|
The First Sermon
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
One of the Members of this House is Imam Al-Hassan, the first
child of Imam Ali and Fatima Al-Zahra: He enjoyed, along with his
brother Imam Al-Hussein, the love and sponsorship of their
grandfather, Prophet Muhammad, who used to hug them, carry them and
play with them, saying they are his children. He also said: "O God,
I love them, I ask you to love them and love those who love them. It
is also known that he has described them as the "masters of the
youth in Heaven".
Imam Hassan spent his childhood with his grandfather, the
Messenger, his mother the purified Fatima Az-Zahra, his father, the
Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.), and he inspired from all
of them much of the purity of his spirt, the profoundness of his
thinking and the greatness of his morals. Then in his youth, he
lived with his father Imam Ali (a.s.) and learned how to elevate his
mind and heart as well as how to take the right stand and reach the
right decision.
The Imam used to rely on him in difficult situations and discuss
with him what should be done towards every development.
The Responsible Imamate
The Imam became the leader after his father's death, he faced a
lot of difficulties as a result of Muawiah's aggression,
conspiracies a nd plots that he had to make a truce to
preserve the security of his companions that he was preparing to from the
opposition of the corrupt rule, and to be the base Imam Hussein
would rely on in his movement. That is why it was said that the
movement of Imam Al-Hussein was an echo to Imam Hassan's truce.
It was not a matter, as some have said, that Imam Al-Hassan was a
pacifist while Imam Hussein was a revolutionary. They both had the
same goal to defend Islam, making peace if the interests of Islam
required so and going to war if the wellbeing of Islam could not be
maintained in any other way.
Thus, they took their decisions with one goal in mind to serve
the line of the call to Islam as well as to enjoin good and forbid
evil. They also were a role model in their morals, for they opened
their hearts on all Muslims and all people. It is said that they
once saw an old man performing Wudu’ (ablutions) in a wrong way,
they wanted to teach him, and since he did not know them, they
thought of way to tell him how to perform Wudu’ without offending or
hurting him, so they said to him: "We want to perform Wudu’ in front
of you, so as to tell us which one of us performs it correctly. When
they performed their Wudu' in exactly the same way, yet different
than the way he performed it, he understood that they aimed at
teaching him the right way, and thanked them for their good deed. We
learn from this incident how to tell some one that he is wrong in
the way that is best and that does not hurt his morale.
Once Imam Hassan was walking in Medina, with some of his brothers
and sons, when he met a man who has learnt from Muawiah that he
should curse Imam Ali (a.s.) even after his death so that they carry
this message to the coming generations. This man saw Al-Hassan and
started to curse Ali and his son.
Al-Hassan's family and relatives were very agitated, but the Imam
left him until he finished and said in a very kind and understanding
way: "I believe that you are a stranger. If you are hungry we will
feed you… and if you need anything we will help you…
Then, he ordered the people around him to take him home and be
hospitable to him. Seeing this, the man said: "Allah knows best whom
He trusts with His Message".
The Imam thought that this man was wrongly educated and as a
result brought up to curse Imam Ali (a.s.) and the Members of the
House. How would we solve this matter? We would give him the chance
to understand the issue as it really is. Taking him to the Imam's
house, the house of the Prophet, the Imamate and the spiritual and
moral values, would let him reach the truth.
What do we benefit from this story? We lean from this story that
many people might accuse you, just because they were told bad things
about you.
Those people should be treated with patience and kindness that
will enable one to explain to them the truth of the matter.
I personally have suffered from such accusations as those that
accused me of being against Fatima Az-Zahra and her husband, Imam
Ali (a.s.). But I forgive them because I know they been educated on
this by some of the big players.
Those good and pious people have been brainwashed a phenomenon
that is also present in political and social life.
Teaching and recommendation.
In this occasion, we would like to review so me of the teaching
and advice of Imam Al-Hassan: On conferring, he says: "Every time
people confer, they will be guided…"
This is the Islamic principle in running things that has been
written in the Quran when it talked about conferring as the means to
run the affairs of Muslims. Therefore, we should learn that we
should not, whether at home or in social and political life, be
tyrannical and resort to conferring as a means to reach the right
decision.
In one of his sermons, the Imam says in the context of telling
man how to live this life: "Keeping away from what Allah has
prohibited makes one a worshipper, and be content with what Allah
has given you, you will be rich, and be good to your neighbor, you
will be a Muslim.
