Hujjatul Islam Ustad Syed Jawad Naqvi
(Principal Jamia Orwatul Wuthqa – Lahore)
Delivered at: Masjid Baitul ul Ateeq
Lahore – Pakistan
Friday Sermon – 13th January, 2022
Sermon 1: Rabetu – Three types of social relationship
Allah has established Taqwa for protection of human life as a divine plan and is expressed for every segment of life and amongst those dimensions of life one segment is social life which is the actual and major part of life. The way there are degrees of life the same way arrangement for Taqwa is also made. The most fundamental field in life is social life which is the actual life. The personal, individual life and other segments of life are nurtured in the laps of social life. In understanding, preaching of religion we consider individual life as the axis more whereas we don’t even give secondary status to the actual life that is social. If we refer to those which are written for explaining religion amongst which the science of Fiqh is an important element. In Fiqh we see laws, rules of individualistic life are explained in detail whereas social life is abandoned. In Quran Allah has considered individual life as a branch of social life.
The way we see as an example the economy has two views. One view is of socialism and against it the second economic view is of capitalism. Socialism is the economy whose axis is society, which means the rights of ownership of everything is society like of land, revenue, means, etc. The social revenue than has to be distributed equally amongst various segments of society based on need. In socialism they take the rights of ownership from individuals and give it to society. In capitalism the ownership of land, revenue and everything is owned by individual. The individual has the rights to increase their domain of ownership to any extent possible. This is the current system in the world. The category of people leading the world is the capitalism system and amongst this as well the American capitalist system is governing the world. We only find the view of Imamat in our minds only but practically everyone Shia, Sunni and non-Muslims are living under Imamat of America. In this system an individual can unconditionally without any limits become owner of everything. Today in statistics if we see then 99% of world wealth is owned by 1% and remaining 1% wealth of world is with 99% of people. This is a correct survey. If we see in Pakistan the big capitalists own 99% of country assets and they might be even less than 1%. And balance 1% of national wealth is moving around within 99% people. This means the majority of people are poor and a minority of 1% has excess wealth. With this example you can understand that if you make an individual as owner then there is no limit on how much he can accumulate. If we can get convinced with social ownership that individual is not owner, then the individual will take wealth only as needed and won’t be given more. The actual owner would be then society. The outcome is also in front of you. We can see with individuals being owner of assets, 1% of people are owner of 99%. This is the example I have given and in this socialism has almost ended everywhere and only present in North Korea. Even in China they claim to be socialist but their economical system is capitalism practically.
We can bring the same example in religion. In religion who is the axis of religious teachings , guidance, laws, principles, commands, prohibitions, etiquettes? Individual or social? If all this is oriented towards individual then there would be a different face and if it is for social then the practical case will be something else. In the current situation amongst 8 billion people there is only one country where the religion is owning everything. In all other societies people are living without religious system. If the religion is for individual then in the religion of individual only individualistic things would be there like say Bismillah before eating, don’t eat this or that and individual can act or not on their religion. In the individual religion there is no presence of system and there is no Imamat also required for individual as Imam is needed by system. Individual does not need manifesto; they just need counselling to spend life. The constitution, system, governance, ruler, Imam are all needs of society and not individual. This is the reason we are living life without Imamat. Since the religion we are studying is individualistic and we raise slogans of Imamat the system made for society.
Sometime back in Skardu I gave a lecture on the subject of Wilayat e Faqeeh. Where I mentioned about ABC of Wilayat e Faqeeh. In that I gave an example, that Wilayat e Faqeeh is a station which comes on which line. There are various train lines in Pakistan. The two lines at one junction separate to Quetta and Karachi. If someone wants to go to Karachi and sits on the line going to Quetta, and keeps on repeatedly asking when will Karahi come. It will never come, because the route you have selected has no station by the name of Karachi. I gave this example that the track of religion on which you are travelling wilayat e Faqeeh will never come on that. This discussion would never come from your scholars, society, pulpits, Friday and nowhere. This is because the track on which Imamat and Wilayat comes, the ABC of that religion is totally different. The religion which we have has different ABC. The ABC here means the beginning letters. You can read your syllabus, Fiqh, beliefs and won’t find Imamat as system, this is because the structure of religion is made for Individual whereas the addressee of religion is society in which individuals spends life. This difference should be understood with these two examples. The Paradise is the last station which will also come but on which track? There is one track of life which ends at hell. There is one track of Seraate Mustaqeem where there is Paradise at end. The Paradise does not come on every track, it is on Seraate Mustaqeem. It should be clear for man as to where the path on which I am ends.
