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 Rabi' Alawal 21, 1424 AH/ May 23, 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 Anniversary of Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s)
One of the purified Imams is Imam Jaa'far bin Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s.). His birth was on the 17th of this month.
Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s) is different from the rest of the Imams in his ideological, cultural, and spiritual heritage. This is not because he was more distinguished in his academic level. It is because he had a better chance to play his role. The Umayyads and Abbasids were busy fighting one another.
The Imam benefited from this situation. He established a religious school. He taught Muslim Shiites and non-Shiites alike. This included scholars like Abu Hanifa, the Imam of the Hanafi Sunni sect. Abu Hanifa used to say that Imam Al-Sadiq "is the best because he knows best the thoughts of others." Abu Hanifa was also reported to have prepared tough questions for Imam Jaa'far for the Abbasid caliph. The Imam (a.s.) would say that the opinion in Medina is such and such. The people in Kufa say so and so. We believe so and so. Abu Hanifa then commented: is not the most learned the one who knows best all the different opinions of people?
The Imam (a.s.) even used to meet the atheists who made fun of certain rites in pilgrimage. He met them with respect. He answered them in an objective and scientific manner. This drove one of them, Ibn Al–Mukafa', to say: "There is nobody who deserves to be called a human being more than Jaa'far bin Muhammad Al-Sadiq." He possessed all the traits of humanity. This includes scientific and religious knowledge, spirituality, morality, and tolerance.
A Comprehensive methodology and a diverse knowledge.
If we study the cultural heritage of Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s.), we could find that it contains all aspects of knowledge. This includes jurisprudence which scholars study and benefit from up till now. It includes profound philosophical and theological views. It includes social and moral opinions that cover any aspect an individual needs in his life.
His ethics are so sublime that he maintains that freedom comes from inside you. It is not by any decree issued by any other human being. Islam is the religion of freedom and dignity. It is a gift of Allah, the Most Exalted. It is part of the human being's innate nature. He says: "A free man is free in all situations." He could say no to the tyrant even in prison. He could also be in a desert and not be free if he does not possess the freedom of will power.
In this respect, we have met in the history of early Islam several great examples. The honorable companions of Yasir and his wife Sumayah are examples. Bilal Al-Habashi is another. He endured unbearable torture and kept on saying: He is but "One." In our contemporary age, many of our prisoners in Israel or in the detentions of Ansar and Khiam in Lebanon remained free. This was despite all they were offered.
The Imam used to underscore the meaning of freedom in every chance he had. He explained the verse that says that might and honor belongs to Allah, His Messenger, and the believers. He said that Allah has given the believer freedom to run all his affairs. But He did not give him the freedom to disgrace himself.
We call upon all religious scholars, intellectuals, and preachers to study this aspect. It raises the level of man. It presents Islam as the religion of civilization, freedom, humanitarianism, and dignity. But alas, the ways deployed in preaching do not follow this lead.
To belong to Ahl Al-Beit is…
To belong to the Members of the Prophet's family is to adopt their teachings. They were the extension of the Messenger in their Imamate. In this light, we would like to go over some teachings of Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s.).
He said: “Allah revealed to Adam that He is going to gather all his advice in four points. ‘One for Me and one between you and Me. One for you and one between you and other people. The one for Allah is to believe in Him alone. Believe that no one shares Him His powers. If the prophet needs a miracle, He would give it to him.’”
'Say, [O Muhammad], "I do not tell you that I have the depositories [of the provision] of Allah or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel. I only follow what is revealed to me." Say, "Is the blind equivalent to the seeing? Then will you not give thought?" Surah Al-An'am (06:50)
But we have reached a stage of exaggeration and deviation. We have begun to claim partners to Allah. We do not pray for Allah to heal us. Instead, we ask the Imams to do so. The Imams intercede for us with Allah. But it is Allah alone who gives and heals. As great as the Imams are, they are Allah's servants. This is what we say when we profess that Muhammad (p.) is Allah's servant and messenger.
As for the one that is for you, I will reward you for your deeds. The one between Me and you is that I will answer your prayers. The one between you and others is that you have to like for the people what you like for yourself. Hate for them what you hate for yourself.
In another saying, Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s.) says: "Be pious and be just. You criticize others for not being just." We chant: "Death for America and Israel." We revolt against various tyrants because they are unjust. But are we just with our families and employees? This is a small wronging, but such a wronging will grow bigger when your position grows.
The Imam has also called upon us to "learn about the times we live in." Then we would be able to participate in finding solutions for our society's problems. He added that we should deal with our affairs responsibly. We should be careful of what we say.
