Hujjatul Islam Ustad Syed Jawad Naqvi
(Principal Jamia Orwatul Wuthqa – Lahore)
Delivered at: Masjid Baitul ul Ateeq
Lahore – Pakistan
Friday Sermon – 16th February, 2024
Sermon 1: The Shias of Imam Sajjad (a) and Shias of 8th Feb
Sermon 2: Fulfilling covenant with Allah, Prophet and Imam in this era is supporting Palestine.
Man has to rise on earth for the establishment of Adl. Allah says in Surah Hadid that we have sent Prophets with Book, Meezan, Hikmah and then Iron so that people can establish Adl. After Adl a secure life of man starts. But man did not confine himself to the life Allah has ordained for him instead he used the liberty of choice given by Allah to do transgression of Allah’s orders. We can see father has been given authority on children and the parents use this authority to keep their children away from Allah. Man has also collectively done this. They want man to establish Adl and then Imamat is meant to establish this Adalat.
If we ponder over the history of Imamat, man has done opposite and instead of Adalat they gave preference to transgression, oppression and Taghoots. As per Quran Taghoot is one who has gone out of the system ordained by Allah. The people left Imams who were supposed to establish Adalat. Amongst these Imams one is Imam Sajjad (a) and today is the day of Wiladat of Imam Sajjad (a). The Shias have very less information about Imams. Christians have spread their religion and propagated it as a mission not profession, they got success whereby today it is a major religion in the world. In Muslims, the Sunnis have spread their religion across the world but in Shias the propagation of Imamat have not been done. The Shias themselves forgot the purpose of Imamat and whatever professionals presented that is only known to Shias. We can say that most hard era of Imamat was of Imam Sajjad (a) and it lasted for around 35 years. Several rulers, Taghoot passed by and he delivered his covenant of Imamat. Imam Sajjad (a) took over the Imamat in the hardest of situation in Karbala on 10th Moharram. In the same hard state, he started to deliver the era of covenant. The hardship of era more than Ashura came later when he returned to Medina after captivity. In this era, the governance is with Yazid, he killed Ahlulbayt and did utmost oppression which all Imam Sajjad (a) saw from beginning. The situation which Yazid created after Karbala is where Imam Sajjad (a) started his era of Imamat. What happened with Imam (a) in this era we can analyze.
We can divide in three groups the people; first were the Syrians who were followers of Yazid. The second was the group that joined Abdullah Ibn Zabair, who did not accept Imam Sajjad (a). They established their own governance in certain areas by snatching it from Banu Umayyah. Then Abdullah ibn Zubair was killed by Marwan and his regime. The third group were the Kufis who were neither supporters of Syrian and nor of Abdullah Ibn Zubair. They termed themselves as Shias. The Syrian, Yazidi, Kufis were exposed in Karbala as well. Abdullah ibn Zubair followers were also exposed that they did not accept Imam Sajjad (a) as Imam. The third group of Kufis who wrote letters to Imam Hussain (a). They were all not Shias, there were tribals, rented fighters, politicians amongst those who wrote letters to Imam Sajjad. There were some Shias as well. There were two major branches of Shias under two leaders. One was under Sulayman ibn Surad Khozai and second were under Mukhtar ibn Thaqafi and they had severe competition amongst both. If Sulayman comes in some field, Mukhtar will ask his followers to back off and other way around. It happened many times and even in the presence of Muslim ibn Aqil. After three years of Karbala the Shias under Sulayman regretted for what they did in Karbala. Sulayman boycotted Muslim stating that we do not accept the orders of non-infallible person and we will only listen to Imam Hussain (a) when he comes. Now they repented and were termed Tawwabeen. Then Sulayman gathered an army of 12,000 repenter’s who considered their role in Karbala as criminal and now they watned to take revenge. Mukhtar opposed and separated 6 to 8000 persons out from Sulayman. And then only 4000 Tawwabeen fought. One dispute was that Sulayman wanted to fight the war out of Kufa on the borders of Syria and Mukhtar would say we will fight in Kufa. But they made this excuse and Tawwabeen left for Syria and on way they fought Banu Umayyah and all got killed. Then Mukhtar left and did Bayyat of Abdullah ibn Zubair. Prior to this one more argument started whereby a movement of Mahdiviat of Mohammad ibn Hanafia. Imam is in Medina and Hanafia is also in Medina. As per some narrations Hanafia also got inclined towards his own Imamat and an argument also took place between him and Imam Sajjad (a). He claimed like from Hassan it came to Hussain so now to another brother. Then Imam Sajjad (a) gave arguments and asked him to not be claimant for this. This another topic started against Imam Sajjad.