The Quran has made all arrangements for society. It has kept the drawing of society in front and for this it has made design for guidance. We have left society as well the teachings of Quran which were for society also we removed. And we are living our lives in accordance with that. In individual life the reappearance of Imam Mehdi will never happen. The station of Zuhoor comes on social life, where this revolution will take place. All revolutions take place in society. In individual life the revolution comes inside home only.
The map of Quranic life is clearly presented by Quran and not doubtful whose one fundamental verse is what we are discussing in Surah Ale Imran, verse 200
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصَابِرُوا وَرَابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ {200}
O you who believe! be patient and support others for patience and remain steadfast, and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, that you may be successful
The address is to society of believers. They are asked to do Isbaru, Saberu, Rabetu and Ittaqu. So that this believing society can achieve felicity that is harvest the outcome of the efforts of their life. There is one order of Murabetu. About this I said that in Fiqh , the Rabeta is also a Fiqh topic in the chapter of Jihad. The scholars have mentioned when there is threat to Islamic nation then it is obligatory for believers to defend the Islamic state. For this the verse of Surah Anfal, where Allah says to gather , prepare as much power and Rebatil Khail, war horses. This verse has been made as reference to explain the laws of defense. But in surah Ale Imran also the same meaning is interpreted that Rabetu here also means defending the borders. Here the argument has got adulterated between knowledge and foundations.
I mentioned in the last series about Ikhlas, where Fasting is ordained to purify you. Khals means to remove impurity and Khalt (Makhloot) means to adulterate something. We do a lot of adulteration. We say that we are Mukhlis, so which adulteration you have removed from yourself? In the terminologies of guidance and science we have done a lot of adulteration. One such case is that meaning of Rabt which was interpreted as defending borders as terminology. The Fuqaha did correct in context to verse of Surah Anfal where it is mentioned to prepare war horses for defense as this verse is for defense. But the terminology meaning of Rabt is to tie. Like the horse is tied with tree or pole; or at times their legs, necks are tied together. Anything which you don’t want to move from its place, we tie it, this is Rabt. Some have said that to tie very tightly so that the things do not separate is termed as Rabt.
In Surah Ale Imran, Allah is asking the believers to do Murabeta. This Murabeta is not specific to defense. Though defense will also be done by tying up people together. But the meaning of Rabt is not defense but is it to join, tie in such a way that things do not get separated. The Rabeta in defense is in Misdaq and not meaning. Allama Tabatabai has done a very beautiful discourse on this. In certain discourses Allama has demonstrated such excellence and this is the reason that Tafsir of Meezan carries a special status. There are many such research discourses present in Meezan. Allama has done research in Quran. Allama says that Sabr, Saberu, Rabetu are absolute and not conditional to some state.
