Lebanese religious authority Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah said on Friday the Zionist regime is behind espionage activities of the America’s embassy in Lebanon.

“Violating security of Lebanon by America is not separate from violating the country’s security and sovereignty by Israel through air or ground invasions and Mossad’s espionage activities,” he added.

Addressing worshipers in the Friday prayer ceremony, he criticized Lebanese government’s negligence in adopting a serious stance against the American embassy.

Talking about the Zionist regime’s measures in destroying the holy al-Aqsa mosque, he said the measures did not received any reaction by Arab governments or even Arab and Muslim nations which has led to the increase of the Zionists’ threats in the region.

Senior Lebanese cleric Seyyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah says the prolonged US occupation in war-scarred Iraq is the fundamental cause of human rights abuses that contribute to widespread corruption and crime in the country.

During a Wednesday meeting in Beirut with a group of Iraqi rights activists, the distinguished Muslim cleric translated the US policy of long-term, indefinite occupation of Iraq as the most hideous form of human rights violation, adding that Washington attempts to establish a reputation for Iraq as a hotbed of crime and violence.

“This will not only facilitate easier and better plunder of Iraqi national wealth, but it will also deprive Iraqi officials of the authority to fully implement their sovereign decisions,” Fadlallah underlined.

He also emphasized the inevitability of a proper ground for human rights in Iraq on the basis of Islamic and international principles.

Extremist groups, characterized by notions of murder and execution, he said, are planning acts of sabotage to destabilize the country. Iraqis therefore are urged to devise new cultural, political and social structures to place Iraq on a path of progress and “drive occupiers out of their homeland.”

Seyyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah, meanwhile, laid special emphasis on the respectful treatment for the Christian minority in Iraq, calling on authorities to keep attempts, bent on sectarian and religious strife, at bay.

Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah says; “We have never witnessed, throughout history, a “resistance” that kills its own people, and with such brutality.”

His Eminence, the Religious Authority, Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah, confirmed that the perpetrators of the explosions in the heart of Baghdad have actually benefited the Israeli enemy for they have succeeded in distracting people away from the crimes of Israel that has gone forth in besieging Al-Aqsa Mosque, breaking into it and trying to destroy it.

His Eminence pointed out that certain regional and international axes focus on undermining the Iraqi political setup and deterring the Iraqis’ rise and salvation from the occupation; however, they failed to prolong the phase of sectarian sedition and civil war, and they resorted instead to turning Iraq into an arena plagued with chaos and blood shedding. He also called on the Iraqi people to unite and solidify against the criminals seeking to destabilize Iraq, and called on all the political parties to resolve the elections issue, and prevent its exploitation by others.

His Eminence issued a statement condemning the last two explosions in Baghdad. Following is the text of the statement:

Iraq, represented by its people, institutions, and entity, is still paying the price of the regional and international game, as a result of the big crimes committed against its people and in terms of the atmosphere and conditions prepared and nourished by the American occupation to pave the way for further enflaming the Iraqi arena and shedding more blood.

Moreover, certain regional positions, along with their supporters and the Takfiri parties who have failed to prolong the phase of sectarian sedition and civil war between Iraq’s several parties and different sects, are seeking to turn Iraq into an arena where violence, death, and destruction prevail. This would further destabilize Iraq, leading to the persistence of the occupation under the pretext of the bloody chaos that it [the occupation] will exploit to the largest extent, especially that the American officials have spoken of the possibility of keeping their troops for years to come. As a result, the perpetrators of all the criminal and brutal crimes the last of which were the two explosions in the heart of Baghdad would emerge as direct collaborators with the occupation or at least as accomplices or employees who seek achieving the goals of the occupation whether directly or indirectly.

Therefore, classifying those parties in the category of the resistance is actually an offense and a defamation to the name of the real resistance, as well as Iraq and all our causes, especially that we have never witnessed, throughout history, a “resistance” that kills its own people and sheds the blood of civilians and innocent people, and with such brutality that is in no way related to Islam, nationalism, and Arabism.

We believe that the perpetrators of this criminal and savage massacre have actually benefited the Israeli enemy for they have succeeded – in a way or another – in distracting people away from the ongoing crimes of Israel that has gone forth in besieging Al-Aqsa Mosque and breaking into it and suppressing its prayer attendants, seeking to demolish it and destabilize its pillars and conceal its Islamic identity in an attempt to judaize Jerusalem and entire Palestine, and expel the remaining Palestinians to outside Palestine.

