Beirut Friday Prayer: Imam Ali (a.s.): An eternal torch that lights up the march of humanity

The First SermonIn the first sermon, Sayyed Ali Fadlullah, celebrated the birth anniversary of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.). In this respect, he talked about one of the aspects of his great personality, highlighting his experiment with regards to political power. He began by explaining why the Imam rejected the offer of Abu Sufian to support him in his claim and decided to keep the peace for it was in the best interest of Islam and Muslims. He also acted as a guide to all the caliphs who came before him, in spite of the fact that they usurped his right. Then, when he became a caliph, he insisted that all people, and not only the notables, should freely pledge allegiance.His term as a caliph was characterized by the following points:- It did not change anything in his pious character.- He remained the same person who wanted nothing from this life, and whose sole concern was to serve Allah and the people.- He refused to resort to devious improper means to strengthen his power, including what is known today as "political money".- He also refused to give any special favors to his family, relatives and tribe.Thus, the most important feature that marked his experiment with power was that he understood power as a means to serve the right and establish justice, and equate between the weak and the strong before the law. He accepted no corruption or wronging especially from his subordinates, whom he used to be strict in ousting if they committed any such act.The Sayyed then compared Ali, the ruler, with those in power today. He maintained that we are in a dire need of the characteristics Ali had demonstrated and of the values of right and justice he had exemplified, for all rulers, the entire world, and even the most prominent democracies abuse power.Imam Ali (a.s.) was, still is, and will always be a guiding beacon that lights up the march of humanity.The Second SermonIn the second sermon, Sayyed Ali Fadlullah commemorated the anniversary of the Arab defeat in June 1967, maintaining that we were not defeated because we were weak, but because we were not united. He also said that we did not study the reasons of our defeat, but we went on to offer additional concessions.Thus, the Arab peoples were right in toppling the rulers who were the guards of the nation’s weakness, since whenever the Arab peoples had the opportunity to express their strength, they triumphed (as in Lebanon and Palestine). The Arab peoples should not let the enemy derail their march and drive them into internal divisions and strifes, while it continues to judaize the whole of Palestine.The Sayyed called yet again on the various parties in Syria to conduct a dialogue before they sink into a civil war that could destroy the country, especially that the international powers, who have put their hands on the issue, will not find a solution that serves Syria, but their own interests.The Sayyed warned from the deteriorating security conditions in Tripoli, warning that if sectarian strife erupts in one place, it will soon extend to the entire country. The calls for dialogue, as well as other calls for a national conference and the like, are highly important, for the situation demands a swift action, before Lebanon pays a heavy price.On another level, the government should put an end to its laxness and make every effort to resolve the social and economic crisis. As for the Lebanese kidnapped in Syria, the Sayyed called on the government to employ all efforts and means to return them to their families, before things spiral out of control./129