Hujjatul Islam Ustad Syed Jawad Naqvi
(Principal Jamia Orwatul Wuthqa – Lahore)
Delivered at: Masjid Baitul ul Ateeq
Lahore – Pakistan
Friday Sermon – 8th March, 2024
Sermon 1: Why is Adl necessary as fundamental in human society?
Sermon 2: Strengthening will power (Iraada) – Essential of Ramadan
The plan of Taqwa has a structure and Adl is fundamental in this. Since divine system is based on Adl hence it is the basis of human being, society and religion as well. Allah sent Prophets with clear guidance, book, scale (Meezan) and as per verse 25 of Surah Hadid iron is also sent which has hardness in it. Imamat is that position who has been made responsible for establishing Adl. The Imam would be either appointed by Allah or as per the criteria set by Allah.
Why is Adl necessary as fundamental in human society? To understand the status of Adl we need a philosophical discussion. In the formation of Adl in human being we need a discussion on human recognition. And for Adl in existence, in attributes of Allah we need a theological discussion and similarly for human society we need the sociological science. The Quran for social Adl has sent this verse of Surah Hadid and other verses. Why human society should be established on Adl and societies should be assessed on the scale of Adl on how valuable a society is.
Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s) has mentioned Adl for human society. In Tuhful Uqool this tradition is present. Adl is the need of every human being and not specific to a particular faith. As per this Hadith, Imam (a) says three things are such that entire humanity needs them; first is security (Amn), Adl and Khisb (prosperity in worldly life).
Adl is the balance that gets established everywhere as per the standards and system of Allah. Khisb means prosperity and comfort in life whereby the means, essentials of life should have vastness and not tightened. One essential means of life is house which should be in accordance to the number of people living in that home. It won’t be Khisab if there are 10 people living in one room. The second need of man is food which is required from birth to death for living and health. This should be present in enough quantity for all his family members. Then clothing which is another need should be present with man as per the need of different weather etc. Then there are other needs like means to be present in house as per need. Man should have transport for mobilization relevant to the era in which he is living, like horses, camels, mules in ancient times and in the current era whatever means of transport is required should be present. Then for his sickness medicines should be present. All these means are required to give comfort in life to man. This should not happen that man’s entire life gets spent in just acquisition of these means. Life is that precious pearl which is not made for spending in just acquisition of means. This is what is happening and would happen in future whereby man’s all efforts in life would be spent for acquiring means. The means of life are required for life so that life gets established on these means and it moves towards its purpose of creation. The purpose of creation are not means. This prosperity is the need of human beings. In our religious curriculum when we are taught with big portion of religion being ethics though social side of religion and politics were removed from religion from day one. The scholars only kept ethics in religion and other part is worship. These two things were being educated in the name of religion for centuries. They removed social side of religion first and then politics was also removed. In ethics and worship these three things which Imam Sadiq (a) has pointed is not required. Amn, Adl is not present in ethics. The leader of religion is saying that three things are required by entire humanity. If we assess the syllabus of religion then a prosperous life is condemned severely. They say it distances people from Allah and has been given the name of materialism and does not comply with the essence of worship. The moment wealth comes there is corruption and if you are inclined towards wealth even a little you will distance from Allah has been taught to us by censoring religion. In this process other realities have also been removed and only celibacy ethics are promoted in the name of religion. If a person becomes wealthy then everyone thinks he is corrupt. This is how a deficient picture of religion is presented which has left a big impact of religion.
Imam Khomeini (r.a) says religion is present in three forms; one is pure religion (Islam e Naab) which is as is how Allah descended in which there are no amendments, deduction from man. The second is religion of Tahajjur (stagnancy) which means narrow mindedness. In this religion the actual cream, foundation of religion has been removed and as per Iqbal the religion left behind are some worships, rituals and some ethics. The social side and politics were removed from religion. The religion that fulfills the need of man is the perfect religion the way Allah has taught us and should be propagated and implemented in the same way. Then the society gets formed the way Allah has ordained. The third form of religion, which Imam termed was Deen-e-Ilteqad (adulterated religion). In this form things from outside religion have been added. Rituals, innovations (Biddah), distortions, mischievous acts, non-religious systems like democracy have been added inside religion. Then this was promoted, propagated and we are strictly following these adulterations and not allowing to remove them. These three forms of religion are present everywhere. Due to adulteration in religion, Quran then sects come into existence. The pure religion is Quran and the one that Holy Prophet has presented.
