Hujjatul Islam Ustad Syed Jawad Naqvi
(Principal Jamia Orwatul Wuthqa – Lahore)
Delivered at: Masjid Baitul ul Ateeq
Lahore – Pakistan
Friday Sermon – 2nd December, 2022
Sermon 1: Divine unseen help comes with faith, patience and Taqwa
I invite you all bondsmen and myself towards Taqwa and counsel, emphasize you to establish your lives on the basis of Taqwa. It is the protection mechanism of life for every segment from Allah (s) and humanity remains preserved through Taqwa without which it turns into beastliness. The life without Taqwa is beastly life which is the representation of human life in today’s generation where human values have been lost. Allah has ordained Taqwa for every segment for its security relevant to that particular segment of life. One field of Taqwa is the battles and wars
In Surah Aale Imran verse 123, Allah says
وَلَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِبَدْرٍ وَأَنْتُمْ أَذِلَّةٌ ۖ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ {123}
And Allah did certainly assist you at Badr when you were weak; be careful of (your duty to) Allah then, that you may give thanks
Allah in this verse presents Taqwa to Prophet and his companions during the time of battle. The Battle of Badr is the first large scale direct battle with polytheists. Though there were minor clashes prior to this but Badr is the first battle in which the Prophet was himself was present along with all the power he had. The polytheists also mustered all their forces and approached Medina meeting at the location of Badr.
The background of war is such that when the polytheists made all the attempts to foil the spread of Islam by Prophet (s) but they failed. The Muslims were not directly giving any reply to them for a certain time and this was one sided attacks on Muslims. This was a wise stratagem from Prophet and fundamental reason was that Muslims due to lack of resources were not in a position to give an armed reply. But after reaching Medina, joining with Ansars they gain some strength, got organized and started to reply to polytheists. Since the Polytheists had usurped everything from Immigrants. A caravan had gone to Syria for getting merchandise by polytheists under the leadership of Abu Sufyan. The Prophet (s) ordered to seize these merchandise. The polytheists got the news and another armed army came forward to confront Muslims, so now the Muslims had to fight two forces. Here there was a confusion in Muslims with whom to fight. The Quran guided the Prophet to leave Abu Sufyan and fight this big army of 1000 men of Polytheist. There was no balance of power and Muslims were weak as compared to men and weaponry. The Muslims when they saw this force they realized their weakness.
The verse before this.
إِذْ هَمَّتْ طَائِفَتَانِ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ تَفْشَلَا وَاللَّهُ وَلِيُّهُمَا ۗ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ {122}
When two parties from among you had determined that they should show cowardice, and Allah was the guardian of them both, and in Allah should the believers trust.
وَلَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِبَدْرٍ وَأَنْتُمْ أَذِلَّةٌ ۖ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ {123}
And Allah did certainly assist you at Badr when you were weak; be careful of (your duty to) Allah then, that you may give thanks.
Allah says we helped you as you were in weak position in Badr. Then after this help from Allah now acquire Taqwa so that you may express gratefulness. The wisdom after this victory to be followed is to adopt Taqwa so that you become grateful.
Shukr also like Taqwa is another value for Muslims and entire humanity that all of them should become grateful against the bounties of Allah. The Shukr is the expression of bounties from Allah. The expression here does not mean presentation of bounties to others, but instead this expression means the purpose for which the bounties have been given should be used for that purpose. If Allah has given wealth then use it for the purpose for which Allah has given and do not accumulate and conceal it. Similarly other bounties like health, youth age , intellect which Allah has given should be use for the purpose. To become grateful (Shakir) as well Taqwa is required. A person who is not Muttaqee, but instead Fasik, faajir will waste bounties and cannot become Shakir. He does not use the bounties of Allah for the purpose Allah has given.
