Hujjatul Islam Ustad Syed Jawad Naqvi
(Principal Jamia Orwatul Wuthqa – Lahore)
Delivered at: Masjid Baitul ul Ateeq
Lahore – Pakistan
Friday Sermon – 22nd September, 2023
Sermon 1 : Society develops individuals and not individuals make society
Sermon 2: Disconnect from Khannas (media) and witness the realities the way they are
If people want to reform society they cannot but if society wants then it can do. If individual want to corrupt society then it’s not easy but if society wants to do then it’s not tough. Similarly if any act which takes place between society and people then it gets into people easily from society then the other way. We can witness this in our society though we only believe in things which we have heard. Like you are feeling its hot but your father says that weather is good, so you will say yes because you do not want to insult our father, this is how we have been nurtured. This has become a trend that we don’t believe in what we clearly see but instead we believe in what others says specifically when they are sacred people saying. Today we can see media, things reach us through media. The media means the common means of propagation by which things reach everyone. These means were previously limited and not in hands of everyone but today everyone has got the means of communication to everyone irrespective of that being lies, reformation, corruption, goodness, evils, infidelity and there are no filters. The companies who have made and given these means to us have placed filters on truth and they do not allow truth to reach the world but for lies there are no limitations. These things spread now and reach us as well after moving around. If some orator who is not a scholar is speaking something he has heard from media and presents it to others. Then other than media there are people like our parents who have given this impression to us that what we tell you to do if you do then you are good children. From here man starts from small things whereby he denies truth and his trust increases on what others say, and eventually when he grows he does not consider his own observation as authentic. He sees from the minds, eyes of others and mistrust his own self.
If we witness our society with our own eyes though the ability to witness is not the same in everyone. Some do on surface and ignore many things, but some go deep inside and look at every aspect. Those who do surficial analysis cannot be trusted. You should witness how much your conduct is affecting society and how much is society affecting you. See how much the atmosphere of house has affected children and how much have children affected the house. You can make this as the basis. You can witness one more thing in your house, whereby there are women, men, mother and father in house. You can see who is more effective father on mother or mother or father. Though father might claim I am the custodian but what the witnessing says? You can see your relatives, whether they are more maternal or paternal relatives who visit you or you go there. This is the witnessing which can you do and find out whether mother is more effective or father is more effective. We witness but then close our eyes by reminding ourselves that we have not seen the situation of our society. Whatever you see in religious and political atmosphere in our society. We can see the political system for 75 years that it is becoming corrupt day by day and still we have closed our eyes and ready to repeat the same. The politicians in last years have all become naked which the entire community has witnessed but they don’t trust their own observations. Again they will trust the election campaigns and will trust what media and maulanas will say. If we make our witness as basis then we are afraid that we might exit our religion. What kind of religion is this that we should not believe what we see. The religion says if there is a difference between what you have seen and heard, then believe in what you have seen. Religion makes your experience as the basis and instructs you to think and then move forward. The individual and society all have a witnessing and the question raised is how much you are effective on society and how much is society effective on us? The society has not taken any effect from us but I have taken effect of society.
We are made and nurtured by society and it’s not that society has made us. At times false things spread and becomes famous which we start to trust because all are saying. From the wrong things which are spread one thing is that society is made by individual and they make society. This is not completely correct because individuals are raw matter of society but they are not activators of society. In philosophy they say four elements make something which is matter like material, design, maker and purpose. In society the status of individuals and society is not the same. If we say that society makes individuals then this is correct, because society has the strength to make individuals but it is not true the other way. The sectarians have their desires how Pakistani society should be. The Takfirist by heart wants the entire Pakistan society should be Takfiri having enmity towards Ahlulbayt (a) but they won’t be able to do until Qayamat, because they cannot make society. The society can make an individual Takfiri but an individual mufti cannot make a society Takfiri. He can be used as a material. All these religious organizations copy one constitution of mother organization. They write that we want to establish Islamic society. They all want to do this individually and organizationally but you are not able to do this? why? Has someone stopped you? But the society has made you the way it wanted. The Shias in Pakistan are of different types; like Gaali wants entire society to be Gaali, the Malang want everyone to be Malang. The revolutionary wants entire society to be revolutionary but they cannot do because law is that the society has to make you.
