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 08, 1426 AH/ March 03, 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 Hassan (a.s.) and Hussein (a.s.):
Unity in Purpose
One of the Members of this Household is Imam Al-Hassan, the first child of Imam Ali and Fatima Al-Zahra (a.s.). He enjoyed, along with his brother Imam Al-Hussein, the love and sponsorship of their grandfather, the Prophet Muhammad (p.), who used to hug them, carry them, and play with them, saying they were his children. He also said: "O Allah, I love them. I ask You to love them and to love those who love them." It is also known that he described them as "the masters of the youth of Paradise."
Imam Al-Hassan spent his childhood with his grandfather, the Messenger (p.); his mother, the purified Fatima Al-Zahra (a.s.); and his father, the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.). From them, he drew much of the purity of his spirit, the depth of his thought, and the nobility of his character. In his youth, he lived with his father, Imam Ali (a.s.), and learned how to elevate his mind and heart, as well as how to take the right stand and reach the right decision. The Imam relied on him in difficult situations and consulted him on every development.
The Responsible Imamate
After his father’s death, Imam Al-Hassan became the leader. He faced immense difficulties due to Muawiyah’s aggression, conspiracies, and plots, ultimately making a truce to preserve the security of his companions—whom he was preparing to form the nucleus of opposition to corrupt rule—and to establish the foundation on which Imam Al-Hussein would rely in his movement. Thus, it is said that the movement of Imam Al-Hussein was the echo of Imam Al-Hassan’s truce.
It was not, as some claim, that Imam Al-Hassan was a pacifist while Imam Al-Hussein was a revolutionary. Both shared the same goal: to defend Islam. They made peace when the interests of Islam required it and went to war when the well-being of Islam could not be preserved otherwise. Their decisions were guided by a single aim: to serve the call to Islam, to enjoin good, and to forbid evil.
They were also role models in character, opening their hearts to all Muslims and all people. It is said that once they saw an elderly man performing ablution incorrectly. Wanting to teach him without causing offense, they approached him and said: "We wish to perform ablution before you. Would you tell us which of us performs it correctly?" When they both performed it identically—yet differently from the man—he understood their intention, thanked them, and learned the proper way. From this, we learn how to correct others with wisdom and compassion, without harming their dignity.
On another occasion, Imam Al-Hassan was walking in Medina with some family members when a man—who had been taught by Muawiyah to curse Imam Ali (a.s.) even after his death—began to curse both Ali and his son. The Imam’s companions grew agitated, but Imam Al-Hassan waited until the man finished, then addressed him kindly: "I believe you are a stranger. If you are hungry, we will feed you. If you need anything, we will help you." He then instructed those with him to take the man to his home and show him hospitality. Moved by this treatment, the man said: "Allah knows best whom to entrust with His message."
The Imam understood that this man had been miseducated and raised to curse Imam Ali (a.s.) and the Members of the Household. The solution was to offer him a chance to understand the truth. By welcoming him into the house of the Prophet—the house of Imamate, spirituality, and moral values—he allowed the truth to emerge.
What do we learn from this? We see that many may accuse us based on what they have been falsely told. Such individuals should be met with patience and kindness, creating an opportunity to clarify the truth.
Teachings and Counsel
On this occasion, we reflect on some of Imam Al-Hassan’s teachings and counsel. On consultation, he said: "Whenever people consult together, they are guided…" This reflects the Islamic principle of shura (mutual consultation) in managing affairs, as emphasized in the Quran. Whether in family, social, or political life, we must avoid tyranny and resort to consultation to reach sound decisions.
In one of his sermons, the Imam advised on how to live a righteous life: "Abstaining from what Allah has forbidden makes one a true worshipper. Being content with what Allah has given you makes you rich. Being good to your neighbor makes you a Muslim. Treating people as you wish to be treated makes you just. Before you, there were peoples who amassed wealth, built palaces, and harbored great ambitions—yet all they accumulated turned to barren land, their deeds to vanity, and their homes to graves. O man! You begin to lose your life from the day you are born. You are oldest on the day of your birth, and with each passing day, a part of your life departs. Therefore, use what you have now [wealth and power] for what is to come [the Hereafter]. For the believer saves provision, while the unbeliever spends his life in pursuit of desires."
These are some of the teachings of Imam Al-Hassan, who was martyred on this day by poison given to his wife at Muawiyah’s instigation.
Peace be upon him and upon his brother Imam Al-Hussein, their father Imam Ali, their mother Al-Zahra, and their grandfather, the Messenger of Allah.
The Second Sermon
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
American Democracy: Oppressing Freedom
America is destabilizing the region in the name of democracy. It has created political and security upheavals under the pretext of fighting terrorism. It has manipulated UN Security Council resolutions, reconciling with the EU to impose them through threats and arbitrary enforcement—just as its wars in the region have been reckless and selective.
In its democratic rhetoric, America rejects any demand for Israel to be democratic and denies the Palestinian people their rights. Palestinians remain under a brutal occupation marked by assassinations, home demolitions, land confiscation, and the construction of a racist separation wall—all met with American silence and European indifference. America even supports what it calls Israel’s “right” to retain large settlements, deny the right of return, and sustain the separation wall, following a pre-drawn plan whose full intent remains hidden.
America also refuses to implement UN resolutions related to the Arab-Israeli conflict and pressures Syria and Lebanon through UN Security Council Resolution 1559 to serve Israeli security interests—particularly regarding Resistance arms and Palestinian camps.
Our opposition to U.S. policy is not born of a complex, but from America’s commitment to Israeli interests at the expense of Arab and Muslim peoples. Ours is a position of self-defense, not aggression.
America speaks of freedoms it denies the oppressed and invokes democracy while sustaining dictatorships.
That is why oppressed peoples harbor deep resentment toward America and reject its projects in the region. America will not change its image unless it changes its arrogant policies.
We call on all people in Lebanon and the region to closely follow developments, especially increasing American pressures against Lebanon, Syria, and Iran. They want the region to disarm and submit to American and Israeli demands. Yet we see America lurching from one crisis to another, particularly in Iraq, where its soldiers are sinking in quicksand.
We also call on the Islamic world to monitor the Zionist scheme to mobilize 100,000 settlers to invade Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem—an aggression against Islamic holy sites, met with no American or European condemnation, threatening the Islamic future there.
Iraq: Protecting National Unity
In Iraq, we are deeply concerned by political developments—the push for federalism and debates over Kurdish territorial claims—suggesting a move toward a semi-independent Kurdish state. We warn against this American-Israeli game aimed at division and fragmentation disguised as unity. The responsibility of the National Assembly is to protect Iraq’s unity, especially in this critical period.
Lebanon: Lies Will Not Save the Nation
Lebanon remains divided by emotional rhetoric and displays of strength, with parties trading accusations.
The question is: What is the future of this country? Will those in power guide it to safety? Are those calling for change—yet complicit in past corruption—truly seeking solutions, or is political strife merely masking the search for truth?
Lebanon needs minds that address major points of disagreement. It needs unconditional dialogue among differing viewpoints, especially since the people with real stakes in this country cannot see clearly through the fog of discord.
Mutual deception will not save the nation or yield decisive outcomes. The danger of political tension, especially in the streets, will further cripple the economy—particularly the monetary sector—as vital social services have already been eroded by previous governments.
We say to all parties: Do not seek to score points against one another. Look instead to the state, its citizens, and future generations. Freedom is this country’s soul, but there is a difference between those who trade in its name and those who uphold its human value. The people fear the outcome of these games and demand responsible action from officials to ensure security and stability as we face the future.