Hujjatul Islam Ustad Syed Jawad Naqvi
(Principal Jamia Orwatul Wuthqa – Lahore)
Delivered at: Masjid Baitul ul Ateeq
Lahore – Pakistan
Friday Sermon – 2nd June, 2023
Sermon 1: Rabetu – A social order to establish Islamic governance
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. Allah has ordained guidance as per the life designed by Allah. The actual segment of life is given to society and hence the actual focal point and part of guidance is also related to social life. Taqwa and protection is also presented the same way whereby social Taqwa is more. One stage is related to formation of society and other is related to management of society. They both need protection. Today we are living our lives distanced from Quran and we can witness in every field of life that it is not secure. This is because we have not adopted the security plan and second is that the social part of life Allah gave primary importance and for us it became secondary. The individual and persona life are secondary whereas the social life is the central and primary life, hence the guidance is also in accordance to the same whereby guidance and Taqwa both carry foundation status for social segment of life. This is Allah’s system but in the ancestral, cultural and Taqlidi system of life we have ignored the foundation and central things specified by Allah.
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
Allah has ordered for Rabeta. The grammar used for the Rabetu means it is an order and in Shariah wherever order comes then it is considered as Wajib (obligatory) unless some conditional also comes along. This also means that Allah is demanded this from us. The demand of servitude (Abdiyat) is not whether this demand made by the Lord is obligatory or recommended. The Abd will only see that there is a demand from my Master and consider it as obligatory to fulfill it. To differentiate whether this order is obligatory or Mustahab and should be left. This kind of person is only concerned about not going to hell hence he is after only obligations but an Abd only sees that this is an order from my Lord and it is enough.
Rabata in Arabic means to tie up something and some literature experts have mentioned that it specifically means to tie up something tightly so that it does not separate or comes out. There are several objective references for this which could be material or spiritual. Like Allah has also given orders to tie up heart when it gets restless. In human being during difficulties every moment various things pass on his mind. This means the heart is not firm on any one subject and it needs to be tied up. This means man should become contented on one advice and counselling. The people who do Istikhara are those who do not think, open their eyes, do not consult and take decision like a toss which they have made religion. The way toss is done before match with a coin, they do the same and consider this as selection by Allah. This tossing is not the decision of Allah and it is just a conjecture. You are in a restless state where your heart is not contented. The place where heart settles down on one decision that is Rabtul Qalb. Allah says in Quran that during battle of Badr when your hearts became restless. In that battle the Muslims had left for besieging a caravan and countered a big battle armed force of Abu Jahl. When the Muslims saw this their hearts came out of their mouth and went into severe distress. They started to mistrust Allah and said that the Prophet has deceived us by telling us that this was a caravan and made us confront a battalion. At that time Allah tied their hearts which were jumping. We are mostly in confusion and a single thing does not settle in heart. In this condition if Allah ties your heart on one opinion then this is the decision of Allah. Whether you throw a coin for toss, or open pages of Quran are all toss. The verse that comes out from Quran is for guidance. The Quran has stopped to not do draws with Quran. Since elderly people have been doing this, we do not care about what Quran and traditions say. When Allah ties the heart then Allah stops the heart on one opinion. This is also termed as Rabt.
Then there is one Rabt which is amongst individuals. There are many social, political things are only done socially. When people get related and connected with each other then this work gets done else it cannot be done individual. For such affairs as well the order is for Rabt. One of these affairs is defense when an enemy is about attack your Islamic state then in this condition it is mandatory to defend. The first point for defense is Rabt. One is the relationship of individuals amongst themselves like the army which gets formed by people. Our army system is not Islamic it is western style. We have appointed a full-time army on heavy expenses and pay salary to every soldier monthly. In Islamic system the government does not pay to soldiers. The soldiers and army would be formed by every capable person of the nation. The forces are not made separately. From the nation set aside women, elders, children, sick, weak and those who are physical fit to do anything related to defense are all forces. Today the Pakistani forces are approximately 900,000. In Pakistan if we remove women, elders, children then it would reach around 10,000,000. The forces won’t get salaries and even weapons to the extent possible. The tribal people have their own weapons even today but they use it against each other as well specifically when there is sectarianism. The Islamic system of defense can become practical in every era. As per this system the thing that will create the forces is Rabeta. It is an obligation to defend the Islamic state, borders, vision , sanctities. Though the scholars say that it is Wajib e Kifai, which means if necessary quantum delivers their role then it no more remains obligation on all. But the reward will only go to those who deliver.
It is like funeral prayers are obligatory on everyone in the locality or city for any believer who dies. This ritual which we have made to bury dead persons is the duty of family which is not true. It is responsibilities of believers which is on entire Ummah. In ancestral religion it is mandatory on the family and we have also made mandatory to serve food to those who come for funeral. In fact for three days people should serve the family of deceased. What we do is opposite to visit homes of dead and have food. These are all non-Shariah illegitimate affairs which are imposed on people by society like dowry given by women. The society should lift this burden from individuals. Another trend is that believers are not getting graves. From where this culture has to come buy grave for burial.
