Allah says in His Glorious Book: Allah, intends only to    remove from you the impurity [of sin], O people of the [Prophet’s] household, and to purify you with [extensive] purification. Allah, the Most Exalted, speaks the truth.

The twentieth of the month of Jamada II marked the birthday of the purified Lady of the women of the world; the infallible Fatima Az-Zahra (a.s.). This anniversary provides on occasion to recall all the values and virtues she embodied in her life and expressed in her sayings and actions.

Today, we are going to benefit of this honorable occasion to talk about the Hijab(veil)… The duty that Az-Zahra(a.s.) was the first to be committed to and to urge others to follow her, after it was ordained by Allah, The Most Exalted.

What drives us to talk about the Hijab is the increase in casting doubt about it is being mandatory and  in claiming that it is a tradition which is only mandatory to the Prophet’s wives…This is not true, for it is an obligatory duty on every woman that reaches the age of Taklief (the age one becomes required to perform religious duties). The Holy Quran has indicated this in several Ayats…

The first Ayat: O Prophet! Ask your wives, daughters, and believing women to draw their cloaks over their bodies. In this way it is more likely that they will be recognized ˹as virtuous˺ and not be harassed. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful. In this Ayat, Allah, The Most Exalted, tells the Prophet to ask his wives, daughters, and believing women to draw their cloaks over their bodies which means they have to wear cloaks. It is clear that this Ayat addresses every Muslim woman and not only the wives and daughters of The Messenger(p. ). The Quranic interpreters have given many explanations for this Ayat. While some said that it means covering the entire body including the head others excluding it. Nevertheless, it is clear, as they all agreed on, that the entire body should be covered whether with head or without it. Here comes the second Ayat to assert without any doubt that the covering includes the head too: Let them draw their veils over their chests. This Ayat addressed the women who used to put the veil behind their face and neck in a way that reveals the neck and part of the chest that they should put it in a way that covers their necks and the uncovered parts of their chests.

The third Ayat further explains what the veil should be like. It says: tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to reveal heir adornments except what normally appears.  This Ayat explains that when a woman meets a non-mahram she should not wear a bracelet, a neckless, an anklet, fancy clothes or put any makeup, except certain exception the Islamic law had permitted.   This Ayat also states that the woman should only reveal what normally appears (the face, the palms and the feet).  The Holy Ayats talked also about another veil which is the veil of the voice. Yet this does not mean as some imagine, that women should not talk or deliver speeches before men or through social media, news outlets and the like.  On the contrary, they should be active in these fields and they should also take part in seminars and conferences and various jobs. This is not a controversial issue. Rather, this is what we want and call for.   What is meant by the voice veil is that women should not talk in a seductive way lest he in whose heart is disease should covet: Do not be soft in speech [to men], lest he in whose heart is disease should covet.  The blame in this case is not only on women who should not talk in a soft voice, but also on men who, as the Quran describes them, have a disease in their hearts would commit HARAM.

 There is also another Hijab: The Hijab of seeing which includes both men and women: O Prophet!˺ Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity. That is purer for them. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity.

Thus the lawful Hijab is decreed in the Quran and in several Hadiths. It is not a habit or a social tradition. And Muslim women have abided by it in all their history from the time of the Prophet. Although Muslims differ in their sects and opinions, they all consider Hijab as a must and a religious duty.

Thus, we call for highlighting the significance of the Hijab in the mind of our girls, as Allah, The Most Exalted, wished through it to enhance the female self-esteem as well as the way the society looks at her… That is not to see her as a female, but as a human being who has a role in all fields. But we should not resort to coerce and force women to wear the veil, for this is not useful and might have negative effects in most cases.

The challenges of building Islamic personalities that abid by the pillars and laws of the religion are increasing, especially that globalization and social media   and the press… have opened wide the door before various means of seduction and deviation. And this calls for more awareness and a bigger role for parents and social and religious institutions …

Therefore, we are proud of our girls and women who have remained steadfast against all challenges, pressures, offences and discriminations in work and in public life. And we trust that Allah, The Most Exalted, would reward them with His best rewards.

It is enough in this respect, that they follow the example of Az-Zahra, whose Hijab did not prevent her from being strongly active in the fields of science, religion, work, jihad and education as well as fighting wronging and deviation, reaching the highest ranks with respect to Allah, The Most Exalted, His Messenger and life…

The second sermon

Worshippers of Allah, The Most Exalted, I advise you and myself to learn the lessons of this story: It is narrated that Allah, The Most Exalted, told Prophet Dawood to go to a woman called Khaladah bint Aws and give her the glad tidings that she would be his mate in Heaven. Astonished, the Prophet went to the woman to tell her and learn how a woman can reach what he has reached. She told him: I am not different than other people, But whenever I face a hardsdship or a sickness, I resort to patience, and I do not ask God to relief me,  until He changes my situation  to that of well-being and  wellness… And then I would thank Allah, The Most Exalted… We are in a dire need to be guided by this woman and be satisfied by what Allah, The Most Exalted’s decreed and thank Him even for trying us .. By this we will reach where she has and face challenges.

We begin by Lebanon where the economic crisis aggravates as a result of the increase of the price of bread and benzene, along with other essential needs…

This has grave effects on the social and security level, that if not dealt with, will lead to the repetition of the painful scenes that we saw in Tripoli and other Lebanese regions. Meanwhile, the political parties concerned are overwhelmed by their struggle over power, without taking into consideration its repercussions on the country and its citizens. All what is happening has not driven these parties to hasten to form the awaited government and disregard all their differences and private interests, having become clear that there can be no solutions, without forming an efficient government that distances itself from all these conflicts.

Therefore, we renew our call to all political parties concerned with forming the government to drop all illusions that hinder the formation of government …Guaranteeing the rights of sects and political parties is not achieved by securing the obstructive third or taking control of the political decision as much as in internal unity and reciprocal concessions.

We say to all parties that the current stage is not one of collecting gains and achieving goals as it is a time for saving a collapsing country. There would be no gains left if the country falls or sinks into chaos and becomes a hostage of foreign powers. We reemphasize that the solution for this country will not come from outside, having become clear that the latter is not in a hurry to find a solution that is detached from the solution to the entire region. The foreign powers will not help the Lebanese if they do not realize what they want from them. They are not philanthropic institutions that would give for free… Moreover, as we call for a radical solution that would save the country , we also call for short term solutions to the Lebanese poor  families that have come to consist a majority of the Lebanese.

 Thus, we call on the caretaker government to perform its duties and hasten to help the 600000 poor families it promised to help and remove all obstacles of corruption and maladministration that hinder its execution.

 Meanwhile, we have to be on the alert to the increasing violations of the Zionist   enemy against the Lebanese airspace… which might conceal an adventure it is about to venture at.  In this respect, we praise what the Resistance did of dowing  a drone to emphasize that our airspace can not be desecrated.  We also appreciate      the efforts of the Lebanese army in this respect.

As for the corona, faced by the continuing increase of the number of the infected and dead, all efforts should unite to confront it.  Moreover, it has become clear that this also demands that all citizens should abide by the prevention measures and the government should be strict in enforcing the protective instructions, as well as  aiding the health sector and providing sufficient vaccines for the citizens, since the lockdown cannot continue any longer  due to the economic hardships.

Lastly, we stop at the killing of the political activist Lockman Slim to call to hasten the investigation and put an end to all accusations that are not based on a sound evidence and to hold all those involved accountable and protect the country from all who seek to destabilize it.