One powerful group was with Syria, second came under Abdullah ibn Zubair and third group of Shias came under Mohammad Ibn Hanafia. They made a sect as Qaisaniah and claimed that Mohammad ibn Hanafia is Mahdi and, on his death, they claimed he went into occultation.
How many Shias were left with Imam Sajjad (a) and remained till end. As per narrations 3, 5 or 6 were these people. These were the only who remained ready to obey orders of Imam. This is the way Imam (a) started his era of Imamat. The followers of Banu Umayyah were in Syria and followers of Imam in Medina. The other Shias all got disconnected and went towards Hanafia or Sulayman. The Sunnis were with Abdullah ibn Zubair. The son of Yazid went in favor of Ahlulbayt got killed and then later Umar Ibn Abdul Aziz who supported Ahlulbayt but he was also killed in three years. The power of Shias got divided into two groups, one came under Sulayman who all got killed. The group of Mukhtar first got success with Abdullah ibn Zubair, then established governance in Kufa and later the followers of Mukhtar got killed by Abdullah ibn Zubair. The followers of Mukhtar all did not killed but where did the others go, like the Ibrahim ibn Malik Ashtar who was the key person in Mukhtar’s success also separated and got aligned with Abdullah ibn Zubair. When Imam Sajjad (a) saw this, we can see the Khutba of Imam (a) in Kufa. First Lady Zainab (s), then Lady Kulsoom (s), Lady Fatema bint Hussain (a) and then Imam Sajjad (a).
In this sermon first introduced himself as I am the son was killed on Furrat thirsty who were made captives with their women. I am the son who got martyred in patience. I am proud of this. Then he said to kufis, that you presented your covenant to Imam Hussain(a) but when he came, you killed him. Woe on you and this act of yours. How will you face the Prophet (s) and raise your eyes at him when he will question that you killed my progeny, your sacrilege my progeny and when Prophet (s) will say you are not my Ummah and not related to me. The narrator says people started to mourn there and some said to others that we are annihilated, we have lost our world and hereafter. May Allah have mercy on one who listens to my admonition and accepts. The Holy Prophet is a role model for us. All the Kufis together said we are listeners to you; we are ready to defend your Imamat and we have no expectations or any greed from you in acceptance of your Imamat and support you. We will never turn our face. You just order what should we do now. We all are enemies of those who are your enemies. You war is our war and your peace is our peace. We will take revenge from Yazid and anyone who did oppression on your family we announce our disassociation with them.
These were the Kufis to whom Imam delivered this sermon in captivity. After listening to this they started to renew their pledges. Imam Sajjad (A), No, Never, O you cheaters and breakers of covenant. Do you want to do the same what you did with my father and grandfather Ali (a). None of my wounds are healed means I have not forgotten what all you have done. Yesterday you have martyred my father and Ahlulbayt (a). My father’s pleading, calls are echoing in my ears still and yelling of his followers. The pain for all these is present in my heart and throat is choked with pressure. Listen to my admonition that you Kufis don’t do anything in our favor nor do anything against us. Do not come with us nor stand against us.
