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 Zul-Quida 25, 1422 AH/ February 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
Extreme love could lead to Personality Cult
Traits of the Believer
A believer’s personality contains many moral virtues that are underscored by Islam. For Allah, deems it insufficient that the believer practices his religious rites to prove that he is a true believer rather he wants him to have a strong open and just personality that hastens to do good deeds. He should be open upon fellow human beings and seek their good as he was commanded that believing in Allah, His Messenger and the Hereafter is the basis of all man’s morals.
Keep away from falsehood
That is why many traditions by the Prophet, and the Imams who represent the Messenger in what they say, tell us about the characteristics of the believer; how he deals with others, and how he acts when he is happy or mad and how he behaves when he is able to harm and benefit others. The Messenger is quoted by Fatima, daughter of Imam Al-Hussein as saying: "There are three traits which if one possesses, his faith would be sound: if he is glad (satisfied) his feeling will not lead him to falsehood."
If he loves someone say a leader, he will not make this love affect his judgment. When you love someone, you should not overestimate him. This is also essential for the welfare of the community, because when we overestimate the potentials and abilities of somebody and put him in a post he is not qualified for, we will be hurting the society. The society that knows how to weigh its individuals is a balanced society. But the problem in our Eastern societies is that they bestow on the politicians, social figures and even religious scholars bigger sizes than what they really are, which leads to a personality cult.
Upholding the Right
The second trait: "If he is angry, he will not be driven to be unrighteous”. You might disagree with somebody, and you might even not speak to him. In this case, and according to our habits and mentality, we might not acknowledge his virtues. We should be balanced when we get angry, and being balanced means, that you should leave your personal feelings aside, when you evaluate any individual. The Glorious Quran has instructed us to do just this, but many of us do not open their hearts and minds to what they read in the Quran. It says "O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do." Surah Al-Ma'idah (05:08)
The third trait: "And when he has the power, he will not abuse it." Some people are very peaceful if they don’t have any source of power to depend on, but once they do, as in the case that he becomes armed, a member of a powerful party, or a civil servant in a sensitive post, he would abuse his power forcing people to pay bribes… But a believer is a man whose attitude does not change whether he has power or not. He will always adhere to the right.
The Prophet (p.) used to say: "Whoever is prevented by his satisfaction, rage or power from upholding the right is not a believer even if he fasts and prays." Imam Zein Al-Abideen used to reassert the same meaning in his supplication even to the extent that he used to ask Allah to make him just even to the extent that his enemy will not be afraid of his injustice. In Comparison, we notice that while The Imam used to ask Allah to make him just even to his enemies, some people today perform their pilgrimage and yet they remain unjust towards the weak.
Either talking or remaining silent aim at Allah’s satisfaction
By the same token, Imam Zein Al-Abideen teaches us that the Muslim should remain silent to stay safe, meaning that he should not speak if he fears that what he is going to say will disobey Allah or hurt fellow human beings. The believer will remain silent so as to avoid bearing the responsibility of his negative words. The Muslim, the Imam added, will talk when he will win. He will talk not because he likes to talk but because there would be a benefit from what he is going to say…
He will gain Allah's satisfaction when his talk advises people to the good- He would keep the secrets of his, friends, because he was entrusted with these secrets-and would not withhold his testimony if it were for the sake of a stranger. He would not do good as a kind of hypocrisy-but for the sake of getting nearer to Allah and he would not abstain from doing good out of shyness.
If he was praised, he would be afraid of what was being said, and he would ask Allah's forgiveness for what they do not know about him. The Commander of the Faithful, although infallible, used to say if someone praised him: "Allah knows me better than I know myself, and I know better about myself than you. O God, make me better than what they think and forgive me for what they do not know about me." The Prophet and the Imams used to say out of modesty since they were infallible…
The Shiites are men of guidance and piety
As to the question of whom the Shiites are, since some people think that the love of Ali is a good deed that cancels all bad ones, Imam Jaa’far Al-Sadiq says that Ali’s Shiites are the chaste who won't eat any unlawful things and who won’t practice unlawful relationships.
They are those who struggle for the cause of Allah…They aim at pleasing Allah, hoping that He will reward them and fearing His punishment. Those are the Shiites of Jaa’far. What does this saying mean? It means that Shiism is the line of Islam and that the Members of the House are the keepers of this line. Imam Muhammad AL-Baqir says: "The Shiites are those who fear Allah and obey him."
They are known for their piety, honesty and trustworthiness. If you think it is enough to say that I love Ali and believe in his leadership without practicing his teachings then the Messenger is better than Ali, but it is also not enough to love the Messenger and not follow his Sunnah (tradition) … One cannot be of our follower unless he abstains from committing any sin.