To sell grave and graveyard that is Waqf are such evils , oppression against which no voices are raise and no one goes towards solution. These are social obligations to bury the funeral. This is an obligation on any one in society and responsibilities gets delivered. The one who does get the reward. It is there in narrations that when you recite funeral and understands the meanings, then the person has got himself forgiven or made arrangement for his forgiveness. There are no invitations for funeral, jus attend when you get the news.
To defend is obligatory and the policy Quran presents for this is Rabeta. Since defense is done by Islamic governance and all rights are delivered by it, hence the first obligation on believers is to establish an Islamic Government. The first thing Prophet did after migrating to Medina was to establish Islamic Government; he did everything as a ruler of state. Our muftis gave fatwa that Islamic Government is not obligation but it is an obligation from Quran, Prophets, Imams but our Muftis only consider individual things as obligatory. The social system which Imam Khomeini (r.a) taught us would say that defending the Islamic system and establishing is more obligatory then salat, because salaat gets established through it. If there is no Islamic Government then you cannot establish Friday, salaat and other obligations. This is Quranic religion whereby defense is an obligation on entire Ummah. The method of this defense is Rabeta. All those who posses the power to fight, they should be connected. At the time of war Prophet would gather everyone to fight and not for food. They would arrange their own means and for others who were needy. The state would not prepare the means. The function of government was to connect them as wars are fought with a proper discipline and system irrespective of forces being national or rental. There are many forces who have never fought a war hence many states do not hire soldiers, they only take officers and keep the soldiers from the nation only and demand them on need. In many countries every citizen has to work for few years in forces like in Iran, Turkey but in some countries there are professional forces who eat throughout the year and do not fight. The defensive system gets established through Rabt.
One Misdaq of Rabetu is that when you need human resources for war then the people should be connected.
In Suran Anfal, Allah presented Rebatul Khail, and in Fiqh it was interpreted as preparation for defense. The right meaning is what Allama Tabatabai presented in Meezan, and here only Allama presented Wilayat e Faqeeh which we will discuss in some other place. The defensive connection is afterwards and first is social relationship. You have got faith and now you have to establish the pillars of faith. One is Sabr , then Musabera to support weak people in society because during troubles people leave their plans, projects.
On 3rd January was the day of martyrdom of Shaheed Qasim Soleimani. The thing which he did was termed as interference in other countries by the world. What this martyr did was on the instructions on Rahbar and what all he did all credit goes to Rahbar about his policy. This obligation has to be delivered by everyone, like Kashmir. What it needs? They don’t need food, clothes and social media. Their perseverance has broken and they need musabara. The thing which was not done by Islamic world was opposite and in fact strengthened Modi in Kashmir. The way Modi moved forward the Arab nations strengthened relationship with Modi. The Pakistan PM prayed for Modi to get re -elected so that Kashmir problem can get solved. And after winning he usurped Kashmir on which Saudi , UAE, Bahrain awarded him and many gave him oil without any payments. The Quran says keep relationship amongst each other and not as tribe, community. This is the relationship addressed to believers, society, congregations should be based on faith. The Musabera should be on faith. Kashmir, Palestine was not given perseverance. The Muslims of Burma did not receive support and got humiliated in Bangladesh. The energy was wasted in sectarianism like in Pakistan. The paid workers killed persons form Shiite, police and government. As per government figures 80,000 were martyred by terrorists. They are more than 100,000 but if all this energy of these terror groups in the name of companions would have been used this energy for Kashmir today it would have bene dominating India. Shahed Qasim Soleimani acted on this verse. He did this because his leader was aware and not power hungry but a God worshipping person. Iran needs such capable Generals inside, but the leader sent him to Iraq and Syria. He broke the back of ISIS which was made by 90 countries. Such a strong powerful force when they reached Iraq, the 40,000 forces of Iraq had to run in humiliation. The American forces who were so powerful had to run out of Afghanistan. Their commander in chief was crying to take him out. The Iraqi forces of 40,000 handed all weapons, tanks, cantonments and everything to ISIS and ran away. The professional forces were running out of fear and this General Qasim Soleimani crumbled them. Why America is so annoyed? Why they killed him? this is because Qasim Soleimani disgraced them the most. What did Qasim Soleimani do? He did Isbaru and Saberu. Where the power was weak, he reached there. In Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon wherever believers were getting weak, he reached there else everything would get destroyed. Wherever the perseverance became weak he went there to strengthen it. Today Pakistani forces are in African nations and wherever UN has a mission the Pakistani forces are part of it. Like in Somalia, Ghana, Uganda there are UN forces and major part of them is Pakistan. If UN says to support some weak nation then that is law but when Quran says to support weak. Nation like Kashmir, Yemen it becomes crime? This is the outcome of distancing from Quran. For formation of government, Murabeta is necessary. This obligation is from Quran. It has a vast field and not just limited. The Rebatul Khail are the border posts which is a system in place. In Surah Ale Imran, the order is not to make these posts, but to make a society , Ummah on the basis of relationship and connection. This system would be made with Taqwa.
