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 Dhu al-Hijjah 1, 1424 AH/ January 23, 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 Imam Al-Jawad (a.s.): A Legacy of Knowledge and Justice
An Outstanding Man in Knowledge, Wisdom, and Morals
Allah only intends to keep impurity away from you, O members of the (Prophet’s) household, and to purify you completely. Surat Al-Ahzab (33:33) One of those members is Imam Muhammad bin Ali Al-Jawad (a.s.), whose passing we commemorate this month. He was one of the youngest Imams, but despite his age, which resembles the age of Yahya, the prophet who was given "wisdom while yet a child," Surat Maryam (19:12), Al-Jawad lived under the rule of the Abbasids, who persecuted the Imams because they were afraid of them, for they were trusted by all Muslims, including those who did not subscribe to their leadership.
But the knowledge and wisdom of this Imam earned him the respect and admiration of Al-Ma'mun, who was an intellectual himself; he even gave him his daughter in marriage, in a gesture showing how much he approved of him.
The Abbasid family became worried that Al-Ma'mun would appoint him as his successor as he had done with his father, Imam Al-Rida. When they blamed him, he said, "I have seen how knowledgeable this man is." They replied that he was still very young and needed to be more educated before he could be given such a position, but Al-Ma'mun replied that he was one of the members of the House whom Allah has educated.
They agreed to let the chief justice of that time, Yahya bin Aktham, test his knowledge… But when the judge began to ask, the Imam (a.s.) divided the issue into various subdivisions, which left the Judge himself bewildered and unable to match the Imam (a.s.). Thus, he became the most knowledgeable religious scholar of his times, a fact that was recognized by all other scholars and scientists in various fields of human knowledge.
Be Loyal to God in Private and in Public
In this speech, we are going to choose some of his sayings that cover both religious and social issues. He says: "Do not be loyal to Allah in public and His enemy in private," as those who harm their families or their subordinates, or those who lie or incite strife, regardless of how pious they pretend to be in public.
In another saying, the Imam (a.s.) warned about agreeing with what one is told without thinking of the nature of the one saying it.
Is he honest? Does he know the subject he is talking about… etc.?
He says: "If you listen to whoever says something, then you are worshipping him. If he is talking on behalf of God, then you are worshipping Allah, but if he is calling for Satan, then you are worshipping the devil."
Traits of Believers
When the Imam (a.s.) talks about the fundamental traits of believers, he says: "A believer needs God’s Blessing that would lead him to God, truth and piety - and an internal preacher, one who tells him what to do and would blame him if he is wrong, and the acceptance of advice from those who are experienced and wise."
Asked by a man for advice, he said: "Be patient when you face grievances and challenges." But we know that patience does not mean total submissiveness. On the contrary, it means that you should not feel helpless; it means to bear all the effects of a painful incident so that you will be able to stand up again. If you are patient, then you would study the problem, and plan how to face it and overcome it by your strong willpower.
"Embrace poverty:" do not compromise your dignity, freedom, and principles to become rich. "Reject desires:" For desires come from the instinct, which we are told should be controlled by our minds. Allah did not tell us not to fulfill our desires, but He ordered us not to be slaves of our desires. We also have to know that Allah watches all our moves, acts, and thoughts, and He will punish you if you let your desires control your actions instead of letting your mind guide you to piety and worshipping Allah alone.
In the same context, the Imam answered a question about swearing by saying Allah swears by the night, the day, and the star, but we should not swear except by Allah. Swearing by someone means that you glorify him, and people should glorify Allah alone and swear by Him only, to feel the oneness of Allah, who alone is the one who watches your actions and who would punish and reward you.
He is the only one whom you should be afraid of, or care for His anger.
A Believer Does Not Betray
On the social and political level, the Imam said: "A believer does not betray." This was in the course of an answer to someone who came to him saying that he wanted to live in the houses of God in Mecca and Medina. The Imam told him: "Go back to those who have lent to you, and be sure that you meet your God without any debt, for a believer does not betray." Thus, we learn that since the believer ought to honor all his pledges, including debt, you would be a traitor if you fail to do this. There is no difference between borrowing some money and keeping it for somebody as a trust. In both cases, if you do not give it back, you would not be trustworthy.
Allah says: O you who have believed, do not betray Allah and the Messenger or betray your trusts while you know. Al-Anfal (8:27) Traditions also have it that: "No faith for he who is not trustworthy." Thus, the Imam is trying to convey the idea that the believer does not betray and he is never unfaithful.
On this basis, I would like to point out certain cases abroad where immigrants might borrow money, benefiting from laws that facilitate lending. They might then go back to their country thinking that they do not have to pay the money back, especially if there are certain fatwas that permit such an act on the ground that the leaders are not Muslims. But this is against Islam and Islamic law.
Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly. Al-Mumtahanah (60:8) The same thing goes for those who falsely declare that they have been bankrupt.
Other kinds of betrayal include the betrayal of one’s job, where the employee would exploit his position to favor some individuals in a way that violates the law, especially if this job is in the field of civil service.