We believe that these are also accomplices in the crime of depriving the Iraqi people from the opportunity to establish stability, and rendering its future subjected to occupation and chaos that aims at undermining any attempt for political construction through this electoral phase or that political one, turning the Iraqi people into the fuel that is to be used to enflame the coming satanic projects under sectarian, political, and racial titles…etc.

As a result of this monstrous tragedy and atrocious crime, we call on the Iraqis, of all sects, confessions, and races to hold on to the option of unity and to cling onto the decision of driving Iraq out of the whirl of violence and occupation. We also call on all the political parties to find their way towards agreement, especially over electoral issues that are still being circulated. As a matter of fact, we believe that certain international and regional axes, as well as some internal parties whose affiliation and movement holds no loyalty for Iraq, are seeking to undermine the entire Iraqi entity, by searing every chance for a coming rise and blasting every phase of an effective political construction, be it through the elections or otherwise.

We call on the Iraqis to unite, solidify, and besiege the perpetrators of these crimes, and to strive hard to expose them and reveal their goals, in order to prevent them from penetrating into the Iraqi political fabric, in a real attempt to build the free and independent Iraq that rebels against the occupation and those who call for violence and Takfir.

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

His Eminence, the Religious Authority Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah, delivered the two Friday prayer sermons at the Imamain Al-Hassanain Mosque, Zul Kaada, 5th 1430 H. – October, 23rd 2009. Several prominent religious scholars, dignitaries and thousands of believers attended the Jumu’a prayer.

The Second Sermon

American green light to Israeli colonization

In occupied Palestine, the enemy’s Prime Minister declared that Israel has reached an agreement with the American Administration on the colonization activities, while the entity’s Minister of War calls for reactivating the Zionist institution that grants licenses for carrying out colonization activities. This is a new practical sign that the American administration has given a full green light to the enemy to expand its colonization activities that have not stopped in the first place, and that are meant to expedite and accelerate, even at a time the Americans are talking about going forth with the negotiation process between the Palestinian Authority and the enemy.

Further “humiliating” the Palestinian people

On another level, the Israeli terrorist acts against the Palestinians continue, where the enemy expelled additional families from occupied Jerusalem, without any response from the Arab and Islamic countries, in addition to the continuous raids executed on Gaza’s peripheries and the attacks carried out by the Palestinian settlers against the Palestinians while picking up olives.

Faced by this scene in which the entire world approves of the American – Israeli plan that aims at keeping the Palestinians under pressure until they surrender to them like humiliated persons and pledge alliance to them like slaves, we ask the Palestinian Authority: About what elections and institutional commitments are you talking?!

The entire world called on the Palestinians to conduct their own free elections; however, after the results, Gaza was besieged and rivers of Palestinian blood were spilled, and the West bank was placed under the American security that is supervised by the Zionists from afar. As a result, the Palestinians hit the worst level and they had to choose between dying from hunger and surrendering to the enemy, i.e. to death… despite all that, the world still talks about the integrity of the elections!!!

We ask: How could a people express their opinions in the elections while under the threat of being killed and under a savage occupation that history has never witnessed before, and at a time the big states are trying to clear the enemy’s name from the war crimes and the crimes against humanity that the UN report has confirmed, suggesting to the enemy, in an indirect manner, to wage a new annihilation war against the Palestinians?

American double standards

We also ask the American President who was recently granted the Nobel Peace Prize: How could you speak of an annihilation war in “Darfur”, while you know the actual nature of the tribal problem over there and you are aware that the Western states, including your own country, are nourishing this conflict; yet, you say no word about the annihilation war conducted against the Palestinians during the war on Gaza that was followed by a starvation siege that is still being exploited to exert pressures on the Palestinians to recognize the so-called national homeland of the Zionists on the Palestinian land?! How could an administration that calls for peace authorize the ongoing Zionist aggression on the Palestinians and the International Law?!

