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 14, 1424 AH / October 10, 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
The Essence of Islam: Submission to Allah
Allah says in His Glorious Book: "Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of Allah, then indeed, Allah is swift in [taking] account." Surat Ali ‘Imran (3:19)
When the word Islam appears in the Holy Quran, it does not signify one religion in particular, but rather that all religions that Allah revealed to His messengers, from Noah to Muhammad. All these messages raise the same slogan: To worship but one God who is the only god. This worshiping means that you ought to submit to Allah, which is the meaning of the verb aslama, the Arabic root of the noun Islam. Therefore, all religions are one because they are sent by the same source with the same message.
The differences in details are merely a result of the differences in the needs of man that might develop due to the change in circumstances, times and places. That is why certain things might be prohibited at times and then allowed at others, or vice-versa. For example: a marriage between a brother and a sister was lawful at the time of Adam, since there were none but brothers and sisters, then it was deemed unlawful. It was lawful because Allah made it lawful due to the need, and then when there was a need to make it unlawful, Allah prohibited it, for He is the One who decides what is lawful and what is not.
Submitting to Allah
Therefore, when we read that "the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam," we understand that the meaning of Islam is submitting to Allah in all that He has ordained. That is why it was called Islam, meaning complete submission to Allah. It also follows that since Islam is the final message, one has to follow all that the Messenger came with from Allah. Allah says: "But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission." Surat an-Nisa’ (4:65)
And: "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)
That is what we notice, that Allah ordered all His Messengers to be Muslims (to submit). He told Ibrahim: "When his Lord said to him, 'Submit,' he said, 'I have submitted [in Islam] to the Lord of the worlds.'" Surat al-Baqarah (2:131) and ordered him to bequeath it to his sons and grandchildren: "And Ibrahim instructed his sons [to do the same] and [so did] Jacob, [saying], 'O my sons, indeed Allah has chosen for you this religion, so do not die except while you are Muslims.'" Surat al-Baqarah (2:132)
Then when Ya‘qub was dying, his last will carried the concern that his children should worship the one God: "Were you witnesses when death approached Jacob, when he said to his sons, 'What will you worship after me?' They said, 'We will worship your God and the God of your fathers, Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac - one God. And we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.'" Surat al-Baqarah (2:133)
In another verse, Allah asks His Prophet to tell the people: "No associate has He. And I am commanded to be the first of the Muslims." Surat al-An‘am (6:163)
Allah also wanted us, Muslims, to emphasize the fact that we are Muslims to others: "And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, 'Indeed, I am of the Muslims.'" Surat Fussilat (41:33)
Even when we conduct a dialogue with the People of the Book, we should ask them to come to an equitable proposition between us and you: "That we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah.' But if they turn away, then say, 'Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him].'" Surat Ali ‘Imran (3:64)
He wanted him to explain to all mankind that the goal and the motive in everything he does is Allah. He, and all of us, should seek Allah’s satisfaction in everything we do or say. Imam Ali (a.s.), in his description of Islam, said that Islam is both a religion of security and peace and a provider of dignity, "which the gates of good are not opened except by its key, and the darkness is not swayed except by its lights" that shine through thought in our minds, love and spirituality in our hearts, and justice in our actions.
The Messenger (p.) tells us in one of his sayings the meaning of Islam. He implies that a Muslim is not only the one who professes the two testimonies or the one who prays and fasts… etc. A Muslim, he says, is the one "from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe." He is the one who does not harm other Muslims. "He is the brother of fellow Muslims who does not betray them, lie to them or let them down." They are always united; if faced with aggression, they are brothers, "of whom no one is better than the other except by piety." This is the image of the Muslims as presented by the Messenger and the Imams. Do we follow these guidelines of Muslim unity, cooperation, and sharing sorrows and joys in our societies?
In his instructions to Muhammad bin Abi Bakr when he appointed him as governor of Egypt, the Imam considered Islam to be demonstrated by seven traits: "Fear Allah and do not fear people when it comes to (something that has to do with) Allah. And the best saying is the truthful saying. And do not issue two contradicting judgments concerning the same issue... And love for your subjects what you love for yourself and hate for them what you hate for yourself... Attend to the well-being of your subject and go all the way in defending the Right and be afraid of no one. Give true guidance for everyone who asks you for advice and make yourself a model for every remote and near Muslim."
In several sayings of Imam Ali (a.s.), Islam has been identified with belief and certainty, but this undoubting belief is also associated with action. Moreover, Allah has commanded His Prophet in several verses to declare that he was the first to become a Muslim, because of the absolute significance that Muslims emphasize their adherence to Islam. So, do not be deceived by those who want to give Islam another name that some philosophers have claimed.
