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 Muharram 1, 1424 AH/ March 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
Imam Hussein (a.s.):
The Revolutionary Preacher
Throughout Ashura, we think of Imam Hussein as the martyred revolutionary, but we must also consider his role as a preacher. In his sermons, the Imam continually reminds us of Allah and our duty towards Him. This does not mean that the Imam had two separate personalities: the revolutionary and the preacher, for he had only one. He was faithful to Allah and to Islam and was filled with the love of Allah. His personality was that of the perfect human being endowed with all the virtues of goodness, righteousness, and justice. This Imam sought to emulate a model that Allah would love and would fortify his soul by being continually accountable, by trials and perseverance.
This is why Imam Hussein based his political discourse on religious concepts. He did not believe that politics was a profession. Rather, it is a change affecting the reality of the world and of man himself. Thus, an Islamic revolutionary should think of Allah as he speaks, in order to be sure that he never puts a foot in any direction that would not be pleasing to Allah.
The Role Model
We need to keep this aspect of his personality constantly in mind, as he is a role model that embodies righteousness both in thought and in practice.
When describing how a believer should behave, the Imam says that the believer is one who relies on Allah (and no one else) in all his affairs. He should judge himself according to Allah’s words, since the Quran is the light that guides us along the path of righteousness.
He would sometimes read verses describing how the believers are those who are faithful to Him, fight for His cause, and obey His commands, including those instructing the believers to love and be merciful towards each other. At other times, he would read from verses describing tyrants and arrogant people like Pharaoh and promise not to be like him if he was ever in a position of power. He would also study the nations to whom Allah had sent Prophets, and especially the way they treated the prophets, how they tortured them and made false accusations about them to destroy their reputation. Thus, the Quran acts as a spiritual, social, and moral guide that helps you know and understand yourself and reconcile yourself to it, as you continue to seek goodness and truth.
Complete Submission to Allah’s Will
The Imam was asked once about how he felt on a certain morning. He answered with an overwhelming sense of responsibility towards his duties in this life and in the Hereafter:
“I wake up with a God above me…”
That is a God he had to serve and obey every day, who has no partner, for He says: “It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.” Surat al-Ahzab (33:36)
The Imam means to say to man that when he wakes up, he has to be aware that there is a God watching him, and that he should fear this God: “But as for he who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from [unlawful] inclination, then indeed, Paradise will be [his] refuge.” Surat an-Nazi'at (79:40-41)
He should not forget this God: “And do not be like those who forgot Allah, so He made them forget themselves. Those are the defiantly disobedient.” Surat al-Hashr (59:19)
He who does will end up in Hell: “O mankind, fear your Lord. Indeed, the convulsion of the [final] Hour is a terrible thing. On the Day you see it every nursing mother will be distracted from that [child] she was nursing, and every pregnant woman will abort her pregnancy, and you will see the people [appearing] intoxicated while they are not intoxicated; but the punishment of Allah is severe.” Surat al-Hajj (22:1-2)
“Death is seeking me… So be quick to repent before it is too late, for each man will be held accountable for what he did… and it would be too late to change anything. I cannot find what I love nor prevent what I hate. Things are controlled by One other than me… He will punish me if He so wishes, and He will forgive me if He wants… Is there anybody who is poorer than me…?”
This is how the Imam wants us to feel pious when we wake up in the morning, since we will be accountable for each and every day of our lives on the Day of Judgment. We ought to know that time is our responsibility and spend it obeying Allah, and actually question everything we do or say to make sure that it pleases Allah.
In another incident, the Imam uses a different literary style to make the person who sins feel responsible: Once a man came to him and said, “I cannot stop myself from committing sins. What can I do to stop this?” The Imam answered: “Do five things and sin as much as you like.
Firstly, do not eat from Allah’s property and sin as much as you like.” Is there anything that is not Allah’s property?
“Secondly, get out of Allah’s domain and sin as much as you like.” Is there anywhere that is not Allah’s domain?
“Thirdly, look for a place where Allah cannot see you and sin as much as you like.” Is there anywhere that Allah cannot see you?
“Fourthly, when the angel of death comes to take your soul, keep him away and sin as much as you like.” Is there anyone capable of doing this?
“Fifthly, if your deeds lead you to Hell, do not go in and sin as much as you want.” We all live in Allah’s domain, eat from His property, are seen at all times, are taken by the angel of death, and go to Hell if we disobey, so the Imam obviously said this to discourage people from committing sins.
Let Us Emulate the Imam, as We Ought
These are the words of Imam Hussein. We should follow his example, be guided by his teachings, study his sayings, and take his revolutionary lead. For being a follower of the Members of the Prophet’s (p.) household is not a mere declaration. It is a commitment, a responsibility, and a way of life.