Hujjatul Islam Ustad Syed Jawad Naqvi
(Principal Jamia Orwatul Wuthqa – Lahore)
Delivered at: Masjid Baitul ul Ateeq
Lahore – Pakistan
Friday Sermon – 9th February, 2024
Sermon 1: Power and Wealth two fundamental things for society
Sermon 2: Gaza – Proof of Taqwa abandoned from entire Muslim world
Taqwa is a complete system of life within system of guidance for secure living. Taqwa is not kept as separate subject but is associated with every aspect, affair of life. When man is eating food, making house, travelling, resting, works hard and anything else he needs protection and system. The fundamental pillar of this security system of Taqwa is Adl.
The most important dimension of human life is social where man gets nurtured. Adl is the essential element made for religion, society, universe, divine systems and also of Taqwa.
In Surah Maida Allah says the nearest thing to Taqwa is Adl and it is emphasized that you should not abandon Adl anywhere. If you do so then religion, society will get destroyed. In Surah Hadid Allah says:
لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَنْزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ النَّاسُ بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ وَأَنْزَلْنَا الْحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأْسٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَنْصُرُهُ وَرُسُلَهُ بِالْغَيْبِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ {25}
Certainly We sent Our messengers with clear arguments, and sent down with them the Book and the balance that men may conduct themselves with equity; and We have made the iron, wherein is great violence and advantages to men, and that Allah may know who helps Him and His messengers in the secret; surely Allah is Strong, Mighty.
Four things were given to Prophet i.e. Book, Bayyanat, Meezan so that Prophets can establish human society and along with this we have given Iron for the same purpose. Since in certain places it is sword that has to be used to establish Adl. The axis of human life is society and rest all are footnotes. If we get Adl in society then it will come everywhere. We carry out deficient efforts to bring Adl in selected segments, like we look for Adil Imam e Jamaat, Juma, Judge, Imam, ruler, etc. A person wants to establish Adl individually in a society like ours where Adl is not taken care of any segment of society. In such a society individuals try to establish Adl and all these efforts fail. As an example there is a broken road but the footpaths are in good state. But this is of no use because the vehicles cannot travel on the broken road. Even if you give reference that footpath is good then it is of no use. So even if you have an Imam e Jamaat as Adil he won’t be effective even if we find such an Imam. Like we bring good decoration pieces in house but the walls of the house are all in bad state not worthy of even living. If you want to decorate the house then it should be all around. These good personalities found in every locality are all show pieces, they are not foundation of society. If you want to assess societies then first look at Adalat. If you find Adalat then this is human society and rest all other things can be assumed to be there. But if you do not have Adalat and still you are reciting virtues of your society then these are all lies. If you say that this community has people with Taqwa but no Adl then how can Taqwa get established without Adalat.
In a society there are two things that carry fundamental status in both society with Adl or society without Adalat that is corrupt, transgressing (Faasid, Faasik, Faajir) society. These two things are one Power (Iqtedar), rulership, governance and second is economy. The government is the most important segment of society. If we see practically entire society is under control of government. It is in Hadith that people follow the religion of their rulers. The practically religion is not what they have learnt or seen in madrassah but it is of their rulers. If the ruler is Adil, then the religion of people is Adalat, but if the ruler is corrupt then the people also are corrupt. The religion (Deen) are the laws which are practiced. You are learning the lessons of Imamat but practically you are following which religion and laws? Is it Tauheed? No! you are living under democratic system. Practically people follow the ordinance, notifications of government across the world.
The second is wealth and capital which plays fundamental role in society. The design, structure of society are means, resources whose reference is wealth. If there is no Adl in governance and capital then it is impossible for such a society to establish Adl and those values to develop which Quran desires.
The society in which we are living and yesterday was the day of elections where we said people have written their destiny on the day of Bethat. The Mabath is the day from where the revolution of Prophet (s.a.w.s.) started and continues till the day of Qayamat. The Bethat is a continuous act which starts from Allah whereby he aroused the Prophets and the Prophets have to arouse the Ummah with continuity. If you turn governance as a field of competition and test of power of everyone. It is like hundred people are hungry you place a pot of food amongst them and ask them to divide. In our marriages some make arrangement of Buffet dinner. The moment dinner starts some people attack and those who have some shames eventually don’t get anything. You can experiment and see all this. You have kept government amongst power hungry people and anyone can use their power to snatch. When the power struggle and competition start then it crosses human limits. In this struggle you have to remove all the opponents out of the field to reach power. Is it possible for such a society to become Muta’dil society. When the acquisition of power is kept amongst people, it turns into blood bath. Today the state of country the government has been made as a subject of power and with every possible manner they want to reach power by eliminating others. In the second field of capital as well if you give it open then you can see what happens.
The society has turned into classes due to these two reasons and Adalat is not seen in anywhere. In such a society how can you expect religiousness. The weak want to leave the country, the criminals consider only crime as the way to gain their benefits. Allah for the sake of establishing Adalat did not give governance in between and asked people to acquire power and neither Allah did this for capital so that people can gain wealth the way they like. The system that Allah has kept for this is Imamat. When Prophets come with Bayyanat then this will come. As per religion when anyone has even iota of lust for power, status, leadership he is out of Adalat. The power hungry, desirous are not Adil means they are unfit for social responsibilities. He cannot become Imam e Jamaat, witness, leader, judge and any other social, religious responsibility. He is ineligible person.
