Sayyed Ali Fadlullah Friday Prayer Sermon: Make charity a daily act

The First Sermon

In the first sermon, His Eminence, Sayyed Ali Fadlullah, talked about the significance of charity both as a pious and a social act. He began by citing the example of Ahl El-Beit (a.s.) who gave out their dinner in charity for three consecutive days, although they were fasting.

The Sayyed, then, cited the Quranic verses that praise the members of Ali's family for what they had done and that promise them with Heaven as their abode. The Sayyed continued to relate the stories that show how much charitable the Imams who constitute a school of ethics and humanitarianism were.

The Sayyed then defined charity by explaining, first, that it is a pious act for which Allah grants abundant rewards. He further asserted that it does not recognize borders, meaning that it does not differentiate between races or religions, as long as the person who receives it is needy. Nevertheless, charity should be done with the intention of seeking closeness to Allah, for Allah is the One Who rewards generously on it.

Allah, the Most Exalted, stated one condition for receiving His generous reward upon giving out charity, which is that the receiver [of charity] should not be humiliated, embarrassed or hurt, for He says: "O you who believe! Do not make your charity worthless by reproach and injury, like him who spends his property to be seen of men and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day." (02:264).

But the effect of charity transcends the material limits of helping the needy. On the one hand, it makes the charitable feel a spiritual kind of happiness, and on the other hand it restores confidence in both Allah and in humanity to he who receives it.  Charity is also beneficial on the social level, since it promotes social security and reduces crime. It also contributes in ending the phenomenon of begging. Moreover, it helps in improving the economy and lessens the need for bank loans provided with high interests.

The Sayyed also pointed out that the complications of life had made it necessary that charity, in addition to that practiced by individuals, should also take a collective form that is run by institutions, for these institutions solve the kind of problems that individuals cannot solve, such as sponsoring the orphans and providing all the poor with proper housing and education… etc.

Allah's reward for charity cannot be understated, for He says:  " (As for) those who spend their property in the way of Allah, then do not follow up what they have spent with reproach or injury, they shall have their reward from their Lord, and they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve.” (02:262).

The Second Sermon

In the second sermon, His Eminence, Sayyed Ali Fadlullah, said that as the arrogant forces were trying to turn "the Arab spring" into a "horrific autumn" of chaos and confessional and sectarian divisions, we were happy to see that the Arab League attempted to find a solution for the ongoing events in Syria. We hoped that this effort would prove to be in the Arab interest and that it would mark the beginning of a new phase in the Arab institutional efforts that drive away the international interventions, which promote the arrogant interests. But we are afraid that the Arab League movement in not playing this role. Rather, it is acting as a tool that paves the way and provides a cover for international intervention.

Therefore, the Arab League and Arab states should assume their responsibility of being free and independent. The Arab League should be quite aware of its responsibilities towards Syria. It should seek to resolve the Syrian crisis and not further complicate it, in a way that does not serve the Arab interests. Thus, it should promote dialogue between all the Syrian parties and sects, and create a unifying institution that would achieve the necessary reform, ensure a better future for the Syrians and prevent them from falling into sectarian strife that relieves the Zionist Entity from a strong ally to the resistance.

In this respect, we call on all the Lebanese, whether those who support the Syrian regime or those who are against it, to act responsibly and wisely, so as not to fall into political rows believing that they [the rows] could be controlled at any time. They seem to be unaware that their country might soon become an arena for regional fires, which Lebanon will pay the price of.

In the meantime, the enemy's entity continues its aggression on Gaza and the West Bank, believing that it is in control of the regional game, and benefiting from the Arab and Muslim divisions. The Sayyed, thus, called on the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as well as the Arab and Muslim peoples not to forget the Zionist threat and its plots in this stage.

In Lebanon, the government should tighten its grip and haunt the murderers and thieves, in order to enable the country to continue facing its enemies. As for sportsmanship, the state of unity the country exhibited following its victory in the football match held against South Korea was beautiful, but it would have been more beautiful had the political class exhibited such a unity in its differences over the ongoing events in the region. It would have also been better had it acted on enabling the country to avoid the storms that blow from the outside, instead of each party thinking of how much it will win or lose from any development.

18/11/2011 A.D 22/12/1432 H