Beirut Friday Prayer: Islam is God's religion since Adam (a.s.)

The First Sermon

In the first sermon, His Eminence, Sayyed Ali Fadlullah, talked about the Message of Islam. He said that Islam is the call Allah wanted the people to follow since Adam descended to earth to live and struggle in the war of surrendering to God and not to other deities, including other people and in the war of guidance against falsehood; the war of righteousness against evil.

Then when Ibrahim (a.s.) came, Islam took its form, and the religion of one God came to be known for the first time, by its name; Islam, which also became the religion of all Heavenly Messages regardless of certain differences in certain prohibitions and other religious issues.

Prophet Ibrahim was the father of all Prophets, including Moussa (Moses) and Issa (Jesus), then when Muhammad was sent, these religions were completed and perfected. Muhammad (p.) said: “My parable among the Prophets is that of a man who built a house and did a good and complete job, apart from the space of one brick which he did not put in its place. The people started to walk around the building, admiring it and saying, ‘If only that brick were put in its place.’ Among the Prophets, I am like that brick.’”

The Message that Muhammad conveyed was distinguished in that it was able to address the age it was revealed in, as well as all ages to come. Actually, this is quite natural being the last of the Messages to be universal and comprehensive.

That is why Muhammad (p.) was sometimes accused of having taken some of what has been revealed in other Heavenly religions, but the actual reason is that all these religions constituted a part of Islam that came to complete them.

The Sayyed, then, explained what being a Muslim means. In addition to obeying Allah, being a Muslim demands being of sublime morals and a brother to all Muslims. We also have a duty as a nation being the best among all nations. It is the nation that holds the torches of science, knowledge, justice, love, mercy and tolerance… etc. to all nations.

The Second Sermon

In the second sermon, Sayyed Ali Fadlullah, commented on the speech the American president delivered at the United Nations assembly. He said that this speech has proven the fallacy of Obama’s previous stances and slogans. He also said that the same Obama who said that he cannot do anything against those who offended the Prophet (p.) due to the freedom of expression failed to say that this freedom is curtailed when it comes to the so-called anti-Semitism.

Obama also talked about the need to build a secure Palestinian state; a slogan which he confirmed four years ago, yet he failed to mention what he has done to promote this cause, as the Palestinians are faced with increasing aggressions, settlement building, the separation wall and several other offenses.

Obama then said that it is about time to isolate those who make hatred towards the United States, Israel and the West their main principle, but he said nothing about those who adopt hatred towards the Arabs and Muslims as the main element in their political, media and cultural movement. Obama talked about his efforts to establish democracy in the Arab world, but he failed to mention the American bases and fleets pressurizing it. He expressed his fear from Iran's nuclear capabilities, but he did not even hint at the Israeli chemical and nuclear arsenal.

Faced by these situations, we cannot but solve our own problems by our own hands, for we will gain nothing if we leave them for the others who will only take their own interests into account. Thus, we ought to step out of the sectarian prison we have imprisoned our reality and ourselves in and conduct a thorough study to find the right solution.

In Syria, we hope that the fighting comes to an end and the situation moves towards an open dialogue between all the elements of the Syrian people. That is why we consider that the opposition meeting that was held in Damascus is a positive step that paves the way for a meeting for all the opposition factions who would then engage in a dialogue with the government.

The Sayyed called on the Lebanese government to intensify its efforts to prevent any kidnappings, extortions and killings. He also called for a representative electoral law, and not a law that only serves the interests of those who enact it.