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The
First Sermon
In
the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
In this Holy month of Sha’ban, the
month that started yesterday, we meet many happy occasions that
touch our souls: The third of this month is the anniversary of the
birth of Imam Al-Hassan, the fourth is the anniversary of the birth
of Abu fadl Al-Abbass and the fifth is the anniversary of the birth
of Imam Ali bin Al-Hussein (a.s.). When we recall these occasions,
we remember these spiritual sacred models who gave Islam all their
lives, aiming at elevating the Muslims to the level that draws them
nearer to Allah so that they will live with spiritual and ethical
values and enrich humanity with the civilization of Islam that came
to guide people from darkness into light, from backwardness into
progress and from myth into reality.
Imams Al-Hussein and Al-Hassan
Having lost his only son Ibrahim,
the Prophet raised Imam Hassan and Hussein with all the love
tenderness and care in the world that he had given to their father
Imam Ali bin Abi talib.
As young as they were, they used to
learn from the Messenger (p.) and even memorize his speeches. Thus,
they had the best education and care in history; for what could be
better spiritually, ethically and emotionally than the school of
their grandfather and that of their parents…
The Education of Imam Hussein (a.s.)
The Imam (a.s.) grew up dedicating
his life for Islam just as his father was, who, at the night of the
Prophet's departure to Al-Medina, slept in his bed to thwart the
infidel's conspiracy to kill Muhammad (p.) and was described by the
Quran as such: {And
among men is he who sells himself to seek the pleasure of Allah; and
Allah is Affectionate to the servants.}
[2:207]. Similarly Imam Hussein, when he found his baby dying in his
hands said: "It has made it easier for me to tolerate this fact
that Allah, the most Exalted, is seeing what is happening to me”.
Even when he was dying, having lost
his sons, his relatives and his companions, and as he was
anticipating the tragic events that were to face the women and
children who were left to be imprisoned and in fact the nation as a
whole, he was only thinking that he has performed his duty against
the unjust, and in support of the Right.
"I rose to seek reform in my
grandfather's nation. I want to enjoin good and forbid evil".
All alone in the battlefield with
the arrows sinking in his body and the stones hurling at him, he was
thinking only about the future of the nation: How would it rid
itself of the unjust, the arrogant and the deviators. He was not
thinking about himself, for his only concern was the nation.
And this is, dear brothers and
sisters, what we learn from Imam Al-Hussein (a.s.). This is what
remains of him: To be concerned about Islam and Muslims and ignore
one's personal interests and come out into the broad horizons of the
Message.
Thus, even in Karabala we live the
same spiritual joy we experience when we celebrate his birth. The
Imam was bigger than the pains, the tears and all wounds. He lived
with God, and those who live with God will not feel their egos
although theirs would be of the greatest rank that holds all
virtues.
Al-Abbass: Drinking from the same
source.
Al-Abbass was raised by Imam Ali
(a.s.) and Imam Al-Hussein (a.s.) and grew up to carry their
dedication and piety. Although the people remember Al-Abbass as a
handsome and courageous man who they talk about his heroism and
sacrifices, they should also remember his spiritual side as a man
whose heart was full of Allah's love, and whose mind was full of
knowledge of Islam. He was so spiritual that he dedicated all his
life to Islam.
He used to accompany the Imam (a.s.)
learning from his knowledge and adopting his morals, living in the
world of values and dedication to worshipping God…
This is what made Imam Hussein
(a.s.) respect him. It was not only because of their blood ties as
brothers, but also because of all the virtues and spirituality of
his brother.
We might come to appreciate this
spirituality of Al-Abbass, when he relived what happened when he
lost his right hand in Karabala. He did not cry or panic, although
he lost the hand he fought with.
On the contrary, he wanted all the
enemy's soldiers to know that he was still fighting for the cause
just as his father did in Badr Uhud, and all the other wars the
Prophet fought. What did he do? He recited some verses in which he
made it clear that if they cut his hand, nothing will change for he
was fighting to protect his religion and his Imam. He did not say I
am defending my brother, for this was not the case. He was
supporting the leadership… The Islamic rightful leadership of Imam
Al-Hussein.
Thus, when we remember Al-Abass we
remember this hero who dedicated his life of Islam and fought for
the cause of justice, sacrificing his life for the cause of the
right.
Imam Zein Al-Abidein
When we remember this Imam (a.s.),
we remember a great Imam who lived with his father in Karabala and
demonstrated the most tolerance and patience towards the tragic
events. He, then, went to Koufa where he faced Ibn Ziad and then he
faced Yazid in Damascus.
Thus, we would like to remind all
those who read the chronicles of the ten days of Karbala not to
portray Imam Zein Al-Abidein as a week person. He was not. He was a
strong person who inspired strength from his belief in God, and he
was strong in confronting the unjust. It is true that he was taken
as a prisoner from Karabala to Damascus. But he was strong as a
prisoner. His strength was from God and he lived his strength, for
he was free from the inside…
Moreover, when we look at his
supplications, we find out that they were the most educative source
of explaining Islam in its values, morals and philosophy.
It is also a demonstration of how
Islam reads the social and human relations in the world of reality
as well as in the world of virtues and spirituality... His
supplications elevated man and made him reach the highest ranks of
spirituality. The Imam was also the teacher who taught most
religious scholars of his time... He was the worshipper who lived
with God, day and night. He was the living embodiment of forgiveness
and tolerance owing to the great manners he used to apply in dealing
with his friends and enemies.
The Imam's personality was a
combination of that of his father and uncle, Imams Al-Hassan and
Al-Hussein.