We ought to sit with ourselves, to study ourselves and learn about them and educate them on what pleases Allah. We can provide one another in this world with various excuses. But nothing will save us in the Hereafter except our good deeds.
The Second Sermon
In the Name of Allah The Compassionate the Merciful
Worshippers of Allah,
Be pious, and uphold your responsibility in caring about the sufferings and pains of fellow Muslims especially as we face every day new challenges from the international arrogant powers…
Iran: A consistent strategy
As we celebrate the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic revolution in Iran and the establishment of the Islamic republic, that provided the proof-in various intellectual legal and administrative aspects- that Islam is capable of building a modern Islamic state that joins between the supremacy of the Islamic law and the popular will within the limits that the Shariat has set…
The Islamic republic in Iran has been able to follow a consistent political strategy in its confrontation of international arrogance. It adopted a realistic plan that does not yield to pressures and does not fall when intimidated. It also opened upon several big or small states to break the isolation America was imposing on her, without providing any concessions, that compromises its principles.
Supporting liberation Movements and Denouncing Terrorism.
Thus, Iran was able to set out a realistic plan, that does not surrender to the status que but rather tries to change it from within. It did not stop its support of the various liberation movements whether in Palestine, Lebanon, South Africa, Afghanistan... etc
It used a lot of its political assets and financial resources to support the Mujahideen, especially those in Lebanon, Palestine and Afghanistan.
It also declared that it combats terrorism that targets civilians, because Allah forbids aggression. Nevertheless, Iran refused to consider resistance against occupation a terrorist act, because it is the right and duty of the weakened nations to fight for their freedom and independence.
Thus, Iran stood with the Palestinian people against the Zionist entity which it refuses to recognize, because it is based on colonial occupation of the land, the state and the people.
And this is what made the US administration declare war against Iran, because the latter did not succumb to its plans of pressurizing nations especially those of the Third World, and because it did not support the Israeli continuous aggression on the Palestinians, the aggression America considers “self-defense” against terror, which in itself is a terrorist policy.
America turns into Israeli United States.
Israel has joined America in threatening Iran and declaring war against it.
But we believe that Iran will be able to overcome this threat by consolidating the unity between the state, the nation and the leadership, especially as it enjoys support of all Islamic people as well as all freedom loving nations.
Moreover, America has, received Sharon and several other Israel ministers very warmly in an effort to show its unequivocal support to the Israelis, thus proving that it does not have any independent policy and that it only follows the policies set by the powerful Jewish lobby, even if it is against its own interests in the region. This Lobby is benefiting of the lack of experience of the American president as well as his misunderstanding of the realities of the political situation in the region and his readiness to resort to force especially against Lebanon, Iraq, Iran and the militant movements that fight to liberate its lands.
Bush –Sharon… A meeting that serves the Aggressive War.
We warn the Arab and Muslim worlds against this aggressive meeting between Bush and Sharon.
Since it will not serve the aim of reaching a just solution for the people of the region, rather it will constitute a further escalation to the war of aggression against all who differ with the American policies, to the extent that this American–Israeli alliance has begun to create problems for America’s allies in the region.
We ask the Palestinians to be aware of every political or milting move this alliance takes being a move in the direction of threatening with the stick instead of offering a carrot.
The Arab-Muslim united stand is the only guarantee.
Faced with all these dangers, we need to think and plan carefully. Any emotional reaction could be counter- protective. We also have to remember that the Palestinian unity, along with the united Arab and Muslims support it should enjoy, is the only guarantee to reach our objectives, since we do not have many points of strength.
In this respect, we should also benefit of the European stand, which is somewhat realistic and just, to help us to oppose and even break the America siege on the region that is being imposed in the name of fighting terrorism Lebanon: Facing challenges
In Lebanon, we are still facing the occupation that has not yet withdrawn from all our lands. Meanwhile, American officials are issuing a lot of statements that aim at forcing it to change the Lebanese steadfast position.
Those American officials who have fallen under the influence of the Israeli propaganda have begun to talk about Iranian training camps in Lebanon, AL-Qaida bases, as well as many such lies, which all Lebanese, officials and citizens, know that they are untrue.
Faced with this development we should be united and know throw aside our sectarian or politician trivial differences. What we are facing now has to do with our future and our destiny and we have to rise to the level of the challenges.
More Taxes
On another level, we might understand that the budget deficit might need imposing additional taxes, but the question is: what are the services the people are going to receive in return? Especially that these taxes constitute a heavy burden leading to a personal budget deficit for the Lebanese taxpayers that is worse them that of the government.
Furthermore, what are the guarantees that these resources will be spent in the right way, especially with all these talks about robbing the treasury’s money, as well as the spread of corruption and mismanagement?
The state has become several states that serve various political sectarian leaders and provide a generous source of income, while the citizens are starving.
Where is all of this leading us to? It is leading to total chaos and destruction.