These are the teachings of Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s.). This is the spiritual and intellectual wealth the Members of the House want us to adhere to. They want to elevate and unite us. Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s.) wanted the Shiites to open up to the Suniis. He said: "Visit their sick ones. Attend their funerals. Pray their collective prayers." He added: "It is easy to win people's heart; do not talk bad about them. Respect the beliefs of others and what they believe to be sacred. Do this if you want them to respect your beliefs."
This is the line of the Members of the House. May Allah strengthen our adherence to it. May He accept their intercession for us in both worlds. He is the Most Merciful.
The Second Sermon
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
The American Justice
What do the Americans plan for Palestine? Their plan envisages all possible security for Israel. It offers no security for the Palestinians, except a marginal kind. This marginal security considers Israeli security with its devastating settlement conditions.
The plan underscores the need to legitimize the Israeli occupation of the territories. It rejects any call for withdrawal except after establishing a complete victory over the Palestinian Intifada. It also justifies the destruction of the Palestinian infrastructure. It justifies the economic siege that aims to starve the Palestinians. Such crimes are among the worst forms of collective punishment, all in the name of self-defense.
We ask President Bush, who calls for freedom and human rights. Is this collective punishment justice? It destroys homes over the heads of its dwellers. It kills school children in their classrooms. Since the announcement of the road map, Israel has killed more than 40 civilians. This includes women, children, and old people. There has been no condemnation from your government. You continue to describe the Mujahideen of the Intifada as terrorists.
Is state terror legitimate? Is a people's struggle to protect their freedom a form of terrorism? The Palestinian popular militant leadership has asked for international monitors. They said they were prepared to stop the Intifada if these monitors were put in place and the atrocities halted. America and Israel refused.
Moreover, America is still exerting pressure on the Palestinians to crack down on the Intifada. This is to implement the Road Map. But it does not exert any pressure on Israel to accept this Road Map. Bush does not have the courage to defy Sharon. This is especially true with the coming presidential elections.
If this is the case, how does Bush and his administration expect us to believe his promises? His promises have evaporated one after the other. This happens every time he is subjected to Jewish pressure.
On the other hand, the American president talks about what he calls the war against terrorism. We want to ensure that violence will only bring more violence. Those he calls terrorists could turn into fragmented groups without any link between them.
We are not justifying violence against civilians whatever their nationality or religion, except the case of war. But we believe that nations will always feel bitter and frustrated as a result of the American policies. This could lead certain individuals to resort to chaotic violence in several parts of the world. It could turn it into a world full of violence and chaos.
Legitimizing the occupation of Iraq
In Iraq, the Anglo-American occupation has obtained a UN resolution. This resolution legitimizes its occupation. It gives it a free hand to control the Iraqi oil wealth. They have legitimized the mandate over the Iraqi people. They did not set a timetable for the elections of their national representatives. This suggests to the Iraqis that they have to live a long time under occupation. They must wait for America to be charitable enough to say that they have become mature.
Faced by such a situation, we call on our people in Iraq to rise to the level of challenges. They ought to freeze all their differences, whether sectarian or partisan. This is to be able to safely pass through this critical stage. Iraqis should resort to objective and friendly dialogue. The occupation is looking for any difference it could exploit to maintain its occupation of Iraq. The Muslims in Iraq should enhance their unity. This is to be able to build an Islamic civilized society. A society that believes in justice and freedom. A society that is open to any discussion with other religions and trends. That is how Iraq would resume its civilizatory -leading role in the region and in the whole world.
Unity leads to victory
In Lebanon, we denounce the new war of "camps" among the Palestinians. We rejected the one against them in the past. This is especially true because the Palestinians living in these camps are in a state of extreme poverty and misery. The international and regional solutions do not provide them with anything that could end their homelessness.
We warn the Palestinians against going back to this mad and absurd war. They will be giving the enemy a chance to distort their image. The enemy will present them as a people who kill one another. You have to be responsible for the security in the refugee camps. This is the only way to provide its dwellers with stability and balance. Moreover, the security of the camps is a part of the security of Lebanon as a whole. If it is destabilized, it will destabilize the security of the entire country. Go back to the voice of reason. Remember that they are there to destroy your unity through the so-called "Road Map for peace". It will get you only to where America and Israel want.
The internal Palestinian war inside Palestine and outside it is an act of treason. Unity based on understanding and dialogue is the road to victory. This is true even if it takes a long time.