In our community, nation Allah has given abundant means and some believers spend in the way of Allah with a passion. Those who get these means, wealth do not use it for the right purpose. Like for Khums a big amount comes to scholars and center in the name of Khums. This is in big number and it is in billions of rupees in Pakistan collected every year but is not use for the purpose of Khums. The believers deliver their rights to give the Khums but they are under this negligence that they do not consider themselves as responsible to deliver in the right place where it used for the right purpose. The believers think that when they give Khums to some center, take receipt our responsibility is over. By Shariah it is not like this, that you give you tax, Khums and take receipt then your responsibility is over. You have to deliver your commercial obligations and you should make it reach that place where you are certain that this wealth would be used for the right purpose. If you do not have any evidence that this is being used for the right purpose then this obligation remains undelivered.
The gratefulness of bounties is to use it for its right purpose. In Pakistan people give Khums since long time and I can give an example for this. Allama Mufti Jafar made his madrassa before 80s. The believers were supporting that madrassa since that time. They were delivering their obligations though some usurp the public treasury. If you calculate how much wealth was usurped by Banu Umayyah and Banu Abbas as compared to the wealth usurped by the followers of Ahlulbayt(a) then you will see the people of this era have done more usurpation. we cannot curse those as we are doing the same thing. Those who give do not consider themselves as responsible to ensure where it is used.
Those who were giving Allama Mufti Jafar at that time kept on giving and after the Madrassah got in a bad state, ruined and it got stopped they still continued giving. Then after that we again started the Madrassa still the money was coming in the old account and the new caretakers had no access to that account. When that account was blocked due to government audits, that amount also got blocked. This is the practical example I have given that people continue to give without assessing where it is going. The Madrassa stopped but this aid continued and no one new who took that amount and where it was spent because the Madrassa had no spending seen.
I have said this because those who give do not realize or assess where it is being spend. Shukr means to use the bounty in the direction for which Allah has given. This gratefulness is done by whom? The one who is Muttaaqqee makes uses of the bounties in the right direction. The Muttaqqee is the one who has secured his life from all dangers. One who is corrupt, transgressor is also not grateful.
In this verse the Prophet is being told that we have helped you in Badr when you were very weak. There is an order that after the success of Badr you have to acquire Taqwa so that you become grateful. In the battle of Badr the state of Muslims was panicky. When these 300 saw those forces they were shocked as they did not go to battle, they had gone out to seize the merchandise. Instead of a merchant caravan when they say an armed force they came under pressure. The Prophet (s) was being accused that you did not tell us the right thing; you got us out for something else and got us trapped into this trouble. The Prophet (S) told them is it not enough hat Allah will help you through his angels. He said 3000 angels will descend for your help.
إِذْ تَقُولُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَلَنْ يَكْفِيَكُمْ أَنْ يُمِدَّكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ بِثَلَاثَةِ آلَافٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مُنْزَلِينَ {124}
When you said to the believers: Does it not suffice you that your Lord should assist you with three thousand of the angels sent down?
بَلَىٰ ۚ إِنْ تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا وَيَأْتُوكُمْ مِنْ فَوْرِهِمْ هَٰذَا يُمْدِدْكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ بِخَمْسَةِ آلَافٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مُسَوِّمِينَ {125}
Yea! if you remain patient and are on your guard, and they come upon you in a headlong manner, your Lord will assist you with five thousand of the havoc-making angels.
The help will come to you under two conditions, one is patience demonstrating perseverance and second is if you acquire Taqwa. And angels will come with clear signs, becoming part of this battle and not just 3000 but 5000 will come for your help.
This condition is not exclusive with Badr but is applicable for any confrontation in every era. Any community that rises for the sake of Allah with patience and Taqwa, then Allah will support them through unseen which could be through physical and nonphysical means both. This is a normal law of Allah which should be experimented. The believers should acquire Taqwa and patience then stand against any big force then Allah will definitely help these believers the way he helped in Badr.
