Friday speeches 16 Ramadan 1425h/29 October 2004AD

Today, the 15th of the Holy month of Ramadan, we meet with the anniversary of the birth of Imam Al-Hassan (a.s.), the first child of Ali (a.s.) and Fatima (a.s.). His birth filled the Prophet's house, and he enjoyed the love of not only his parents but that of the Messenger (p.) who used to hold him and say: "O' God, I love him and I ask You to love him and love those who love him"?

When we recall Imam Al-Hassan or any of the Members of the House, we will find that the Islamic Message in all its spiritual, doctrinal and legal aspects embodied in each and every one of them.

For they were infallible in their thought, emotions and actions ;the Prophet 's saying "Al-Hussein and Al-Hassan are the masters of youth of Heaven and that they are Imams whether they chose to stand (rebel) or sit” means that what Imam Al-Hassan did was the right thing to do in his time. It represented the Islamic legitimacy having the supreme Islamic interests in mind. Similarly, the same thing is true for what Imam Hussein did. Had Imam Hussein (a.s.) been in Al-Hassan shoes, he would have done the same.

Therefore, what some are saying about two methods in Islamic action: the first is one of Imam Al-Hassan and it represents peace, while that of Imam Al-Hussein is represented by the revolution is false. Al-Hassan was quite revolutionary too. If we review his letters to Muawiah we will find that they were, in their strength and resolve, as strong as those of his father's to Muawiah. Imam Hassan too, was set on fighting Muawiah, but it was his army that failed him, and made him opt for peace, without offering any concessions, regarding the legitimacy of the caliphate.

When we study how the Imams were brought up, we will find out that they were educated on the Quran, and that they lived the spirit, mind and morals of Muhammad (p.). It is related that Al-Hassan was the one who looked most like the Messenger (p.) in both his looks and manners. After the Prophet (p.) died, people who missed the Messenger used to look at Imam Al-Hassan to remember him. His manners too were the manners of the Prophet (p.), despite the fact that the period he lived with the Messenger (p.) was relatively short. For after the death of Allah's Messenger, he was brought up by Ali and Fatima (a.s.) who too had the same manners as those of the Messenger.

Imam Al-Hassan was tough in solving problems and confronting challenges. His father used to commission him to face the challenges he used to face, and he used to refer the people who asked him about a certain ruling to him. He was of great manners, who opened up on his enemies just as he opened up on his friends. He was quite tolerant, for he learned from the Messenger that the best way to enter the hearts and minds of people is to treat them will tolerance, kindness and love.

Imam Zein Al-Abidein says that his uncle Al-Hassan bin Ali was the best and post pious worshipper, who used to perform Hajj on his feet and perhaps even bare-footed.

He used to remember Allah, the most Exalted, at all times and in all conditions. When he reached the gates of the mosque he used to say: Oh Lord, Your guest is at Your doorstep. Oh, Generous One the sinner has come to You asking for Your forgiveness… Of course the infallible Imams are no sinners; they are only being humble before the All-mighty God.

On this occasion, we would like to learn from some of his sayings, since being a Shiite who believes that the Members of the Household are his Imams means that we have to be committed to every thing they said or did. He says that when people confer they always find the right path. In this, he is asserting what the Quran said that their affairs are a matter of counsel. The Muslim society should be based on counsel especially in public affairs. God wanted even His Prophet (p.) who does need the opinion of any other man to confer with his people in matters of war and peace, for Allah wants the nation to live this spirit and prevent anybody from becoming autocratic, especially if he holds a responsibility.

It is related that Imam Al-Hassan said: "If you do not commit what Allah has prohibited, you will be a worshiper, and if you are content with what Allah has given you, you will be rich -when you are content with what Allah has given you, you will feel rich with what you have and you will not look at what others have been given. “And be good to your neighbors, you will be Muslim, and treat people, as you like to be treated, you will be just…” You have seen before you people, who have accumulated a lot of wealth and built houses and had a lot of hope, but their buildings turned into ruins and their houses became graves… O man, you start ending your life the day you were born. Therefore, make sure that you take from what you have in your hands- meaning the opportunities- to use in what you are about to face in the hereafter for the believer takes along provisions, while the infidel cares about pleasures.

