Grand ayatullah H.E. Sayyed M. H. Fadlullah delivered the two Friday prayer sermons (at the Imamain Al-Hassanain Mosque, Zoul-Qida 28 1423h - January 31, 2003 , several prominent religious scholars, dignitaries and thousands of believers attended the Jumu’a prayer).
The First Sermon
Allah, the most Exalted, says in His Glorious Book :
{Say: If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your faults, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful}( 3:31 )
{Yet of mankind are some who take unto themselves (objects of worship which they set as) rivals to Allah, loving them with a love like (that which is the due) of Allah (only) - those who believe are stauncher in their love for Allah - Oh, that those who do evil had but known, (on the day) when they behold the doom, that power belongs wholly to Allah, and that Allah is severe in punishment!} (2:165) Oneness in love
In all what the Messenger of Allah(p.) and the prophets who were sent before him came with, you find this faithful and intimate relations between Allah, the most Exalted, and His worshippers: Man will love God in such a way that possesses his mind and heart… When man thinks of, or loves Allah, the most Exalted, He will be inside him without any partners so that all his thoughts and actions will reflect this love. In this respect, Muhammad(p.) was the embodiment of this love, which made the unbelievers fight and hurt him like none before him. But he was willingly prepared to accept all this and much more, the only thing that worried him was Allah's anger: "If you are not angry with me then nothing matters". As long as I love you, my Lord and You love me. All what humans could do represents no problem. This unity in love is what made this Holy verse emphasize that loving Allah means following His Messenger (p.) . For he does not say anything out of whims or interests. It is all part of Allah's revelation. Those who have loved other human beings and took them as rival to Allah… Allah says to them: no matter how great the human you adore might be he is but a servant of Allah. Do not equate Allah with any of His servants .{And that the mosques are Allah's, therefore call not upon any one with Allah} (72:191). This oneness in love represents the oneness in the doctrine. It is the oneness that creates balance in man and drives him to give everybody what is due to him.
Love of Allah
Dear loved ones: this is the line, love of Allah, I have lived since my early childhood, when I was living in the neighborhood of Ali's shrine… This love of Allah, that lived in my mind, heart and all my being is what made me feel that my life should be dedicated to the message of Islam. For it is the trust of Allah and His Messenger… Thus I tried for over fifty years, to study what makes me know Allah and draws me closer to Him… I have tried to discover the secrets of Islam... the Quran, the Prophet's traditions, in life and in everything… Since then I was engaged in a fierce struggle with those who do not believe in God, as well as those who ascribe partners to Him and those who are backward or fanatic.
I believed that Allah has taught as through his messenger (p.) to love all people. This was I raised on as a child, and what continued all my life.
No place for hatred
My heart has never felt hatred to anybody... I have always loved those whom I agreed with to serve the message, and those whom I disagree with to discuses the issues with them and help them see the truth.. I have always fell that he who carries the message and strives to serve it, has no place in his heart for hatred and enmity.
When you hate others, they will hate you in return and your heart will not open to them. In all this I follow the example of the Prophet who had an open mind and an open heart and who is described and praised in the Quran for having such a loving and kind heart.{ it is due to mercy from Allah that you deal with them gently, and had you been rough, hard hearted, they would certainly have dispersed from around you}(3:159)
{Certainly a Messenger has come to you from among yourselves; grievous to him is your falling into distress, excessively solicitous respecting you; to the believers (he is) compassionate } (9.128)
Thus, dear loved ones, I have lived this life feeling that truth is God's trust, and I used to say to those who would criticize me for saying things or fatwas that people don't like or find strange enough to incite against you… To them and to those who would advise me not to say the whole truth and hide some of it to win friends, I say : I am not accountable to you but to God who held us responsible to be honest in carrying the Message. Did not he command us not to care about any condemnation or criticism in issues that has to do with religion, truth and Allah, the most Exalted?
I have always believed that my name and my position do not represent anything to me... Let them curse me as much as they wish, and let them fabricate whatever lies they want. I will not change what I had said, for it is Allah alone is the protector of those who believe… All what I have asked Allah was to help me to be faithful in my efforts…everything else is not important. It is as Imam Hussein has taught that he was prepared to withstand all the pains: knowing that Allah is watching enables me to endure tolerantly. Thus, dear loved ones, as long as Allah is looking at me, there is no problem.
Dear Loved ones, I was deeply touched by your true and kind feelings. I have felt that I am in the heart of all of you just as you are in mine.
