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 ZulHijja 24, 1422 AH/March 08 2002 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 Message Imam Ali Left us:
The Muslim Community should Be Knowledgeable and Conscious
Allah says in His Glorious Book: "Your ally is none but Allah and [therefore] His Messenger and those who have believed – those who establish prayer and give zakah, and they bow [in worship]." Surah Al-Ma’idah (05:55) According to the Quranic interpreters, this Ayah talks about Imam Ali, who was prostrating in prayers, when he was asked by a poor man to give in charity. He removed his ring from his finger and gave it to the man without stopping his prayers, since charity is a form of worship just as prayers. And thus, they do not contradict one another. Therefore, Allah, through this Ayah and several similar ones, has assured that Ali (a.s.) is the leader of Muslims after Muhammad, who would manage their social and political affairs.
Thus, we ought to know the guidelines that Ali (a.s.) implemented when he assumed the leadership in order to implement them in our own life. Because being a Shiite of Ali means exactly this: To follow the line he drew for us.
The Imam used to stress that the basis of all Muslims should be the belief in Allah. If this belief lights the mind, it will make him think only about the right, and if it lights the heart, it will make it beat with the right… Thus, a believer in Allah should always take the position that aligns with the right. He should never follow his desires or interests for it is the road of those who give their souls to Satan.
The Imam was thus, the man whom the love of Allah was planted in his heart. We read in the supplication of Kumail…
"Suppose I were able to tolerate your punishment, how can I tolerate your being away from me”. It is the voice of someone who loves and cannot stay away of the one he loves.
Knowledge is also an Important Pillar
Thus, if you love Ali (a.s.), you ought to love Allah and His Messenger first. For Ali Knew Allah and His Messenger and found that their love fills his heart and he dedicated all his life to them, and earned their love.
The Imam wanted the believers to learn and be educated, because ignorance leads people to consider falsehood to be right or right to be wrong. But when you are knowledgeable and conscious, you can't be deceived easily. That is why the Imam used to say this wonderful saying: “The value of each man lies in what he masters”. Man is not appreciated for the sum of money he has but he is respected for his knowledge and manners.
That is why he used to say: "People are of three kinds: The divine scholar (who is nurtured by the knowledge of Allah), the seeker on the path of salvation, and the riffraffs who follow every loud voice—they bend with every wind, not enlightened by the light of knowledge."
Ali’s Message: A knowledgeable and conscious Community
For all these reasons, Imam Ali (a.s.) wanted the Muslim community to be an educated one, in accordance to the Quranic instructions that call for a constant increase in one’s knowledge. Therefore, being a follower of the Imam demands seeking science through out life for science leads to knowledge.
In his first speech as Commander of the Faithful—a right denied to him for 25 years—the Imam (a.s.) established his principles as follows:
“Allah, the Most Exalted, has sent a guiding Book (the Holy Quran) that distinguishes between good and evil. If you follow the path of good, you will be guided; and if you abandon evil, you will attain piety. Be committed to Allah’s commands—not only in acts of worship but in all your obligations toward Allah and fellow human beings. Fulfill them sincerely for His sake, and they will lead you to Paradise.”
He further emphasized: “Allah has made clear all that is lawful and unlawful—and He has decreed that violating the rights of a fellow Muslim is among the gravest transgressions.”
It is narrated that Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) was once sitting near the Ka'ba when he said to one of his companions: “Do you see this Ka'ba? Allah has made the sacredness of a believer seventy times greater than that of the Ka'ba.” This covenant among Muslims—where each has certain rights and duties—is intrinsically tied to the belief in the Oneness of Allah. If you are faithful to Allah and His Messenger, you must uphold the rights of your fellow Muslims.
Imam Ali (a.s.) states in one of his wills: “Do not deny the rights of your brother on the basis of what bonds you together, for if you do so, he is no longer your brother. Thus, your sons, daughters, and wife are your brothers and sisters in faith, whose rights you must observe just as you observe the rights of all other Muslims—thereby fostering a united and harmonious community. Truly, a Muslim is one whose hand and tongue refrain from harming fellow believers.”
"...Be pious of your duty to Allah’s land and His worshippers. Do not surrender it to the enemies of Allah and humanity. Let the land remain free, green, and fruitful. Do not harm Allah’s worshippers by inciting strife—for you are accountable even for animals."