At the same level, we hear nothing from the American Administration about the Israeli espionage, but rather it satisfies itself with condemning the Israeli spy only and not the entity behind him. Moreover, and despite all that, America deploys its huge arsenal of battleships and advanced missiles to conduct a maneuver with the enemy, on the day a big spying operation and a dangerous breach to the American military and nuclear forces was declared. Thus, this maneuver would actually be the beginning of an expected aggression on the Arab and Islamic countries neighboring occupied Palestine…

We warn that the ongoing American game in the region is devious and deceitful, because America, after its failure in Iraq and its ongoing failure in Afghanistan and Pakistan, aims at exporting its crises to more than one location in the region and spreading chaos, violence, and terrorism, under the cover of the so-called democracy and peace…

Islamic unity: A top priority

Therefore, we call on the major Islamic states in the region for a thorough examining to the American plot, and we call on the Islamic Republic of Iran, that has been subjected to a brutal devious aggression that targeted a meeting for establishing unity and spreading good in the region, to be cautious from the probable American plots schemed for Iran’s internal arena and camouflaged by the external negotiations on the Iranian nuclear dossier… We also call on the Pakistani authorities to face the American intelligence and others, to prevent the Islamic countries from turning into a location in which the spark of sedition would be lit and would eventually enflame the entire reality.

Therefore, we call on everyone not to neglect Islamic unity that represents the Muslims’ life, strength, and invincibility, and to place this unity on top of their priorities, in all their political and non-political movements. This would thwart the enemies’ project that aims at destroying the nation internally, at a time all those who are faithful seek to salvage it [the nation] from the hellfire of the occupation that is wreaking havoc in Iraq, Afghanistan, and occupied Palestine.

Lebanon: Beware of an international cover to an Israeli aggression

As for Lebanon whose expectations swing between the feelings of pessimism and optimism for the birth of a new Cabinet, after four months of waiting, is actually overlooking the security turmoil inflicted by the Zionist enemy in the South, at a time many officials and non-officials say or do nothing in response of the Israeli espionage on its land, as well as the violation of its airspace…

We warn from a wide-range international cover secured for the Israeli aggression, and from the engagement of the UNIFIL in this game that not only constitutes limited aggressions, but rather a preparation for an aggression of a large scale during which the enemy would take advantage of the preoccupation of the internal parties with their personal ambitions or ministerial portfolios to place the entire country within its occupation and aggression sphere.

We call on the Lebanese not to be occupied with the formation of the cabinet and to focus on the need for a state, and to totally unite in order to protect the independence that is violated by the internal complications and the external plots, because of which the Lebanese are about to lose the sense of independence, after they had lost its movement in their willpower and its reality in several political positions.

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

His Eminence, the Religious Authority Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah, delivered the two Friday prayer sermons at the Imamain Al-Hassanain Mosque, Zul Kaada, 5th 1430 H. – October, 23rd 2009. Several prominent religious scholars, dignitaries and thousands of believers attended the Jumu’a prayer.

The First Sermon

Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.): The Peak of Knowledge

Imam As-Sadiq: The producer of scholars and intellectuals

Allah says in His Glorious Book: “Allah only desires to keep away the uncleanness from you, O people of the House! And to purify you a (thorough) purifying.” (33:33). The Messenger of Allah (p.) says: “My household is like the ship of Noah; whoever embarks upon it will be saved and whoever turns away from it will be drowned.” Last month, on the 25th of Shawwal, was the death anniversary of Imam Abi Abdullah Ja’afar Bin Muhammad As-Sadiq (a.s.).

Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.) represents the role model that reached out to the entire Islamic reality, filling its horizons with knowledge and science in several life positions. Actually, the Imam’s phase was the phase that produced religious scholars and intellectuals and guided the Imams of the other sects were guided, even if they did not share with him the same points of view. The Imam (a.s.) had a school that was opened up to all people and that enrolled every knowledge seeker; wherever he (a.s.) went, he would spread knowledge and science. Al-Hassan Bin Ali Al-Washa Al-Kufi, one of the narrators, said, while pointing to Al-Kufa Mosque: “I entered the Mosque and saw 900 Sheikhs – the term “Sheikh” here refers to a person who teaches people – each saying: “Jaafar Bin Muhammad told me.”

During his stay in Al-Kufa, the Imam (a.s.) filled its Mosque with knowledge and science, knowing that mosques at that time were places specified for education and learning. The term “told me” means that the sheikhs were educated by the Imam. Moreover, when certain historians counted the figures who narrated Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.)’s traditions pertaining to several aspects of knowledge, they found out that they were four thousand teachers of different schools and Islamic sects.

In history, we realize that Jaber Bin Hayyan, a well-versed chemist, was taught chemistry by Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.), and he used to say in his writings that the westerners used to read: “My master, Ja’afar Bin Muhammad, told me.”