In foundation of society individuals would be used as a material. Here we can realize the importance of these sciences to see how this gets done. The academics teach sciences to make and run technology, the madrasas teach to make sects. There is a third thing which is society whereby religious people, non-religious, industrial, man, women are all part of it. The technology, science and talent on the basis of which society is formed is a different science. You won’t be able to create a righteous society with industries and sects. For making such a society you have to study another science which is expressed by Quran , Infallible and some Ulama have also worked on this which we have left like sociology, philosophy etc. We have left these sciences. The developers of society which means social life is made by someone else. If we see our society there are certain things in your hands and some not. The society of Pakistan is not in control of individual, government, sects because they are all outcome of society. Though they claim to change the society but are not able to do instead society is making them. What are the elements on which society is made. The Quran says it is Adl that makes the foundation of society. The second foundation is oppression against Adl which makes an unjust society. The society of Pakistan which is like today has causes, but what you are thinking are not the causes. You are taking benefits form society but not the constructor of society. We have to find those causes that form the society. The Quran says it is Adl, from where it starts and makes an Ummah. Those who have to form the Ummah, the first pillar they have to establish is Adl. If we all do worships together, then in worships, charity , spending on religion the Pakistani community are ahead of other societies. The social sense, sciences are not getting attention hence those elements which are outside our approach are effective on us. There are certain elements which form the society and some get effected by it. We are amongst those effected and are not those who form the society irrespective of whatever claims we do. The Quran says that the foundation of society should be on Adl. The emphasis of religion on Adl did not get included in our teachings.
Taqwa means protection and Muttaqeen society is secure, protected society which is one that gets established on the basis of Adl. Our society is imbalanced because the foundations on which society should be formed are not there and one of them is Adl. Since Taqwa is security and a secure society gets formed with Adl along with elements.
SECOND SERMON
وَ قَالَ عليه السلام: إِذَا اسْتَوْلَى الصَّلَاحُ عَلَى الزَّمَانِ وَ أَهْلِهِ ثُمَّ أَسَاءَ رَجُلٌ الظَّنَّ بِرَجُلٍ لَمْ تَظْهَرْ مِنْهُ حَوْبَةٌ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ وَ إِذَا اسْتَوْلَى الْفَسَادُ عَلَى الزَّمَانِ وَ أَهْلِهِ فَأَحْسَنَ رَجُلٌ الظَّنَّ بِرَجُلٍ فَقَدْ غَرَّرَ
At a time when virtue is in trend in the world and among people, if a person entertains an evil suspicion about another person from whom nothing evil has ever been seen, then he has been unjust. And at a time when vice is in trend in the world and among people, if a man entertains a good idea about another person he has flung himself in peril.
Ali (a) says if the society is righteous and goodness is governing the society; and in this society if a person develops evil suspicion on words of others on someone, without witnessing himself then this person is an oppressor. If the society is corrupt and in this evil society if you trust someone without experiencing and witnessing then trusting such person is to deceive yourself and you will suffer harm.
