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 26, 1428 H/ August 10, 2007 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
The Prophet's Journey: A Message for Our Time
Allah says in His Glorious Book: "It is He who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger from themselves reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom - although they were before in clear error - And [He also sent] other than them who have not yet joined them. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise." (Surah Al-Jumu'ah 62: 2-3) and "Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the al-Aqsa Mosque, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing." (Surah Al-Isra 17: 1)
On the 27th of Rajab, we meet two great Islamic occasions, the start of the Prophet's mission and the anniversary of the Night Journey.
Allah sent His Messenger with the Message and wanted him to convey it. "O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allah will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people." (Surah Al-Ma'idah 05: 67)
"O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And one who invites to Allah, by His permission, and an illuminating lamp." (Surah Al-Ahzab 33: 45-46)
"It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although those who associate others with Allah dislike it." (Surah At-Tawbah 09: 33)
On such occasions, we go back to the Prophet's biography, who was prepared by Allah for forty years to be equipped by all the spiritual, knowledge and moral virtues, to perfect his mind and open his heart, and ensure that he would lead an infallible life, being the best and strongest in obeying Allah and the closest to Him.
Before the Message, the Prophet was illiterate, who had never read or written: "And you did not recite before it any scripture, nor did you inscribe one with your right hand. Then [i.e., otherwise] the falsifiers would have had [cause for] doubt." (Surah Al-Ankabut 29: 48) That is what the Prophet (p.) was unique in. He was the most knowledgeable without being able to read or write. Allah has taught and inspired him and gave him a mind that opened up on the facts of the universe and the secrets of the unknown. His illiteracy was not a deficiency.
It was a virtue, because it did not convey ignorance but a universal knowledge in all fields. Allah, The Most Exalted, wanted to send an illiterate prophet who will fill the earth with knowledge, thus proving that he is a prophet.
Where else could he have got his knowledge from? In this respect, Imam Ali (a.s.) tells us that Allah, The Most Exalted, has assigned an angel to the Prophet to teach him on a daily basis, then He sent him the Quran, to open up his mind and to solve all the problems he and the Muslims had faced.
The Messenger then called for the belief in Allah in a society of idolaters but he was not violent or harsh with his people. He used to tolerate them and conduct a dialogue with them with what is best. But they grew even more arrogant and hostile. Not able to discuss the truths he came with, they resorted to violence, persecuting his family and companions and boycotting them. Then Allah, The Most Exalted, saved him, the night he immigrated, by letting Ali (a.s.) stay in his bed, to make the unbelievers think that he was still in Makkah and ensure that he reaches Medina safely.
Thus Ali (a.s.), as the Quran stated, "And of the people is he who sells himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah; and Allah is kind to [His] servants." (Surah Al-Baqarah 02: 207) sold himself to Allah, since he only thought about Allah in everything he did or said.
In Medina, the Prophet (p.) started organizing the society; he built the mosque that he wanted the Muslims to meet in, leaving behind their fanaticisms, and partisanships.
He held a treaty between the Muhjireen, the Ansar and the Jews who used to live in the city.
Thus, he instituted the first Islamic state and provided it with the principles and legislations it needed to live a harmonious and integrated life.
The unbelievers tried to undermine his movement, forcing him to go to several successive wars. But Allah gave him the upper hand, and his call expanded. And a new force appeared in the Arabian Peninsula; the force of Islam. After the opening of Makkah Allah revealed: "When the victory of Allah has come and the conquest, And you see the people entering into the religion of Allah in multitudes, Then exalt [Him] with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance." (Surah An-Nasr 110: 1-3)
The Messenger (p.) conveyed his message, teaching the Muslims what to take and what to leave. He then stood to deliver a speech at the farewell pilgrimage and said: "O People! lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore, listen carefully to what I am saying and Take These Words to Those Who Could Not Be Present Here Today.
O People! just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that he will indeed reckon your deeds.”
Allah has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligations shall henceforth be waived. Your capital is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity.
