His Eminence, Sayyed Ali Fadlullah, delivered the two Friday prayer sermons at the Imamain Al-Hassanain Mosque, Jamada II 14, 1444H.\January 6, 2023. Several prominent religious scholars, dignitaries and believers attended the Jumu’a prayer. Following is a summary of the sermons:

The first Sermon

Allah, The Most Exalted, says in His Glorious Book: And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart – about all those [one] will be questioned.

Allah, The Most Exalted, speaks the Truth.

This Ayat is one of the ten commands that were revealed in Al-Isra Surah. God calls on us , in this context, to build our judgments and decisions on knowledge, evidence and proof , not on speculations , passions or echo others who do not possess this kind of evidence. He called us to benefit from the means He provided us with such as the minds, the ears and the eyes, explaining what will happen to us when we do not use them in the right way: Indeed, We have destined many jinn and humans for Hell. They have hearts they do not understand with, eyes they do not see with, and ears they do not hear with. They are like cattle. In fact, they are even less guided! Such ˹people˺ are ˹entirely˺ heedless.

There were many explanations for why this Ayat was revealed. Some interpreters maintained that it was meant to warn the idolaters, as they do not base their belief on any logic or evidence… Other interpreters provide a different reason .They maintained that it sought to clarify to the people the method they have to adopt when they testify against other people or parties, or when they are summoned to courts. They have to base their testimony on knowledge and decisive evidence, not on whims , passions , fanaticisms or personal interests, so that they would not be wronging anybody or distancing themselves from truth .

The third reason: This Ayah came to forbid people from accusing chaste women of adultery which could lead to grave consequences that might even include killing. Islam was very strict in this matter, as it called not to make such an allegation unless there are four witnesses who have seen the act with their very eyes.

The fourth reason: to warn against intentional lying, such as saying I have seen while you did not, aiming to hurt those whom you hate or seeking a certain personal interest.

These are some of the reasons this Ayah was revealed .Allah commands us in this Ayah not to adopt ant opinion or stance before we make sure of the facts, and not build them on speculation or assumption .He says: O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin.

Dear loved ones: This is what Allah wants from us: To verify and not make any judgment except when there is a proof and not to say anything except after we make sure that what we are saying is true. By this, we protect our reality from the mistakes that it might fall into whether in our faith and thought or in the social and political issues, to protect ourselves from injustice or remorse.

Many are the problems or feuds that occurred between couples , siblings, neighbors or colleagues as a result of certain stories we did not verify, opinions we did not discuss or study and rumors and instigations that are baseless.

On the public level too, there are many who were wronged in this life, as they fell victim to false accusations. Ideas and calls too were distorted and were fought and aborted, while other ideas that contribute to the weakening of the society and promote deviation were marketed,

Today the responsibility of verifying the facts has become more urgent especially with the development of the media and means of communication. How to influence the public has become a science taught in the universities through which students learn how to promote ideas, communicate stories and, convince the audience convinced. These new means can incite sectarian feelings and instincts towards any incident and even lead to strife.

Nowadays, wars are not fought mainly by traditional weapons. The effective weapon now is manipulating the minds and inciting the instincts. Thus, we have to acquire all the intellectual, cultural and religious means that enable us to confront all this.

The second sermon

Worshippers of Allah, The Most Exalted, I advise you and myself, with the advice the Messenger gave to one of his companions, Qais bin Asim: Qais! It is necessary for you to have a companion to be buried in the grave. That companion will be alive whereas you will be dead. So if that companion (you will necessarily have) is a nice and kind person, he will keep you in a respectable condition. If he is a bad fellow he will leave you there in your grave in total solitude without any help or assistance. (Also remember that) that this companion will be necessarily with you in the grand gathering (Hashir) on the Day of Qiyamat (the Day of Judgement). You will also be asked only about him. So it is very essential for you to select a good companion. If he is a good person he will make you happy. But if he is a corrupt fellow he will terribly frighten you and that companion is your deeds. Thus, let us ensure that all our deeds are good to have good companions in our graves and on the Day of Judgment. This will make us more capable of facing challenges.

We begin by our country that is entering its new year full of fears and concerns as a result of the absence of a government that can address the crises and dangers that people suffer from. The vacuum in the presidency persists, while the government is a care taking one that is not able to shoulder full responsibility while its jurisdiction is controversial.

In the meantime, the living crisis continues to aggravate with the dollar continuing to soar and the suffering of the Lebanese to secure their most basic needs aggravates driving those who did not think of leaving the country to do so even on a death boat.

The foreign powers that the Lebanese have always put their stakes on to resolve their economic crises as well as resorting to elect a new president, and some still do, do not seem keen to interfere, especially in the presence of the existing political class , corruption and the absence of the will to change.

By this we are not being pessimistic. Rather, we seek to raise our voice to say to those running the country to stop this neglect of the people’s suffering … Is not that all what is happening enough for you to meet and study the means of getting this country out of the abyss it has fallen in? It is regrettable that we are witnessing instead more divisions and acute futile discussions. The only meetings that are taking place might only reduce the tension on the ground , without producing any solutions.

That is why we renew our call to the parties represented in the parliament to have pity on those who elected them, and beware of where this path if it continues will lead us. They should strive earnestly to reach an agreement, being the only way to fill the presidential gap and form a government that will implement the reforms that will end the crises of the country and restore the Lebanese and the world’s confidence in the country.

We believe that any delay will further enlarge the impasse and make the country an easy prey for those who want to destabilize it and violate its sovereignty.

On another level, as for the European judicial delegation that visited Lebanon to investigate the accusations against the governor of the central back and the other crimes of corruption, we regret the fact that looking into the corruption in Lebanon is being performed by foreign countries while the Lebanese judiciary that is supposed to play its role in persecuting the corrupt is either jeopardized or does not dare to do so.

It is high time for the judiciary to perform its role which can be done except by issuing the laws that guarantee its independence appointing honest judges and ensuring their decent living to secure their freedom and independence.

In Syria, the suffering is increasing as a result of the economic siege that is accompanied by the Israeli military pressure aims to weaken the role of the country and force it to offer concessions regarding its sovereignty , security and free decision.

As we condemn this war of sanctions and siege, we call on the Arab and Muslim countries to stand with Syria and hinder all attempts to target it. At the same time, we hope that the relations between Syria and Turkey and the rest of the Muslim and Arab countries would return to normal , by opening a new page to restore peace , stability and security to this country which would be reflected in more peace and stability in the region.

In Palestine , we believe that the new aggression of the Zionist security minister against The Aqsa Mosque is an attempt by the new enemy government to threaten to use more force and violence against the Palestinians , as well as being as hurting the feelings of Arabs and Muslims, which calls for additional support for the Palestinians at all levels…