SECOND SERMON
Sermon 2: Life on lies verses real life manifesto by Ali (a)
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.
In this wise saying Amirul Momineen (a) has explained a real practical system to believers. In the Tafsir of Quran I have mentioned that In Surah Baqarah, three social categories are presented. One are Muttaqeen who will be successful. The second are those whose hearts are sealed. The third category are those who only claim by tongue that we are believers. Quran says they are not believers but only deceive and are senseless. This deception, senselessness and their religion being only lip service is due to their hearts have a disease and Allah has increased that disease. For them Allah has kept a painful punishment because of their lying. I have mentioned that there are three types of lies; one is by tongue whereby we speak something not in accordance with reality. Our biggest routine of life is lie which we speak abundantly and with lies all evils can come. The second lie is in belief which is hypocrisy whereby they come to prophet and say that you are messenger of Allah. Allah says he is aware that Prophet is the messenger of Allah but these hypocrites are liars. Their words are truth but Allah says they are lying. Here lie is not in words but in beliefs. Man can speak truth by tongue but does not believe in it by heart, he is a liar.
The third lie in Surah Ma’un, have you seen such a person who denies religion. He does not speak or gives witness. He is silent, his lies are not caught in words or beliefs. It is in his behavior. He does not say anything but rebukes orphans and poor. They are liars in action. They are also who do Salaat, there is perdition for them as well. These praying people are liars in religion. They show off and are Ma’un, means something that is common which should be shared with others they do not do it. They are liars who deny religion and are liars in behaving. With this complete life of lying develops in man practically and today our society is of complete lying, which we teach to children; the scholars, men, women are all drowned in this deceptive false life. We are making honor through titles. You see visiting cards where thy have titles as MD, Engineer and Doctor. What are these titles? They are just names. The degrees, positions are all false values. These are not divine values. Like making personality by speaking English. He is a deceptive person where he thinks to be superior in English or visiting to foreign countries and feeling proud and dignified. If some relative has gone out we discuss about this. We say I was busy on call and feel pride in saying I was talking to England. We give references to our relatives living in England, America, Europe, Australia and give this impression to others that we are well advanced then others. You are sitting in Lahore and our relatives; tribe is spread globally. This is a false life. They teach children in such schools where there is no nurturing. They give a false atmosphere to their children by sending children to such costly schools to gain honor in society when people praise them. These are false people. Now Ali (a) is presenting the roadmap of real and truthful life. Though in history no one has taken it from Ali and is not easy to spend life on a truthful life.
I am just presenting translation now , later we will talk about each point in details. He says; those things that are prestigious and wealthy, the biggest wealth is wisdom. The loneliest person is one who loves his self. There is no one with him, neither God, nor believers, friends. Those who give impression that they are with him are also not because no one is a friend to self-conceited person. There are some who love themselves. Like Narcissus is a flower related to a story of Greek. A prince saw his face in water and fell in love of himself. He would sit day and night there to admire himself. One day he slipped in the spring and died. His name for Narciss. That place where he fell down a flower grew with one eye which was named Narciss. This is an imaginary story and this flower with one eye is always in love of his own self. There are some who become lovers of their self in this way. They don’t speak anything other than I, Me. He is the loneliest person and has no friends. The one who is not having self-conceit, he has real friends who will never leave him alone in difficulty.
The wealthiest thing is wisdom and the greatest wisdom is planning and management. The biggest nobility is Taqwa. The best companion is your good ethics. The best inheritance is etiquette. The best guide is Taufeeq. The best trading is Amale Saaleh. The best profit is reward. The Wara which is next level of Taqwa means to refrain from doubtful things. The best abstinence is to refrain from Haram. The best knowledge is Tafakkur.
The biggest worship is to deliver responsibilities, we leave responsibility and get after Salaat. During my student days, we lived in hostel and all colleagues had responsibilities allocated. One friend’s duty was to wash utensils after food. This person would everyday immediately after food sit and recite Quran to run away from this duty. One day I took Quran from him and said this Quran is for guidance and not to use as excuse to run away from responsibilities. To leave responsibilities and deliver supererogatory acts is not servitude. The best faith is Sabr and modesty. The best thing to be proud about is balance in life. The best nobility is knowledge and the dignity is Hilm. If you want to help someone then give him the right consultation and advice. These were translations and in subsequent sessions we will take each point of guidance separately.
How much garbage we have kept in our lives of false things. Lady Zainab (s) gave an example to Kufi resembling them to a flower growing on garbage. We should not become like that flower and be happy by looking at it.
On another note about those who helped the floods victims. We sent some help to them. And some amount was left for building houses. We have started work of constructing 60 houses in Sindh and 90 in Baluchistan and we have done survey to find the most deprived category who are really in need; hence it took some time for us. Those who supported them will always get rewarded for their act.