Imam Sadiq (a) says religion is presenting three essential things for man. Imam (a) is presenting and elaborating religion. The first need is Amn, then Adl and Khisb. Now if you take ethics in religion then Khisb (a prosperous life) is condemned and they want a believer to always starve. Without a comfortable life man cannot move forward. How the means of life will come to man? Man should acquire and earn the means of life and not beg from others. Kasb is mentioned as a big worship. In our religious teachings earning means of life is not considered as religion and they are termed as worldly people. Then the system of Adl has no mention in our ethics and worship. The peak of Adl that comes in worship is that Imam e Jamat should be Adil, so what about those praying behind? They should not be Adil. Every person, male, female and every profession, human being of society should be Adil. Religion has made Adl as an essential for humanity. Then Amn is universal need of every human being.
All these three are required for man’s acquisition of purpose of life. These three provide the environment, field where man can nurture towards his purpose. It is like a plant whose purpose is to get nurtured and produce fruits. It will do this only when appropriate soil, weather, water, light are all present. Then you can expect this plant to bear fruits. Adalat provides the atmosphere for human development. Amn is that soil where man gets the opportunity for education and nurturing. The way from majority of Muslims security has been taken away from man. When security is not there then you cannot achieve any purpose of life. For a safe environment where Amn is there you need Adl. If there is no balance in the society in terms of economy, politics, etc. If deserving people are not on their right position then this is an imbalanced society. In this there is no atmosphere of human nurturing. Insecure, imbalanced and tightened means of life society cannot nurture human beings. Whenever in a society if we see why human values are not present, humanity is not nurturing, people are corrupt, why there is no passion, wisdom, sense in people. They get incited, excited by just looking at Arabic words written somewhere considering it as defamation of Quran. If you see religious people, they are extremist, narrow minded, then you see politicians they are worse, you see traders they have only greed, the producers are doing adulteration. Why the entire society is disturbed? Why balanced, great personalities are not getting born. In its roots these three things are not present, that is Amn, Adl and comfortable essential means of life. What kind of society is this where there is greed, power hungry, extremists, Takfirists, violent people are getting fostered where corruption is spread across everywhere. Even though the rituals, worships are being done and you can see arrangements. After Ramazan passes not even a single sapling will grow because the foundation of society is based on Amn, Adl and Khisb. The fundamental element is Adl on which man reaches humanity and this has been abandoned and removed from the syllabus of religion. First, we removed social aspect, politics from religion and gave it to Taghoot. Now we are expecting people like Ahlulbayt and companions to be present amongst us. The society whose foundation is based on the teachings of Ahlulbayt that can only foster such people. Living with Banu Umayyah parties you cannot expect anyone to become human being.
Froom the time the Gaza war started, I have mentioned we can understand that Israel, America are doing barbarism but why entire humanity is silent? This is because their humanity is not nurtured. You can see in your country that claims are big for religion but humanity is not present till far off. Religion without humanity is deception. Thus, Adl is the lap for nurturing human being. Adl is the foundation of everything. May Allah grant us the understand of pure religion and the system of Taqwa.
Sermon 2
Holy month of Ramadan is the significant means of acquisition of Taqwa which we are approaching very soon now. The Holy Prophet (s) said that Allah’s month has directed towards you and should welcome, invite him and be prepared for Ramadan. Things which man cannot do in eleven months become easy for man to do. This facilitation also gets provided from inside. Man prepares himself to reach these objectives. The month of Ramadan is a workshop of faith. In this workshop Allah has ordained certain etiquettes and prepared the grounds for man. The obstacles are removed and is an opportunity which you should be grateful.
