Hujjatul Islam Ustad Syed Jawad Naqvi
(Principal Jamia Orwatul Wuthqa – Lahore)
Delivered at: Masjid Baitul ul Ateeq
Lahore – Pakistan
Friday Sermon – 9th December, 2022
Sermon 1: Reba is a life style of Kaafireen destined for Hell
I invite you all bondsmen and myself towards Taqwa and counsel, emphasize you to establish your lives on the basis of Taqwa. It is the protection mechanism of life for every segment from Allah (s) which is established by Allah for every segment of life. One important field of life is economy, livelihood on which life has to be spent. Isha is life and Aish means every type of life being spent. Ma’ash are the means, income for livelihood of man. In this era everything is dependent on money hence livelihood is in context to money.
Man needs wealth, money for fulfilling the needs but everyone has the greed to get means more than required and at least more than others near him in terms of relative, neighbors. In this race when man acquires unlimited wealth then he has to adopt illegitimate means of earning. Amongst all illegitimate means of income one of them is Reba.
Reba in Arabic means something that is increased, enhanced without any justification. There are some types of wealth which increase due to hard work and efforts of man. This is Reba in vocabulary but in Quranic terminology it is illegitimate increase that is termed as Reba. The illegitimate ways means he has not done work, effort, trading but instead just kept his money somewhere and in return expects more in return. He gives 100 and demands to get back 150, this 50 is illegitimate increase which is termed as Reba. Since man has greed of money he wants to accumulate more than needed, one means is Reba. Even though scholars have considered Reba only in loans and trading but in Quran Reba is every illegitimate earning for which you have no justification. It is like people in offices take bribing which is not their rights, or take commission. There are some people who only act as broker who do not add any value in that thing or affair, but just by sitting take commission because they have established the deal. The greedy ones take several times more. Like they take commission without any limits set. They demand based on the persons needs, situation and simplicity. The commission is that money which is earned without any efforts. The property, thing belongs to someone else and is purchased by someone and this person in between takes commission. If he has exerted efforts, like taking some goods from someone and then goes out to sell that product then the commission is justified. But those who without anything and just because they are sitting somewhere in a shop and just because the deal is done at their shop they take commission. These kind of affairs are all Reba even though we have been taught in Fiqh only in two matters of loan and trading
In Surah Ale Imran 130,131
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَأْكُلُوا الرِّبَا أَضْعَافًا مُضَاعَفَةً ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ {130}
O you who believe! do not devour usury, making it double and redouble, and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, that you may be successful.
Eating over here means usurping. In languages the application of word used for most cases gets applied in other places as well. Since food is consumed the most by man, hence eating word is used for consumptions as analogy in various other places. The Quran is saying to not eat Reba twice and four times. It means do not keep on increasing this to the extent your hands reach. It happens today that businessman increase their margins based on the clients. They run the business on this basis which Quran says is illegitimate and a crime. The prohibition of Reba has ended in Muslims due to continuous eating of Reba which means they do not consider this as crime. There are certain topics which are not considered as crime by us like sectarianism which they spread as a good deed. There are certain other crimes whose evil has ended and amongst them is Reba.
There is noise in Pakistan about Reba but that is about its prohibition and not Reba by itself. There are conferences being held on this subject in Pakistan. The purpose is that Reba remains but prohibition should end. Though practically the prohibition has ended and everyone is doing it. If you visit banks though they do not tell this openly but you can find from your own sources that all scholars of Pakistan have money in savings account of bank where they get interests. If you consider Reba as forbidden then why you have opened savings account and keep money of mosques , centers over there. Why don’t you open current account? You are not pursued to open savings account, but still they do and then they do conferences also against Reba. This is because they think that their economic system cannot run without interests. They keep on increasing interests. The Pakistani government has increased interests from 15 to 16% now. This interest is forbidden in Shariah, Quran, constitution but still it is effective. The noise which is there now is because certain scholars have equities in banks, they are consultants to banks for justifying things for banks religiously. Due to this reason a big category has become associated with interests-based banks due to their personal interests. If they have personal interests then they can never establish divine orders and systems.
Allama Hilli gave a verdict against Sheikh Tusi regarding the purification of animal falling inside water well. Sheikh Tusi had a verdict which every jurist was following. Allam Hilli saw that this verdict has a weak argument and he changed it and issued a new verdict. But prior to giving this verdict he removed the well from his house by filling it with sand. This was because that people should not think that this verdict would benefit him. These are scholars with Taqwa. If they have any personal interests in any issue then first remove your interests. Get yourself out of bank equity, remove your relatives from bank jobs and disconnect from banks totally, then purify the banking system. Those who have personal gains attached anywhere can never issue a right verdict as well.
