The first sermon

With the advent of the month of Muharram, we will welcome a new Hijri year (1442). It is regretful that a lot of Muslims   are heedless of this occasion because they are unaware of the Hijri calendar despite its importance to them, since it is associated with their history, rites and occasions. Thus, we renew the call we make each year to enhance our knowledge of the Hijri calendar so that we restore some balance in the favor of the Islamic civilization that the current one is trying to obliterate. Muslims should tell one another about the Hijri calendar  and the need to use it in their dealings and occasions and all their life events .This  does not mean that we should  abandon the AD calendar, especially that it has become a de facto reality and an international practice. Moreover, it is associated with one of Allah, The Most Exalted, prophets who has a special position in the hearts of Muslims. Thus, we can use both calendars.

The Prophet linked the Hijri calendar with his Hijra, not his birth or when he was pledged loyalty, for the importance of this event, since it constituted a turning point in the movement of the Islamic message: The Muslims moved from the stage of suffering and insecurity in Mecca  that reached the level of planning to assassinate  the Messenger(p.) while he was sleeping in his bed , to a stage of security and strength  that provided for the Muslims  with an opportunity to spread their religion to the entire world. Then, they returned victoriously to Mecca, which became the cradle of monotheism.

Today, and in the context of talking about Hijra, we are going to focus on some of its lessons:

Firstly: it points at the sacrifice that the Messenger (p.)  and his companions made, when they left their families and all what they had in Mecca, which was the place they loved most. The immigration was not out of fear or for seeking any worldly gains, rather it was for the cause of Allah, The Most Exalted, Who appreciated their sacrifice: Indeed, those who have believed and those who have emigrated and fought in the cause of Allah – those expect the mercy of Allah. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

Secondly: it showed how much Imam Ali (a.s.) was dedicated for this religion and was ready to be martyred for it. This was demonstrated when the Messenger (p.) decided to immigrate .He asked the Imam to sleep in his bed so that he would be able to travel safely. The Imam did not hesitate although the house he was to sleep in was surrounded by 40 armed men who were waiting until dawn to kill the man inside. He only asked Muhammad(p.) if by doing this he would be safe  and when the  Messenger (p.) replied that he would , Imam Ali (a.s.) said that in this case he would not mind to die . Then the following Ayat was revealed:

And of the people is he who sells himself, seeking means to the approval of Allah. And Allah is kind to [His] servants.  

Thirdly: Divine guiding and serenity that fell on those who trust Allah, The Most Exalted, and feel that He is always present with them: when the idolaters followed the Prophet, having  known that he managed to leave Mecca. He hid   with his companion, Abu Bakr in a cave. When  the idolaters reached  the opening of the cave Abu Bakr felt sad and afraid . The Messenger (p.) reassured him saying that he should not be sad because God is with them .God is always present and would never fail those who trust Him and serve His cause. Allah, The Most Exalted , describes this incident as follows: If you do not aid the Prophet – Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, “Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.” And Allah sent down his tranquillity upon him and supported him with angels you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah – that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.

Fourthly: The Hijra defined the path the Muslims have to follow when they can no longer withstand the wronging in a certain country: they should not stay in a country in which they cannot confront tyranny and wronging.  And if they do stay and do not immigrate to another land where they could practice their religion, they will be held accountable.

 Moreover,Hijra is not only travelling  from one place to another. It is also keeping away from any wrongdoing. Thus, dear loved ones, we are called upon to immigrate from our bad reality of division and fragmentation to the reality of compassion and unity, from the reality of hatred to that of love, from the reality of occupation to that of freedom… And this will make us earn the reward of those who immigrated with the Messenger (p.)

The second sermon

Worshippers of Allah, The Most Exalted: I advise you and myself, to follow the model of the Messenger (p.) and inspire the meanings of the supplication he used to recite on the advent of every new year: O Allah, The Most Exalted, you are everlasting with no beginning, upon your vast generosity and infinite gentleness is our reliance. This is a new year that is upon us. I ask You for protection from Satan and his minions. I ask You for protection against my lower self, the self that calls to bad actions. I ask You to occupy my waking states with those acts that will draw me closer to you. O Lord of Majesty and Generosity.

The Messenger (p.) is calling us to begin our year  by seeking  the support and mercy of  Allah, The Most Exalted, to pray to Him to strengthen us against Satan and against all those who want to undermine our fate and faith and against our own selves that lead us to evil… so that our coming year will be a year of blessings and good in this world and the Hereafter. When we do that, we will be able to face the numerous difficult challenges.

We begin by the corona pandemic, which has made a new record in the last few days and is likely to increase. If the total shut own is one of the solutions that the government adopted, it is not the appropriate one owing to the inability of the country to withstand permanent shutdown.

We believe that the realistic confrontation of this pandemic lies on the shoulders of the citizens who should totally commit themselves to the required measures: wearing masks and abiding by social distancing and advising others to comply with them… while the government should be strict in overseeing the complete abiding by these measures and implementing the deterring punishments.

We thus renew our call to deal with this pandemic in a serious way and not to take lightly its consequences and results, not only on the old people, but on the youth as well. We should consider this as a religious, moral and national duty and not as an option.

As to the repercussions of the explosion of the port, which are still increasing socially, medically, psychologically, and health wise, the government should speed up its efforts to deal with these results, while at the same time, we appreciate all the efforts of the army, the municipalities and the health and other associations.

In these circumstances, we would like the judiciary to speed up its efforts to reveal those responsible for this crime and not exclude anyone and demonstrate its ability to resist all pressures and attempts of politicization, to end all talk about the inability of the national judiciary to perform this task.

The country should also accomplish the task of   forming a new government. In this respect, we call for speeding up the forming a government that is able to revive the ailing economy and performing the reforms that the building of the state and the much needed foreign aid rely on.

We call on the political parties to end their struggles and concern about their sectarian interests and caring at what others want. They should inspire what those who voted for them and made them reach their current positions want and work hard to relief their country from the impasse it is suffering from. Such a task cannot be accomplished by exchanging accusations. It needs an earnest dialogue away from conditions and counter conditions and vile. Without this, the country will fall in the hands of all those who are awaiting and a prisoner of acute foreign polarization that is often against the interests of the Lebanese.

It has become clear that no political or sectarian party will be able to relief the country from it is suffering. Any solution needs the cooperation of all parties and the rise above all sectarian interests to save the country and   solve its problems.

At the same time, we call on the Lebanese to reduce the level of tension we witnessed on the social media and the press. The provocative and inciting language and cursing have become the norm. This inflames hatred, increases enmity and drives the country into a black destiny that no one will be safe from.

The dialogue between the Lebanese should be governed   by the Divine values they all agree on and which should be the  basis which they rely on to express their demands and expose  their fears .If they do this they will discover that what separates them is not realistic  or accurate. And this will create stability and balance in the country and thwart all the plans of those who care only about their personal and sectarian interests

Commenting on the regretful incidents that took place lately, we should warn against falling in a strife between members of the same group and keep arms away from such tensions.