This is what Ali (a.s.) believed in, and these are the issues he was concerned with since the beginning of his Imamate. Moreover, he was always worrying about the need to convey his knowledge to the nation. Yet, the nation followed others who led it to deviation and falsehood. Thus, those who like to be with Ali, ought to be with those who call them to Allah and the right path, so that we will become the nation that enjoins the good and forbids the evil and transmits its knowledge and awareness, from one generation to the other. Come, let us live with Ali, with austerity, piety boldness, knowledge, dedication and love. He had nothing but Allah. So let us be with Ali (a.s.) in his Journey to Allah and let us accompany him and Allah’s Messenger in this journey.
The Second Sermon
In the Name of Allah, The Compassionate the Merciful
Brutal Massacres in Palestine
The Intifada is still as strong and even stronger than ever, despite Israel’s declaration of on all –out war against the Palestinians to kill, according to Sharon, and by means of the most advanced American weapons, the largest number possible of Palestinians, , and to destroy the Palestinian infrastructure… More and more Palestinians are being martyred every day, the injured are filling the hospitals, farms are bulldozed, houses are demolished, and even children schools are attacked. In addition, the American Secretary of State declared that America’s support to Israel does not relent, to make up for his previous statement in which he said that Sharon’s counting of the Palestinians he killed will lead nowhere. And America still demands that the victim should stop all acts of “terror” while the Zionists continue their aggression in what aims as it seems to change Palestine into another Afghanistan in which Israel plays the role of America. For the American president, Bush, who has considered the Palestinians as Taliban or Al-Qaida, commissioned Sharon, to eliminate the whole Palestinian people. Thus America is the murderer that is sweeping Palestine by the Israeli war machine.
The History of Arab Initiatives: A History of successive Concessions
What do the Arabs expect of their initiative that is being debated before the Arab summit that is going to convene towards the end of this month in Beirut, especially as the history of Arab imitative has been the history of successive concessions as a result of America pressure and Israeli brutality? How will the Arabs respond if Israel decides to refuse the initiative claiming that Jerusalem is the “unified capital of Israel”, and refusing to discuss the issue of the refugees being “unrealistic, as well as refusing to dismantle the settlements? Moreover, since what is going to be rejected by Israel will also be unaccepted by the US. Wouldn’t such a situation make us enter into an endless maze of negotiations?
The Intifada Imposes itself on the enemy as a political reality
The Mujahideen thwarted the threat of civil war that the Americans and Israelis were plotting by making some of the Palestinians claim that the others are terrorists. All factions are now in the same front fighting jointly against the Israeli terrorism in one movement that fights one enemy and seeks one goal, that of liberation. In addition, the Intifada had a great impact on the Israeli political life. The Israeli people have been divided between those who oppose the government policies and those who are afraid of it consequences on the one hand, and the extremists on the second hand. This situation is similar to that in south Lebanon when the Islamic Resistance was able to impose its self on the political agenda of the enemy to the extent that withdrawal was the main point of the political platform of the elections. The Islamic Resistance was victorious in Lebanon, and the Intifada will also be victorious in Palestine.
Rising to the level of Responsibility
The Arab and Muslim people should voice their protest and flood to the streets to declare their opposition to all calls for surrender, demand their leaders to rise the level of responsibility, and pressurize America and Israel with all the means they have... I am afraid that if things stay as they are, the Arab officials will lose ability to be steadfast. They will agree to sign a surrender treaty that imposes all the Israeli demands and pays no attention to what the Arabs ask for.
American Terrorism in Lebanon
Today is the anniversary of the Beir Al–Abd massacre that killed tens of innocent men, women and children, and wounded hundreds. This crime, that the CIA Director admitted that they planned for it, leaves no room for America to talk about terrorism being the country that practiced state terrorism against the Lebanese, and the country that supports Israeli state terrorism in the occupied lands.
We want the Lebanese to keep the memory of this massacre, as well as the other massacres that destroyed the Lebanese infrastructure, that were planned by the American secretary of state, Henry Kissinger in mind.
Lebanon : Sectarian incitement and political rows
As the region is living a state of political economic and security earthquake, the Lebanese front is preoccupied with political and sectarian rows, as if we are not in the midst of this turmoil. Is there any rational civilian political life in Lebanon any more that respects the human aspect of the Lebanese and talks to their minds and not their sectarian instincts... All this fruitless sectarian discussions aim at one thing only: To make the Lebanese forget the state of hunger and poverty they are being dragged to. Let us all unite to solve the economic crisis for it needs the efforts of each and every one of us.