The one who presents himself to gain votes means he is desirous of power. This is because power and wealth are both his desires and he is the most corrupt person due to his inclination towards these things. In democracy the reigns of Imam (leader) are in the hands of people. In Imamat the reign of people is in the hands of Imam. Wali means custodian, authority like father is Wali of children. Allah has kept Wilayat for one who has no inclination towards power or wealth, then why should he become Imam? On this Imam Ali (a) says if Allah has not accomplished Hujjat with people coming and doing allegiance with me, then I would have placed the reigns of this government on its back. I am not desirous of rulership. The power if that comes from Allah then it is responsibility and with this power, I have to establish Adalat. But a society where these two things become field of competition then that is creation of classes. You can see after these elections how many enmities, hatred, disputes that have taken place inside every home. For establishing Adl Allah has aroused Prophets so that in their obedience you can establish Adl. And with this Adl Imam takes the humanity towards Allah and is amongst fundamental duties of Imam. The power is not for dividing people, making parties, arresting some which is not Imamat. We should at least know the ABC of Imamat. If we discuss Imamat and then orient towards Taghoot for acquiring power, wealth in any possible manner then this is not human or religious society. If Adl does not come then it is corruption and transgression society.
The elections competition has made the society worse than what terrorists have done. The Imam first comes and unites the parties, like Aus and Khazraj were united to one Ummah and then Imam says I will lead you. It is not that Imam comes and sees two parties are present, he makes four more parties and then ask them to compete. This is not the field of religion and barbarism will start. The Banu Umayyah considered Ahlulbayt (a) as one political party and wanted to destroy them completely to secure their power. These are the principles which Allah has kept for the establishment of Adalat.
Sermon 2
The most mentioned order in Quran is to acquire Taqwa. Ittaqu is an obligatory order as per scholars. This means Taqwa is obligatory and not recommended. In Fiqh we cannot see any book of Taqwa. We have books of Salaat, Sawm, Zakat, Hajj and there are complete books in volumes for the rituals on which there are few verses in Quran. But where is the book of Taqwa which is most mentioned in Quran? We have handed over Taqwa to Ethics. Wherever there is an order of obligation it is a subject of Fiqh. There is no arrangement for this. If we analyze the Tafsir of Quran’s of every sect, we won’t find even two sentences about Taqwa. In the same verse other things are explained by commentators in details but when it comes to Taqwa they do not elaborate. If Fiqh or Tafsir has not mentioned, elaborated Taqwa then it does not mean its importance has gone dead. The Quran emphasizes on Taqwa the most. This is the arrangement of Allah to which we have not given any importance and abandoned Taqwa completely though it was the system of Allah. Taqwa means security, protection and not just abstinence. There are certain areas where security, protection demands abstinence and still abstinence does not become the meaning of Taqwa.
In Pakistan we have extreme religious passion. There is a serious attraction towards religion and people do not compromise on religion. But if you see the way the extremist religion abandon religion even the non-religious do not do it to that extent. If you are religious then do not compromise on Taqwa. You gave vote so did you consider Taqwa? You went in the feet of corrupt, transgressing person. You should have considered Taqwa in elections. In democratic system even if all candidates possess Taqwa then also do you have the rights to appoint a leader? First tell what things you have rights to appoint ruler. You do not have even rights inside home, your wife does not cook what all you want. How much rights you have in business, jobs? As an employee how much rights you have? Can they do changes there? But for making rulers you consider it your rights. Still if you desire to vote at least consider. We do not consider Taqwa anywhere, in any dealing, economics. Why are you running away from Pakistan? The popular leader of 2018 would say that all Pakistanis and even Europeans will come for job to Pakistan. You gave vote to him and all this happened? See the state of Pakistanis after that. When you have not considered Taqwa then see the state of yours. The Taqwa internationally got forsaken and the humanity had to see Gaza. This is the proof when Taqwa is not there than nothing remains preserved. It preserves the human values, empathy and all that got wasted. How much shameful it is that hundreds are dyin daily. They are now even targeting refugee camps. The entire world is presenting these scenes on media. Who can say they are human beings? If Taqwa is not there then man loses his humanity as well. This has been proven that humanity is not present. The world of Islam is a ghost now that is not present anywhere. There is hypocrisy, shame, evils are all in the world of Islam. Their Qiblah is under siege and one part of their body is being killed like this. Few years back there was heavy summer in Australia, the water was not there. There are more animals in Australia and specifically camels who used to drink water. The Australians started to kill camels to save water. The world made noise to stop killing animals with the excuse of water. And every day you see how animals are given protection. The elephant from Islamabad who became sick how much care, news, coverage was given to this elephant. They show so much empathy for dogs and cats but nothing for human beings? Those who consider them as Islamic world, their leaders, politicians, Ulama, forces can see their worth now in front of Gaza. But still, we respect these Islamic world people to whom Quran says they are worse than beasts? One who sees Gaza, does not speak. The Jews are total 8 million and you are 200 million but these 8 million are making mockery of you and still you are loyal to Prophet, Ahlulbayt? Allah has said I will demonstrate your status on the day of judgement. Imam Hussain (a) is your leader so wherever world goes irrespective of them then you should follow your Imam. They have shown the clear lines about your responsibilities when oppression takes place. Today the Pakistani community is on the religion of their politicians, Generals and since they are not interested in Palestine the Pakistanis also follow them. The Friday prayers is made obligatory by Allah and not government. So, if you obey Allah then the most important duty of all Muslims, believers, Shia, Sunnis is to support these oppressed, raise voice and present their pain, punish the tyrants and control them from doing aggression.
