FRIDAY SPEECH February 01, 2002

In all its teaching and rules, Islam wanted man-male or Female- to be just in all his sayings and actions… For everything in the society will be balanced and life will stand on a firm basis if people adhere to the principle of justice. Allah underscored this fact when He said in the surah of Al-Hadid (Iron) that all messengers and messages were sent to establish justice among the people {We sent aforetime our messengers with clear signs and sent down with them the Book and the balance (of right and wrong), that men may stand forth in Justice}.

One of the aspects of Justice is living justice in yourself, and this what the prophetic traditions called fairness: being fair with other people in all aspects of your relations with them, whether in their feelings or in their contractual rights. People should never need a court to obtain their rights from you, nor should you need any intermediately to do so especially regarding those who are not powerful enough to obtain these rights, A good example in our society could well be your home where the male in general is stronger than the female and the children. In such circumstances the stronger party does not usually take into consideration the feelings of the weaker ones. A husband in the example we have taken would seek to fulfill his needs and desires, and what asserts his pride. It is not his problem if the others do not take enough rest, or if they do not have any rest at all.

Of similar dimensions is the relation between the rich and the poor, the ruler and the ruled… That is why the Islamic teachings have focused on the necessity of fairness, which requires two conditions in order to be established. Not only does man need to feel that he is a human being, but he also has to recognize the humanity of fellow human beings. This what the prophetic tradition implies where it asserts: No one of you would believe unless he loves for his brother what he loves for himself and hates for his brother what he hates for himself”. So that your would live the feelings of the other as if they were your our feelings, to the extent that the Prophet has associated such an attitude with belief itself.

The same meaning is emphasized in many traditions of the Imams whom we constantly said that their traditions are an extension of the traditions of Muhammad, since they did not say anything of their own, but they only explained and elaborated on what the Quran and Muhammad had said.

Imam Zein Al-Abideen quotes Muhammad as saying at the end of a speech: “Blessed is he who has good manners, a pure sole, good intentions towards all fellow beings… he who spends on others whatever extra money he has, he who holds any unnecessary speech, he who is faithful with others, holding himself accountable in a way that leaves no need for others to ask him for their rights.

Imam Al-Sadiq believes that four things guarantee Heaven: On should spend-on the good and not be afraid of poverty, He should spread peace, among fellow humans… He should keep away from arguing even when he is right, and he should be fair with others.

The Commander of the faithful says: “Whoever is fair to the others Allah will only make him more prestigious”. Imam Al-Sadiq tells us that three are the closet to Allah on the Day of Judgment. A man whose rage did not lead him to be unjust towards those who are weaker them him –You ought to remember always that Allah is watching you –A man who would be absolutely just when he judges between two parties, and a man who always tells the truth even when it is against him.

We have to educate ourselves on justice and give everyone what is rightfully his. We should not let our financial, political, social or any other power base lead us to be unjust whether to the weak or to the strong. So that we will not have to answer to Allah on the Day of Judgment, if we are just we will meet Allah with a clear conscience. But our problem is that we are totally immersed in this world looking for wealth and power, and we forget to remember Allah. For remembering Allah makes us pious and refrain from being not just to others. Did not he say: {O ye who believe! Fear Allah, and let every soul look to what (provision) he has sent forth for the morrow. Fear Allah: For Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that ye do}{And be ye not like those who forget Allah, and He made them forget themselves! Such are the rebellious transgressors!}and did not He tell us{Not equal are the companions of the Fire and the companions of the Garden: They are the companions of the Garden, that will achieve felicity}.

America has joined the Zionist entity in its war against the Intifada, and started to threaten the Mujahideen by its so-called war against terrorism. It is also threatening the Islamic Resistance by branding its organization as a terrorist one-since it is facing along with the Intifada, the Zionist occupation that America Supports under the pretense of defending freedom.

The Americans, who claim to defend freedom are giving the Israelis who are killing the Palestinian freedom- fighters, the most advanced weapon technology to put an end to their movement.

America has called Iran an evil state, because it is trying –as America claims-to produce nuclear weapons. But Iran has joined the nonproliferation treaty, while Israel is an established nuclear state that America does not say anything about, Although Israel is threatening the whole region, with its continuous aggressions.

In addition, America codenames Iran for being responsible for providing arms to the Palestinians, although the Islamic Republic denied any involvement with respect to the ship that was allegedly carrying arms to the Palestinians. Meanwhile, America does not find anything wrong in providing Israel with the most advanced weapons that make it the most powerful state in the region.

The problem with the American president lies in the fact that he wants to hide his failure in solving the US economic problem by playing on the American people who are subjected to the influence of the Zionist media and have become full of hatred towards Arabs and Muslims …

He also wants to increase his popularity, as well as his party’s on the eve of the next congressional elections… The American president is trying to flex America’s muscles to intimidate the whole world, to prove that he is the only leader, and haunt an invisible unknown enemy to hold the countries and nations responsible of finding those whom America considers as terrorists without providing any evidence.

While America feels free to plunder the markets and economic resources of the peoples and undermine their freedom, it does not let anyone oppose her or even voice his resentment to this crazy terrorist war that America wages in the name of protecting its interests against future threats… It wants to change the world in a way that fits its interests, but it does not agree to make any changes to accommodate the interests of the oppressed peoples, especially the Muslim and Arab nations with the Palestinian people in their forefront. America has given Israel the green light to destroy everything the Palestinians have and has forbidden any international force from interfering to protect them.

It has given itself the right of carrying out a solution for the Palestinian cause, but in a way that serves only Israel and deprives the Palestinians of their right in self-determination, putting its fate in the hands of such a butcher like Sharon.

Having started to sense the negative aspects of the American policies, the world ought to rise to level of responsibility and stop this wild beast that is thirsty for blood and that is driven by its quest for power over the whole world before it makes a world –wide catastrophe..

As for the Muslims and Arabs who state in their conferences that they differentiate between resistance and terrorism and who are calling for an international conference to define the concept of terrorism, and who believe that the Intifada in Palestine and the Resistance in Lebanon are liberation movement..

The Arabs and Muslims have to exert some pressure to give these views some credibility and not let them stay as mere ink on paper.

On their part, the Palestinians have to continue their Intifada, to keep the enemy in its security impasse. They should not be drawn to the negotiations since the enemy holds all the political cards. Moreover, they should feel certain that Israel and America are not an evitable fate and that by careful planning we will be able to put our feet firmly on the path of freedom and independence.

As Lebanon lies in the midst of a a roaring political noise that is merely a kind of democratic decoration, since the country is bound to stay in its impasse, and as politicians profess their objection only to raise their hands in agreement when it is time for voting, having received the secret password, the country economic and social problems are worsening…We say to all officials: the people are hungry… If you really care about this country why don’t you join r hands and try to find a solution for it.

At a time when the American offensive, along with the international alliance against terrorism, is intensifying, we are in desperate need of consolidating our unity. We also need to resort to careful planning and not spend our time in fruitless and trivial discussions.