There is a lot of noise about Reba but there is no plan to have an alternative. The word is about justifying and legitimizing what is going on. Quran is saying Reba is destruction which has drowned global economy. This system has made few persons capitalists owning the wealth of world and rest of the world is deprived due to this Reba. Here we have been told to acquire Taqwa.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَأْكُلُوا الرِّبَا أَضْعَافًا مُضَاعَفَةً ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ {130
One is livelihood based on Reba and other is based on Taqwa which is secure from every evil. This is the life we have to acquire instead of Reba.
In Surah Baqarah
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَأَنْذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنْذِرْهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ {6}
Surely those who disbelieve, it being alike to them whether you warn them, or do not warn them, will not believe.
I have explained this in our ongoing series of daily lectures on Tabeen e Quran that kufr is a lifestyle where you deny all the orders, laws and breaking limits. This can be lived by everyone even believers. The materialism is one life style and spirituality is another. Quran says that those who dot believe, obey, who are stubborn are all practical Kafirs.
Allah says
وَاتَّقُوا النَّارَ الَّتِي أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَافِرِينَ {131}
And guard yourselves against the fire which has been prepared for the unbelievers
The hell has been prepared for Kaafireen those who have this lifestyle. The heaven and hell are based on your deeds and not just beliefs. The heaven and hell are not like rented homes where we go. The heaven and hell is what you are making in your life here which in the end when curtains would be lifted and seen. If you have taken the path of heaven then you are making heaven by your own hands. Similarly for hell from which we have to protect ourselves by acquiring Taqwa that is protection from Reba and fire of hell. This culture, system, ummah on the basis of Taqwa and believers living their lives on the basis of Taqwa is the order of Quran.
One best Dua which Imams have taught us and if that can be made as a manifesto of life. O Allah make me free from Haram through Halal. This means I should not be in need of Haram if Allah grants me Halal.
SECOND SERMON
Sermon 2: One who has personal interests can never establish divine orders
Amirul Momineen in saying no 110
وَ قَالَ عليه السلام: لَا يُقِيمُ أَمْرَ اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ إِلَّا مَنْ لَا يُصَانِعُ وَ لَا يُضَارِعُ وَ لَا يَتَّبِعُ الْمَطَامِعَ
In this saying important foundations are discussed by Amirul Momineen (a). The prerequisite for those who want to establish Amr of Allah. He should not be compromising and adjusting with Taghoots. Today this is considered as something wise, plan to become like the situation, atmosphere is. If scholars become like this, they join the irreligious persons for their guidance and then become like them only then give an argument that we should take everyone along. Where this verse has descended that move along with everyone? You have to take Taqwa and religion only. The Prophets, Imams never took everyone along. If they would have done this then the disputes , conflicts would have ended. They would have taken Yazid along, Ali would have taken Muawiya along. Mughaira gave this suggestion to Ali to take Muawiya along so that the government would be successful. For today’s scholar Ali has done this mistake because they are moving along with personalities like Muawiyah which Ali did not. They get along with such Taghoot’s and consider this as religion.
Amirul Momineen (a) has expressed this policy for the life. A person who has personal interests cannot establish Amr e Ilahi. The one who has Tama (greed) in his heart that is materialistic desires. Tama is the desire in heart which has practical inclination being expressed. I have mentioned this before there are two ways of living life either on principles or on personal interests. Today the society is such that principles have ended both intellectually and visionary as well. The religion has taught us a life of principles. The principles are those values, policies which Allah has established for life and we have been asked to live life in accordance with these even if you have to suffer loss. Like you have to give witness against your brother, family for the sake of truth even if you have to suffer. Speak truth, do not lie even if you have to suffer. This is the religion that you should not consider your profit or loss and deal with righteousness and principles of justice. These are the laws of upbringing which were implemented before and were taught as well in sciences. But gradually the principle of principalistic life ended practically but were present in books. In the current era even from education these principles have ended. Martyr Motahari says that Amr Bil Maroof and Nahy Anal Munkar says it was acted upon few centuries back then got forsaken, but still was taught in seminaries. But then gradually it was removed from the syllabus of studies as well and he says it ended in Fiqh first in Ahle Sunnah and then Shias also followed it and is not even taught. Then he expresses the reasons why they have done this.
Quran came presented a life to be lived on principles; you governance, politics, relationships should all be on principles. It is not that religion has sacrificed personal interests over principles. It has considered interests , gains as well but within the framework of principles. You can gain this much interest under principles. But gradually this changed and today there is complete following of personal interests and there is no existence of principles. I will give an example.