One confusion gets created in worships. Every worship has three layers; one is their outward method or ritual. The second is the inner side of worship that is the spiritual meaning. The third thing are the secrets of worship. These three are present in every form of worship. We have translated certain worships of Quran but certain like Zakat has not been translated and we are thankful that Zakat, Hajj have not been translated. But Salaat and Sawm has been translated. Salaat has been translated as prayers and Sawm as fasting. We have translated Sawm as remaining hungry. In Salaat it is said you should do it with presence of heart but how? Then people approach certain scholars who teach us how to concentrate in Salaat and man remains in anxiety about this. In majority cases it is difficult to concentrate in Salaat. If we consider the outward part of Salaat and just fulfill its demands. You are expected to deliver the presence of body that is deliver the Salaat with its etiquettes. If you do this then the entire Salaat is established. We are deprived from the first layer of outward presence of body itself. Similarly, Sawm has an outward presence which is approachable by everyone. Those who cannot approach the inner presence themselves they demotivate others that your Salat is of no use. Even if you have not reached the layer of presence of heart then also Allah is demanding the first step of outward presence. The same state applies for Ramadan as well, whereby you should ascertain the outward presence, then after this the next step would become easy. In the month of Ramadan, the outward presence which is required you should develop that. The fundamental thing required in Ramadan is Iraada (will) and Niyyah (intention). Allah grants this man whereby man foregoes habits. We are live by habits and not by will. We eat, drink as per habituation. We eat at specific time as per habit. This is not suitable for man that first he develops habit and then becomes captive of habits. Thus, month of Ramadan has been ordained to free man from captivation of multitudes of habits. The Irada (will) and habits are enemies of each other. The more will is strong habits will be weak and vice versa. We cannot change habit because our will power is weak. This is a grace from Allah that he has granted a month of Ramadan. It is coming with lap full of grace. The Prophet (s) says that his host is coming in full to you and you have to acquire all this from host by become guest. In outward, inward, mercy, barakah is all full in this month. You should get inside the month of Ramadan with preparation. Rajab and Shaban were kept for preparation. When man becomes free in this month then more bounties of Allah come up.
In this month of Ramadan, we have to quit our individual and social habits, strengthen our habits, purify our will power and make it in accordance with the will of Allah. Anything which has will of Allah I will intend to do that. This is possible in the month of Ramadan. One important thing that comes in Ramadan when the last ten days comes. Man after twenty days have become free then you should raise your voice for oppressed people. This year we all know what is happening. It is already late, the number of people killed in Gaza and those injured are very high. There is daily bombing and since last few days the oppression going on is when these hungry, thirsty, wounded people stand for food there is attack done on them with bombs and they are martyred. This drama is being watched by entire humanity. This is because they don’t possess humanity and to arouse humanity Allah has kept humanity.
Imams say that hunger, thirst is there so that your dead feelings get aroused. These feelings should get aroused in us. Everyone has adapted criminal silence. The oppression started from 8th October has reached 8th March and people are sting silent. We should desire from Allah to revive our dead humanity and dead values which are buried under desires and lust. When these values get revived then God willing, we will finish the oppression on earth and we will start from Gaza. This kind of life is not liked by religion, Prophet, Ali, Hussain. The statement of Imam Hussain (a) that I consider death as dignity and to live with oppressors as shame and disgrace. Such kind of life is shameful that in front of our eyes so many Muslims are being killed and we don’t even raise our voice. We are busy in PSL cricket, sectarianism and politics. Our politicians are power hungry and scholars are asking their share in politics. The others are busy in sectarianism. First Shia killings were done and now Gaza has been made into sectarianism issue. They are saying that Shias are supporting Gaza to make them Shias so that Shias should be finished from Pakistan as they are threat. This is evil which you are spreading. The atheists of USA, Britain and even Jews are raising voice for Gaza. It is the issue of humanity and Islam. The biggest worship now is to support oppressed. Such Satanic whispers should not be paid attention to. This is done for some other purpose. Certain people are unknown in their school hence they do such things to get fame and popularity. We have to make entire month of Ramadan as Qods in media, prayers, worships and we should supplicate for these oppressed to grant them relief. May Allah destroy these oppressors with their oppression.
In this month of Ramadan man should purify his self and life through Sawm. All believers should give Zakat, Khums in this month. You should purify your entire life in this month and self for supporting the oppressed. Seek forgiveness from Allah and pray for the martyrs.