The Imam also says: "It is enough to be a traitor if you are faithful to traitors," meaning supporting traitors, defending their acts, and helping them execute their plots.
This applies too to tyrants and political traitors, whom you would be helping by voting for them.
Therefore, before we cast our vote or give our opinion, we have to make sure that we are not voting for traitors, for we will be held accountable for our vote on the Day of Judgment. Thus, our support or opposition should be based on attaining Allah’s satisfaction. Giving our vote to traitors will lead to severe punishment. Therefore, study where you are going to cast your vote, or whom you are going to support. For you will stand before Allah in the Hereafter with nothing to defend you but your good deeds.
These are the teachings of Ahl-el-Beit, the teachings of the Messenger and Islam that we ought to follow so that Allah, His Messenger, and the believers "will see your work." Surat At-Tawbah (9:105)
The Second Sermon
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
The American threats
What kind of a world, do we live in?
Those who have the military strength, like the Major powers, especially America, threaten those who are back trodden, and who do not any strength to defend themselves.
They justify their campaign by spreading lies they can convince no one of. The American Administration accuses Syria and Iran, as it did with Iraq, of possessing weapons of mass destruction, or of planning to possess them, as well as backing terrorism. They do not care even to provide evidence. On the other hand, they do not allow anybody to discuss what terrorism actually means, and they exploit the talk about fighting terrorism as a cover for their preventive wars against any country whose interests might not intersect with theirs… They call for democratic regimes in the Middle East, as if the American president is a messenger sent by God to reform the world by military force… All this at a time he suggests to Israel that it should follow the American example of not asking the permission of anyone, even the UN, before it commits aggressions against the Palestinian civilians and freedom fights, as well as the countries of the region…
President Bush had put his country in a state of war against the world, that, as he imagines, constitutes a threat to America, but he was not able to provide peace for his country.
This is what we have noticed when he passed the new laws that constrain the civil liberties of the American people, especially the Muslims .In the meantime, and while he constantly talks about freedom and human rights, he gives Israel the right to deprive the Palestinians of any right, and justifies Israel’s possession of all kinds of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons that constitute a threat on the whole region. He also continues to support all its aggressions, including its occupation of Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese territories and its building of the racial wall that made the Palestinians’ life unbearable in the big prison they live in.
The latest of these acts was the support the Americans provided for the Israeli aggressions against the blue line that was drawn by the UN on the Lebanese-Israeli borders. At the same time, America considered the Lebanese practice of self-defense an act of terror, as if the Lebanese do not have the right to defend themselves…
Moreover, the American President continues to give a rosy picture about the future of Iraq as a democratic prosperous and free nation, while in actual fact the Americans have their eyes on the oil resources and the big investments in the region…
To accomplish their schemes they declare that the American army will stay in the region as long as it takes to accomplish their goals, which are, as the Secretary of State declared in the beginning of the wars, to change the region politically, economically, culturally and militarily to be receptive of the American interests.
American War Production
If the American President talks about fighting the anti-American campaigns by boosting the Voice of America radio, we say that the Arab and Muslim peoples do not judge on the basis of what is said, but rather on what America is doing in region: defying peace by encouraging and leaving the Palestinian issue to be solved by means of the Israeli security and not by finding a just political situation, which made Israel impose new facts on the ground and intimidate the Arabs to accept its dictates.
What America wants is securing the security of the occupation… We call on this president to be truthful with the back trodden nations even for once, but the problem is that lying has become a political profession that the arrogant uses to deceive the weakened.
We ask the Palestinians to be aware of the rules of the game and the American deceiving calls…
They should plan a way to benefit from the international public opinion, and intensify their informational efforts, especially in Europe, so that all Europeans will be aware of how dangerous Israel, and America behind it, is on the human civilization and world peace.
We also want the Iraqi people to study the real intentions of promises and policies and not take them at their face value. They should also be aware of the danger of the sectarian game that many players have been lunching with their talk about the majority and the minority, and about unity and federalism… They should also be conscious of the plan that aims to thwart the call for a referendum about the constitution, the government and self-determination with their talk about security concerns and racial obstacles.
The Iraqis have acquired the freedom of speech and demonstration, but when well they acquire the freedom of change and planning for security and economic independence… We are very concerned and worried about the future of this country that suffered a lot from all the devils which gathered around it by means of the greater devil. When will this country be liberated from all the devils which gathered around him by means of the greater devil? When will this country be liberated from all these devils to live in peace and freedom that come from inside the country not from outside?
Lebanon’s basic needs
Lebanon is still living in a state of anarchy when it comes to its basic needs or its political and social life that are dominated by personal feuds, theft, corruption, unemployment that leads to immigration, and intimidation and false dreams… It would have collapsed had it not been held by an invisible miraculous hand.
The Lebanese ought to study the region around them that is hit by many political, military and economic storms, which have a big negative impact on them.
To face this critical situation, they should seek to be citizens whose only concern is to protect their homeland, instead of being divided by sectarian differences, which make each sect, live in its dark cell. We call on them to worship Allah alone and do not to assume partners to Him especially those human idols… They should think about their future in a very serious manner and stop all this talk about which is first the chicken or the egg.