Friday speeches Jamadi'II 15 1426 H, July 22 2005 A.D

They ask you about the windfalls. Say: The windfalls are for Allah and the Messenger. So be careful of (your duty to) Allah and set aright matters of your difference, and obey Allah and His Messenger if you are believers. (8:1) (The believers are but brethren, therefore make peace between your brethren and be careful of (your duty to) Allah that mercy may be had on you.(10:49). He also says: (There is no good in most of their secret counsels except (in his) who enjoins charity or goodness or reconciliation between people; and whoever does this seeking Allah's pleasure, We will give him a mighty reward. (4:14)

Making peace is a major duty that Allah wants the people to achieve in order to maintain the stability of the Muslim society and consequent of the strength of the Islamic position. Joining hands whether on the individual Level or as groups, represents a force, which has positive consequences on all major issues. And this is what Allah stressed in His saying: And hold fast by the covenant of Allah all together and be not disunited, and remember the favor of Allah on you when you were enemies, then He united your hearts so by His favor you became brethren; and you were on the brink of a pit of fire, then He saved you from it, thus does Allah make clear to you His communications that you may follow the right way. (3:103), and also: And obey Allah and His Messenger and do not quarrel for then you will be weak in hearts and your power will depart, and be patient; surely Allah is with the patient. (8:46).

Wind blowing from one direction is stronger and more effective than winds blowing from several directions, which could be effectively neutralized. This is why Allah, the most Exalted, wanted the Muslims to make peace between any two conflicting parties or individuals, especially in the same family, for conflict creates many problems and many psychological complexes, especially among children.

Therefore, people should hasten to solve any differences inside the same family, instead of what some irresponsible people might do when they try to create dispute between a man and his wife.

The same thing is true when we face a difference between two clans or two political parties, which might threaten the safety of the entire society.

Thus, the entire community should strive to solve any differences among people to ensure the stability and safely of the society. This could be done by studying the root causes of the differences.

The Prophet (p.) makes it clear in one of his sayings that making peace is better in its reward than praying fasting and charity, since dispute could lead a person to kill his brother or at least harm him. That is why Allah, the most Exalted, wants the Muslims, both groups and individuals, to hasten if they want to get nearer to Him to make peace among the people, since it is better than the non obligatory (recommended) fast and praying.

God also tells us about some of the people who might have found complications or suffered personally, when engaged in making peace, and swear not to do so any more. He says: And make not Allah because of your swearing (by Him) an obstacle to your doing good and guarding (against evil) and making peace between men, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing. (2:224). Commenting on this Ayah, Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.) says: “If you are asked to make peace between people, don't say, I have sworn not to do so". Allah, the most Exalted, has permitted the peacemaker to lie if it means saying good things to one of the parties that the other did not say. In this respect, Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s.) says: "Talking is three kinds: truth, lies and making peace among people".

The Prophet (p.) said: "Peace among Muslims is lawful unless it makes lawful what is prohibited or deems unlawful what is lawful".

We have to preserve the security and stability of the society, by making peace among people, especially when we face great challenges that seek to disperse Muslims, as we notice now in the arrogant plots that try to create notional and sectarian strife among Muslims. We have to hold to our unity that is represented by the rope of Allah.

In the light of this, we have to hasten to make peace between the various Muslim sects, and confront all those who try to incite strife among them, especially when certain sacred Islamic symbols are cursed. This action is not accepted by any of us, because it weakens Islam and the Muslims.

God has said And if two parties of the believers quarrel, make peace between them; but if one of them acts wrongfully towards the other, fight that which acts wrongfully until it returns to Allah's command; then if it returns, make peace between them with justice and act equitably; surely Allah loves those who act equitably. (49:10).

This is what we should recommend one another to do, to safeguard our nation and defeat all the arrogant plots in all fields of life. And say: Work; so Allah will see your work and (so will) His Messenger and the believers: (9:105).

Sharon is planning to withdraw from his settlements in Gaza to settle in his major settlements in the West Bank including Jerusalem, as well as continuing to build the racial wall that confiscates vast Palestinian lands.

In the meantime, America and Europe are welcoming these developments as a "historical progress" in the Palestinian – Israeli struggle, thus contributing in covering up Sharon's plan of keeping the settlements in the West Bank. Moreover, Sharon continues his brutal aggressions against the Palestinians, thus thwarting the pacification efforts. Then, when the Mujahideen are forced to retaliate to protect their people, he would hold them responsible and pressure the Authority to confront them and prove that it is capable of fighting "terrorism", which could lead to the fall of the Palestinian cause, and a state of frustration among the Palestinians.

