In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Grand Ayatullah H.E. Sayyed M. H. Fadlullah delivered the two Friday prayer sermons (at the Imamain Al-Hassanain Mosque, Zoul-Hijja 27, 1423, February 28 2003 H, several prominent religious scholars, dignitaries and thousands of believers attended the Jumu’a prayer).
The First Sermon
The Guide and Reference
We remain with the Commander of the faithful, Imam Ali (a.s). This Imam who dedicated all his life to serve Allah reaching the highest level of infallibility in his heart and mind, and remained so faithful to the Muslims like no one else after the death of Muhammad(p.)
When the Imam(a.s.) was appointed a legitimate caliph being named by the Prophet(p.) , he drew an agenda to rule that was not drawn by any of those who came before him. For Ali (a.s.) knew that the ruler, whether infallible or not, has to define his agenda do that the people will know where he is taking them, and so that they can hold him accountable if he goes wrong.
Moreover, Ali used to tell the people about what they should depend on in all their private and public dealings. He used to tell them time and again: The Quran in your guide in everything you do or say… It is your Imam, since it is the right which falsehood does not draw near it... It is the infallible text that has not and will not be altered whether by deleting or adding to it… When you hear people saying that the Prophet or the Imams said so and so, compare it with the Book of Allah, the most Exalted,, if it complies with it than it is true but if it does not, do not pay any attention to it.
In one of his speeches that although was addressed to a certain audience it was meant to talk to all generations, he says: Know that this Quran is the advisor that does not cheat (It is the book of Allah that was conveyed to elevate man to the Good which is achieved by knowing Allah and obeying Him. It is the guider that does not lead astray... The teller that does not lie... It does not sit with anyone without an increase or a loss! An increase in faith and knowledge and a loss in ignorance.
Know that there is no poverty after the Quran (because when your knowledge is taken from the Quran you do not need any other guide, you, thus you become rich in science, knowledge, truth and right… Use it to heal your illnesses (whether psychological moral, social or mental) and let it help you in times of difficulty.
It heals you from the greatest illnesses that of unbelief, Hypocrisy, deviation and falsehood.
Thus, when you want to ask something from Allah, the most Exalted, ask Him by its virtue and not by any of His creations, for nothing is similar to it, if the worshippers want to pray to Allah. It intercedes… and if the Quran intercedes for you on the Day of Judgment you would be forgiven…
Virtues and Piety
The Imam(a.s.) then ends his advice as he started: He calls on people to learn about their God through the Quran, and use it as their compass that points to the right … The Quran is the distinguisher that enables you to differentiate between right and wrong (Whether your opinion is personal, social or political).
A call for adhering values
Then the Imam calls in what looks like a call for help. Action… Action… there is nothing that nears you to Allah, the most Exalted, or draws you away from Him except work... Allah says {It will not be in accordance with your desires, nor the desires of the People of the Scripture. He who doeth wrong will have the recompense thereof, and will not find against Allah any protecting friend or helper} 4:123.
And the Messenger (p.) says: There is nothing that saves except work with mercy. If you sin you will fall. Then the Imam says: The end …the end” The end of all of us is to stand before God on the Day of Judgment… the day that Allah, the most Exalted, alone decides our fate. Uprightness… Uprightness {As for those who say: Our Lord is Allah, then continue in the right way, the angels descend upon them, saying: Fear not, nor be grieved, and receive good news of the garden which you were promised}41:30. Patience... Patience {and bear with patient constancy whatever betide thee; for this is firmness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs} 31:17
Piety... Piety... Piety that forbids from doing what Allah, the most Exalted, has prohibited and enjoins you to do what He made lawful. You have an end so be mindful of it. And you have got a source of knowledge learn it. Islam has goal seek its goal. And give the rights Allah has told you to give especially the charity, alms and the financial rights of others He ordained… I will be your witness on the Day of Judgment if you follow this path, and I will argue on your behalf.
The Line of the Right
This is Ali’s agenda who has told us that we cannot live as ascetic as he did, and that all he wants us to do is to help him with our piety and good judgment.
Peace be on you, O Commander of the faithful, you who were born in the House of Allah, the most Exalted, and whose life was a trip towards Allah, the most Exalted, and who martyred and met his Lord in one of the Houses of Allah, the most Exalted. You are our guide to Heaven. Invoke God to strengthen our religion in our hearts with firmness and resolve… Ask Him to change our bad state with the Good of His … Peace be on you Imam Ali (a.s.). We love as we love no one save Muhammad (p.)… We fellow your line for your path is the path of the right, Good, piety and obedience to God. We ask Allah, the most Exalted, to guide us to be with you in this world where we uphold the right as you did, and in the Hereafter where you will intercede for us. He is the most merciful
The Second Sermon
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
America fights the Israeli wars
The Palestinian people are in a martyr situation whose form and content are changing. And the Zionist enemy enjoys an American green light, which pressurizes most international powers including Arabs and Muslims… While the Palestinian Authority surrenders to the rules of the game of stalling, lead by the Quartet Committee that continues to advise it to reform itself until the time for the solution comes.