If we take Rabeta here in the same Quranic sense, then this means the Rabeta of believers in society. There are objective references of this Rabeta present in traditions. One is to have connections, relationship amongst people for development of an Ummah. This Murabeta carries obligatory status just like Salaat and leaving this is a sin and cause of wraths. The first Murabeta should be amongst believers the way the Prophet did. The Prophet joined the Muhajireen and Ansar’s. The first covenant (Meesaq) that Allah has taken from believers that you have to form a society. It is not that you go to any society and do salaat with Shirk, Kufr and all corruption around you, and then you sit inside home doing Sajda and think that you will go to Jannah. You become believer and then form a society of believers. When a believer’s society is made, then establish a relationship with your leader. The third Murabeta in narration present is related to the maintenance of relationship within society. When Ali (a) was asked about this Murabeta, he said this is Salaat in congregation. By delivering one Salaat in Jamaat and being ready for next Salaat by Jamaat is Murabeta. Man should remember that every few hours there is another Murabeta in Salaat. There is a difference between a horse of stable and horse of border. The horse in stable eats peas, grass and enjoys. This is horse but not Rebatul Khail. The border horse is one who is ready to go from one post to another. The rider has mounted it and is ready. Ali (a) says when believers leave one Jamaat they are ready for next Jamaat. The Murabeta is one to make believers society and second is to maintain this society of believers whereby it should not break. This is strengthened by Salaatul Jamaat. We are after spiritual returns in Salaatul Jamaat. No one can even maintain attention to God during Salaat. Our Ustad would say about his Ustad that he would come to Haram and sit to answer some questions of people. He says that one day one pilgrim questioned him that I cannot be attentive in Salaat towards Allah, so guide me how can I be attentive. The Ustad immediately started to cry in loud voice. The believer got astonished that maybe I hurt him and started to seek apology. When Ustad calmed down, he asked what mistake I did. Ustad said you touched my pain, that I have been desiring throughout my life that I should recite just two units of prayers where my attentive is nowhere other than Allah. These are those spiritual dimensions which are told and one who gets this should be congratulated.
There are some dimensions on which we are not attentive at all. These are present in all Salaat that is the social dimension. Those who cannot gain the spiritual benefits of Salaat, but at least we can achieve the social dimension. If we are not attentive in Salaat then also we can stand in Jamaat with others. We can do the Salaat following the Imam. This Murabeta of gathering people in one place is an important philosophy of Salaat, so that the Ummah does not gets divided. The Salaat can be better delivered at home inside cozy room but there is no permission of Salaatul Juma at home, because the Murabeta is broken.
When Imam Baqir was asked what is Murabeta, he said to keep relationship with Imam and amongst themselves. This Salaatul Jamaat has this one big benefit of Murabeta. Believers take advantage like they do not recite Salaat on the actual time. They should do at right time and do with Jamaat so that Murabeta is done.
There is a Hadith from Imam Hassan Askari (a) about the Murabate of Scholars. The scholars through whom religion is protected are these scholars who have Murabeta.
SECOND SERMON
Sermon 2: Most precious beneficial wealth is Aql (wisdom)
In saying number 113, Imam Ali presents a beautiful system for believers.
113. وقال عليه السلام : لاَ مَالَ أَعْوَدُ مِنَ الْعَقْلِ، وَلاَ وَحْدَةَ أَوْحَشُ مِنَ الْعُجْب، وَلاَ عَقْلَ كَالتَّدْبِيرِ، وَلاَ كَرَمَ كَالتَّقْوَى، وَلاَ قَرين كَحُسنِ الخُلْقِ، وَلاَ مِيرَاثَ كَالاْدَبِ، وَلاَ قَائِدَ كَالتَّوْفِيقِ، وَلاَ تِجَارَةَ كَالْعَمَلِ الصَّالِحِ، وَلاَ رِبْحَ كَالثَّوَابِ، وَلاَ وَرَعَ كالْوُقُوفِ عِنْدَ الشُّبْهَةِ، وَلاَ زُهْدَ كَالزُّهْدِ فِي الْحَرَامِ، ولاَ عِلْمَ كَالتَّفَكُّرِ، وَلاَ عِبَادَةَ كَأَدَاءِ الْفَرائِضِ، وَلاَ إِيمَانَ كَالْحَيَاءِ وَالصَّبْرِ، وَلاَ حَسَبَ كَالتَّوَاضُعِ، وَلاَ شَرَفَ كَالْعِلْمِ، وَلاَ مُظَاهَرَةَ أَوْثَقُ مِن مُشَاوَرَةٍ
113. Amir al-mu’minin, peace be upon him, said: No wealth is more profitable than wisdom, no loneliness is more estranging than vanity, no wisdom is as good as tact, no honor is like fear from Allah, no companion is like the goodness of moral character, no inheritance is like civility, no guide is like promptitude, no trade is like virtuous acts, no profit is like Divine reward, no self- control is like inaction in time of doubt, no abstention is like that (which is) from prohibitions, no knowledge is like thinking, no worship is like the discharge of obligation, no belief is like modesty and endurance, no attainment is like humility, no honor is like knowledge, no power is like forbearance, and no support is more reliable than consultation.
