Friday Sermon – 9th September 2022
Hujjatul Islam Ustad Syed Jawad Naqvi
(Principal Jamia Orwatul Wuthqa – Lahore)
Delivered at: Masjid Baitul ul Ateeq
Lahore – Pakistan
Sermon 1: Sa’adat – Meaning and its calamity
I invite you and myself towards Taqwa and emphasise that you live your lives in accordance with Taqwa and establish your lives on the foundations of Taqwa. It is the divine plan and system from Allah for the protection of every dimension and field of human life. Human life only remains secure under this system and becomes insecure outside this. Human life has various degrees and for every level, there is a protection system in place from Allah.
In saying number of 108 Amirul Momineen (a.s) says
وَ قَالَ عليه السلام: لَقَدْ عُلِّقَ بِنِيَاطِ هَذَا الْإِنْسَانِ بَضْعَةٌ هِيَ أَعْجَبُ مَا فِيهِ وَ ذَلِكَ الْقَلْبُ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ لَهُ مَوَادَّ مِنَ الْحِكْمَةِ وَ أَضْدَاداً مِنْ خِلَافِهَا فَإِنْ سَنَحَ لَهُ الرَّجَاءُ أَذَلَّهُ الطَّمَعُ وَ إِنْ هَاجَ بِهِ الطَّمَعُ أَهْلَكَهُ الْحِرْصُ وَ إِنْ مَلَكَهُ الْيَأْسُ قَتَلَهُ الْأَسَفُ وَ إِنْ عَرَضَ لَهُ الْغَضَبُ اشْتَدَّ بِهِ الْغَيْظُ وَ إِنْ أَسْعَدَهُ الرِّضَى نَسِيَ التَّحَفُّظَ وَ إِنْ غَالَهُ الْخَوْفُ شَغَلَهُ الْحَذَرُ وَ إِنِ اتَّسَعَ لَهُ الْأَمْرُ اسْتَلَبَتْهُ الْغِرَّةُ وَ إِنْ أَفَادَ مَالًا أَطْغَاهُ الْغِنَى وَ إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ مُصِيبَةٌ فَضَحَهُ الْجَزَعُ وَ إِنْ عَضَّتْهُ الْفَاقَةُ شَغَلَهُ الْبَلَاءُ وَ إِنْ جَهَدَهُ الْجُوعُ قَعَدَ بِهِ الضَّعْفُ وَ إِنْ أَفْرَطَ بِهِ الشِّبَعُ كَظَّتْهُ الْبِطْنَةُ فَكُلُّ تَقْصِيرٍ بِهِ مُضِرٌّ وَ كُلُّ إِفْرَاطٍ لَهُ مُفْسِدٌ
Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said:
“In man there is a piece of flesh attached to him with a vein and it is the strangest thing in him. It is the heart. It has a store of wisdom and things contrary to wisdom. If it sees a ray of hope, eagerness humiliates it and when eagerness increases, greed ruins it. If disappointment overtakes it, grief kills it. If anger rises in it, a serious rage develops. If it is blessed with pleasure, it forgets to be cautious. If it becomes afraid, it becomes heedless. If peace extends all round, it becomes neglectful. If it earns wealth, freedom from care puts it in the wrong. If trouble befalls it, impatience makes it humble. If it faces starvation, distress overtakes it. If hunger attacks it, weakness makes it sit down. If its eating increases, the heaviness of the stomach hurts it. Thus, every shortness is harmful to it and every excess is injurious to it.”
If it is blessed with pleasure, it forgets to be cautious. In the states of the heart, Amirul Momineen (a.s) has mentioned privilege (Sa’adat), pleasure, forgetfulness and protection. The word Sa’adat is used extensively in supplications when preaching to someone or blessing someone, when we get something we consider it to be Sa’adat. In the Urdu language, it is happiness for life which is fine for Urdu as every language has the right to use its terminology. But when it comes to those words which have been transferred from Arabic to Urdu, then man sometimes ends up making mistakes in the Arabic meaning as well. Allama Mufti Jafar (r.a) has translated it as happiness and pleasure which is more inclined to the Urdu meaning while the Arabic meaning of the word is different. Specifically, when translating the meaning of Hadith or Quran, we should keep the actual meaning in mind; otherwise, we will not be able to reach the actual context of the statement if we interpret Urdu meanings on Arabic words.
I am defining the word Sa’adat here in context to this saying but in the Quran, it has a more extensive meaning. In our society believers (Momin) are a sect that’s not based on faith. Hence, a particular sect considers themselves as believers irrespective of whether they have faith or not. The Quran considers only the faithful as believers (Momin) and has renounced the title from oral claimants. Though the term ‘Saad’ is mostly used by Shias in Jantri, it is also used by other sects. Mischievous things spread quickly among the Shias, we fail to apprehend why. In our Jantri, some days of the year are considered Sa’ad (good and happy days) while others are considered bad omen days. These are the teachings of the Hindu religion which have penetrated the Islamic society. Such mischievous things come in those places where the mind is controlled by illusions and imaginations, but when intellect and sense are there it won’t happen.
