Fadlullah: Imam Sadiq (a.s.) is the role model of openness and dialogue

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - His Eminence, Sayyed Ali Fadlullah, delivered the two Friday prayer sermons at the Imamain Al-Hassanain Mosque, Shawwal, 25th 1432 H. - September, 23rd 2011. Several prominent religious scholars, dignitaries and thousands of believers attended the Jumu’a prayer.

The First Sermon

In the first sermon, His Eminence, Sayyed Ali Fadlullah, commemorated the anniversary of death of Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.). He said that since one cannot state all his traits, he will focus on one trait only, which is that he believed in dialogue and practiced it with all people, even with those belonging to different sects and different religions or those who are atheists.

By adopting dialogue, the Imam was confronting fanaticism. He changed provocative dialogues into ones that produce thoughts, adopting the Quranic advice to call for Allah by wisdom and to argue with what is best.

The Sayyed concluded that no matter how knowledgeable and convincing someone was, he would not change any opinion if he does not listen to the other, and if he does not use good words; which might produce negative results. The nation which does not know how to engage in an internal dialogue with itself would end up in being hostile to individuals and not to mistakes.

Therefore, we call for dialogue in all fields, but we want such a dialogue to be based on good intentions, as much as we want it to be purposeful. However, this dialogue ought to start with ourselves so that we would reconcile with ourselves.

Moreover, we call for dialogue within the family to interpret the aspirations of children, in addition to solving problems between the husband and wife on the basis of their rights and duties. The workers also should conduct a dialogue with the employers to reach an understanding regarding their common interests. Moreover, the politicians should engage in a dialogue that will make them reach agreements that prevent the use of political "fireworks".

Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.) bequeathed us a big legacy of knowledge, morals and the art of communication, which we should study and benefit from in our practice.

The Second Sermon

In the second sermon, His Eminence, Sayyed Ali Fadlullah, explained that although the proposed state of Palestine is very limited and nominal, the American Administration has strongly opposed it, showing the true face of the Obama Administration which is always ready to back the Zionist Entity, even if against the entire world.

The European Union has taken a similar stand, which means that the enemy does not want to see any Palestinian state, since it does not want the world to talk about a Palestinian people that were driven out of their land. Thus, the Sayyed called on the Palestinians to remain steadfast and protect their internal unity.

As for Turkey, the Sayyed advised the Turkish leadership to take into consideration the aspirations of the oppressed peoples and not those of NATO, and to act as a unifying force for the entire Muslim world.

The Sayyed considered that the developments in the Arab world constitute an indirect call for others to interfere in our internal affairs and benefit from any current instability and political and sectarian divisions. He, therefore, called on the Arab peoples to be aware of these interferences so as not to fall into strife and chaos. He also called on all rulers in the Arab and Muslim worlds to respond to their people's demands for reform and for a better and free future.

The Sayyed also supported the Lebanese calls for coexistence and for Muslim – Christian partnership, and considered that such a unity is a dire need that strengthens the country and protects it from all conspiracies. Thus, he called on the government to safeguard and strengthen the Lebanese internal unity, on the one hand, and resolve the economic crisis that the Lebanese are plunged with, on the other.

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