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 ZulHijja 24, 1422 AH/March 08 2002 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 Message Imam Ali Left us:
The Muslim Community should Be Knowledgeable and Conscious
Allah says in His Glorious Book: "Your ally is none but Allah and [therefore] His Messenger and those who have believed – those who establish prayer and give zakah, and they bow [in worship]." Surah Al-Ma’idah (05:55) According to the Quranic interpreters, this Ayah talks about Imam Ali, who was prostrating in prayers, when he was asked by a poor man to give in charity. He removed his ring from his finger and gave it to the man without stopping his prayers, since charity is a form of worship just as prayers. And thus, they do not contradict one another. Therefore, Allah, through this Ayah and several similar ones, has assured that Ali (a.s.) is the leader of Muslims after Muhammad, who would manage their social and political affairs.
Thus, we ought to know the guidelines that Ali (a.s.) implemented when he assumed the leadership in order to implement them in our own life. Because being a Shiite of Ali means exactly this: To follow the line he drew for us.
The Imam used to stress that the basis of all Muslims should be the belief in Allah. If this belief lights the mind, it will make him think only about the right, and if it lights the heart, it will make it beat with the right… Thus, a believer in Allah should always take the position that aligns with the right. He should never follow his desires or interests for it is the road of those who give their souls to Satan.
The Imam was thus, the man whom the love of Allah was planted in his heart. We read in the supplication of Kumail…
"Suppose I were able to tolerate your punishment, how can I tolerate your being away from me”. It is the voice of someone who loves and cannot stay away of the one he loves.
Knowledge is also an Important Pillar
Thus, if you love Ali (a.s.), you ought to love Allah and His Messenger first. For Ali Knew Allah and His Messenger and found that their love fills his heart and he dedicated all his life to them, and earned their love.
The Imam wanted the believers to learn and be educated, because ignorance leads people to consider falsehood to be right or right to be wrong. But when you are knowledgeable and conscious, you can't be deceived easily. That is why the Imam used to say this wonderful saying: “The value of each man lies in what he masters”. Man is not appreciated for the sum of money he has but he is respected for his knowledge and manners.
That is why he used to say: "People are of three kinds: The divine scholar (who is nurtured by the knowledge of Allah), the seeker on the path of salvation, and the riffraffs who follow every loud voice—they bend with every wind, not enlightened by the light of knowledge."
Ali’s Message: A knowledgeable and conscious Community
For all these reasons, Imam Ali (a.s.) wanted the Muslim community to be an educated one, in accordance to the Quranic instructions that call for a constant increase in one’s knowledge. Therefore, being a follower of the Imam demands seeking science through out life for science leads to knowledge.
In his first speech as Commander of the Faithful—a right denied to him for 25 years—the Imam (a.s.) established his principles as follows:
“Allah, the Most Exalted, has sent a guiding Book (the Holy Quran) that distinguishes between good and evil. If you follow the path of good, you will be guided; and if you abandon evil, you will attain piety. Be committed to Allah’s commands—not only in acts of worship but in all your obligations toward Allah and fellow human beings. Fulfill them sincerely for His sake, and they will lead you to Paradise.”
He further emphasized: “Allah has made clear all that is lawful and unlawful—and He has decreed that violating the rights of a fellow Muslim is among the gravest transgressions.”
It is narrated that Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) was once sitting near the Ka'ba when he said to one of his companions: “Do you see this Ka'ba? Allah has made the sacredness of a believer seventy times greater than that of the Ka'ba.” This covenant among Muslims—where each has certain rights and duties—is intrinsically tied to the belief in the Oneness of Allah. If you are faithful to Allah and His Messenger, you must uphold the rights of your fellow Muslims.
Imam Ali (a.s.) states in one of his wills: “Do not deny the rights of your brother on the basis of what bonds you together, for if you do so, he is no longer your brother. Thus, your sons, daughters, and wife are your brothers and sisters in faith, whose rights you must observe just as you observe the rights of all other Muslims—thereby fostering a united and harmonious community. Truly, a Muslim is one whose hand and tongue refrain from harming fellow believers.”
"...Be pious of your duty to Allah’s land and His worshippers. Do not surrender it to the enemies of Allah and humanity. Let the land remain free, green, and fruitful. Do not harm Allah’s worshippers by inciting strife—for you are accountable even for animals."