In Arabic Sa’ad means help and there are other relevant words also used in Arabic like Saa’id which means the arm below the elbow. The help that is given to someone is known as Musa’da. There are other words like Masood, and Saeed but the actual meaning is Madad which means help. In Arabic, the word (Madda) means to extend something while Shadda means to suppress something. Just like Madda means to stretch In Arabic, Madad also means to stretch or extend something towards someone. Sa’ad also means help (Madad) but not all types of help. The highest position in Arabic vocabulary is Raghib Isfahani who has made it easy for Scholars to understand Quranic terminologies. He has done the precise meaning of Sa’ad and says not every help is Sa’ad. It is that help which makes the needy reach goodness (Khair) and prosperity (Falah). Is it true that all aid benefits the needy? Just as the stomach is filled with food, not all food benefits the body, but do all types of assistance help man achieve prosperity and purpose in life? We also use all bounties, from some we take pleasure, with some we fulfil some needs and some for something else. But how many means do we employ to enable us to achieve the goodness that Allah has ordained for us to achieve our goal, which is to achieve the highest and required level of humanity, which the Quran refers to as Khilafat, Liqaullah, and other titles? How many of our accumulated means of life are those that help us achieve our life’s purpose? We can find certain means in our homes that we use for pleasure, and how many means are there that help us achieve the purpose of creation?
In Arabic, Sa’ad are those means that, when used, enable a man to achieve his purpose. Therefore the word means to grant guidance or knowledge which helps man reach his purpose. We use the word Sa’adat as a formality and interpret it to mean privilege. We meet criminals and consider it a privilege (Sa’adat) which is a formality statement. Sa’adat is the help which makes man reach his purpose of creation. The act of giving someone something useful in order for that person to achieve his or her purpose for being created is a form of Saadat. If you reach some institute, or centre which teaches you the purpose of creation then this is also a form of Sa’adat. Allah has kept the passion for help inside man in abundance and is a sentiment. Those who have the sense to help the neediest should thank Allah that their conscience and humanity are alive. But when man is insensitive, and closes his eyes on the needy then he is dead and not having feelings of humanity. We help people in the context of these sentiments. But one type of help is Sa’adat which helps man to reach the purpose. Amirul Momineen (a.s) claims that it is a catastrophe if that assistance is not given to humans. At times we get such type of help (Sa’adat)either by asking or without asking. For example, during the floods, some people received assistance by asking for it, while others received assistance without asking. In both situations, if the help is such that we can get the purpose of life it comes under Sa’adat.
Allah has made this arrangement and at times we get this sense to ask those things which make us reach our purpose. We should not seek vain things. In both situations, whether we ask or don’t ask but Allah grants this special help (Sa’adat) then this help needs protection. Many people have got this Sa’adat (help which makes them reach the purpose of creation). Such type of help when received needs protection. But the heart of man is such that he does not protect such kind of help and forgets to make use of his help, means for his benefit. In our homes there are many books of guidance which are Sa’ad and these mobiles are evil. These books which you have not read are signs of Nisyan (forgetfulness). The library in Jamea is unique and any researcher who comes testifies that we have not seen this collection anywhere in Pakistan. But how many people are taking benefits from this Sa’adat? How many times do students, teachers, and staff go to the library? The students go there to hide certain things because they know no one goes to the library. This is Saadat which is not getting protected and forgetfulness has taken over. Since people might object or get offended if I use other examples, I’ve used one from within the house.
Anyone present, inside or outside Jamea, in Pakistan or elsewhere, has some Sa’adat around him that Allah has made to reach him.Like outside, some good scholars exist, but how many people do benefit from his knowledge? One of the diseases of the heart is forgetfulness and the heart gets indulged in abundance. Specifically forgetting those things which are related to the survival of our real existence. To forget such means of help which Allah has granted us for our salvation and to reach the purpose is annihilation, is like a patient who forgets to take his life-saving medicine.