Then he ended his march on the Day Ghadir. The day was hot, and the Messenger (p.) commanded that they should make a pulpit platform out of packsaddles; many were standing under the shelter of thorn trees. And when the crowd had gathered, he walked up to the platform and called Ali (a.s.) to stand at his right. After a prayer of thanks he spoke to the people, informing them that he had been forewarned of his death, and saying: ‘I shall soon depart to Allah to be concealed from you, and bidding farewell to this world. I am leaving amongst you, the book of Allah and my Itrat. And if you follow this you will never go astray; these both would never be separated until they meet me at the fountain of Kauser.
He then called out "Am I not more precious to you then your own life?” They said, "Yes". Then it was that he took Ali’s hand and raised them so high that he showed the white of his armpits and said, "Whoever has me as his Maula has Ali (a.s.) as his Maula. O’ Allah love those who love Ali (a.s.) and be an enemy to his enemies. Help those who assist him and frustrate those who oppose him."
As Muhammad (p.) departed to meet his Allah, and although Ali's wilayat was not realized, the Imam held his responsibility in protecting Islam even when he was not a caliph. He gave those who preceded him advice and sound opinion. He preserved the Muslims’ unity seeing that the enemies of Islam both the internal (hypocrites) and the foreign (Persians and Romans) were planning to eliminate Islam…
Islam thus began its long march, encountering several problems which it was able to overcome. Therefore we, in this stage, and on these occasions, that of the birth of Islam, have to feel that Islam is the responsibility of each and every one of us, a responsibility that Allah, has entrusted us with "Muhammad is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed on before him. So, if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels [to unbelief]? And he who turns back on his heels will never harm Allah at all; but Allah will reward the grateful." (Surah Al 'Imran 03: 144)
We have to be dedicated in our hearts and minds to uphold this responsibility towards the message of Islam and be the callers to Allah in the entire world. It is the responsibility of every scholar, intellectual or anyone who knows a legislative ruling to convey it to the people: "[Allah praises] those who convey the messages of Allah and fear Him and do not fear anyone but Allah. And sufficient is Allah as Accountant." (Surah Al-Ahzab 33: 39) We are responsible to spread the Islam to the world because Allah wanted us to do so: "It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although those who associate others with Allah dislike it." (Surah As-Saff 61: 09)
We are all responsible, whether in our countries, abroad or among our families and friends to convey the message of Islam. Allah said to His Messenger: "And enjoin prayer upon your family [and people] and be steadfast therein. We ask you not for provision; We provide for you. And the [best] outcome is for [those of] righteousness." (Surah Ta-Ha 20: 132) And "O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded." (Surah At-Tahrim 66: 06)
It is our responsibility to increase the strength of Islam by our strength, and to maintain a firm and strong willpower to break that of the arrogant and the unjust. The Messenger says: "Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock".
No one can be neutral, since the scholars and the intellectuals are not the only ones who are responsible; surely every one of us is responsible according to his abilities: "Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned." (Surah Al-Baqarah 02: 286)
The religious scholars cannot just sit aside and isolate themselves from the ongoing struggle.
The Messenger (p.) says: “If heresy appears in my nations, the Alim? (Religious Scholar) should show his Islam (knowledge). If he does not then may Allah curse him". He also said: "Allah did not order the ignorant to learn except after he asked the learned to teach.”
The Anniversary's inspiration:
In this anniversary, we remember Allah's honoring of His Messenger (p.) through the night journey: "Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the al-Aqsa Mosque, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing." (Surah Al-Isra 17: 01) It was said that Allah has made him meet all prophets and lead them in prayers. It was also said that He took the Prophet (p.) to Heaven to be introduced to its kingdom.
Thus, dear beloved, when we remember the Messenger in these occasions, and remember all what the Muslims have gone through we have to consider ourselves, the supporters and companions of the Prophet "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure. Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration. That is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks, delighting the sowers - so that He may enrage the disbelievers with them. Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward." (Surah Al-Fath 48: 29)
These are the inspirations of this anniversary. It is not merely a celebration, but rather a responsibility that we have to uphold. To move Islam a step forward, especially that the Muslims of the world have become about a billion and half.
We have to make every cultural economic, military and political effort to lead the world, since this is what Allah wants "And say, 'Do [as you will], for Allah will see your deeds, and [so will] His Messenger and the believers. And you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you of what you used to do.'" (Surah At-Tawbah 09: 105)