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 Zul-Quida 25, 1422 AH/ February 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
Extreme love could lead to Personality Cult
Traits of the Believer
A believer’s personality contains many moral virtues that are underscored by Islam. For Allah, deems it insufficient that the believer practices his religious rites to prove that he is a true believer rather he wants him to have a strong open and just personality that hastens to do good deeds. He should be open upon fellow human beings and seek their good as he was commanded that believing in Allah, His Messenger and the Hereafter is the basis of all man’s morals.
Keep away from falsehood
That is why many traditions by the Prophet, and the Imams who represent the Messenger in what they say, tell us about the characteristics of the believer; how he deals with others, and how he acts when he is happy or mad and how he behaves when he is able to harm and benefit others. The Messenger is quoted by Fatima, daughter of Imam Al-Hussein as saying: "There are three traits which if one possesses, his faith would be sound: if he is glad (satisfied) his feeling will not lead him to falsehood."
If he loves someone say a leader, he will not make this love affect his judgment. When you love someone, you should not overestimate him. This is also essential for the welfare of the community, because when we overestimate the potentials and abilities of somebody and put him in a post he is not qualified for, we will be hurting the society. The society that knows how to weigh its individuals is a balanced society. But the problem in our Eastern societies is that they bestow on the politicians, social figures and even religious scholars bigger sizes than what they really are, which leads to a personality cult.
Upholding the Right
The second trait: "If he is angry, he will not be driven to be unrighteous”. You might disagree with somebody, and you might even not speak to him. In this case, and according to our habits and mentality, we might not acknowledge his virtues. We should be balanced when we get angry, and being balanced means, that you should leave your personal feelings aside, when you evaluate any individual. The Glorious Quran has instructed us to do just this, but many of us do not open their hearts and minds to what they read in the Quran. It says "O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do." Surah Al-Ma'idah (05:08)
The third trait: "And when he has the power, he will not abuse it." Some people are very peaceful if they don’t have any source of power to depend on, but once they do, as in the case that he becomes armed, a member of a powerful party, or a civil servant in a sensitive post, he would abuse his power forcing people to pay bribes… But a believer is a man whose attitude does not change whether he has power or not. He will always adhere to the right.
The Prophet (p.) used to say: "Whoever is prevented by his satisfaction, rage or power from upholding the right is not a believer even if he fasts and prays." Imam Zein Al-Abideen used to reassert the same meaning in his supplication even to the extent that he used to ask Allah to make him just even to the extent that his enemy will not be afraid of his injustice. In Comparison, we notice that while The Imam used to ask Allah to make him just even to his enemies, some people today perform their pilgrimage and yet they remain unjust towards the weak.
Either talking or remaining silent aim at Allah’s satisfaction
By the same token, Imam Zein Al-Abideen teaches us that the Muslim should remain silent to stay safe, meaning that he should not speak if he fears that what he is going to say will disobey Allah or hurt fellow human beings. The believer will remain silent so as to avoid bearing the responsibility of his negative words. The Muslim, the Imam added, will talk when he will win. He will talk not because he likes to talk but because there would be a benefit from what he is going to say…
He will gain Allah's satisfaction when his talk advises people to the good- He would keep the secrets of his, friends, because he was entrusted with these secrets-and would not withhold his testimony if it were for the sake of a stranger. He would not do good as a kind of hypocrisy-but for the sake of getting nearer to Allah and he would not abstain from doing good out of shyness.
If he was praised, he would be afraid of what was being said, and he would ask Allah's forgiveness for what they do not know about him. The Commander of the Faithful, although infallible, used to say if someone praised him: "Allah knows me better than I know myself, and I know better about myself than you. O God, make me better than what they think and forgive me for what they do not know about me." The Prophet and the Imams used to say out of modesty since they were infallible…
The Shiites are men of guidance and piety
As to the question of whom the Shiites are, since some people think that the love of Ali is a good deed that cancels all bad ones, Imam Jaa’far Al-Sadiq says that Ali’s Shiites are the chaste who won't eat any unlawful things and who won’t practice unlawful relationships.
They are those who struggle for the cause of Allah…They aim at pleasing Allah, hoping that He will reward them and fearing His punishment. Those are the Shiites of Jaa’far. What does this saying mean? It means that Shiism is the line of Islam and that the Members of the House are the keepers of this line. Imam Muhammad AL-Baqir says: "The Shiites are those who fear Allah and obey him."
They are known for their piety, honesty and trustworthiness. If you think it is enough to say that I love Ali and believe in his leadership without practicing his teachings then the Messenger is better than Ali, but it is also not enough to love the Messenger and not follow his Sunnah (tradition) … One cannot be of our follower unless he abstains from committing any sin.