Thus, the Palestinian Authority will not find any power to support him in achieving the great goals of the Palestinian states; it will only face Sharon's arrogance, as in Sharon's last meeting with Abu Mazen. Moreover, they will only receive empty promises from the Americans, since the American – Jewish alliance aims at getting the Palestinian is a maze they will not know how to get out from. This means that the Palestinians ought to resort to dialogue, and uphold their unity. Internal fighting is prohibited, and all guns should be pointed towards the enemy, and all efforts should aim at liberation.

Iraq is drowning in a sea of blood that is fed by the bloody fanatic and ignorant hatred of those who accuse others of disbelief, while killing innocent Muslims in masques, markets and homes, under false pretensions that no believer could see any religious of human basis for.

Such massacres cannot be legitimized, as some people outside Iraq claim, as being a necessity in the war against occupation, since they are being planned in cold blood to target innocent people with the aim of killing for killing only.

Moreover, the assassination of the Sunni members of the committee to formulate the constitution proves that there is an invisible hand that is making every effort to incite sectarian strife.

Faced by this situation, we call on all religious and political authorities whether Sunnis or Shiites to rise to the level posed by the threats that face the Muslims in Iraq that might turn into a sectarian strife that, in its turn. Might – God forbid, spread in the entire Islamic world.

On another level, the bombings in the West, and recently in London, have had a negative impact on the Muslims, their Image, and the people's perception of Islam, especially that certain Republicans leaders in America threatened the terrorists by bombing Mecca if they strike inside the US.

There is a dire need in the face of all these challenges for a unified Islamic position to protect all Muslims from the terrorist campaigns of those who accuse other Muslims of apostasy.

This should be done on the basis of the joint will of all Muslims, without any intervention from the pro-American regimes.

We want the new government in Lebanon to adopt a wise and carefully studied plan that addresses the economic problems and ensures a certain degree of political and security stability, especially with the operations that undermine security that are committed by certain groups in certain regions. This suggests that slogans of national reconciliation have not reached the grass root level, especially with international powers hiding behind some of these moves to interfere in forming this government.

We look forward for a state in which all citizens are equal before the law.

Furthermore, we would like any amnesty to be based on a solid ground, and to be a comprehensive one, so as to provide a firm ground for building the country. The new Lebanon should be a state of institutions, and not a farm for certain individuals.

The authority should be that of the state and not the sects. Would these dreams, that all Lebanese share, come true?

Most certainly then We will question those to whom (the messengers) were sent, and most certainly We will also question the messengers.

Allah’s questioning will include all His creators, each according to his responsibilities. Just as He will ask the people He sent the Messengers to, He would ask the Messengers, about their messages, the way they conveyed them and the spirit and atmosphere they created.

God tells us about the Hereafter, reminding us that those who were unjust and worshiped others beside Allah, the most Exalted, will be stopped and questioned. They will be asked: "What is the matter with you that you do not help each other?" Why do not these whom you used to worship help you?

On that day, the Day of Judgment, God tells us that they shall be submissive, for they will be helpless and there is nothing they can do for themselves.

Thus, we understand from His saying by your Lord they will all be questioned, that every one will be responsible for any action whether personal, social, political, economic or any other.

The Messenger himself, the master of all beings and Allah's most loved human being, says: "I am responsible and so are you". God will ask His Messenger about how he conveyed the Message, how he faced the challenges, how he made peace and how he went to war. It is as if Muhammad(p.) wants to say to us: Each and everyone of us is responsible for all what he says and does. He should have an answer when Allah asks him about how he acted with his wife, his family, his neighbors, his community…

Imam Ali (a.s.) says: Every soul will be held in pledge for what it earns… In another saying the Imam(a.s.) says: Fear Allah in His servants… Do not wrong them or deny them their rights… Whether at home or in the society at large. Fear Allah in your country… It is your responsibility to protect your country from any internal or external enemy or instability.

You are even responsible for the lands and the animals.

The Prophet (p). tells the people: "Each of you is a shepherd and responsible for his flock. An Imam is a shepherd and he is responsible for those is this care. A man is a shepherd in his family and is responsible for those in his care. The women is a shepherd in her husband's house and is responsible for those in her care. The servant is a shepherd of his master's property and is responsible for what is in his care.

Allah, the most Exalted, said too, that He will also ask the sight, the hearing and the heart (the mind). But one should make sure that when he testifies he should be sure that he has seen it his own eyes, and not merely relying on what he has heard from a third party.

All the previous Ayahs and sayings teach us that man should be responsible for what Allah has given him; his mind, his abilities… etc, which should all, serve the needs of fellow human beings.

Moreover, you should never take any action before you learn all that there is to learn about it. If, for example, you want to join a political group, you should be certain first that their political agenda serves the nation, and that ,most importantly, it pleasures Allah, the most Exalted. Your eyes those of your heart before those or your head should be wide upon.

As for the personal level, we would be asked on the Day of Judgment for four things, how we spent our life in obeying God or in disobeying Him, how we earned our money and how we spent it, and we should have an answer to each question.