In this sermon the group standing is one who were believers in the Imamat of Imam Sajjad (a). This third group which were mostly in Basra and some in Yemen. To these followers of Imamat, Imam Sajjad (a) says that neither do anything in our favor nor against us. If you come with us, you will break your covenant, if you come against us, you will be counted with our enemies. You are not trustworthy of anything. Imam titled them as fraudsters, covenant breakers who are doing the same what they did with Imam Hussain (a). This is how the era of Imamat starts of Imam Sajjad (a). So where are the followers of Imam Sajjad (a) today? It is the same situation; how many are standing with Imamat. The Imamat which Allah has ordained as a system for establishment of Adl, Religion how many are standing. On 8th Feb you have demonstrated how many are standing. The Kufis are asking Imam to order after 4 days of Karbala. So, what happened 4 days before. Yesterday you left your Imam alone and now again you are deceiving Imam. I cannot trust you. When you see power, authority you go to Abdullah ibn Zubair, wherever you see the lust of power you go there. Till the time of end of Imam Sajjad (a) remained like this. They would come to Medina for Ziarat and would not meet Imam and neither Imam Sajjad (a) was ready to meet them.
Today is the day of Wiladat of Imam Sajjad (a), have we ever seen the chapter of Imamat and what Imams are demanding from you? The Imams do not like our behavior today because we are ready to go under banner raised. Abdullah, Sulayman, Mukhtar anyone who raises flag we go under it but we are not ready to come under the banner of Imam of era. To support Imam Mahdi means to support the system of Imamat. When Taghoot calls you for vote then say we are with Imamat. Imam Sajjad (a) starts his era with 6 followers and then see later how many became followers of Imam is present in history. Let us end this sequence of traitors of Imamat and become supporters of Imamat. We should rise for Imamat. There are various ways it can be done. You can see the Ismaili and Zaidi (Houthis) are standing with Imamat. The ones whom they believe in Imamat they are firmly standing. But in between the majority Shias have left the Imamat and go under every Taghoot and the 8th Feb scene is in front of you. May Allah give us the Taufeeq to execute Imamat the way Allah wants.
Sermon 2
If protection mechanism of Taqwa is removed then man turns dreadfully worse than beasts. When this happens all values of humanity gets destroyed. The first value that gets destroyed is Ahad, that is covenant, fulfilling responsibilities. The other values are established with this support. If there is no commitment then all other values are lost. These days of Wiladat are meant to renew our covenant with Imams. We spend these occasions in our self-carved rituals on both birth days and their martyrdom. The Imam’s have specified to remember them but the way we do is all made by us and not taught by Imams. We do both celebrations and commemorations through professionals. These are the days of covenant where we should renew our covenant and assess if we are standing on our covenants or not. Those who were with Imam Sajjad (a) did not deliver their covenant.
In first sermon I mentioned how Imam Sajjad (a) termed them as cheaters, covenant breakers and prior to him Lady Zainab (a) also termed the Kufis with the same terms. The Makr means one who breaks the covenant in an undisclosed manner that is cheating. The one who does openly are transgressors. There are some who make excuses to run away from duties. In Arabic Gadr means breaking covenants. The one who make commitments and do not deliver. Then against this Wafa which means fulfillment.
The first covenant is of Uboodiyat with Allah, then covenant of obedience with Allah, Messenger and Imams. Today the lustful scholars have created incorrect impression by bringing democracy in Islam. They say actual governors are people and they can make anyone as ruler and he will be considered as Sharia ruler. Wilayat is authority and People (Jamhooriat) have duty to obey Allah, Prophet and Ulul Amr who is appointed by Allah and not selected by people. If I do not fulfill the Ahad, then we cannot deliver the covenant. Every day of ours without Imamat is Gadr. The obedience is Wafa.
Today in this era we can see what is Allah’s order in every aspect of life. In the situation of Islamic world today to support Gaza is the obedience and deliverance of covenant. Allah’s order is to support oppressed and oppose oppressors. The Prophet says if any Muslim listens to pleas of Muslims and does not response is not Muslim. The Imams also say the same. Imam Ali (a) says do not see the religion of oppressed, just say Labbaik to their calls and support them. This is the principle of reasoning as well that the duty of man with conscience is to help these oppressed and everyone has left this and this is Ghadr. This Ghadr is to break covenant with Allah, messenger and Imam. The one who breaks covenant is the worse creation for Allah. Allah can forgive others but will not forgive the Ghaddar, the breakers of covenant. We being the followers of Imams, it does not suit us that we claim Imamat and act as Ghaddar. Let us deliver the covenant of Imamat and may Allah give relief to the people of Gaza and Palestine from this oppressed.