To consider yourself with good traits which are not present inside me, this is incorrect assumption. I am not sincere but claiming that I am sincere and does not have any bad intention about anyone. There is one that some people have abilities, they are smart, sharp but do not have confidence due to their upbringing. They have the feeling of being incapable and they cannot deliver any affair based on this feeling. Both the feelings are incorrect. You should see the ground reality. This is one aspect which Amirul Momineen (a) is pointing is to understand the ground reality and make your behavior stand on the ground reality. If someone is wearing a coat in extreme summer then he is ignoring the ground reality. Hence people find such a person abnormal. The other ground realities like those present in your society in perspective of ethics ,politics should be witnessed and not close your eyes, and even if they are bitter accept it. We have to live our life in accordance to the ground reality and change your behavior accordingly. To close your eyes and act on idealism is foolishness. We might not like the ground reality but it is the fact. In Pakistan the ground reality is different from what media is presenting. Keep this in mind that Quran has also asked us to seek refuge from Khannas (the whispering Shaitan). The Prophet (s) has been told to be remain alert from the dangers of Khannas and seek refuge from Allah from the evil of Khannas. The one who places whispers, doubts, suspicions, misunderstandings in the heart of people. The Khannas is not specific individual but a trend by which such things are spread. It can be one person, a religious guide, an orator, writer, politician but at present the biggest role is being played by media, both regular and social media. The title that befits this media is Khannas. The doubts that are created by this Khannas are not be trusted and you need run and seek refuge from Allah. This Khannas has made a picture of society and one is your witnessing and observation. We do not believe in what we see but trust what media is presenting. We have placed our ears on what Khannas is saying and the actual Marjae e Taqlid of the people is Khannas, the media. Everyone including Shia, Sunni, secular all believe and follow this media Khannas and do not create difference of opinion. You don’t believe in what you’re witnessing. The Media is saying that solution to the country’s problem is election. We believe in what this Khannas is saying and everyone wants to do clean election. This means there should not be rigging. But who will fight elections? These three big parties and their alliances will contest elections. They will get appointed in election and then all things will change next day is what media is saying. Your observations says what? All the damages have been done by these people only, they have made the country reached here, so how is it possible that those who have destroyed the nation they will fix it if clean elections are done. Is this not mistrust on yourself? There is one thief who has stolen, and you are now allowing him to come. He says ask me to come with respect and your problems will be solved. There are terrorists who have unsecured the country and they are saying give us opportunity to come in elections. So they will do what? Terrorism only. The media has abandoned our ability to think. For example when mass terrorism was done in Quetta, everyone was protesting including ourselves. In one protest, one woman messaged that police has come on our protest and they are attacking us. I asked him if you are present there, she said yes, is there police seen, any gas, any sound of weapons, she said no to all. Then why are you worried? She said this message has come. The witnessing is telling no firing has taken place, but message has come firing has taken place. She has given more importance to message. This is the state of all. You get message and you are seeing as well, then we all believe in message. Why are we asked to take refuge from Khannas because it changes reality and presents it in a way to control our mind. There is a difference between Shaitan and Khannas. The Shaitan arouses us and we do things. The Khannas takes our minds in control. Ther are two forms of diseases, one form virus and other bacteria. The bacteria sits in one place of body and does not allow nutrition to reach there and grows himself. The virus takes complete control of system. The virus in computer is termed virus because it takes control of your system.
When man becomes blind they cannot see the ground realities, they are Umyun as termed by Quran. This is one disease. But Khannas changes the reality, it turns black to white and white to black. When Khannas enters heart, then the good characters become evil and evil becomes sacred. If you see the battle between Muawiya and Ali, then you can see how the people’s eyes closed their yeas in Hejaz. But in Syria, the reality changed. The pain in which we are indulged is not Hejazi where the realities cannot be seen, instead the realities have been changed by Khannas. Hence you should seek refuge from the evil of Khannas which is not just verbal. The practical way is to disconnect from all contacts and links of Khannas. To go in refuge of Allah means to connect with Allah where the reality gets connected and can be seen. The prayers which Prophet was taught and he did throughout his life. One would be “Rabbe Ziddni Ilma” “O my Lord! Increase my knowledge”. The second was O Allah! Increase the astonishment in your essence. The third was O my Lord! Should me the reality the way they are.
Amirul Momineen (a) is saying to open our eyes and change your behavior as per the society. In corrupt societies open your eyes, and in righteous society also do not oppress by suspecting others. Open your eyes and see what kind of society you are living in. Taqwa means to live a secure life in corrupt society and for this you need insights, guidance which the Prophet (s) and the Ahlulbayt (a) have granted us.