Meanwhile the American president, Bush, continues to sedate the Arab and Muslim world by talking about a Palestinian state in a very blur and undefined manner. He also calls on the leaders of these countries to fight the Intifada claiming that “fighting terrorism” is one of the conditions of achieving a solution.
The Americans have adopted a new plan based on letting the Arabs fight one another as the best way to promote the interests of the United States and the new Israeli government that seeks to expand colonization and refuses to negotiate with the Palestinians which means that it accepts nothing less than a humiliating surrender: a self-rule entity and not a state.
Maintaining the American supremacy
As for the Iraqi question, America and its British ally plan to institute an American military administration in Iraq in the aftermath of the war. Bush claims that Iraq will be a model for the states of the region in its “freedom and democracy”, suggesting that America wants to change the existing Arab order. In the meantime, America continues to deceive the Iraqi opposition by saying vague words that could mean many things, for America does not want to save the Iraqi peoples, rather it wants to promote its strategic interests, which means that is wants agents and not allies, especially when it comes to the Third World countries.
In preparation for the war, and the postwar plans, America seeks now to subjugate the Security Council and turn it an American national security council, or at least turning it into an ineffective body and pressurizing its junior members who do not possess the right to veto… We believe that they are not after changing the totalitarian regime in Iraq . It is a step to secure America ’s international supremacy and prevent any other power, Europe or China , for example from becoming powerful poles.
As for the Arab world, it remains possessed by this state of devastating panic. In such an atmosphere of fear and helplessness no communiqué the Arab summit is going to issue will make any difference. On the contrary, the Arab regimes themselves are endangered… What kind of a world are we about to witness… A world dominated by one arrogant power that crushes and usurps the interests of the downtrodden, without anyone to deter it.
Facing storms
In Lebanon , the storm was confronted by a way that the people could not see through it the image of the state that cares about them and plans for their future.
The people only saw various officials trying to blame one another to settle political accounts and score points…
There are many political economic and military storms that will strike the region in the near future… How could we all freeze our sectarian and individual differences to avoid their catastrophic consequences? This is our main task: to enhance our national unity, for it is our main element of power in the face of the blowing winds.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Grand Ayatullah H.E. Sayyed M. H. Fadlullah delivered the two Friday prayer sermons (at the Imamain Al-Hassanain Mosque, Zoul-Hijja 27, 1423, February 28 2003 H, several prominent religious scholars, dignitaries and thousands of believers attended the Jumu’a prayer).
The First Sermon
The Guide and Reference
We remain with the Commander of the faithful, Imam Ali (a.s). This Imam who dedicated all his life to serve Allah reaching the highest level of infallibility in his heart and mind, and remained so faithful to the Muslims like no one else after the death of Muhammad(p.)
When the Imam(a.s.) was appointed a legitimate caliph being named by the Prophet(p.) , he drew an agenda to rule that was not drawn by any of those who came before him. For Ali (a.s.) knew that the ruler, whether infallible or not, has to define his agenda do that the people will know where he is taking them, and so that they can hold him accountable if he goes wrong.
Moreover, Ali used to tell the people about what they should depend on in all their private and public dealings. He used to tell them time and again: The Quran in your guide in everything you do or say… It is your Imam, since it is the right which falsehood does not draw near it... It is the infallible text that has not and will not be altered whether by deleting or adding to it… When you hear people saying that the Prophet or the Imams said so and so, compare it with the Book of Allah, the most Exalted,, if it complies with it than it is true but if it does not, do not pay any attention to it.
In one of his speeches that although was addressed to a certain audience it was meant to talk to all generations, he says: Know that this Quran is the advisor that does not cheat (It is the book of Allah that was conveyed to elevate man to the Good which is achieved by knowing Allah and obeying Him. It is the guider that does not lead astray... The teller that does not lie... It does not sit with anyone without an increase or a loss! An increase in faith and knowledge and a loss in ignorance.
Know that there is no poverty after the Quran (because when your knowledge is taken from the Quran you do not need any other guide, you, thus you become rich in science, knowledge, truth and right… Use it to heal your illnesses (whether psychological moral, social or mental) and let it help you in times of difficulty.
It heals you from the greatest illnesses that of unbelief, Hypocrisy, deviation and falsehood.
Thus, when you want to ask something from Allah, the most Exalted, ask Him by its virtue and not by any of His creations, for nothing is similar to it, if the worshippers want to pray to Allah. It intercedes… and if the Quran intercedes for you on the Day of Judgment you would be forgiven…
Virtues and Piety
The Imam(a.s.) then ends his advice as he started: He calls on people to learn about their God through the Quran, and use it as their compass that points to the right … The Quran is the distinguisher that enables you to differentiate between right and wrong (Whether your opinion is personal, social or political).