All those who have the passion for help inside them should be grateful. As this is the law that Allah grants more to those who use their bounties with gratitude. If you have been grateful in a real sense you will see Allah will grant you more passion and means. There are two different ways to assist someone. Welfare, which is offered everywhere, includes feeding people and giving them medicine.Bill Gates has publicly acknowledged that all of the riches I have amassed is actually the property of other people, to whom I will eventually return. This penitence is of the devil. Some of his predictions came true, such as when he predicted the arrival of the coronavirus in 2003 and it did so in 2019. He claimed that a virus more lethal than Corona was on its way when he visited Pakistan. Where did he learn this? He has announced that I will distribute my wealth amongst people and is spending money on vaccination and other welfare things.This model of assistance is more common in Europe because there is no humanity because capitalism has always been without humanity. For one to become a capitalist your humanity has to end first. Capitalistic orientation means to gather world assets for the sake of desires, to become rich and dominate others. Make everyone starve and when they are dying then you distribute some aid to those who are dying through NGOs so that they worship you. It is like a terrorist who shoots everyone and then in return gives them medicines. The capitalist system has trained us in such a way that we don’t speak of the oppression of tyrants, but thank the oppressors when they apply ointment on our wounds.
In religion, the welfare system is based on Sa’adat, which means to provide that help which makes them reach their purpose of creation. Religion gives us the training of Sa’adat and makes both the one who helps and one helped both reach the purpose of creation. In this context, Amirul Momineen (a.s) says when Allah grants you Sa’adat then do not forget what Allah has given you. We have forgotten divine books, Prophet, Imams, and guidance and this is due to this heart disease that it forgets Sa’adat.
I have mentioned that when you are helping the people of your country then you should have a religious perspective in your mind and I will explain this more in the second sermon. May Allah grant us Sa’daat and may we grant it to others and get the Taufeeq to protect this Sa’adat.
THE SECOND SERMON
Sermon 2: Safina-e-Ta’awun should be managed by believers
Taqwa means protection and today we can see human life in calamity. The Taqwa of today is to give protection to this life. The loss which has come due to floods is still not comprehended. One chapter on this topic of the flood as to why such devastating floods came in Pakistan. The thing that has been discussed globally is that this capitalist system has created destruction. They have created in abundance such industries which produce such dangerous gases which destroy the world. This is proven by science. In the lust for capital, they are putting up such industries to create products which are not that useful as compared to the gases which destroy the natural environment of earth made by Allah. Certain parliamentarians in Britain and America have confessed that Pakistan is suffering from our crimes. This is one cause and other causes can also be added to it. To reject this we can say that Pakistan is not having such industries and stands lowest in industrialization. Hence such gases play a less role in Pakistan but they have suffered due to this. May Allah punish these capitalists whose industries and assets should also drown in floods so that they can realise how much the people of Sindh and Balochistan are suffering. This happens over years of industrialization. The punishment is coming to Europe as well. This is the driest and the hottest year in Europe. It will happen like this only where there would be drought for years and then it will flood.
There is not a single individual in Pakistan’s government or in any other category who is contemplating this. Hence the losses are highly extensive in Pakistan. One big loss is that infrastructure is destroyed. Streets, bridges, and train tracks are destroyed. Agriculture is destroyed and when these lands will get ready for crops depends on when this water will drain out. In 2010 I visited Sindh after three months and the water was still standing and those floods were lesser than these. This is the task of the government to build this infrastructure as they have the budget and have got foreign help as well. This should be done immediately as all other things are dependent on building the transportation infrastructure and should be the priority for the government.
The community loss is highly severe. Their houses, assets, and animals have all drowned or died of starvation. livestock stocks which are left are being sold for pennies to brokers. We cannot estimate when life will return to normalcy. The government has got very high and historic aid from outside. The government should give some part of it to people and some part as loans without interest so that they can revive their farms and businesses as much as possible. Medical aid is a high priority, and there have been poor areas in the past where medical assistance was not available.Medical treatment is available in cities, but it is out of reach for most people due to high costs. Medicines are now so expensive that even well-off people cannot afford them. The medicines which would cost 3000 Rs a few months back now costs 30,000 Rs. This is without floods. The government should have this on priority to provide medication and even for people they should help.
One thing happening is politics over floods rather than aid. One group will give one carton, or a small bag, afterwards take a picture and put it on the media. One politician has done this, he opened water on his lawn where water accumulated and gathered people there. He stepped inside the water to show that he is helping people by visiting the flood area. Some such lowly people are making a mockery of actual victims and using the flood victims for their propagation. There are also some abandoned outfits and terrorist groups that have been banned from collecting funds, but under the guise of helping people, they reach out to people to gain sympathy for their banned outfits and convince them to join their terrorist groups.
The community help is also highly appreciated, the way the calamity is big the help of people is also esteemed. The grievous thing is that such big help is not reaching the flood victims because there is no system for disaster management.As a result, people gather aid out of a sense of passion and ensure that it reaches the victims as well. And the same people are receiving this in duplicate. One organisation provides water in one location, and another follows suit to provide water there as well, but they also require food. This is an established fact about the Pakistani community on how they go out of their way to help people. Such aids which reach the areas are also wasted due to improper arrangements.