And treat people in the way you like them to treat you, you will
be just… There were, before you, peoples who used to accumulate
wealth, build palaces and have a lot of ambitions but what they
gathered turned into an infertile land, their work became conceit
and their houses became graves. O man! You begin to ruin your life
from the day you are born". You are the eldest the day you are born
and then with each day you lose a part of your life. "Therefore take
what you have now (wealth and power) and use it to what is still to
come, (The Hereafter). For the believer supplies while the
unbeliever spends what he has on his lusts".
These are some of the teachings and guidance of Imam Al-Hassan,
who was martyred on this day by the poison given to his wife by
Muawiah.
Peace be on him and on his brother Imam Hussein, and their
father, Imam Ali, and their mother Az-Zahra and their grandfather,
the Messenger of Allah.
The Second Sermon
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
American Democracy oppresses freedoms
America is destabilizing the region in the name of democracy. It
has created several political and security earthquakes in the name
of fighting terrorism… It has tried to reproduce the UN Security
council resolutions after it reconciled with the EU. They have done
all things with such a deal that carried various threats to the
countries that dare not carry out the resolutions but in an
arbitrary way, just as its wars in the region were primitive and
selective.
America in its democratic call refuses any demand that Israel
should be democratic and refuses to give the Palestinian people its
rights; this people is still under occupation and its barbaric
practices, assassinations, demolishing of houses and bulldozing
farms, building the racist wall… without any American condemnation
or without any European concern. The problem is that America
supports what it sees as an Israeli right to keep the large
settlements and prevent the Palestinians from going back to their
home land and perhaps even in keeping the separation wall, all
according to a previously drawn plan, which we do not know what it
conceals.
America also refuses to implement all UN resolutions concerning
the American-Israeli struggle and it continues to pressurize Syria
and Lebanon through UN Security Council resolution 1559 to ensure
the interests of the Israeli security especially concerning the arms
of Resistance and that of the Palestinian camps.
Our opposition to the US politics does not stem from a complex
against it, but from the American commitment to Israel's interests
at the expense of the Arab and Muslim peoples. Thus, our position is
one of self-defense and not one of aggression.
America talks about freedoms, while it denies them to the
downtrodden, and talks about democracy to protect contain
dictatorships.
This is why the downtrodden peoples feel a deep down hatred to
America, and oppose all its projects in the region. America will not
be to change its image in this world unless it changes its arrogant
policies.
We call all people in Lebanon and the region to study what is
going on in the world carefully especially the American increasing
pressures against Lebanon, Syria and Iran… They want the region to
put down its arms and succumb to the demands of America and Israel…
But we notice that America is moving from one crisis to another
especially in Iraq where the American soldiers have sunk in the
Iraqi quick sands.
We also call upon the Islamic world to follow up the plot the
Jews are executing to make 100 thousand people invade the Al-Aqsa
Mosque in Jerusalem without any American or European condemnation to
this aggression on the Islamic sacred shrines, and the threatening
of the Islamic future there.
Iraq: Protecting National Unity
In Iraq, we are very concerned with the political development,
the raising of the issue of federalism and the debate about which
region is a part of the Kurdish area… suggesting that a
semi-independent Kurdish state in Iraq is in the making. We,
therefore, warn against this game that is led by America and Israel…
They seek division and fragmentation in the name of unity while the
responsibility of the National Assembly is the protection of the
unity of Iraq especially in this critical period.
Lebanon: lying does not save the country:
Lebanon is still witnessing additional divisions as a result of
the emotional discourse, and the show of strength with each party
throwing further accusations against the others.
The question is: What is the future of this country. Are those
who are ruling it will carry it to the safe shore… Are those who are
proposing change, but who were a part of its corruption, really
seeking a solution, or is the political row is screening the voices
that are looking for truth?
Lebanon needs a mind that studies the major issues that the
Lebanese differ about… It needs a dialogue about the various points
of view without any conditions especially that the people who have
the real interests in this country do not see clearly as a result of
screening clouds.
Mutual deceit will not save the country and will not reach a
decisive result. The danger that the country is subjected to as a
result of political tension especially in the street, will lead to
fall of the economy, especially in the monetary field, because the
vital social services have already been confiscated by the previous
governments.
We say to all parties: Don't try to win points
against one another, but look at the state, the citizens and the new
generations. Freedom is the soul of this country, but there is a
difference between those who are trading in its name and those who
are making its humane value… The people are afraid of the outcome of
this game, and they want the officials to act in a responsible way
that ensures security for the entire country as we wait for the
future. |