His Eminence, Sayyed Ali Fadlullah, delivered the two Friday prayer sermons at the Imamain Al-Hassanain Mosque, Shaa’ban 13, 1445 /February 23, 2024. Several prominent religious scholars, dignitaries, and hundreds of 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:: “Allah has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them [in religion] what He has approved for them and that He will surely substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me, not associating anything with Me. But whoever disbelieves after that – then those are the defiantly disobedient.” (Quran, 24:55)Allah, The Most Exalted speaks the Truth.

 

We gather on the fifteenth of Shaa’ban to commemorate the blessed birth of the Seal of the Blessed Chain of the Imams of the Household (a.s.), those whom Allah, the Most Exalted,has chosen to be the callers to Him and a shield against deviation and misguidance. He is Imam Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Askari (a.s.), the Imam of the era (may our souls be sacrificed for his  emergence).

 

Through him and under his leadership, the divine promise mentioned in the verse recited at the beginning of the sermon will be fulfilled. The will of Allah, the Most Exalted, as indicated by His saying, “And We intend to confer favor upon those who were oppressed in the land and make them leaders and make them inheritors,” … Through him, comprehensive justice, sought by humanity, will be realized.

 

The noble Hadiths also alluded to this, as the Prophet Muhammad (p.) said: “The world will not end until the Arabs are ruled by a man from my family whose name matches my name… He will fill the earth with justice and equity, just as it was filled with oppression and tyranny.”

 

The Messenger of Allah (p.) clarified his qualities when he said: “The Qa’im from my progeny… and his characteristics are my characteristics, and his Sunnah is my Sunnah. He will establish the people upon my path and my law, and he will invite them to the Book of my Lord …”

 

Here, a question may arise: How do you believe in an Imam who is absent from your eyes? And for all this long time that has passed, and will continue until Allah permits his emergence?! The answer is that our belief in this Imam is based on the truthfulness of Allah’s promise, as indicated by the verses in His noble Book. This Book that falsehood cannot approach from before it or behind it, and the sayings of the Prophet who does not speak from desire; it is but a revelation revealed. Also, it is based on the authentic Hadiths narrated from the Imams of the Household, which pointed to his birth and the continuation of his life until Allah permits his emergence. It is based on our belief in the power of Allah, the Almighty, who is capable of everything, and His wisdom encompasses everything.

As we are today in the atmosphere of the blessed birth, the question always arises about the role required from us during this period of absence. Should we suffice with waiting and praying for his reappearance whenever we suffer from deviation, injustice, corruption, or wrongdoing? Should we fulfill the duty of enjoining good and forbidding evil and work to eliminate injustice and corruption on his behalf, establishing justice? Or should we occupy ourselves, as many do, inspecting for signs here and there that indicate the time of his appearance, and engage in that, which has been prohibited and emphasized against in numerous hadiths?

 

What we should engage ourselves with and focus on is the responsibility incumbent upon us, which the Imam will work to achieve, and he and those with him will sacrifice for it. This responsibility is the realization of justice that he will work for, and we should strive to be his partners in fulfilling this great mission.

 

On this day, which symbolizes the International Day of Justice for us, we want this value to be present within ourselves continuously. We strive to be just in our homes, between spouses, with children, neighbors, and people around us. We should be just in our words, decisions, stances, and judgments, whether in supporting or rejecting individuals, websites, or entities. We should not be swayed in any of these by desire, emotion, personal, family, tribal, or partisan interest, animosity, or religious or sectarian differences. We should work to establish justice in life at the individual, communal, or national levels. We should stand with every just cause and anyone who carries its banner, no matter of the challenges or costs. We should be a support for anyone facing injustice and corruption, even if the oppressor and corrupt belong to our sect, ideology, or political position.

 

Justice, dear loved ones, is the goal for which heavenly messages came. Allah says: “Certainly, We sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and We sent down with them the Scripture and the Balance that the people may maintain [their affairs] in justice.” (Quran, 57:25) …

 

Allah warns us against deviating from His path by supporting the unjust and assisting them in any way. He says: “And do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest you be touched by the Fire, and you would not have other than Allah any protectors; then you would not be helped.”

 

Regarding the Hadith, it is narrated: “Whoever sees an oppressive ruler, violating the sanctities of Allah, breaking the covenant of Allah, opposing the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, and acting among the servants of Allah with sin and aggression, and he does not change him with his actions or words, then it is rightful upon Allah to enter him into his entrance.”

 

In the advice of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) to his sons, Hassan and Hussein, he says: “Speak the truth, act for the sake of reward, be an opponent to the oppressor, and a supporter to the oppressed.”

 

When we talk about justice, we are not speaking only to Muslims but about comprehensive justice that does not distinguish between religion, sect, or ideology. This is what Allah, the Almighty, has indicated when He said: “Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes – from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.”) …

Justice is what gives life its value; it is the reason for its construction and stability. Without it, stability and security cannot be achieved. Justice is the path to Allah. In a Hadith, it is stated: “An hour of justice is better than sixty years of worship, standing in prayer at night, and fasting during the day.”

