Friday Speeches Mosque Safar 16, 1424h

One of the Imams whom Allah has purified is the eighth Imam Ali bin Musa Al-Rida, whose death anniversary is most probably tomorrow the 17th of Safar.

Imam Rida, the infallible Imam who represents the extension of the Message through the call as well as through the response to all their practical spiritual and cultural needs, gained the trust and respect of the Islamic world of his time. He witnessed extraordinary events that none of the other Imams encountered.

When Al-Mamoun was victorious in his conflict with his brother Al-Amin, he decided that the caliphate should be removed from Al-Abbasids who stood against him and asked the Imam to be his heir apparent. The Imam refused, because his legitimacy as an Imam was not derived from the Abbasids, but rather by the Divine Will of God. But he then decided to accept, having seen that he might be able to serve the Muslims in a batter and more comprehensive way, and preserve the followers of the Members of the House. He opted to accept but in accordance to certain conditions.

Al-Mamoun wanted him to come to Tous where he lived. On his way to Baghdad he was welcomed in every town and village in an unprecedented manner, which made Al-Mamoun’s supporters wary. In any case, he was asked wherever he stopped by those who used to memorize the traditions to recite some of them. He used to start by what was known as the "Golden Chain"

My father Abu Musa bin Jaafar told me that his father, Jaafar bin Muhammad told him that his father Abu Muhammad bin Ali told him that his father Ali Bin Al –Hussein told him that his father al –Hussein bin Ali (a.s.) told him that his father Ali bin Abitalib told him that the Messenger told him that Jibrail said that Allah said:

Saying no god save Allah is My fort, if you enter My fort you will be safe from my punishment.

In choosing this tradition the Imam wanted to underscore the fact that the oneness of Allah is the basis of Islam. Meaning that Muslims worship and obey Allah alone. If they want to be associated with any sacred person it will be through Allah. One cannot be attached to them separately, for they are God's creation like all other human beings. If Allah loves them more it is because they were faithful and dedicated to Him.

Thus, asking them directly and separately to fulfill your needs in an act of ascribing partners to Allah. Nevertheless, we can ask them to intercede for us, knowing that Allah is accepts the intercession of whom He pleases. He is the Sustainer, the Creator, and the Divider. He is everything and all those who drew near to Him did so as a result of their obedience and piety… We should always remember this point to remain free of the exaggerations that undermine our religion.

The Imam had a big reception when he arrived at Tous, which almost threatened the caliphate. For they were not used to see an heir apparent of this sublime morals devotion, piety and knowledge.

Once, Al- Mamoun asked him to perform the Eid prayer, he went to the mosque barefooted and bareheaded as the Prophet (p.) used to, with people running behind him saying Allahu Akbar.

Al- Mamoun was very afraid of the scene that he sent somebody to tell him to return home with the excuse that it was a very tiresome task.

This is the tragedy that the Members of the House have lived: They did not assume a ruling role, as was their right, yet the actual rulers were afraid from them as a result of the confidence the people had in them.

This is Imam Al-Rida who filled his era with knowledge and piety… good and justice… When we remember this Imam as well as all the others, we have to recall their recommendations and teachings… They are the Imams of Islam in all times and not just the era they lived in:

That is why Imam Al-Rida said: "". When asked how to do that he said: Keep our cause alive. May God have mercy on those who keep it alive "By learning our sciences, and spreading them among the people if they know that we call for the good they will follow us" Thus, all Muslims and especially the followers of Ahl Al-Beit should study the scientific religious heritage of Ahl Al-Beit, and their sayings that have to do with man's relation with himself, his household, his community, and all the positions and actions he takes in his life.

Some might feel that the important thing is to cry in the Ashoura ceremonies, but they do not care about learning the lessons of what happened. They also think that what matters is the speaker’s beautiful voice, but if he does not make us cry, we will consider him unsuccessful regardless of the content of his address. What is important is to make us cry even if he tends to be fictitious and mystical.

All the Imams have time and again explained to us that to be lawful to them and to follow their line of thought is to fear Allah and obey Him. Imam Al-Baqir also added that they should be known by their humbleness and trustworthiness.

This is what we should understand as we prepare ourselves to visit Imam Al-Hussein. Visiting the Imam does not mean kissing his shrine or reciting some of the supplications that you might understand. It is to remember his teachings and everything he stood for and consider them as a role model to emulate.