Since we have been taught Quran in a different way. Today also Badr is present whereby a small minority of believers stand against a big force. When such confrontation happens, they take support of Taghoots. In Pakistan Shias are in minority. This minority for the freedom of their beliefs are facing hardships from prejudicial, takfirists forces. To confront these forces, the leadership present within us have shown the formula to take refuge form some big Taghoot, by alliance with their party , join them and that Taghoot will protect you from takfiris and terrorists. You have been with Taghoot’s and seen that they are themselves not secure so how will they protect you. You join them for security and they do not even attend the funeral of martyrs. You sit on street for days with bodies and their families shivering but the Taghoot insults them by saying that you are black mailing us through martyrs. This is the trend we have adapted that since we are few we should seek protection through Taghoot’s.
Allah says in Badr you were small in numbers without any weapons. Two things were present in some and mainly in their leader and few selected companions. As in Ohud it was seen how many demonstrated perseverance. The Quran has presented this custom that if few persons are patient and Taqwa then Allah’s help comes. Allah helped them in Badr in the weak position. Allah helped you because your leader had first faith on this divine help and second the two formulas of patience and Taqwa was adopted by him hence Allah gave him success. You can see that the Shias of Lebanon are weaker than Pakistani Shias. In Lebanon even within Shias not all are with Hezbollah, some are against, some with other parties. Such a small party was honored by Allah against Arabs, ISIS, America. This is the same as Badr, they adopted Taqwa, patience and faith on Allah’s helps. So the other communities should also have faith on this, and understand this secret that we should rely on the support from Allah. He does not support through Taghoot’s but through his own army of Angels.
SECOND SERMON
Sermon 2: Scholars who adjust with Taghoot can never establish divine orders
Amirul Momineen in saying no 110
وَ قَالَ عليه السلام: لَا يُقِيمُ أَمْرَ اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ إِلَّا مَنْ لَا يُصَانِعُ وَ لَا يُضَارِعُ وَ لَا يَتَّبِعُ الْمَطَامِعَ
The Amr of Allah cannot be established by one who is not Ahle Musanah, Ahle Muzaraye and is not Ahle Matama. The one who has these three deficiencies cannot establish the divine governance.
The first attribute is Musanah, Mudahna means to compromise. He does not compromise on truth and values. These were the values which distanced people from Amirul Momineen (a) specifically in his era. As against Amirul Momineen (a) there was one more character disposition present which said that you can do everything possible to come into power. Whatever means you can use should be used whether it is forbidden, lies etc. because after coming to power you want to eventually serve community which is a good deed which justifies the illegitimate means. Hence they teach that you should remove all obstacle to come into power. This way power was acquired against Amirul Momineen (a).
Today the politics that is present across the globe can be seen to do any legitimate , illegitimate thing to come into power. If you have to compromise with tyrants, falsehood, supporting Taghoot, alliance with someone then do all these as you have to only see how many ways are possible to come into power and don’t consider at all if they are good or evil ways. At times such people come into power as well who use everything possible as means.
The clear example of this in Pakistan is the past government who used every possible means to come into power. They came to power with all big slogans of ending injustice, poverty, employment, homelessness and everyone will come to Pakistan to seek jobs. These were all the slogans raised to come into power. They came into power with slogans, but at the back the filth which was present got exposed today. Whichever way it was possible they came into power, then see what they did? In every field if you see they themselves don’t have any answer, they answer that others are also corrupt, thugs and those who listen become contented that since others are impure so as well ours. What is this trend that to come in power use every possible good, evil tactic?
Amirul Momineen (a) is expressing a big secret and reality; he is teaching politics to us. This is the politics of Ali (a). If we see all religious groups in our country whether Shias or Sunnis in politics, they all use religion for non-religious political means. When you use religion, then the shariah, system of Prophet, Quran, Islam will become slogans. They raise such slogans to come to power then do whatever they want to do. Those who aroused the people the people do not even remember what lies he said before elections and what he is doing now. The Politicians consider Pakistan as heaven with senseless people present. It is a paradise for every support, liar and malicious people. They will come in power, pulpits , capture means and nation. All his will happen in this paradise of senseless people.
