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 Rajab 7, 1426 AH / August 12, 2005 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
Imam Al-Hadi (a.s.):
Correcting Misconceptions
Allah says in His Glorious Book:
"Indeed, 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 these purified Imams is the tenth Imam, Ali bin Muhammad al-Hadi (a.s.), whose commemorating the passing of is on the 3rd of Rajab, which was a few days ago. This Imam (a.s.), like his fathers before him, was concerned with correcting the false conceptions of Islamic law and doctrine, as well as man’s freedom in life. He was so knowledgeable that the scholars of his time used to come to him to learn, and according to historians, he had about 185 scholars who recorded the teachings and the hadiths he told them.
Correcting Misconceptions
The Imam (a.s.) used to be concerned about correcting any misconception in society, whether regarding exaggerations concerning the position of the Members of the Household or certain ideological beliefs. He used to warn his companions who did this and tell them that they were distorting the image of Islam.
This is actually the true role of the Imamate. The Imam (a.s.) does not bring a new religion or new doctrines, for Allah had completed His religion when He told His Prophet:
"This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion." Surat al-Ma'idah (5:3)
Therefore, after Muhammad there was no addition to the religion, and the Imam's role was specifically to watch out and make sure that there is no deviation from the religion and that people follow the straight path. This was the role Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) assumed.
A Distinguished Position
Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) had a very distinguished position among his contemporaries, even among the members of the regime of the time who used to plot against him and persecute him. They had to stand up for him whenever he came. Someone once asked: "Why do we stand up for this man? He is not the most noble, nor the eldest, nor the strongest, nor the most knowledgeable. We are not going to stand up for him again." Nevertheless, when they saw him coming the next time they all felt compelled to stand up.
Moreover, when the Abbasid al-Mutawakkil, who was one of the fiercest enemies of Ahl al-Bayt, got sick, his mother vowed that if he got well she would give Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) 10,000 Dinars. So, when he recovered, she sent him the money because she could not find anyone in her community who could intercede with Allah better than Imam al-Hadi (a.s.).
The Imam (a.s.) used to correct the prevailing misconceptions about Islam within the community, like believing that certain days were unlucky and holding them responsible for the catastrophes that might happen to them, like losing a loved one. This is an idea that Islam rejects because the day has nothing to do with what happens in it. Days are merely a part of ongoing time.
One of the companions of Imam al-Hadi (a.s.), al-Hassan bin Massoud, tells the following story:
"One day I visited Imam al-Hadi (a.s.), having had an accident in which my shoulder was hurt and my clothes were torn, and I said: 'What a bad day. My Allah, prevent it from making more troubles for me.' The Imam (a.s.) said: 'You are putting the blame for your faults on someone that can make no mistakes.' So I knew that I was wrong and I asked Allah to forgive me. The Imam (a.s.) said: 'What have the days to do with whether or not you are punished for the sins you have committed?' 'Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness].'" Surat ar-Rum (30:41)
"Then, when I started to ask Allah for forgiveness again, the Imam (a.s.) said to me: 'Allah will punish you for blaming the days for what they are not responsible for. Do not you know that Allah is the One Who rewards and the One Who punishes.'"
By taking this stand, the Imam (a.s.) wants to rid us of all superstitious traditions and many practices we used to do that have no basis of truth behind them, e.g. when something bad happens to someone and he goes to witches or wizards to dispel the curse or tell him his fortune. And people would pay money for all this nonsense. For Allah, when He created the Universe, had a reason and a cause for everything, whether it be rain, earthquakes or plants. Therefore, we should be reasonable and not put trust in these people who do not know what they are talking about and can do us no good.
In another saying the Imam (a.s.) says:
"Whoever fears Allah will be feared. He who obeys Allah will be obeyed. He who obeys Allah does not care about the anger of His creations. He who angers the Creator will have to face the anger of those created."
Thus Allah’s satisfaction is above the satisfaction of all others. If Allah, who controls this world and the next, is pleased with you, how significant is the anger of others? An Arab poet once said: "I only care for Your satisfaction even if everyone else is angry."
We have to follow the line of Ahl al-Bayt, since they are Allah’s evidence and since they guide us along the straight path of Islam. May Allah bless Imam al-Hadi (a.s.), the day he was born, the day he passed, and the day he will be brought back to life.
The Second Sermon
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
No Favorable Conditions for the Palestinian State
As Israel prepares to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, it has waged a political/media campaign across the world, especially in the West, to promote a peace plan in which it portrays itself as committed to the Palestinian cause, in order to polish its image for international public opinion. But, at the same time, it is threatening the Palestinian people to tighten its grip on the West Bank that it considers to be a part of Biblical Israel and which is where the settlers from Gaza will move to as part of a new settlement project that might even extend to receive Jews from other parts of the world.
