In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

The Religious Authority, Ayatullah Al Ozma Sayyed M. H. Fadlullah’s speech on the occasion of Eid al- Fitr/1426H

The Eid represents an occasion to renew one's commitment to his responsibilities, just as the fasting was. Allah, the most exalted, has made the month of Ramadan an occasion in which the people can reassess and recommit themselves to their responsibilities that covers all the domains, including the spiritual, cultural and political, since Islam considers worshipping Allah and serving the causes of the nation parts of the same movement.

Thus the value of the Eid is that it represents this dedication to one's responsibility towards his God, himself and other people. In this sense we can turn all our days into Eids.

Imam Ali (a.s) says in conformation of this meaning: "Everyday in which Allah is not disobeyed is an Eid".

In addition to its spiritual value, the month of Ramadan has also represented the pride of the Islamic nation, for it is the month in which Islam achieved victory against the arrogant powers, as in the Battle of Badr and the conquest of Mecca, as well as other occasions which acted as an incentive to the Muslims who came before us, and which we want them to act as a motivator and incentive to us, both states and peoples, to seek to build our force in the face of military, ideological and political terrorism that nowadays is pouring on us from all directions.

There are two kinds of intimidation the nation encounters nowadays. The first is the exaggeration of the violence from the inside and that is probably a reaction against foreign terrorism, while the other is an external one that aims at subjecting the nation and lead it to believe that it has no alternative but to acknowledge defeat and sign, while waiting for America's approval and satisfaction…

Nevertheless, they also want to portray the nation on the political and media levels as a group that has vicious ambitions that seek “to build an empire from Indonesia to Spain”, in the words of the American president. Such claims aim at convincing all nations of the world that the Islamic nation represents a threat to international peace.

That is why we view with a lot of concern what the media is doing nowadays of distorting the image of several Islamic or Arabic parties including Iran, and presents them as a threat to world peace, especially that this comes after many Western and European nations now believe that Israel is the major threat to world peace.

We would like to warn the Muslims and Arabs from this intelligence and media game that paves the way for political and military actions. We also warn them that the cultural and ideological attack on Islam has reached a level that silence or waiting for better opportunities represents a major act of treason.

We also view as an act of treason any sectarian incitation and say to those who do so what Imam Ali (a.s) said: "The greatest treason is that of the nation…"

We have to stand with the Iraqi people and support their choices, but within the framework of national unity. We also have to monitor the American project with its weaknesses and points of strength so that we could make the plans that allow us to undermine this project especially that it acts nowadays as if it is holding a race with time.

Thus we have to make this time a time of resistance against the American project and the Zionist one.

We also have to stay with our major cause, the cause of Palestine, that ought to remain in our conscience as a nation, and uphold our daily responsibility of defending its people, especially in these days of weakness and collapse that were created by the Arab regimes’ sense of helplessness, that aims at convincing the Palestinians that they have no choice but to surrender, and only then would they discuss their destiny. Nevertheless, neither the Palestinians nor the nation will accept this line of action.

As for Lebanon, we want the Muslims and Christians to look forward to draw a new future for their country away from foreign interference. They have to study their moves carefully, and they should not be intimidated by the American and Israeli powers. They should seek to build their national unity to prevent the forces of tutelage from using Lebanon as a vehicle to punish this or that Arab or Islamic party.

The Lebanese should be worried towards what the international forces say or do – to prevent them from using us as a tool to implement their strategies.

We have to promote our own national, Arab and Islamic interests, and be not an echo for the projects of others, whether consciously or unconsciously.