I will say this to you: As long as what is left for me…in this life, I will always be truthful and faithful to you. I will not compromise with any international arrogance even if it were as strong as the US . Nor will I compromise with any regional arrogance even if it were as strong as Israel .
I will not also compromise with those who believe in myths and those who are backward.
Allah I care about is to tell the truth, which I believe that it, is my responsibility towards God.
I will also be faithful to the trust and to the love you bestowed one me. I will continue to dedicate my whole life to each and every one of you, young or old, man or woman, and serve the cause of Allah, Islam and the line of the Members of the House…
I seek to present the line of the Members of the House in a civilized way and not in a mythical or backward way. I want to present this line, the authentic Islamic line to the East and the West, to let them know that the Prophet(p,) and the Imams are the ones who build civilization away from all those who concentrate on fanaticism, myth, hatred and backwardness. I will remain faithful to the line of unity among Muslims, and against the arrogant and the unjust, and I'll say what my grandfather, the Messenger(p.) said to those who were mocking him and plotting against him: "God forgive them for they know not what they are doing".
I say this, and ask God for forgiveness to me and to all of you.
Praise be to Allah, , Lord of the Worlds.
The Second Sermon
America and the concept of interests in international affairs
The American right, represented by the American Administration is challenging the whole world by war. It is also organizing a disinformation campaign that promotes lies that aim at serving its interests.
It is a war against Muslims and Arabs, including even the American citizens who are under severe legal pressures, to the extent that they are considered guilty until proven innocent.
As for the international level, even in the Security Council, it is run in accordance to the logic of interests, at a time America continues to intimidate the major international powers, who will in turn try to pacify the Americans and thereby enabling them to acquire the international legitimacy they need for their war.
As for the Arabs, they continue to meet at various levels, but they take no decisions. Then they will travel to where the decisions are made and beg, again without any results… Thus weakness and helplessness continue to be the main characteristic of the current Arab politics.
Israelis turn to the most racist
On another level, the victory of the Israeli right suggests that the Jews in Palestine vote for who kills more Muslims… For the most racist… And for those who deny the Palestinians, whose leaders have offered several concessions, the right of self- determination… Thus, the issue is the Jewish Nazi hatred for all Arabs and Muslims… It is in no way a split between the right and the left, for there is no difference between them except in trivial details.
In spite of this, the Palestinian dialogue is still focusing on a unilateral truce knowing that the Zionist state has not even promised that it will withdraw from the occupied lands… as if we are supposed to prove that we are peaceful to those who understand peace as a comprehensive submission.
Things are going back to the point of departure…
The Arabs who are unable to play any role in finding a solution to the Palestinian issue are waiting for the American decision which in turn is dominated by the Israelis which means that the Road Map will not be implemented except an the Israelis see fit.
The Arabs are in coma
How could 300 million Arabs have no active role towards such critical issues that have too do with their own flesh and blood… How could one billion Muslims remain silent when issues related to their fate, especially that of Palestine , is concerned?
The Pope is the only one who has warned America from the consequences of the hatred of a billion Muslims, while all Muslims remained silent.
Are the Muslim peoples in a state of coma or have they been completely silenced by their regimes that serve the international arrogance?
We have heard several western voices… When will we hear Arabs and Muslims warning and condemning these acts?
The Muslims are about to meet in their annual worshipping conference as they perform their pilgrimage duty… We hope that there will be similar meetings of popular and official leaders to unify the Islamic decision, freeze the differences and stand steadfastly in front of the grave dangers, coupled by establishing sincere and candid contractual relations, to activate the joint-defense treaties.
Meanwhile, the Intifada continues to perform its pioneer role, while the Resistance against Zionism and Arrogance continue to stand firmly on the frontline, for this is their only option…
In these circumstances Lebanon Syria and Iran should remain cautious and vigilant and monitor the American-Israeli moves very carefully, for the storms they plan to erupt in the region might destabilize everything… Which means that we should all be ready for any political or military development.
A shock is needed
In Lebanon, we want the balanced official truce to take care not to use the political and economic issues for scoring points be studied carefully and realistically to see what can be done to allow Lebanon to move forward and enhance the unity of the people and the government.
One last word: The law that is commonly known as: "From where have you got this" has been passed in the fifties, why has it been frozen since then, while everybody talks about corruption, waste and theft?
Lebanon is looking for a wise hero who is ready to sacrifice everything for the cause of Lebanon ...
The corruption monster needs a strong and missionary shock.
How would we achieve this especially that this is only way to save our country .