FRIDAY SPEECH January 25, 2002

Of the Ayats God addresses to His Messenger to talk to us through him are the Ayats that describe the major factors of being a committed Muslim. Although Islam includes several concepts, rules and methods, Allah summarized them in certain topics he wants man to carry in his heart and mind to act as a guide that leads man in his life as an embodiment of his faith in God.

Allah says: O my servants who believe …Allah is saying to Muhammad to explain to all the believers how to live their faith. For believing is not merely some words we say or some movements we make. It is rather a commitment that is manifested in all our thoughts and actions.

And this what the word piety means. For it reminds us to fear God since He is watching all our actions and thoughts, and He is going to hold us accountable for them –Fear your lord- who has created and educated you ,and think only about his reaction towards everything you do or say. Do not think about anybody else, for you will be ascribing partners to Him. Think about if it pleases Him or not – Good is the reward for those who do good in this world. Good has been interpreted as paradise meaning that those who do good are rewarded with paradise _Spacious is Allah’s earth. We cannot plead that the circumstances in which we find ourselves force our hands. If our home conditions do not allow us to act according to the faith that is in us, we must go another land where we are free to worship Allah. He who has made the earth manageable for you, so traverse through its tracts and enjoy of the sustenance which He furnishes. But unto Him is the Resurrection.

If you feel oppressed in one country, go to another . Imam Ali (a.s.) said: “There is no country better than another ;the best country is the one that can take care of you”… the one that leaves you free to practice your religious duties and to your principles.

Then Allah draws our attention to an important point: Piety is not always an easy thing that is executed by our psyche, It could need a lot of effort and it could make you loose certain things. Moreover, you have to fight your instincts and desires to abstain from what Allah has forbidden.

It therefore needs perseverance, hard work and patience, but it will be greatly rewarded: those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure”.

Thus Allah goes on to say: say and talk about yourself, for you are God’s prophet and beloved, and you are the one commands them through His Message. Tell them how you stand before Allah’s for you are the prophet that follows what he commands others to do. I am commanded to serve Allah with sincere devotion. And I am commanded to be the first of those who submit to Allah in Islam Say: I would if I disobeyed my lord, indeed have fear of the chastisement of Mighty Day I would, if I disobeyed my lord, indeed have fear of the chastisement of a Mighty Day’

Say:” Allah is the one whom I serve, with my sincere (and exclusive) devotion}

{Serve ye what ye will beside Him,” Say: “Truly, those in loss are those who loss their own souls and their people on the Day of Judgment: Ah! That is indeed the9real and) evident loss!}.

They shall have of fire above them, and layers (of fire) below them: With this does Allah warn off his servants my servants ! Then fear me!}

Although I am the one whom Allah loves most, there is no special relationship between Allah and anybody. It is only the good or bad deeds one does, that determine the relationship which Allah, If this is true with respect to Muhammad the one most loved by Allah, then it is certainly true for any other human beings.

It is related that someone saw Imam Zein Al-Abideen crying in nthe Kaa’ba and told him”: Your grandfathers are the Messenger and the Commander of the Faithful, while your grandmother is Fatima Al-Zahra. Your father is Al-Hussein, and your uncle is AL-Hassan; The Imam told him. ”Leave them alone, Heaven was made for those who obey Allah even if they were black slaves and Hell was made for those who disobey him even if they were of Quraish notables”.{those who eschew Taghut and full not into its worship-and turn to Allah(in repentance)- for them is good news:So announce the good news to my servants}

{Those who listen to the word, and fellow the best of it, {Those are the ones whom Allah has guided, and those are the ones endued with understanding}.

This is how Allah warns His servants so that they would return to the right path and would not take the Taghuts of power or wealth as partners to Allah. He asks them to use their minds and listen to what is said to them, to think about what is being told to them and then follow the best of it.

These are the words of Allah that wanted His Messenger to convey to us. He commanded him to be a model for the people to follow, so that they would know that any leadership, whether religious, political or other wise, should commit themselves to what they preach before asking others to do so. This is what Allah has told us about His prophet when He said that Muhammad represents the practical manifestation of Islam{ Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah an excellent exemplar for him who hopes in Allah and the Final Day, and who remembers Allah much.

We tend always to think about losing money or certain materialistic opportunities, let us think about not losing ourselves in the Hereafter {The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail}.

As the Intifada continues, the Israeli brutality with its moving crimes from one place to another in Palestine is reuniting the Palestinians and getting the Palestinian Authority closer to its people, because it is beginning to realize that the Zionist Entity will continue to commit its crimes whether there is a ceasefire or not. It will never allow the Palestinians to determine their destiny and choose freedom and independence; it will never accept a free Palestinian state having benefited from the American green light to destroy the Palestinian infrastructure and the upper structure as well. It also pressurizes the Palestinian authority with impossible demands aiming at disrupting the Palestinian national unity.

America considers the Israeli war in Palestine a war against terrorism similar to its war in Afghanistan. It has also forced Russia, the European Union and most Arab states to accept this slogan, which made all of the allies stand with the US ,whether openly or secretly, against the Intifada. Both America and Israel want to destroy any active resistance in Palestine and undermine any Arab or Muslim pressure on them.

The Americans want the Palestinians to accept what the Israelis offer without putting any conditions, all this in the name of preserving peace and keeping away from terrorism.

Thus, we saw a limitless flow of American arms to the enemy, while the Palestinians are held responsible for any piece that they import to defend themselves, because it creates a balance of terror with the Palestinians something which America cannot accept, being committed wholly to Israeli security…

America along with the Security Council it controls –pursue this same policy when they hasten to condemn any operation the Islamic Resistance performs to liberate its lands, while it keeps silent of all the Israeli daily violations in Lebanon.

They claim that the Resistances actions might lead the region to war, while Israeli violations should not lead to any retaliation since it is in their view a kind of self defense.

All what America wants is to make the Arabs and Muslims join an international coalition, that includes Israel, using the method of intimidation that terms any opposition or liberation movements as a terrorist organization.

Thus, we ought to build our strength and protect everything that gives us this strength like the Intifada, the Resistance and every active rejection policy, since it is an issue that has to do with our future as a whole.

We say to the Palestinians: Let the Intifada be the basis of our national unity, for it is alone keeps the enemy in its impasse and exposes the arrogant American policy and its standing indiscriminately with Israel… We say to the Authority in Palestine: Go back to your grassroots popular base, for this is the only way for salvation, independence and freedom.

To the Arab and Islamic peoples we say: The Future is not void of danger, which means that we ought to pay no attention to our trivial differences and concentrate on the major struggle with Israel and the arrogant powers. We should confront all their intimidations by putting a special emphasis on our awareness and carefully studied actions, as well as the issue of unity.

Lebanon: All Parties should join hands

In Lebanon all official and public efforts should complement one another in all fields and stances, so as to confront the new security situation that could well involve certain assassinations or inciting internal strife. The enemy might also attempt to create a state of instability that could lead to political chaos or confusion that might suggest to some people that they could interfere.

Therefore, our national unity is the only real option. We have to keep our eyes wide –open to discover all what might be planned behind closed doors that might undermine this unity.

At the same time, we should study our economic and administrative problems to get out of this dark tunnel, because getting totally immersed in our political differences will make the temple fall on our heads.