In religious seminaries amongst them is Qom where what I witnessed I am presenting here. When we took admission in Qom there were good number of teachers who were teaching every level of lectures. The students and teachers no one would get any compensations. The teachers were not teaching for compensations whether they had ten or thousand students. There were teachers where mujtahid would attend and teachers who only had few students but they used to teach with full dedication. Every teacher used to teach at least two lectures but there were some who used to teach more. They were not getting paid for teaching nor for studying. This seminary was based on principles. They were getting some staple food, that is the food in so less quantity which can only make a person live and not die. The teachers and students would get this much from the Marajae whom they would follow. The Marajae would give only this much limited money to the teachers and students. There was no fixed salary. They also did not have any desire but were teaching , studying without any desire for gains. This was a principal’s system of education. Then changes came in seminary to improve it and entire system came on salaries. Today they are teaching for salary on hourly basis. Those who study also take money. The personal interests have taken place of principles and values. Such a big difference has come in the system of education. The scholars have duty to do Tableegh. Allah presented to Prophets the policy of Tableegh, that we do not take any compensations which all the Prophets said. Today if you see the scholars, if you give him less than what he demands he is not ready to recite nikah, funeral, Quran, Majalis and even leading prayers. Entire religion has come on personal interests. There is an argument how their families will run. Those who dedicate themselves for the system, the system takes care of them and they should not worry about that.
Ali says that anyone who is self-interested cannot establish the Amr e Ilahi. Thos who are working for personal gains will never take step for the sake of Allah. If you see big things like revolution of Imam Khomeini, the reason was that he had no personal interest. As an example, in recent Fitnah where people are aroused to remove veil. One astonishing personality is the sister of Rahbar, Badri Khamenei, her son is acting against Rahbar in Paris and her daughter is arrested. Rahbar’s sister is accusing Rahbar and Imam Khomeini (r.a). This has come in news hence I am narrating that this issue is not from now, it is from the advent of revolution. There was a person by the name of Sheikh Ali Tehrani who was the husband of Badri Khamenei, was elder in age to Rahbar, and was student of Imam Khomeini (r.a) and was close to Imam. When Imam after revolution appointed people in various positions, he appointed Rahbar as Imam e Juma of Tehra. Sheikh Ali Tehrani got annoyed as he was elder in age, he wrote a letter to Imam Khomeini (R.a) as he wanted to become Imam e Juma. He demanded in several places like for Chief justice against Shaheed Beheshti. He wrote a bitter letter to Imam abusing Rahbar that he is not worth to become Imam e Juma. This sheikh was educated but had Hasad, he was not a person with Tarbiyat. Imam also knew that he is not a nurtured scholar and was not given any position. He came in opposition , complex and started supporting anti revolution personalities like Bani Sadr. This person , the brother-in-law of Rahbar when Bani Sadr left, went to Iraq at the time of war. He became supporter of Saddam and gave him radio channel where he would abuse Imam Khomeini 24 hrs. The reason was as he was not made the Imam e Juma instead of Rahbar. Then Saddam himself ousted him from Iraq, he came to border of Iran Iraq and surrendered to police along with his family. In Iran as per law he should have been given death penalty because many such others were given death penalty. But softness was shown to him, he was prosecuted for some time. This person died sometime back only. His son and daughter are burning in the same fire. They had this greed that we were nephews of Rahbar and we have not got any position in the system, which did not happen due to which they got into this complex and now they have got opportunities to speak against Rahbar. She is real sister of Rahbar , elder in age means above 90, and she is doing these dirty things at this age. They have done this because they wanted personal gains being the first relative of Rahbar, but they could not gain any benefit at that time. The way at the time of Amirul Momineen (a) many got annoyed because they did not get any benefit.
What we have seen irrespective of what media spreads about Rahbar is different. The two sons of Rahbar, Mujtaba and Murtaza would study and come for lectures as Ayat Jawadi Amouli and I would deliver some lectures as well. I had some interactions with them. They would travel in taxi being sons of Rahbar. They would walk on street like others without any difference. The other students were in better situation but these two sons of leader of nation are in this state. When Syed Mujtaba Khamenei got married to the son of Professor Haddad Adil. When the daughter in law came to the house or Rahbar, he told her before marriage as well that since you’re becoming the daughter in law of Rahbar then note that our life is of students. If you can live such kind of life then only get married.
This Taufeeq which Imam got and then after Imam the Rahbar has established the divine orders is because the do not compromise, e adjust and do not have personal gains. If they go after personal gains, they would get it but they would not deliver Amr e Ilahi. The Rahbar has billions of dollars budget in his hands, he has religious budget of Khums in his hands, so if he desires he can make certain things for his children ,nephews and relatives then all would be praising Rahbar, but today they are abusing, because Rahbar does not do such things to give gains to his near ones. And if he does then Amr e Ilahi cannot get established.
Ali was given advice to compromise, but Ali is very hard on this. He came to his house and saw a necklace with his daughter. She said I got it from the custodian of Baitul Maal as a loan for a day. Amirul Momineen (a) said you are not worth for this position , you are not just , why did you give this. For his own brother Aqeel he says I feel mercy on him who has several children in poverty. He came to ask Ali a little more stipend, Ali got burning iron near to him and this blind brother got angry and Ali told him that this is fire of his world which you cannot bear, and you want me to do something which has fire of hell. Amr e Ilahi can only be established by one who has no personal interests. Not every one who has personal gains can do this. anyone who has weakness to get on with every society cannot do this.