His personality was reminiscent of
that of his grandfather, the Messenger (p.), whether in his morals
or in his struggle for the cause of Islam and belief in values.
We remember him when he said to the
man who saw him crying in his prayer, and asked him: How could you
cry in apprehension as your grandfathers are the Messenger (p.) and
Ali (a.s.), and your grandmother is Fatima Al-Zahra, your father is
Al-Hussein (a.s.) and your uncle is Imam Al-Hussein…. He said to
him.
Do not mention any of them, for God
created paradise for those who obey him even if they were blacks,
and he created hell for those who disobey him even if they were of
the masters of Quraish.
Thus, it is evident from this saying
and from other sayings including the one by the Messenger that
clarifies that one's deeds are the fundamental factor in determining
his fate, and that one cannot rely on his social status or his blood
relations.
It is only good deeds that would
save him at the end of the day.
Dear loved ones; those are our
Imams, leaders and heroes whom we have to follow their lead. Being a
Shiite of Ahl el-Beit is not merely crying over them. It is to
follow their line and struggle for the cause of the straight path of
Islam as they did.
On this basis, we celebrate their
birth and on this basis we love them and respect them, for they
loved Allah, the most Exalted, obeyed Him and dedicated their lives
to this love.
The Second Sermon
In the Name of God,
the Compassionate, the Merciful
Palestine: A mobile act of genocide
In Palestine, the world follows
every day the news about the killing and injury of scores of
Palestinian civilians, including children, the demolition of houses,
attacks on camps, and arbitrary arrests… that consists a plan for
dislocation and collective killing reminiscent of the Nazis…
In addition, the Zionists are using
the media to blow up the plan to withdraw from Gaza, as well as its
negative consequences so as to avoid any withdrawal from the West
Bank and Jerusalem, and confirm their backing out from the Road Map.
Yet the White House, in an effort to
save face, declares that Sharon is still committed to this plan. The
Americans are trying to convince the Quartet Committee that they are
still trying to implement the Road Map although they are able to lie
on the Arab officials who need any deceiving announcement to feel
reassured, or able to save face when they subdue to the American
pressures.
A complete failure in Iraq
Iraq too is witnessing the fall of
hundreds of mostly civilian victims everyday, as a result of the
American way of running Iraqi security. The occupation forces are
actually picking on civilians while claiming to target the so-called
terrorists.
They depend on the information of
the American intelligence agencies which is usually not accurate and
similar to the lies they used to justify the war on Iraq.
America has totally failed in Iraq,
and even the American Secretary of State has recognized this when he
said that the armed rebellion is growing in Iraq … and that it is
a very tough stage. But the Americans did not study the reasons.
Rather they insisted on considering the matter as a matter of
fighting terrorism despite the fact that the occupation of Iraq had
made America lose this war. In this respect, the UN secretary
General has declared that American's occupation of Iraq is
illegitimate and violates international law. He also expressed his
hope that the world will not witness a new war, and said that it is
improbable for Iraqi elections to be held on time.
But America and its allies have
insisted on their mistake. Furthermore, they continue to talk about
international legitimacy in their political and media war against
several Islamic states and Jihadi organizations while opposing at
the same time any talk about their own violation or that of Israel
to international law.
They give themselves the permission
to violate all international laws while leaving the international
resolutions as a sword drawn on the heads of downtrodden nations.
This is what we see in the Security
Council resolution concerning Syria and Lebanon, which was a result
of American pressure to make certain arrangements that benefit their
occupation of Iraq as well as the Israelis but that does not take
the situations in Syria and Lebanon into consideration.
On another level: As we have certain
reservations regarding the French position that supports America in
the Lebanese-Syrian resolution, we would like to express our
appreciation of the French President announcement that America has
opened the gates of hell in Iraq and that she is unable to close
it… We hope that the European Union would support the French
position; a development that might prevent further Future adventures
of war.
Warning against fanatic language.
Another critical issue is the
communiqués of sectarian nature and that accuses others of
unbelief…
Such communiqués might lead to
organized killings in certain places in Iraq on the basis that the
members of a certain sect are all enemies of the members of another.
We warn against this fanatic
language that aims to incite sectarian strife to the benefit of the
occupation especially that the CIA has begun to talk about the
possibility of a civil war in Iraq that needs to be prevented by the
continuing presence of the occupation forces.
Muslim clerics should condemn these
communiqués regardless of who is issuing them.
They should promote the Muslim unity
in Iraq against the hostile occupation forces.
We also notice another American led
interference in Sudan whose problem should be solved by finding a
humanistic Islamic solution that preserves Sudan's unity, integrity
and strength, while preserving the life and human conditions of the
downtrodden in the unified Sudan.
Europeans and the American Pressures
We also call on the Europeans not to
subdue to the American pressures regarding Iran which has announced
that it using its nuclear power for peaceful purposes only.
Despite that, the Americans are
trying to impose sanctions, on Iran while they support the nuclear
Israeli arsenal.
Lebanon and foreign Interference
Lebanon is still in the midst of a
debate that includes political issues of an internal and external
nature. But the American Ambassador is trying to raise the Issue as
a sectarian one, as if the matter is an Islamic -Christian one. In
talking about the role of the Maronite church and the situation the
Christian community finds itself in, in a way that implies that the
Christians are in danger.
We say to the Lebanese that the
problems in Lebanon, even the security destabilization, are the
result of foreign interference, especially the American, and we call
on them not to listen to these incites and live their freedom in
deciding on crucial issues that determine their fate.
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