In the Imam (a.s.)’s biography, it is reported that Abu Hanifa An-No’man, the Imam of the Hanafi School, was taught by Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.) for two years, so the former used to say: “Were not for the two years, I would have been doomed.” Moreover, the Imam of the Maliki School, Malik Bin Anas, says: “No ear has heard, no eye has witnessed, and no mind has imagined anyone better than Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.) in knowledge, piety, and worship.” Zaid Bin Ali Bin Al-Hussein (a.s.), to whom the Zaidis belong, says: “In every age there is a man who is one of us, Ahl Al-Beit, that Allah considers as a proof that holds the people accountable, the proof or evidence of our time in my nephew. Those who disagree with him will not be guided; and those who follow him will not be led astray.”

The Imam’s relations with the caliphs

Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.) used to follow up all anti-Islam trends and principles to face them with his knowledge and science and to refute them in a civilized, objective, and scientific manner. Al-Mansour, one of the Abbasid caliphs, wrote to him: “Why do not you visit us like the others?” The Imam (a.s.) answered: “We do not have any worldly pleasure that we are afraid you would stop, nor do you have any matter of the Hereafter for us that we expect to gain from you – you are not among those who would guide us to what brings us closer to Allah, so that we would accompany you to be safe of Allah’s punishment – nor are you enjoying bliss on which we should congratulate you – we do not consider the caliph position and power to be blessings that people ought to congratulate you for – nor are you suffering a misfortune for which we should console you. So why should we visit you?!” Al-Mansour wrote: “You may accompany us so that you will advise us, i.e we want you to advise us because the caliphate is a huge responsibility.” The Imam (a.s.) answered: “He who seeks the worldly pleasures will not advise you – because he would actually be cheating you – and he who seeks the Hereafter will not accompany you.” Al-Mansour then said: “He (a.s.) has taught me how to distinguish between those who seek this world and those who seek the Hereafter, and that he (a.s.) is one of those who seek the Hereafter.”

When Imam As-Sadiq’s father, Imam Al-Baqir (a.s.), was dying, he [Al-Baqir] asked his son to take care of the Shiites. So, Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.) promised that he will and that he would teach them until they have to ask no one about anything. He would answer all their questions; and he would answer them, even if they did not ask him anything, in order to make them the learned and well-versed scholars that if they sit with other scholars, the latter would appreciate their profound knowledge and high cultural level.

The human freedom in the Imam’s thought

The teachings of Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.) fill tens of books that discuss different issues concerned with man, life, and Islam. On certain issues pertaining to freedom, there is a speech for Imam As-Sadiq in which he confirms that the freedom of the free man could not be granted by means of a decree issued by a king, or a caliph, or anyone in power, but rather freedom comes from within man, from his free will that represents his profoundness in life. Man could be free, even if he was lying in a confined cell; and he could be a slave, even if he was wandering in the widest horizons, since freedom is the free will and the free stand, and not the free movement.

It was narrated that Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.) says: “A free man is a free man under all circumstances. If he was in trouble, he would remain patient. If calamities hit him, he would not break down even if he was imprisoned and overpowered and put in difficulties.” He (a.s.) takes Prophet Yusuf (a.s.) as an example, and says: “Hence, imprisonment and slavery could not harm the Honorable Yusuf (a.s.) – because he was sold as a slave – And the darkness and fright of the well could not put him to loss, and Allah rewarded him and made the tyrant – the ruler of Egypt at that time – his (a.s.) slave after Yusuf was the tyrant’s slave, until Allah made him His messenger and pitied the nation because of him. Patience and forbearance always results in good – the free man out to bear up the pains and troubles inflicted by those who wish to enslave, capture, and suppress him; just as the arrogant people try to enslave the peoples and confiscate their political decisions and economic progress –So, be patient and tolerant so as to see its reward.”

Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.) says: “There exists five traits; he who does not enjoy at least one of them would not be appreciated – he would not be one of those who are worth of being appreciated and valued – the first is loyalty, the second is good management – to run and organize life’s affairs in the right manner – the third is shyness – to be shy and modest in his relations with people – the fourth is good morals, and the fifth, which encompasses all these traits, is freedom.” The free man is the one who encompasses all these traits and applies them in his behavior and his situations and his relation with the entire reality. He is the one who enjoys a will that no challenges or troubles break down; but rather he remains free and faces all the problems the others impose on him.