On its part, the International "Quartet" Committee that initiated the "Road Map" is being reluctant to implement it. The United States, represented by its President, Bush, has even agreed to Sharon’s terms that render the whole plan ineffective. He also agreed to Sharon’s "NOs": the "no" to the return of the Palestinian refugees, the "no" to the withdrawal to the 1967 lands, and the "no" to the demolishing of the racist separatist wall. He has also accepted the annexation of any piece of land, whether in Jerusalem or in any other part of the country, in the name of Israeli security. How are we to face the future then? Is the idea of a Palestinian state still realistic? We put this question to the helpless Palestinian Authority that can do nothing other than talk about implementing the law, stopping the Intifada, and perhaps even disarming those involved in it.
We believe that the Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere have the right to internal security in their private lives, since this is the condition that allows us to stay strong, stable and unified. But things have to be studied thoroughly to ensure that the withdrawal from Gaza is not at the expense of the rest of the Palestine liberation and that this withdrawal, due to extensive efforts of the Resistance, will not lead to the loss of the whole cause on a regional and international level.
We call upon the Palestinian people to prove to the whole world that it has the ability to liberate its lands, as well as carry out the plan that ensures its liberty in every way. They have to prove that they are able to manage their political and factional differences through dialogue and mutual understanding, since this is one of the most difficult stages that the Palestinian cause has gone through.
We want all the Palestinians to believe that the enemy’s withdrawal from Gaza is part of its plan to besiege it, whether at the borders, the crossing points, or in other places, since it represents the racist occupation that rejects the independence of the Palestinian people.
Iraq: The Solution Lies in Giving the U.N. a Role
The American occupation of Iraq still imposes itself on every aspect of Iraqi life, even at the level of the constitution where the American President pressurizes one party or another to add certain provisions, while those in charge in Iraq cannot disobey him. We also have to remember the behind-the-scenes maneuvers that aim at inciting sectarian differences. On the other hand, we have the barbaric massacres that target the innocent civilians, policemen or children in the name of resistance or sectarian fanaticism. Then we have the ongoing debate concerning the role of Islam in the constitution and the big issue of federalism that could lead to a Kurdish separation and internal sectarian division in which Iraq may lose its unity. As we should be vigilant, we assert that a fundamental role should be given to the U.N. to deal with the Iraqi situation alongside the Iraqi Authority, since the U.N. is not a force of occupation that might provoke negative sentiments.
We call upon the Iraqi people to study the situation thoroughly, and we call upon those who are in charge to address the people’s needs and to safeguard its wealth, especially with all the talk in the media (including the American media) that American companies have managed to earn billions of dollars through imaginary projects, while people are still in need of vital services, especially electricity and water, which are especially necessary in the heat of summer.
As for the Iranian peaceful nuclear project, the Europeans, under American influence, are still trying to create an atmosphere of distrust for Iran, while Iran on the other hand has emphasized its rejection of any military nuclear project, especially as it has signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Nevertheless, the U.S. and its allies do not want Iran to develop the ability that would enable it to solve its future economic problems or defend itself against the Israeli nuclear weapons. On the other hand, the U.S. has legitimized the possession of nuclear weapons in the cases of Pakistan and India under false pretenses that convince no one. Therefore, we would like to emphasize that, due to the fear of all nations, the production of all nuclear weapons in the world, including those of the major powers, should be prohibited since the latter represent a direct political, economic and security threat to the whole world.
The Problem is the Zionist Enemy
Lebanon is waiting to see what the current government, which has diverse political trends, will do about the political, economic and security problems facing the country. These problems were all said to be the responsibility of one party, as if all the others were angels, without studying the issue beforehand.
What we need now is to open all the files so that we can assess the complicated situations that led to us incurring the massive debt that we now owe. We also need to assess the relations with the Israeli enemy and foreign interventions. Since the issues of sovereignty, freedom and independence should be the results of sovereign decisions and should not fall under any foreign influence that moves behind the scenes to impose their own plans while pretending that they are only offering friendly advice.
As for the security issue, a thorough and extensive universal plan should be prepared as a top priority, since security is the soul of Lebanon and so that the Lebanese will feel free in his affiliations and in deciding his destiny. Moreover, we have to achieve our national reconciliation over common goals and general interests. The reconciliation also needs to be based on the need to confront the Israeli enemy that Lebanon has suffered greatly from. All parties must understand that the real problem is the Zionist enemy and not the arms of the resistance, for the latter is our guarantee of protection for the future.