 

Therefore, we are called upon to wait for him, to pray for his swift reappearance from the depths of our hearts at all times and throughout time. We should be part of his troops, supporters, those WHPsacrificed for him, and martyred before him. However, this waiting is not for those sitting idly and lamenting the unjust and corrupt reality they live in, flipping their hands back and forth, but rather, it is to invoke him while actively participating in the place where he is and in the arena where we will work.

 

If, by the grace of Allah, he is destined to come out in this era, we thank Allah for that and continue the path with him, seeking shade under his leadership. If not, we should be among his troops, supporters, and helpers when we  prepare the path for what he  will comes for, because his troops, supporters, and helpers throughout time are the ones who follow his path, which is the path of the Messenger of Allah

 

Therefore, when we pray to Allah to hasten his reappearance upon us, we should make sure that we are on the path he will follow, not on another path. We must be ready to bear the responsibility that Allah may bestow upon us if He grants us the blessing of his presence and emergence in this age. This responsibility will encompass all aspects of life and its domains.

 

Only when we are confident in this can we say: “O Allah, show me the righteous rising, the praised victory, enlighten my vision with a glance towards him,” “expedite his relief, facilitate his emergence, widen his path, make me part of his march, implement his order, strengthen his support…”

The second sermon

Worshippers of Allah, I advise you and advise myself to observe the night of the 15th of Shaa’ban; this blessed night, which had been indicated in the traditions as one of the best nights after Laylat al-Qadr. On this night, Allah grants His favor to His servants and forgives them by His grace. It is a night in which Allah Himself has sworn not to reject any supplicant unless they seek to sin.

 

Prophet Muhammad (p.) used to make a special effort to observe this night through worship. So, let us emulate the Prophet’s example and seize the opportunity of this night to pray, perform acts of worship, and recite the Quran. Let us not miss its blessings and goodness. We are in great need of strengthening our relationship with Allah, seeking His rewards, seeking His protection to ward off afflictions, relieve our sorrows, and face life’s challenges.

 

Beginning with Gaza, where the Zionist enemy persists in executing its plan to displace its people. This goes beyond committing massacres and destruction of all houses,  institutions and infrastructure  to include a policy of starvation and thirst threatening over two million people. Unfortunately, all of this is happening in full view and hearing of the world, which turns a blind eye to the suffering of this people and the starvation that plagues them. And if it speaks, it confines himself to calling on the entity to cease fire and open humanitarian corridors without exerting any tangible pressure on it. On the contrary, we find in this world that there are those who continue to provide support to this entity through all means, including military, security, and financial support. They ensure political and legal coverage, preventing any decisive action against it, even at the level of establishing ceasefire, as we  witnessed in the US veto  to the UN Security Council over  a ceasefire  draft resolution…

In the face of these challenges, we renew our call to the Arab and Islamic nations for a unified Arab and Islamic stance with the Palestinian people against the policies of the Zionist enemy and those behind it. We call for supporting them in every possible way, not leaving them alone in their suffering. Our call comes from an Arab and Islamic perspective that says: “Whoever hears a man or woman, an elder or a child calling  the Muslims for help and does not respond, is not among the Muslims (even if they are not Muslims)…

 

It is unfortunate that we witness non-Arab and non-Islamic countries declaring their solidarity with the Palestinian people, transcending all considerations and pressures exerted on them by this entity and its supporters. This was recently demonstrated by the honorable Brazilian president, who dared to describe the Zionist attacks as genocide, likening the actions of the Zionist entity to those of the Nazis during World War II

Meanwhile,the bet remains in facing the plans of the Zionist enemy on the Palestinian people, who, amidst all the sacrifices and pains they endure, along with the destruction and the policy of starvation, cling to their land and stand firm on it.

 

Remaining in Palestine, we call on the Islamic world to take a decisive stance against the decision made by the Zionist entity to prevent Palestinian youth from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque. If implemented, this decision will lead to the Zionist entity’s project of Judaizing Al-Aqsa Mosque, starting with emptying it of worshippers and defenders.

 

Turning to Lebanon, where the Zionist enemy has expanded its attacks, reaching the outskirts of the city of Sidon. These attacks target civilians, including children and women in their homes, residential buildings, economic and health facilities. There are also threats from the “Israeli defense” minister to target the capital, Beirut, and other Lebanese regions. As we salute all the sacrifices made on this path, we renew our call for a unified Lebanese stance against this entity, preventing its escalation in aggression against the country. Lebanon must stand united to protect its sovereignty, and although we are confident that this enemy will not dare to risk a comprehensive confrontation given the high cost it would bear, caution is necessary against any unexpected adventure.

 

Internally, efforts are being made to resolve the presidential deadlock, and we emphasize the importance of any effort that leads to a solution. We are in desperate need of such solutions to confront upcoming challenges. We hope that all obstacles in this path can be overcome, though it seems distant at the moment.

 

Finally, we add our voice to the calls at various levels demanding a serious solution to the financial crises. We fear that if these crises are not addressed, they may have severe repercussions on the stability and security of the country. We call for a reconsideration of the new tax series approved through the budget, taking into account the reality of the people who, in the overwhelming majority, are now below the poverty line. Therefore, we urge a different approach that considers the people’s reality, the country’s future, and its economic and social security.