He also said: "He who wants to be powerful and respected without being a member of a tribe or a ruler should move from the disgrace of disobeying Allah to the greatness of obeying Him". Your obedience to Allah gives you pride and respect. His nephew, Imam Zein Al-Abidein, reaffirms the same meaning in his supplication when he says: "O God prevent me from thinking that those who are poor are low or those who are rich are honorable, for the honorable is he who is honored by obeying you…"

When we remember the Imams, we remember the light that is void of darkness, the right that does not mix with any falsehood…

They are our interceders to God, as they are the servants that obey Him. They are the honored servants who obey Allah's commands and whom we have to follow their lead in all our actions and sayings.

This is the meaning of Imamate, and this is what Imam Al-Baqir said: Who obeys Allah is our friend and follower and who disobeys him is our enemy. The only way to become a follower of us is by working and avoiding to commit anything that Allah prohibited.

A lot of noise is being made in the Zionist entity concerning the withdrawal from Gaza. But the actual plan is to destroy Gaza through the Massacres committed by the Nazi Zionist army that kills civilians and demolishes their houses. The latest example was Khan Younis, but we did not hear any American, European or even Arabian condemnation. They want to destroy Gaza completely before they withdraw from it, giving it back to its people, after turning it into ruins.

What is ironic is that the world has become, in the wake of the anti-Semitism Law signed by Bush, afraid that it will be condemned by the US if it denounces any Israeli brutal act, even if the Arabs are just as Semites as the Jews. It is a world that has no conscience.

Moreover, as the American president presents himself as a protector for human rights, democracy and freedom in the world, the International committee for human rights announced that the US did not respect human rights in the prisons of Afghanistan and Iraq...

Iraq has entered an escalating stage with several parties increasing the pains of the Iraqi people. The Iraqi people are being drained which, along with the chaos that could hinder the elections, serves the interests of the occupation, whether directly or indirectly… This suggests that it is very difficult to establish security under occupation, whose forces are busy defending themselves instead of the Iraqis.

On another level, we wonder about those groups who call themselves Muslim or resistance groups, yet they liquidate Iraqis civilians and kill policemen, national guards, as well as civilians… This is not an Islamic method, and this could not contribute to the liberation of Iraq as the occupation considers it a civil war. What arouses anger and astonishment is the abduction of children for financial extortion as well as kidnapping women who work in the humanitarian field. Such acts distort the credibility of the Iraqi people whose majority rejects these ugly actions.

We want Iraq to have a free and civilized future whose people will commence its new march, play their Islamic civilized role among nations, based on the national unity of this great and creative people.

We also condemn the horrible massacre committed against the fasting Muslims in Thailand, who were peacefully demonstrating.

We denounce this brutal inhuman act committed by the authorities in that country that has to investigate the crime and punish those committed it. We also demand that the Muslims should be given their civil right of expression, and call upon all Muslims and freed people in the world to denounce it, in the name of solidarity with all the oppressed and downtrodden nations.

We also condemn what some backward terrorists are doing in Algeria in the name of Islam … They are killing women and children under Islamic pretenses while they have nothing in common with Islam that rejects all such brutal practices.

We are also following the European position towards the Iranian peaceful use of nuclear power. They are succumbing to the American pressures that are in turn influenced by the Israeli fears of Iran acquiring the bomb.

Backed by the American and European support, Israel is threatening to bomb the Iranian nuclear reactor.

Europe has sided with American without any attention to the Arab and Islamic demands of a region free of nuclear weapons including those of Israel, thus suggesting that the Europeans do not respect our vital interests except in a hypocritical manner that serves the American and Israeli interests.

Lebanon is facing an open American interference in its internal affairs that has even reached the extent of commenting on the formation of the Lebanese government. Everybody knows that the formation of the current cabinet is no different in its deals and power-sharing tactics from the way all previous governments were formed.

We do not want in this context, to support the government, but we wish to say that the country cannot live in vacuum, and that all parties should seek a national reconciliation by means of dialogue without any intimidation, mocking accusations of treason or using resolution 1559 to threaten the Lebanese or Syrians.

The external parties are seeking to promote their own interests, why do not we all, those with the government and those in the opposition, seek to serve the interests of the Lebanese people who suffer from severe economic crisis as a result of theft, corruption and confessionalism that is masked by national fronts.

As we stress the right of all Lebanese to express their views regarding the political and economic situation in the country, as well as how the government was formed and all such issues, we want these positions not to allow those who would exploit it to increase their pressures on Lebanon, its future and the efforts that seek to save it from its economic and political crisis.