In between Ali (a) says that if you are concerned about Amr of Allah then see who can do this. He should be first someone non-compromising on anything truth. Compromise means to give flexibility on truth, accept some falsehood to reach the purpose. This is disliked act by Amirul Momineen (a) which is a deception and such people can never establish the orders of Allah. This saying makes us understand the entire history over here. The system of Imamat did not get established in entire history because all those who were holding the standards of Imamat were compromising and today also they are the same.
The second attribute of a person who establishes divine orders are those who are Ahle Muzareya. The meaning of this are those who accept disgrace, lowliness. They cannot establish Amr of Allah. The second meaning which scholars have done is Mushabehat which means people who when they enter some environment, they become like the atmosphere. instead of changing community they adopt their resemblance. When they sit with evils they become like them, and when with good people they become good. They are like Chameleon who changes color as per environment. These adjusting people cannot establishe the Amr of Allah. The biggest addressee of Amirul Momineen (a) in this saying are scholars as the Amr of Allah gets established through scholars. When the scholars are victim of these diseases. When you enter a filthy atmosphere then there is disgrace in that atmosphere.
One example is in Fiqh for everyone specifically for scholars. The example that if some animal or human being falls in salt mine and dies there. You got news that this happened with someone and now you go there to find him. You will get astonished to find no clue of the body there, and only salt will be seen there. This is the quality of salt that anything falling in salt becomes salt. The scholars give this example in the chapter of purification and in terminology it is known as Istehala. This means transformation of one state to another state completely by acquiring the form, shape of another thing.
The scholars undergo Istehala when they enter into different environment. They become Malang, Chaudhary, Gaali, Nasibi when they went into such atmospheres. Tashabuh is the name of this Istehala. The one who is being ordained to establish the Amr of Allah but has adjusted and transformed with circumstances. The others guide him as well to go as per situation. There is no one who says to remain firm and do not come under pressure , do not become like them but instead change them. They were sympathetic to Imam Hussain (a) and asked him even though not to become like Yazid but to become like these silent Hajis, people of Medina and Kufa. Why you are not adopting the color of someone else. Imam did not do Istehala of himself. The others were good people but went through istehala. They transform and become like others. They consider this adjustment as good trait. These two compromise and adjustment are curses by Ali. If the leader can compromise, adjust then this person cannot establish Amr e Ilahi.
The third trait is self-interested person, he cannot establish Amr e Ilahi. The one who has no other self-interests other than Amr e Ilahi can only do this.
The big problem with Imams was that they did not adjust with others. But those who adjusted or compromised saw the world for few days but remained criminal in the eyes of Allah. The scholars took the reigns in their hands to establish the Amr e Ilahi. If a person is Marjae Taqlid and is compromising then how can he guide the nation. If he is afraid of Azadar, Malang and compromises with everyone then how can he teach religion to others. He will destroy religion. And second if he adjusts to become likes other. When he sees western people he became like them. For pleasing western culture, America, they change their outlook and also of religion.
Amirul Momineen (a) , Imam Hussain (a) had nothing for compromise. When we say that Imam Hassan (a) did compromise, then I have explained this , which you can read in tabrisi who did this compromise. When Imam Hassan (a) saw the map of those compromising with enemies he devised this stratagem. The kufis , commander in chief of his army, the Shias. They did compromise that we will hand over imam Hassan to Muawiya. Imam protected Shias, religion, Ahlulbayt (a) from this compromise. They did not allow Amr e Ilahi to be established. Whenever Ali tried to establish Amr e Ilahi , the compromising people came forward to stop him. Since they are sacred, they are not accounted for. They think that no one can stand in front of our sacredness. Amirul Momineen (a) said that no one other than me can fight Khawarij. This is the practical Taqwa expressed by Amirul Momineen (a).