This is what Ali (a.s.) believed in, and these are the issues he was concerned with since the beginning of his Imamate. Moreover, he was always worrying about the need to convey his knowledge to the nation. Yet, the nation followed others who led it to deviation and falsehood. Thus, those who like to be with Ali, ought to be with those who call them to Allah and the right path, so that we will become the nation that enjoins the good and forbids the evil and transmits its knowledge and awareness, from one generation to the other. Come, let us live with Ali, with austerity, piety boldness, knowledge, dedication and love. He had nothing but Allah. So let us be with Ali (a.s.) in his Journey to Allah and let us accompany him and Allah’s Messenger in this journey.
The Second Sermon
In the Name of Allah, The Compassionate the Merciful
Brutal Massacres in Palestine
The Intifada is still as strong and even stronger than ever, despite Israel’s declaration of on all –out war against the Palestinians to kill, according to Sharon, and by means of the most advanced American weapons, the largest number possible of Palestinians, , and to destroy the Palestinian infrastructure… More and more Palestinians are being martyred every day, the injured are filling the hospitals, farms are bulldozed, houses are demolished, and even children schools are attacked. In addition, the American Secretary of State declared that America’s support to Israel does not relent, to make up for his previous statement in which he said that Sharon’s counting of the Palestinians he killed will lead nowhere. And America still demands that the victim should stop all acts of “terror” while the Zionists continue their aggression in what aims as it seems to change Palestine into another Afghanistan in which Israel plays the role of America. For the American president, Bush, who has considered the Palestinians as Taliban or Al-Qaida, commissioned Sharon, to eliminate the whole Palestinian people. Thus America is the murderer that is sweeping Palestine by the Israeli war machine.
The History of Arab Initiatives: A History of successive Concessions
What do the Arabs expect of their initiative that is being debated before the Arab summit that is going to convene towards the end of this month in Beirut, especially as the history of Arab imitative has been the history of successive concessions as a result of America pressure and Israeli brutality? How will the Arabs respond if Israel decides to refuse the initiative claiming that Jerusalem is the “unified capital of Israel”, and refusing to discuss the issue of the refugees being “unrealistic, as well as refusing to dismantle the settlements? Moreover, since what is going to be rejected by Israel will also be unaccepted by the US. Wouldn’t such a situation make us enter into an endless maze of negotiations?
The Intifada Imposes itself on the enemy as a political reality
The Mujahideen thwarted the threat of civil war that the Americans and Israelis were plotting by making some of the Palestinians claim that the others are terrorists. All factions are now in the same front fighting jointly against the Israeli terrorism in one movement that fights one enemy and seeks one goal, that of liberation. In addition, the Intifada had a great impact on the Israeli political life. The Israeli people have been divided between those who oppose the government policies and those who are afraid of it consequences on the one hand, and the extremists on the second hand. This situation is similar to that in south Lebanon when the Islamic Resistance was able to impose its self on the political agenda of the enemy to the extent that withdrawal was the main point of the political platform of the elections. The Islamic Resistance was victorious in Lebanon, and the Intifada will also be victorious in Palestine.
Rising to the level of Responsibility
The Arab and Muslim people should voice their protest and flood to the streets to declare their opposition to all calls for surrender, demand their leaders to rise the level of responsibility, and pressurize America and Israel with all the means they have... I am afraid that if things stay as they are, the Arab officials will lose ability to be steadfast. They will agree to sign a surrender treaty that imposes all the Israeli demands and pays no attention to what the Arabs ask for.
American Terrorism in Lebanon
Today is the anniversary of the Beir Al–Abd massacre that killed tens of innocent men, women and children, and wounded hundreds. This crime, that the CIA Director admitted that they planned for it, leaves no room for America to talk about terrorism being the country that practiced state terrorism against the Lebanese, and the country that supports Israeli state terrorism in the occupied lands.
We want the Lebanese to keep the memory of this massacre, as well as the other massacres that destroyed the Lebanese infrastructure, that were planned by the American secretary of state, Henry Kissinger in mind.
Lebanon : Sectarian incitement and political rows
As the region is living a state of political economic and security earthquake, the Lebanese front is preoccupied with political and sectarian rows, as if we are not in the midst of this turmoil. Is there any rational civilian political life in Lebanon any more that respects the human aspect of the Lebanese and talks to their minds and not their sectarian instincts... All this fruitless sectarian discussions aim at one thing only: To make the Lebanese forget the state of hunger and poverty they are being dragged to. Let us all unite to solve the economic crisis for it needs the efforts of each and every one of us.