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 Safar 18, 1425 AH/ April 9, 2004, 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
Commemorating the Passing of Imam Ali Al-Rida (a.s.):
The School of Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.) is a Guiding Path and Ideological Method
The Shining Side of Islam
Allah, the Most Exalted, says in His Glorious Book: "Allah intends only to remove from you the impurity [of sin], O people of the [Prophet's] household, and to purify you with [extensive] purification." Surat al-Ahzab (33:33).
One of those Imams whose passing is commemorated on the seventeenth of Safar is Imam Ali bin Musa Al-Rida (a.s.).
This Imam was the most knowledgeable scholar of his age. He was also the most ethical and the most respectful to all those with whom he talked. Whenever he used to talk to anyone, even his enemies, he was never heard saying any harsh words even when he was cursed.
He used to go to the Prophet’s Mosque while all the top scholars met and answered the people’s questions. When they could not answer a question they used to refer it to him. Thus, he was regarded as the supreme authority even by those who did not recognize his Imamate.
Al-Ma’moun, the caliph who was an accomplished scholar unlike those who came before or after him, made the Imam discuss philosophical and theological issues of religion with a group of intellectuals representing all schools of thought including Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians…etc., and the Imam was able to overcome all of them.
Thus, the Imam used to be regarded by all Muslims of all sects as the authority in matters of religion and thought.
In this respect, there is a fact about Ahl al-Bayt I want you to beware of: They are not simply people who use their intellectual and religious tools to reach certain rulings, and consequently they could be either right or wrong. They are infallible.
The Infallibles
As Shiites, we believe that the Imams are infallible. Their sayings are those of the Messenger. Imam Ali said: “The Messenger has taught me one thousand fields of knowledge and in each field one thousand gates (branches) were opened before me,” to enable him to address all that people need.
Imam Al-Sadiq also says: “My sayings are those of my father’s (They are not independent judgments) and my father’s are those of my grandfather’s and theirs are those of Hussein, while the sayings of Hussein are those of Ali, and the sayings of Ali are those of the Messenger. The sayings of the Messenger are those of Allah.”
Thus, we believe that the Imamate is a continuation of the movement of the Prophet’s Message. The Imams are not religious scholars who try to understand the Message and explain it; they convey what the Messenger has said. Thus, our sect is not simply one of the Islamic sects; it is a continuation of the Message. For we believe in the infallibility of the Imam, despite what certain sheikhs might say, may Allah guide them.
The Imam’s Era
Imam Rida lived in a decisive era that was full of events.
When Al-Ma’moun was victorious over his brother in their struggle over power, he called on Imam Al-Rida to become the caliph or at least agree to become his heir. Although historians differ in the reasons that motivated Al-Ma’moun, and whether he pressured the Imam to accept his offer, as he acted as a crown prince, the Imam was able to present a lot of services to the Islamic culture and to the ethics of Islam, as well as trying to relieve the poor and address their pains and sorrows.
Historians also differ in how the Imam died. Some say that Al-Ma’moun poisoned him after he reconciled with his family. In any case, when we remember Imam Al-Rida, who filled the Islamic world with knowledge, spirituality and morality, we have to review some of his sayings. We should imagine that if his body is away, he is still with us through these sayings.
The Imam’s Teachings
In one of his letters to Sayyed Abdilazim al-Hassani, one of the great Shiite scholars who used to follow the school of Ahl al-Bayt, the Imam says: “Give my best wishes to my followers, and tell them not to enable Satan to find his way to them. Do not let him seduce you to obey him in what makes you disobey Allah. And tell them to be truthful in what they say, and to return what they are entrusted with to its owners, and do not involve in debates in what does not concern them. Tell them also to be close to one another and exchange visits. They ought to visit one another and not go and pay a visit to the Imam’s shrine while fighting one another.” He added: “They should not be concerned with breaking up one another.”
Those who do so, the Imam has asked Allah to punish them in this world and in the Hereafter.
He ends by saying: “Let them know that Allah has rewarded those who had done good deeds among them, and forgiven those who sinned, except those who assumed partners to Allah or hurt one of Allah’s followers… If they do so, Allah will not forgive them until they cease to do so.” This is the Imam’s will to the believers who follow the line of Ahl al-Bayt: to unite and refer their differences, if they differ, to Allah and His Messenger.
Yet we do not live in a society that is governed by such teachings.
We live in mutual hatred, even on the basis of religious fanaticism that manipulates religion to serve partisan causes.
We have enough enemies as it is, but we are more dangerous to one another than our enemies. We have turned into sects and parties that live on hatred and fanaticism, even towards religious authorities. We produce every single day a new sect that feeds on hatred and fanaticism.
Yet, we travel to visit the Imam’s shrines. If this is the way you intend to maintain, save your money and pay your tribute to Imam Al-Rida from where you live. It is far more important to act according to his teachings, which we will talk more about in the future.
We ask Allah to make us of those who follow Imam Al-Rida and the other Imams. We ask Him to make us soldiers in the army of his grandson who will fill the earth with justice, the major theme we all seek to establish. But it is a principle that should be followed in all aspects of life: whether with Allah, with oneself, with one’s own family, or with other people.