One reason is that there is no data about the flood-affected area. I have mentioned before that in today’s era the most effective thing is Data. Those who have data companies are the richest people in the world. Data means authentic, established, proven information which becomes the basis in some planning. The digital world has data as the most expensive weapon. The one big loss which we can see is that we don’t have any basis to help the flood victims. We don’t have the data bank where we can refer to see which area is affected how much, and how many people are there so that welfare organisations are provided data on where each one should go like district-wise allocation. It should not be that everyone reaches the same place. Some people have a system to gather funds but how to distribute these funds they lack the potential. They have this desire to help everyone under their own flag. Hence they do the easy thing that they empty their full aid trucks on the streets and give them to people standing across the streets. Some brokers take these to sell in markets. Hence a major part of the aid is being wasted. There is looting also happening in big numbers. Since there is no data bank, a central area to manage the thing. There are local people whom some are supporting and some are becoming an obstacle and want to distribute the aid through them which they do in a prejudicial way. You have heard sectarian statements where some groups are said not to help Shias.
For aid work you need training. The rescue teams are trained on how to help the accident victims at times due to the improper way used people die. The general people should take such pieces of training on providing first aid. There is training required on how to distribute the aids. When untrained people go to such areas,where there is hot weather, no water, and no electricity. These people who live in places with ACs, when they visit these places, they ask flood victims about AC rooms. This needs nurturing, and training and those who help should be trained in camps in various scenarios of floods, earthquakes, fire etc. I am only getting the attention drawn to analyse and prepare on time.
It is established that those who are helping are big numbers and people are doing it in their capacity. There is a thin category whose hearts are hard. It is around billions which are gathered. There should be an audit on who has collected what. Then on the distribution side.
The second phase of help which is required to be done by all groups and also us. The second stage needs clothes, blankets, mosquito nets, tents and medicines. We should get the list of families based on the survey and we will pack the stuff from here and send it across to the families directly with their names. The things given for charity should not be worn out; you cannot use them. Try to give something new or even if it’s old, wash it, iron it and send it.
We need people, youths who can go across the country and do distribution work. This is also a field for youths who can show their passion to visit these areas and distribution. If they want to go through us, then they can first come and do a 2 days course so that they know how to help. Those who are sick, lazy, and lack spirit should not come. Those who are allowed to come are those who can cooperate as a team. We need expertise and funds for making houses and other facilities. We want to make such homes which can sustain floods and remain in the water and not get destroyed. We are trying to do such things. We need vehicles, trucks which are heavy that can go in the mud. Those who have such vehicles can be given and if not believers can give rent.
For Jamea, it was never our intention to take all the work on our own else nothing would be done. We have been confined to education and upbringing. But in Jamea, fewer people come for education, and training but most come for welfare. We refer them to welfare organizations and at times we are not able to do this. I have demanded from people that they should make such systems that can take care of this responsibility. It is now a need to do this. We have used a title now Safeena-e-Ta’awun (Ark of cooperation). It is the ark which gives salvation to Ummah. The believers should themselves manage this and not hand over this to Jamea, as we don’t have human resources for this, hence, it is necessary for some believers to take care of this. We have pursued people to help flood victims and not that they should give us. But believers have done this to support the flood victims through the Jamea platform. One request I would make is to not give funds to anyone in the name of Jamea, and there is no representative of Jamea. There is an account number given in which you can deposit, take the receipt and ensure that your funds have reached the flood victims. Though it was not suitable to give this personal account since we don’t have a Jamea account. We have used this account for flood victims. Since these funds are from believers I am giving this report.
The collective funds 46,621,642 has come for flood victims. Some people give funds but do not ask for the receipt but I request to always take the receipt. In the first phase of help as the funds are coming on a gradual basis. In the first week, we purchased food, tents, and medicines and sent them to those areas. We have a good team of young doctors and have helped the needy in far most areas and have delivered medicines to such areas themselves. Our friends in Karachi have separately generated 7,800,000 for the flood victims. This help is continuing. We are working to get food, medicines, tents, and blankets. Since the believers have trusted us and hence we have to deliver these. I have requested believers that they should themselves manage this Safeena-e-Ta’awun and Jamea will support you in every possible way. At Jamea, we have a crisis of human resources. I am afraid if we put our hands on it then we already have a lot of work so we won’t be delivering the rights of this work and will feel ashamed. All believers should do it themselves. I have this faith, belief and experience that we can do this as well. Jamea is the model of dignity and independence. We do not beg on the streets. Everyone should trust Allah and the Taufeeq which Allah has given to everyone should be used to help their brothers. It would be a big asset to create a force for managing the crisis under the banner of Imam Hussain (a).
