demands for change, almost conformed to the Israeli and American strategies. We warn all parties concerned that America is trying to contain the Intifada politically, by means of several Arab intelligence agencies, having failed to do so by military means.
We warn all the Palestinians that their dialogue may appear to be beneficial on the surface, but it is quite disastrous in its real content. We say to the Palestinians: Yes, you need a new strategy, but one that strengthens the Intifada and does not weaken it and lose it in the midst of the international and Arab intelligence mazes.
Iraqis’ Interests Are Not What America Seeks
As for the region, it awaits the American war against Iraq, not for the change of the Iraqi people from their totalitarian regime.
In this respect, the Americans do not aim at removing the weapons of mass destruction, which they gave the Iraqi regime to use in its war against Iran, especially since they are talking about a peaceful solution with North Korea, which expelled the international inspectors and announced that it is building nuclear weapons... It is also not a project to change the regime, which America itself protected in all the past decades. It is a project of establishing military bases in the entire region, especially in the Gulf, to secure its hegemony over the region and control and usurp all its resources.
The Arab and Islamic region is experiencing an unprecedented security threat. It is also living in a climate of indirect political and economic occupation. Its morals and morale have witnessed a sharp decline to the extent that they have turned into a dagger that stabs the nation and drains its strength and resolve. Where is the Arab League? What is it doing for Palestine or Iraq? What are the leaders of its states doing? Where is the Islamic Conference Organization that is now headed by the country which gave America the largest military base in the region to fight the Arabs and Muslims?
Finally, what is the meaning of the United Nations that has turned into one of the tools that protects American interests? What world is this?
Nevertheless, no matter how severe the problem is, we will not despair: The Arab, Muslim, and downtrodden nations will continue their struggle to thwart the plans of international arrogance…
Unity, Vigilance, and Preparedness
Lebanon, which is threatened by a Zionist invasion that could be part of the Israeli election game, has to be prepared for the worst possible scenario. It has to rely on enhancing national unity, protecting political freedoms including that of the media, which has to be reorganized in a way that guarantees its freedom and does not hurt the real national interests. As for the economic plan, it should not reinvent new names for some old plans.
Our politicians should rise to the level of the challenges we face and act as ones who care about the interests of the whole nation, keeping away from the sectarian and individual quagmire... No one should protect the thieves and the corrupt in the name of defending sectarian rights.