On turning to the public field there is one issue that must be emphasized that of voting; voting for the members of the board of any society would be crucial in ensuring that it continues to follow the straight line and does not deviate.

It is the same with the general elections. When you vote to somebody and he turns, out to work for the good of the nation you would be contributing to this good, but if he turns out to be corrupt then you are a partner to him.

Elections, therefore, is not a game, and when you vote you are holding your self accountable for everything good or bad those you elected will do.

The problem is not that of the MP the minister. It is of the voter who elevated them to their position. Your vote is your responsibility, you stand, your relations, your actions, your talks, all these are your responsibility which you will be questioned for on the Day of Judgment, when no one can help you except your good deeds.

In occupied Palestine, the Jews continue to execute their security provocation plan. They are pursing a policy of collective punishment, erecting berries, assassinating the youth, killing the children, and arresting the Mujahideen, then when the Palestinians retaliate as in the martyr operation of Netanya they would be accused of the so called terrorism.

America, Europe and the UN have issued communiqués to condemn the operation but they did not protest against the Israeli brutal aggressions, especially the building of the separation wall that will isolate 55 thousand Jerusalemites. Meanwhile, the enemy was able to convince the arrogant world that withdrawing form Gaza is a political development that should be supported even if the cost is two billion Dollars. It is irrelevant in their view that the enemy is planning to establish its domination over the West Bank and Jerusalem through the major settlements and the separating wall, which would undermine the project of founding any viable Palestinian state, which Bush had promised to help establish but did not take any concrete step in that direction. On the country, he legitimized the annexation of the major settlements to Israel, annulled the right of return and did not protest against the separating wall. He is also pressuring the Palestinians by accusing the Palestinian militant organizations of terror, and not offering the Palestinian Authority anything except empty words.

The Arab states – along with most Islamic states, are disengaging themselves from the Palestinian cause, as a result of the American pressure that makes the rulers from the Ocean to the Gulf tremble, and talk only about fighting terrorism.

We appreciate and salute the Palestinian steadfastness that did not succumb to the Israeli and international pressures, and that was not conned by the Arab moves that aim at besieging him. We want the Palestinians to preserve their national unity, and not to fall in the trap of internal strife that Israel and the US are preparing for them. We also want them to adhere to the line of resistance being the only line that keeps the cause alive, and creates a political and security impasse for the enemy and its allies.

Iraq is still in the midst of an awful and bloody tragedy as a result of the repercussions that were triggered by the Occupation.

The Iraqis move from one massacre to another, the latest of them murdered 33 children and wounded more than 130 others as a result of a as a suicidal operation by a barbaric mad man. Such operations are carried out by those who accuse the Shiites in many countries of apostasy.

They exploit the slogan of resistance, but they target fellow Muslims. Moreover, they do not target the occupation forces, but rather innocent civilians.

Thus, those people do not aim at liberating the country, but rather to kill innocent civilians, under the influence of a sectarian hated and a backward mentality that fail to understand both Islam and nationalism.

Furthermore, their operations are counterproductive to say the least, since they prolong the security chaos that allow the enemy to keep its occupation, and hinder the building of an Iraqi army and security forces that could replace the occupation forces.

There is noting that could be compared to such a barbaric act, except the American raids that target wedding parties and other civilian meetings in Afghani villages, proving that the two terrorist schools share the same mentality of killing and barbarianism.

Based on our Islamic position, we condemn terrorism whether in the Muslim countries or in any place in the world. That is why we condemned the explosions in London. Terrorist acts against civilians are not Islamic practices. On the contrary, they are against Islam that respects all nations.

On this occasion, we would like to welcome what the British Prime Minister said regarding the innocence of Islam and the Muslims as a nation. We also appreciate his analysis of terrorism and his call to deal with root causes such as poverty, deprivation and the Middle East conflict.

This shows a profound understanding of the issue, and we hope that president Bush will learn this lesson from his British ally.

The explosions that have afflicted the country in recent months have triggered political and security speculations that have led to increased bickering in the political market, and delayed the formulation of the new government.

Conflicts to secure privileges and positions within certain confessions are disrupting a state that is already wracked by economic, financial and security burdens.

Little of this bickering had any positive impact on the reform programs where the promise of a bright future resides.

Intervention, particularly U.S interference, aimed to put pressure on several parts of the religion via Lebanon…Some wanted Israel's agents to gain their freedom from the new Lebanon despite having served as soldiers of the Hebrew State in occupying their land and killing their citizens.

We want the new Lebanon to be a land of freedom that embraces free men. Lebanon should not be subject to any international intervention, or any U.S. or European pressures.

That is the message of the Lebanese people to all those racing to get a piece of the piercing to distributing personal, party and sectarian spoils.