Actually, Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.) took this concept of freedom from Imam Ali (a.s.) who says: “O people! Adam did not beget bondsman nor bondswoman; men are all free.” All the sons of Adam were born free and were not enslaved by anyone. The Imam (a.s.) also says: “Do not be a slave to another – neither to a king nor to a prince or a leader or a rich man, or anyone who owns money or high position; you ought not to submit or enslave yourself to any of these – when Allah has made you free.” Allah has granted man freedom that consists a part of his existence and entity; a thing man ought not to let go of, because he is not its owner, but rather it is part of his humanity and existence. He (a.s.) also says: “Do not let greed enslave you when Allah has made you free,” and: “A free man is a free man even if he was inflicted by harm, and a slave remains a slave even if fate helped him.” Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.) also says: “A religious man rejects desires, which makes him a free man.”

Dialogue with atheists

Imam As-Sadiq used to go to the Hajj where he frequently met the unbelieving atheists and heretics who used to make fun of the Muslims’ way of praying and the act of turning around (Tawaf) Al-Kaaba. Despite that, the Imam (a.s.) would open up to them in his mind and heart, instead of assaulting them, and he would conduct a dialogue with them presenting his arguments and proofs and refuting their misunderstandings and misconceptions. The Imam (a.s.) filled the world with knowledge and piety and a spirituality that opens up to all the issues of man and life, so I call on all the intellectuals and educated people, as well as the scholars, to spread Imam As-Sadiq’s heritage amongst people, for it is a civilized heritage that reflects the bright image of the Members of the House (a.s.) who represent civilization that elevates man’s position in life.

Peace be upon Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.) the day he was born, the day he passed away, and the day he will be brought back to life.

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

His Eminence, the Religious Authority Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah, delivered the two Friday prayer sermons at the Imamain Al-Hassanain Mosque, Shawwal, 27th 1430 H. – October, 16th 2009. Several prominent religious scholars, dignitaries and thousands of believers attended the Jumu’a prayer.

The Second Sermon

American bias

In occupied Palestine, the American – Israeli preparations are going underway with the aim of executing the biggest maneuver in the history of both sides after the news kept on coming on the American Administration’s intention to disclose the nuclear secrets to the enemy, despite that the American President declares, in his speeches from time to time, that it is necessary to create a nuclear weapon-free world…

It has become clear that these maneuvers are simulating possible wars that the enemy would wage on Lebanon, or Gaza, or Syria; or as some of the enemy’s sources have pointed out that these maneuvers represent a double message of protecting the Zionist entity or threatening Iran. This reveals the true American stand on the region’s files in general and confirms that the American policy still encourages Israel, on the one hand, to wage more wars on the Arabs and Muslims, and destroy their countries and infrastructures. On the other hand, the American President is still sending his envoys to the region to repeat their claim of working for the sake of peace, and call on all the parties to resume negotiations, knowing that the course of these negotiations, as sponsored by America, has almost made the Palestinian negotiators lose all the cards they have, except the card of not recognizing Palestine as a national homeland to the Jewish occupiers; which is the ultimate Israeli goal.

The decisive American support to the enemy’s entity, at the political and security levels, reveals that the current American Administration has actually got engaged in the project of the Israeli war, rather than getting the enemy engaged in the so-called “American peace project”. It also confirms that the Administration’s insistence on not condemning the enemy for its previous crimes, just as is the case with the last report whose discussion was postponed due to the American pressures, facilitates the Zionist rightist government plans for new wars. Previous experiments have proven that every Israeli government has its war, especially that the enemy is relieved that the American Administration will prevent the incrimination of its soldiers and officers before the courts and international institutions for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, which confirms once again the incompetence of the American Administration to play the role of the mediator in the region.

Nobel Peace Prize to the “American Wars”

Therefore, on the event of awarding the American President the Nobel Peace Prize, we wonder: does that mean that we are on our way to war, especially that Obama has offered nothing to the so-called peace but sweet words that were always followed by Israel’s intensified colonization campaigns and ongoing attempts to judaize Jerusalem, as well as arrests and assassinations, and the Israeli air raids on Gaza from time to time.

Therefore, everyone – especially the Palestinians – ought to realize that the spiteful arrogant policy led by the consecutive American administrations, perhaps the most dangerous of which is the current one, is responsible for destroying the Palestinians’ internal situations, and pushing the Palestinian cause into the holocaust of the international and regional game that is meant to put an end to what is left of the cause, in terms of the acceleration of the facts on the ground that are created by the Zionist enemy to deter any real solution that the Palestinians or the Arabs would seek for in the future.