We ought to sit with ourselves, to study ourselves and learn about them and educate them on what pleases Allah. We can provide one another in this world with various excuses. But nothing will save us in the Hereafter except our good deeds.
The Second Sermon
In the Name of Allah The Compassionate the Merciful
Worshippers of Allah,
Be pious, and uphold your responsibility in caring about the sufferings and pains of fellow Muslims especially as we face every day new challenges from the international arrogant powers…
Iran: A consistent strategy
As we celebrate the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic revolution in Iran and the establishment of the Islamic republic, that provided the proof-in various intellectual legal and administrative aspects- that Islam is capable of building a modern Islamic state that joins between the supremacy of the Islamic law and the popular will within the limits that the Shariat has set…
The Islamic republic in Iran has been able to follow a consistent political strategy in its confrontation of international arrogance. It adopted a realistic plan that does not yield to pressures and does not fall when intimidated. It also opened upon several big or small states to break the isolation America was imposing on her, without providing any concessions, that compromises its principles.
Supporting liberation Movements and Denouncing Terrorism.
Thus, Iran was able to set out a realistic plan, that does not surrender to the status que but rather tries to change it from within. It did not stop its support of the various liberation movements whether in Palestine, Lebanon, South Africa, Afghanistan... etc
It used a lot of its political assets and financial resources to support the Mujahideen, especially those in Lebanon, Palestine and Afghanistan.
It also declared that it combats terrorism that targets civilians, because Allah forbids aggression. Nevertheless, Iran refused to consider resistance against occupation a terrorist act, because it is the right and duty of the weakened nations to fight for their freedom and independence.
Thus, Iran stood with the Palestinian people against the Zionist entity which it refuses to recognize, because it is based on colonial occupation of the land, the state and the people.
And this is what made the US administration declare war against Iran, because the latter did not succumb to its plans of pressurizing nations especially those of the Third World, and because it did not support the Israeli continuous aggression on the Palestinians, the aggression America considers “self-defense” against terror, which in itself is a terrorist policy.
America turns into Israeli United States.
Israel has joined America in threatening Iran and declaring war against it.
But we believe that Iran will be able to overcome this threat by consolidating the unity between the state, the nation and the leadership, especially as it enjoys support of all Islamic people as well as all freedom loving nations.
Moreover, America has, received Sharon and several other Israel ministers very warmly in an effort to show its unequivocal support to the Israelis, thus proving that it does not have any independent policy and that it only follows the policies set by the powerful Jewish lobby, even if it is against its own interests in the region. This Lobby is benefiting of the lack of experience of the American president as well as his misunderstanding of the realities of the political situation in the region and his readiness to resort to force especially against Lebanon, Iraq, Iran and the militant movements that fight to liberate its lands.
Bush –Sharon… A meeting that serves the Aggressive War.
We warn the Arab and Muslim worlds against this aggressive meeting between Bush and Sharon.
Since it will not serve the aim of reaching a just solution for the people of the region, rather it will constitute a further escalation to the war of aggression against all who differ with the American policies, to the extent that this American–Israeli alliance has begun to create problems for America’s allies in the region.
We ask the Palestinians to be aware of every political or milting move this alliance takes being a move in the direction of threatening with the stick instead of offering a carrot.
The Arab-Muslim united stand is the only guarantee.
Faced with all these dangers, we need to think and plan carefully. Any emotional reaction could be counter- protective. We also have to remember that the Palestinian unity, along with the united Arab and Muslims support it should enjoy, is the only guarantee to reach our objectives, since we do not have many points of strength.
In this respect, we should also benefit of the European stand, which is somewhat realistic and just, to help us to oppose and even break the America siege on the region that is being imposed in the name of fighting terrorism Lebanon: Facing challenges
In Lebanon, we are still facing the occupation that has not yet withdrawn from all our lands. Meanwhile, American officials are issuing a lot of statements that aim at forcing it to change the Lebanese steadfast position.
Those American officials who have fallen under the influence of the Israeli propaganda have begun to talk about Iranian training camps in Lebanon, AL-Qaida bases, as well as many such lies, which all Lebanese, officials and citizens, know that they are untrue.
Faced with this development we should be united and know throw aside our sectarian or politician trivial differences. What we are facing now has to do with our future and our destiny and we have to rise to the level of the challenges.
More Taxes
On another level, we might understand that the budget deficit might need imposing additional taxes, but the question is: what are the services the people are going to receive in return? Especially that these taxes constitute a heavy burden leading to a personal budget deficit for the Lebanese taxpayers that is worse them that of the government.
Furthermore, what are the guarantees that these resources will be spent in the right way, especially with all these talks about robbing the treasury’s money, as well as the spread of corruption and mismanagement?
The state has become several states that serve various political sectarian leaders and provide a generous source of income, while the citizens are starving.
Where is all of this leading us to? It is leading to total chaos and destruction.