As mentioned in this saying are the principles for living a real life and coming out form false life. This is not that Ali has taught this as a teacher, but has himself acted upon it. Ayatullah Hassan Zadeh Amouli would say that if we act even 1% on what we teach we would become saints of Allah. We do not abide by practicing what we preach. This is non beneficial knowledge from which the Prophet seeks refuge. These are all practical experiences of Ali. He has acted before and then taught this to others. This is also complete sermon but Syed Razi has presented this part.
The first sentence is that there is no wealth more beneficial than wisdom (Aql). A very fine comparison of Aql with wealth. We have various forms of wealth like money, land, cars, shops, assets are all your wealth. One meaning is that Aql is also one of your wealth’s. He has said Aql is also the wealth and superior than everything else which gives the maximum benefit. This is conditional that if Aql is present which can be known through signs if man has it or not. Might be that it is a unique asset in man as it is found in less people. We mistakenly consider our other abilities as Aql like imagination, illusions, desires, orientations. The Aql is the most precious asset with man which gives dignity and high status to man. There are many dimensions of Aql but in this wisdom it is mentioned as wealth, because wealth give benefits. He does trade with wealth where he invests some money as capitalist. Then with the capital he earns profits. The Aql has been mentioned as the wealth that gives profit. The most beneficial wealth is Aql with human. We always want to do things in which there is more profit. Like education we want to do in which there is more bread. We take jobs where there is more profit. If we you are after gains, profit and have desire to get something by which you can earn materialistic wealth more in this world, gain status , position then Ali (a) says seek Aql. If you have Aql then you have lot. The people of Lahore have different concept, they say if there is Aql then you have to think, if there is no Aql then just enjoy. This Aql is unique in human being which is the internal Prophet. Allah has aroused two Prophets; one is in Ummah as personality and second is in every human being that is Aql. It is not necessary that it has got aroused in every human being. Ali says that the outside Prophets have come to arouse the internal Prophet. The Prophets have come to awaken the dead Aql inside. Ali (a) says that Aql has the biggest wealth.
Sheikh Kulayni in Usool e Kaafi has the first book of Kitabe Aql wal Jahl. I will present some traditions from here. We all desire wealth but no one seeks Aql. There is no one who prays to Allah asking for Aql. We don’t ask might be because we think our Aql is complete or it is not present so don’t feel the need only. There is one tradition
Amirul Momineen (a) says that after creation Gabriel came to Adam and was being beautified. Gabriel says that I have been ordered to offer you three things and you have to select one from these. Adam asked what are these three. Gabriel said they are Aql, Haya (modesty) and Religion. Adam said I will select Aql. Gabriel told to Haya and Religion to return as Adam did not select you and leave Adam. Haya and Religion replied O Gabriel you were ordered to give one to Adam and take back two. But Allah has ordered us to not return and be present wherever there is Aql. The Haya and religion both will be present when there is Aql. If you take Aql, then Haya and religion will come by themselves. If you get Aql then all bounties of life will fall in your laps.
There is another tradition from Imam Baqir (a)
One who has Aql has religion and one who has religion will get into Paradise
Another tradition from Imam Baqir (a)
He narrates from Prophet , that when you listen to some good character fame about someone, then do not do allegiance with him immediatley but with this good character see his Aql as well. This is because recompense is done on Aql and not on state.
In another tradition
One person was doing Wudhu and busy in Salaat, and someone said he is Aqil. Imam Sadiq says, how can he be Aqil when he worships Satan. Narrator asked how? Imam Sadiq (A) said he has this Waswasa in Wudhu and go ask him from where it comes. He will say Satan.
In another tradition Imam Moosa Kazim (a) narrates a detailed tradition to Hisham ibn Hakam about the status of Aql mentioned by Allah in Quran. Imam says that it is on the basis of Aql Allah has made religion, paradise and made ranks of people.