All Muslims have also to be united, just as they were united at the time of the Messenger… "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves." Surat al-Fath (48:29)
Are we going to do so? This is Allah’s will in the Quran and the Messenger’s will in his Sunnah, and the Imams’ will in their actions and sayings, especially with all the challenges and aggressions the arrogant powers are facing us with?
The Second Sermon
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Punishing Syria: A Zionist Act
The American House of Representatives passed Syria’s Accountability Act, an Israeli act backed by the Israeli lobby in the Congress as well as the Administration that backs it under the pretense of "Syria’s support of terrorism," meaning the Lebanese and Palestinian resistance of occupation… In taking such stances, America proves to be supporting occupation and denying the rights of people when it comes to Arab and Muslim peoples… Only Jews have rights, and these rights include eradicating the Palestinians as persons and as an infrastructure, all in the name of self-defense.
The Arab and Muslim peoples should retaliate by boycotting American goods as much as their economic circumstances and consuming needs permit… They have to opt for European alternative goods, especially that we appreciate the EU’s disapproval of the punishments against Syria and hope that it will be consistent in its position.
We also ask the UN Secretary General not to yield to the pressures America will exert towards this end; for the UN is supposed to be the international institution that protects the downtrodden nations and not the American imperialistic ambitions. Similarly, the Arab League, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, as well as the Non-Aligned States should voice their opposition to this new American support for the Zionist invasion.
On another level, Israel has invaded the city of Rafah, demolishing 100 houses and killing its youth, coupled with the invasion of the city of Jenin and other cities in the West Bank. But we did not hear any condemnation from America, Europe and the UN… On the contrary, we heard the American president issuing what could be considered more of a support, since destroying the Palestinian people and their houses and farms is legitimate in his view, for it is a form of self-defense.
This is actually what made Israel threaten Syria and threaten, even as a means of intimidation, to destroy the Iranian nuclear reactors that are used for peaceful purposes. It wants to remain the only nuclear state in the region so as to threaten whoever it wishes to, aided by its absolute alliance with the United States, which has reached the level that all it needs are some formal diplomatic steps and Israel will become a part of the U.S.A.
The Implications of the Gaza Explosion
In Gaza, 3 Americans were killed in an explosion. Although we are not going to find justifications for such an action, especially if the victims are diplomats as the US claimed, we believe that Washington ought to study the implications of such an act, instead of resorting to threats. It should ask itself: Why are those people, regardless of their intentions, resorting to such acts? It actually means that the Palestinian common people could turn their anger against the Americans who are protecting the Israeli aggression.
Things could get worse when such a feeling of hatred would spread in the entire region. But the American Administration does not seem to be ready to make such a review and conclude that it is driving the world, along with the American people, to the edge of a bottomless pit.
Islamic Impotence
The summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference was held in Malaysia, and it came up with the same empty words and the same talk of a non-existing consolidation between various states who have diverging interests and calculations, turning the power that the organization ought to have—since it represents one fifth of the population of earth—into a marginal factor that nobody cares for.
In this respect, it might be quite informative to quote the Secretary General of the organization, for he highlights the general picture. He says: "The Muslims are experiencing feelings of helplessness and anger as they see some of their countries under occupation… while others are facing threats, and others are being accused of terrorism…" The problem is that most officials in the Islamic World are afraid of American hegemony and have consequently become tools of the US policies.
The best description of the Conference is the one that states that the peoples were absent while America was present, and the most revealing and insightful speech was the one of the Syrian President who said: "The war against terrorism is not a war against Islamic extremism, rather it is a war against Islam itself." Has the Conference listened to his speech to become aware that the ongoing American war on the Islamic countries is a war against Islam itself? Do they want to defend Islam, its peoples, its culture, its economies, its security… or are they going to continue to intimidate one another while trying to appease the American master?
The Sad Developments in Karbala
In Iraq, we were shocked by the bloody events in the city of Karbala, especially that it was targeted against holy sanctuaries, the violation of whose sacredness is an aggression against Islam itself. We denounce these acts and reaffirm that this is a red line that should not be surpassed… We call upon all parties to close this dossier and return to the language of the mind and religion and uphold the unity of Muslims and that of all Iraqis… Violating the holiness of the religious sanctuaries is a red line, just as any conflict inside the Shiite sphere or any Islamic-Islamic feud.
Let us unify our voices in the call for the freedom and independence of Iraq… The problem lies in those who prevent the Iraqis from being free and determining their fate, and seek to expand the occupation into an international one that is led by the United States.
Lebanon Sinks in Fruitless Rows
As Lebanon is surrounded by regional political and security instability, it is engaged in empty debates in which officials exchange charges that could well be criminal and continue to forestall any solution for the economic and social crisis by trying to restrict these solutions to more borrowing or to extending the term of the president. Meanwhile, they are oblivious of the hurricane that has drawn nearer to the region.