In addition to all that, the American administration, as a result of its policies, is historically responsible for all the turbulences experienced in the region and the entire world. Moreover, when we examine the co-called “arc of crises” in the region, starting from Iraq to Afghanistan, to Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, and reaching Pakistan, we realize the scope of the mass crime committed against us as a nation and as peoples that are meant to remain hostages to the others’ wars on their own [the hostages] land, or prisoners for the fighting that is incited by international arrogance and prepared for on the regional level. The ultimate aim of these wars is protecting the enemy’s interests and securing it amidst a region that is always on the verge of exploding.

False promises to Lebanon

On another level, Lebanon was ordered by the outside to take a break for a while and to accept the choices of the regional understanding that has to comply to the international terms that take the enemy’s fears into consideration, whether in the field of security or otherwise. So, Lebanon ought to prepare for establishing internal understandings that are no more than temporary solutions that lead to managing the crisis with new methods that rehabilitate this position or the other and satisfy this leader or that official. Such a solution would suggest to this party or the other that it has accomplished its personal political gains to the detriment of the country’s and the homeland’s general gain. Moreover, the phase of caretaking would continue even after the birth of a new cabinet, because Lebanon has become practically an employee for others, protecting their game and creating balance for their movement. But, to create balance to the interest of its own people is merely a wish for which the Lebanese ought to strive hard to realize. How could a people be not worried about their destiny after wasting the opportunity of the elections and using it to serve the interests of the big players out there?! This is Lebanon that sees sweet dreams of peace and tranquility when it sleeps, yet it wakes up to its political, economic, and security pains that leave no room for relaxing and experiencing luxury.

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

His Eminence, the Religious Authority Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah, delivered the two Friday prayer sermons at the Imamain Al-Hassanain Mosque, Shawwal, 27th 1430 H. – October, 16th 2009. Several prominent religious scholars, dignitaries and thousands of believers attended the Jumu’a prayer.

The First Sermon

The Responsibility of the Tongue

The tongue reflects the thought

On the issue of Islamic education, Allah confirms, through His Messenger (p.), the importance of the tongue, since man expresses his ideas, as well as his plans and good or evil deeds by means of his tongue. Therefore, He wanted the Muslim to deal with his tongue in an educationed manner, so he would bring up his tongue to say nothing but the good and what benefits people. Moreover, He wanted man’s tongue to be faithful in transmitting the right thought to people; which elevates the cultural, spiritual, and practical level. Allah also wanted the tongue to address Him and ask for its needs and to speak to Him and call on Him, so as to remove the burden of its concerns.

Minding the tongue

The Messenger of Allah (p.), as well as the Imams (a.s.), has talked a lot about the singularity of the tongue and its role in man’s life. In a tradition of the Prophet (p.), he said: “The belief of a Muslim will not be on the straight path unless his heart is on the straight path – what is meant by the heart in the Quran and the tradition is the mind, meaning that the mind should think straight to think about the right; so no faith of a servant would be straight until his mind thinks straight and his heart opens up to the right path –and his heart will not be on the straight path, unless his tongue is – considering that the tongue expresses the innermost feelings of the heart, then if it [the heart] become straight, the tongue would express the mind’s righteousness – so if one could meet Allah clean of the Muslims’ blood and money– he would not kill a Muslim or rob his money – and with a tongue that does not abuse their honor – i.e. he would not backbite or defame them or falsely accuse them – then let him do so.”

In another tradition, the Messenger of Allah says: “When the son of Adam wakes up in the morning, all of his body parts humble themselves before the tongue – this represents a personification and holds a metaphorical expression – and say, ‘fear Allah with regards to our right! – O tongue, fear Allah in what we will meet Him with and in the responsibilities we shoulder – Our well-being depends on you. If you remain upright, so shall we – if you always say what is good, we would remain upright, because we are your followers –If you deviate, so shall we.”

The tongue differentiates between the believer and the hypocrite

On the difference between the believer and the hypocrite, the Messenger of Allah (p.) says: “The tongue of a believer is behind his heart; when he wants to say something, he contemplates it with his heart and then utters it – if a believer had a certain idea, he would think it over; if he came to the conclusion that it conforms to the heart and the best interest, then he would speak it out – Whereas, the tongue of the hypocrite is in front of his heart; when he intends to say anything, he utters it before deliberating it in is heart.”