A call for adhering values
Then the Imam calls in what looks like a call for help. Action… Action… there is nothing that nears you to Allah, the most Exalted, or draws you away from Him except work... Allah says {It will not be in accordance with your desires, nor the desires of the People of the Scripture. He who doeth wrong will have the recompense thereof, and will not find against Allah any protecting friend or helper} 4:123.
And the Messenger (p.) says: There is nothing that saves except work with mercy. If you sin you will fall. Then the Imam says: The end …the end” The end of all of us is to stand before God on the Day of Judgment… the day that Allah, the most Exalted, alone decides our fate. Uprightness… Uprightness {As for those who say: Our Lord is Allah, then continue in the right way, the angels descend upon them, saying: Fear not, nor be grieved, and receive good news of the garden which you were promised}41:30. Patience... Patience {and bear with patient constancy whatever betide thee; for this is firmness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs} 31:17
Piety... Piety... Piety that forbids from doing what Allah, the most Exalted, has prohibited and enjoins you to do what He made lawful. You have an end so be mindful of it. And you have got a source of knowledge learn it. Islam has goal seek its goal. And give the rights Allah has told you to give especially the charity, alms and the financial rights of others He ordained… I will be your witness on the Day of Judgment if you follow this path, and I will argue on your behalf.
The Line of the Right
This is Ali’s agenda who has told us that we cannot live as ascetic as he did, and that all he wants us to do is to help him with our piety and good judgment.
Peace be on you, O Commander of the faithful, you who were born in the House of Allah, the most Exalted, and whose life was a trip towards Allah, the most Exalted, and who martyred and met his Lord in one of the Houses of Allah, the most Exalted. You are our guide to Heaven. Invoke God to strengthen our religion in our hearts with firmness and resolve… Ask Him to change our bad state with the Good of His … Peace be on you Imam Ali (a.s.). We love as we love no one save Muhammad (p.)… We fellow your line for your path is the path of the right, Good, piety and obedience to God. We ask Allah, the most Exalted, to guide us to be with you in this world where we uphold the right as you did, and in the Hereafter where you will intercede for us. He is the most merciful
The Second Sermon
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
America fights the Israeli wars
The Palestinian people are in a martyr situation whose form and content are changing. And the Zionist enemy enjoys an American green light, which pressurizes most international powers including Arabs and Muslims… While the Palestinian Authority surrenders to the rules of the game of stalling, lead by the Quartet Committee that continues to advise it to reform itself until the time for the solution comes.
Meanwhile the American president, Bush, continues to sedate the Arab and Muslim world by talking about a Palestinian state in a very blur and undefined manner. He also calls on the leaders of these countries to fight the Intifada claiming that “fighting terrorism” is one of the conditions of achieving a solution.
The Americans have adopted a new plan based on letting the Arabs fight one another as the best way to promote the interests of the United States and the new Israeli government that seeks to expand colonization and refuses to negotiate with the Palestinians which means that it accepts nothing less than a humiliating surrender: a self-rule entity and not a state.
Maintaining the American supremacy
As for the Iraqi question, America and its British ally plan to institute an American military administration in Iraq in the aftermath of the war. Bush claims that Iraq will be a model for the states of the region in its “freedom and democracy”, suggesting that America wants to change the existing Arab order. In the meantime, America continues to deceive the Iraqi opposition by saying vague words that could mean many things, for America does not want to save the Iraqi peoples, rather it wants to promote its strategic interests, which means that is wants agents and not allies, especially when it comes to the Third World countries.
In preparation for the war, and the postwar plans, America seeks now to subjugate the Security Council and turn it an American national security council, or at least turning it into an ineffective body and pressurizing its junior members who do not possess the right to veto… We believe that they are not after changing the totalitarian regime in Iraq . It is a step to secure America ’s international supremacy and prevent any other power, Europe or China , for example from becoming powerful poles.
As for the Arab world, it remains possessed by this state of devastating panic. In such an atmosphere of fear and helplessness no communiqué the Arab summit is going to issue will make any difference. On the contrary, the Arab regimes themselves are endangered… What kind of a world are we about to witness… A world dominated by one arrogant power that crushes and usurps the interests of the downtrodden, without anyone to deter it.
Facing storms
In Lebanon , the storm was confronted by a way that the people could not see through it the image of the state that cares about them and plans for their future.
The people only saw various officials trying to blame one another to settle political accounts and score points…
There are many political economic and military storms that will strike the region in the near future… How could we all freeze our sectarian and individual differences to avoid their catastrophic consequences? This is our main task: to enhance our national unity, for it is our main element of power in the face of the blowing winds.