May Allah grant us His blessings?

The Iraqi regime; that of the dictator who sacrificed his people and nation in several internal and external wars, has fallen. He did not even contemplate the idea of sacrificing himself to save his people. He only cared about his power, and execution is his only response to any one who dares to discuss his decrees.

It is a new chapter in the history of the region which the international intelligence agencies have imposed on its countries a personality cults leaving the peoples with no say and turning the countries into big jails with oppression and torture as the only way to deal with human beings.

The problem is that this kind of barbaric and devastating attitude has made the peoples feel that they are unable of fighting these regimes that are imposing an internal occupation that is even more barbaric than the foreign occupation and leading many to think that the latter is their savior and thus deceived by the ploy of the arrogant who wants to plunder the nations’ resources and believed his claim that it came to liberate them

The unforgivable crime of the tyrant regimes is that they sought the foreigner’s aid to pressurize their people and strived to guard the foreigner’s interest instead of that of the people…

The toppled Iraqi regime has concluded several deals with many foreign countries, making concessions that involved the wealth of nations, and bribing many international oil companies to secure his regime.

But the arrogant would not let local tyrants stay when their role ends. It substitutes them with new ones that are aided by shining slogans and colorful promises... Those tyrants have even undermined the resolve the people to confront the international arrogance

In these circumstances, we call upon the Nation to learn the lessons of those political military and economic defeats:

We should think about changing the prevailing political and cultural mentality to adopt an attitude that enables as to be rational and realistic and not emotional or reactive. We should learn how to study our situation in an objective manner to learn our weaknesses and our points of strength.

Secondly: We should not be influenced by the enemy's propaganda that portrays occupation and defeat as victory and liberation. We should always think about who is spreading the news and what he aims at.

Thirdly: The nation should rise to the level of the critical situation and challenges it is facing. It should look at things from a global point of view... that is from the viewpoint of the Muslim and Arab Nation as well as all the downtrodden, and thus hold to their unity. We ought to understand that a defeat in one battle could lead to other defeats, while a victory could trigger further victories.

In the light of this we appeal to our wronged people in Iraq to face this new stage by holding fast to their national and Islamic unity, so as to prevent the birth of a new tyrant whether an internal or an external one. They should open their eyes wide and keep monitoring the schemes of the occupier, whose interests lie in spreading chaos to prove that the Iraqis cannot rule themselves. Fourthly: Each Iraqi citizen should act as a police, to prevent all this looting and plundering which could lead to a bloody internal strife.

We know that the wise and honorable people, who constitute the majority of Iraqis, do not approve of assassinations, such as that of the late Sayyed Abd-lumajied al –Khouie. Because people do not have the right to issue judgments and execute them. Such actions might further spread chaos. They might also lead to wronging innocent people.

Remember that your country has always fought occupation. And do not let anybody give occupation a certain direct or indirect legitimacy.

Remember also that your society is that of Islam that is open to all religious sects and ethnic minorities. Do not let any party claim that it solely represents Islam, while it might tend to distort it and change it in a way that is against the interests of people .We believe in your nobility and sense of righteousness… especially the top religious scholars and thinkers.

We are sure that you are able to establish, without any foreign supervision, a new Iraq that respects man and human rights… an Iraq that will create the strength needed to join the nation in its vital issues and causes especially that of Palestine.

America and Israel are trying two suggest that they differ about the Road Map. But this is not but a kind of deception to suggest to the Arabs that it is the time of finding a solution. What kind of a solution is that? And do they expect us to believe that the American administration is about to oppose Israel with the elections due in less than two years?

It has been said that the Road Map is a final solution that is going to be implemented. But we have heard many voices saying that it is going to be subjected to further negotiations, meaning a endless maze of concessions knowing that as it is now, it does not address the rights and aspirations of the Palestinians.

Therefore, we emphasize once again that the Palestinians have to uphold their national unity and continue their resistance until liberation.

Lebanon that lives in a very difficult situation has not risen to the level of the current challenges. We ask ourselves is this cabinet change the solution, or should we, instead of changing names, change the way things in the country are run?

It has been said that the world has changed after the invasion of Iraq and that we ought to change accordingly. Are going to yield to what they decide? Or should we make our own decisions that serve our own interests?