Imam Ali (a.s.) also used this expression, for he says: “Certainly the tongue of a believer is at the back of his heart, while the heart of the hypocrite is at the back of his tongue; because when a believer intends to say anything, he thinks it over in his mind. If it is good, he discloses it, but if it is bad he lets it remain concealed. While a hypocrite speaks whatever comes to his tongue, without knowing what is in his favor and what goes against him.” The believer contemplates the results and repercussions of his words, whereas the hypocrite does not think about whether his words serve his interests or the people’s interest or not.

The harvest of the tongue

Imam Zein Al-Abideen (a.s.) says: “The right of the tongue is to consider it to be too noble for obscenity, accustom it to good, and not to use it except in situations of needs and benefits and to be kind to people and talk good about them.” When Ma’ath Bin Jabal asked the Messenger of Allah (p.) about what would make heaven his abode and what would save him from Hellfire, he (p.) said: “Shall I tell you the foundation of all that? – The basis that makes one enter heaven and avoid Hellfire – Ma’ath said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” He (p.) said: “Mind your tongue.” Ma’ath said: “Would we be judged based on what we speak?” He (p.) said: “Is there anything that causes people to be dragged on their faces (or noses) into Hellfire other than the harvests of their tongues?!” Those who enter Hellfire and are dragged on their faces suffer from this fate due to the harvests of their tongues, i.e. they speak out what Allah dislikes.

The Messenger of Allah (p.) also says: “The most sinful people on the Day of Judgment are the ones who had dived into falsehood the most,” i.e. those who deliver speeches before people using false words, especially those who assume leadership and presidential positions; they tend to cheat and deceive people and encourage them on falsehood.

The Messenger of Allah says: “Allah will torture the tongue more than any other part of the human body on the Day of Judgment – He would not punish the hand, the eye, the ear, and the leg the way He punishes the tongue – The tongue will submit: ‘O Allah! Why are you giving me more punishment than the other parts of the body? Allah will then say: ‘O tongue! One word came from you – you were in a position where you shouldered a responsibility and people believed your words and obeyed you in what you used to say and order them to do – and traveled all through the east and the west – all over the world – Innumerable disputes and fights raised their heads because of this and caused unfathomable damage to men and land.” Nowadays, this is evident and carried out by the American and European presidents, as well the rulers of the arrogant world who shed innocent blood and create disorder everywhere.

Controlling the tongue

Imam Ali (a.s.) says: “A man should control his tongue because the tongue is obstinate with its master – just as an untamed horse kicks the one who mounts it off its back – By Allah, I do not find that the fear of Allah benefits a man who practices it unless he controls his tongue.” Actually, controlling the tongue is the peak of piety, so he who does not control his tongue is not pious. The Messenger of Allah (p.) says: “No one would know the reality of faith unless he controls his tongue,” since faith represents the straight path whose follower adopts what Allah likes and is satisfied by.

We ought to work to control our tongues, for they are what inflict damage on people and incite seditions and create problems; the thing which we are held responsible for before Allah on the Day of Judgment.

Allameh Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah called for all in the Arab and Islamic world to strive for strengthening unity as a lofty goal.

Speaking yesterday in a meeting with Lebanon-UAE friendship group in Beirut, Ayatollah Fadlallah said that political differences in the Muslim world should not undermine Islamic unity.

He urged that the issue of the expulsion of Lebanese from the United Arab Emirates be resolved soon in a rational manner compatible with Islamic Sharia.

The prominent cleric also urged Lebanese citizens in other Arab and Islamic countries to respect the laws of the country where they reside.

The United Arab Emirates recently expelled some 100 Lebanese merchants and a number of Palestinians who support the resistance movement Hamas. The UAE officials cited security issues as a reason for the move.

Lebanese religious leader Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah issued a religious decree prohibiting any effort to normalize relations with Israel.

In his momentous decree Fadlallah emphasized on Palestine’s integrity and said, “The entire land of Palestine within its historical borders is one Arab-Islamic country and no one has right to spare on inch of it. This decree is addressed to all Muslims. ”

“It is necessary for all Muslims to enliven the Palestinian cause, and look into it from a religious viewpoint.”

He urged all Muslim scholars in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq to take a tough stance against Israel’s transgressions.