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 7, 1431 AH/ January 22, 2010, 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-Hassan (a.s.): An Ideal to Follow
A Model of Piety and Justice
The seventh of Safar marks the commemoration of the passing of Imam Al-Hassan bin Ali (a.s.), whom the Prophet (p.) described, along with his brother Al-Hussein (a.s.), as "the masters of the youth of Paradise." He (p.) also said about them: "These two sons of mine are Imams, whether they rise or remain seated"—alluding to whether they chose to revolt or not—and: "O Allah, I love them, and I ask You to love them and to love whoever loves them." In these hadiths, the Messenger of Allah (p.) aimed to embed the virtues of Al-Hassan and Al-Hussein in the conscience of Muslims, so they would emulate them and adhere to their true Islamic path.
This is the meaning of the Imamate of the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.). We must abide by the Islam they embodied in their words and deeds across all aspects of life. Thus, when we speak of their times of joy and grief, we should connect them to the broader context of Islam. The Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.) were dedicated wholly to Islam and to all humanity. Therefore, we should relate their lives, thoughts, and principles to our present reality, enriching it through their Imamate rather than confining them to our fanaticisms and complications.
Al-Hassan (a.s.)'s Virtues and Wisdom
The best way to learn about Imam Al-Hassan (a.s.) is through the words of Imam Zayn al-Abidin (a.s.), who said:
"Al-Hassan bin Ali (a.s.) was the best and greatest worshipper of his time, the most ascetic, the most God-fearing, and the best of men. When he performed Hajj, he went on foot, often barefoot. Whenever he recalled death, resurrection, and the Straight Path, he would weep. When he remembered or mentioned Allah, he would weep until he fell unconscious. When he prayed, his body would tremble. When Paradise and Hell were mentioned, he would shudder as if bitten by a snake or scorpion and would ask Allah for Paradise and refuge from Hell. When he recited 'O you who believe' from the Quran, he would say, 'Here I am at Your service, O Allah! Here I am at Your service!' And whenever you met him, he would be remembering Allah."
Imam Al-Hassan (a.s.) used to preach to people, saying:
"O son of Adam! Abstain from the unlawful, and you will be a worshipper. Be content with what Allah has decreed for you, and you will be satisfied. Treat your neighbors kindly, and you will be a Muslim. Befriend people as you would like them to befriend you, and you will be just. You have seen before you people who amassed great wealth without caring whether it was acquired lawfully or unlawfully, who built grand homes and had high hopes—yet their structures turned to ruins and their homes became graves. O son of Adam! From the day you left your mother's womb, your life has been in decline. Therefore, use what is in your hands for the Hereafter, for the believer takes provisions (from this world), while the disbeliever only takes his pleasure."
O beloved ones! These are our Imams and our role models, through whom we come to know Islam more deeply. Peace be upon our Imam, Al-Hassan al-Mujtaba, on the day he was born, the day he passed away, and the day he will be resurrected.
The Second Sermon
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Ongoing Siege and Normalization in Palestine
In occupied Palestine, the disasters caused by the Zionist occupation continue to multiply—from the ongoing siege, to land confiscation, arbitrary arrests, and the flooding of areas in Gaza, a situation that could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe.
As settlement campaigns continue, the American Administration attempts to set the rules of its new game, suggesting to the Palestinians that progress depends entirely on their decisions. It implies that only if the Palestinians return to negotiations will the U.S. be able to assist them, rather than pressuring the enemy to halt its colonization activities. Thus, America is adopting the same language Israel uses toward the Palestinians: return to negotiations without preconditions.
Given that we do not consider the occupation of any part of Palestine legitimate, we warn the Palestinian Authority against stepping once again into the negotiation game under the guise of "land swaps." This project represents a grave sin at the legal, political, and geographical levels, not to mention a betrayal of Palestinian generations and the entire nation.
German–Zionist Rapprochement
This week, we witnessed a meeting between the German and Zionist governments, which the enemy's Prime Minister described as a "historic moment." It is noteworthy that the Israeli Prime Minister asked the German Chancellor to keep the German navy off the Lebanese coast, even as the enemy continues to threaten Lebanon from all directions. Meanwhile, Germany continues to supply the enemy with advanced submarines, enabling it to expand its aggression and espionage capabilities. This raises a critical question: Are European states seeking to enter into a partnership with this enemy in any future adventure it might undertake against Lebanon or the region?
Therefore, we call on Europeans to learn from the events of recent years, to abandon double standards, to act justly, and to avoid falling into the same traps the United States fell into during its occupation and policies toward the peoples of this region. We also call on the Arab and Islamic peoples to cease appearing as weak lambs, for such weakness only invites further oppression and humiliation.
Lebanon: The Quota System and Political Stagnation
On another front, Lebanon remains consumed either by the game of civil service appointments—extended so that each official maintains his position and secures his share—or by the municipal elections, which may turn into another political game leading to forced extensions for various reasons. As a result, we risk entering a state of local political paralysis, merely waiting to see how events unfold in a region fraught with uncertainty.