Hujjatul Islam Ustad Syed Jawad Naqvi
(Principal Jamia Orwatul Wuthqa – Lahore)
Delivered at: Masjid Baitul ul Ateeq
Lahore – Pakistan
Friday Sermon 4th July – 2025
Sermon 1: Imam Hussain’s not acceptance of Tyrant as ruler has Quranic foundation
Sermon 2: Defending Rahbar is obligatory on every Muslims irrespective of Fatwa
1. Qur’anic Commands: Taqwa and Association with the Truthful
The Qur’an in Surah al-Tawbah, verse 119, gives two definitive commands:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ
“O you who believe! Be conscious of Allah and be with the truthful.”
This verse emphasizes two duties: attaining Taqwa (God-consciousness) and associating with the truthful (al-Sadiqeen).
In contrast, the Qur’an warns against being with:
• Liars (Kaazibeen): Cursed by Allah.
• Transgressors (Fasiqeen): Those who violate Allah’s commands and follow their own desires or deviant systems.
• Oppressors and Tyrants (Zalimeen & Ja’ireen): Whom believers are ordered to avoid entirely.
2. Order of Steadfastness and Detachment from Oppressors
Surah Hud (11:112–113) commands the Prophet (s) and his followers:
فَاسْتَقِمْ كَمَا أُمِرْتَ… وَلَا تَرْكَنُوا إِلَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا…
“Remain steadfast as you are commanded… and do not incline towards those who do wrong, lest the Fire touches you.”
The Prophet (s) said, “Surah Hud broke my back”, highlighting the weight of its command to remain firm even in hardship. Believers are warned not to make excuses to support tyrants or deviate due to difficulties.
3. Taghut (False Rulers) and the Quranic Prohibition
Surah al-Nisa (4:60) addresses those who claim to believe but refer to Taghut (false, tyrannical authority) for judgment:
وَقَدْ أُمِرُوا أَنْ يَكْفُرُوا بِهِ
“They were commanded to reject Taghut.”
Despite believing in revelation, these people choose corrupt rulers. The Qur’an considers anyone who illegitimately assumes leadership or enables tyranny as a Taghut. Obeying or supporting them is an act of rebellion against divine command.
4. Imam Hussain (a) and Rejection of Taghut
Imam Hussain (a) acted on this Quranic foundation. He did not accept Yazid as a legitimate ruler. Those who accepted or obeyed Yazid’s rule are declared criminals by the Qur’an. The Qur’an’s instruction applies both then and now—never tolerate, support, or incline towards oppressors.
Banu Umayyah misled the Ummah, just as Surah al-Nisa says Satan misleads people to disgrace. Imam Hussain (a)’s stand in Karbala was not personal—it was a Quranic duty to rise against Taghut.
5. Contemporary Reflections and Misguidance
Today, similar misguidance exists. A controversial scholar denied the tragedy of Karbala, claiming that Yazid did not kill Imam Hussain (a), and that the Imam went to Kufa to advise people. He also claimed Yazid should be promoted among Sunnis.
Maulana Tariq Jameel, from the Deobandi school, responded strongly:
• He refuted all points with references, historical evidence, and clarity.
• He said: “I’m astonished to hear this from a Deobandi scholar in this era.”
• He admitted that Ahl al-Bayt’s (a) chapter was missing from their curriculum and has spent forty years praising the Ahl al-Bayt (a).
However, Tariq Jameel maintained that Yazid’s crime was allowing Umar ibn Saad and Shimr to kill Imam Hussain (a), and then not punishing them.
6. Contemporary Azadari & State Injustice
In Punjab, security restrictions on Azadari (mourning processions) disproportionately target Shia communities. Regulations on timing, routes, and speeches are imposed. Yet, scholars who praise Yazid—an act deeply offensive to Shia sentiments—face no action.
If what that controversial scholar said is dangerous to public peace, why hasn’t the government acted? Even Deobandi scholars like Maulana Tariq Jameel have objected. Such speech should be grounds for arrest under public security laws.
7. Path Forward: Purify and Resist
We must:
• Purify our hearts from any love for tyranny, even if it involves relatives.
• Supplicate to Allah for the ability to follow the Seerah (path) of Imam Hussain (a).
• Develop the same hatred for tyranny as Imam Hussain (a) did.
• Aspire for a principled uprising against modern-day oppressors and Taghut.
Imam Hussain’s (a) uprising is the practical tafsir (exegesis) of the Qur’an. For theoretical tafsir, look to Nahjul Balagha. For practical, follow the uprising of Karbala.
SERMON 2
1. The Continuing Legacy of Yazidi Oppression
The disgraceful oppression committed by Banu Umayyah exposed the lowest state of humanity. But they are not the only tyrants in history—many others have followed in their footsteps. Those who did not support Imam Hussain (a) in Medina, Mecca, or Kufa eventually suffered under Yazid’s cruelty, far worse than what they would have faced had they joined the Imam.
2. Battle of Harrah – Atrocity in Medina
After the tragedy of Karbala, Yazid turned toward Medina, sending Muslim ibn Aqbah with orders to destroy the city. For three days, Yazid declared everything in Medina—wealth, women, and property—as lawful for his army. Even the sanctity of the families of the Prophet’s companions was violated. This savage act is known as the Battle of Harrah.
One Mufti denied this historical incident, and Maulana Tariq Jameel responded strongly, refuting his claims.
3. Modern Yazidiyat: From Karbala to Gaza
The same beastly character of Yazid is now seen in modern-day oppressors like Trump and Netanyahu. Just as Yazid committed atrocities in Kufa and Medina, today’s tyrants are ravaging Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. Some Muslim countries—content in their false sense of safety—fail to realize that their turn may come next, just as history repeated from Karbala to Harrah.
The people of Gaza, Hezbollah, Ansarullah, and Iran are like the soldiers of Imam Hussain (a), sacrificing their lives with honor. In contrast, regimes like Bin Salman, the Nahyan family, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Pakistan have chosen the path of silence and complicity. They too will eventually face humiliation, just as Medina did.
4. Betrayal of the Ummah: The Hypocrisy of Leaders
The most treacherous figure among Muslim rulers today is Erdogan, who betrayed Syria and left Hezbollah and Iran vulnerable. He knows that his turn is next—Netanyahu even announced in 2014 that he will eventually move against Turkey. Yet Erdogan hides behind a façade of Islamic rhetoric and continues to support Taghuti powers.
Meanwhile, Pakistani leadership nominated the same Mufti who defends Yazid for a Nobel Peace Prize, despite his denial of the atrocities of Karbala and Harrah. These hypocrites will also face the same destruction as the earlier enemies of Ahl al-Bayt (a).
5. Targeting the Rahbar and Iran
Recently, the Vice President of the U.S. openly stated that anyone condemning Israel has taken part in an act of war against Iran. Pakistan’s Prime Minister even claimed that their intervention secured Iran’s safety. These shameful declarations only strengthen the enemy.
They have targeted Rahbar (Ayatollah Khamenei), attempting to kill him—though they failed. This year, the Rahbar has not appeared in the Hussainiyah for Ashura due to his direct involvement in leading the war from the command center for ten days. He had previously donned battle attire and stood on the frontlines during Saddam’s war. This is not a leader who hides—this is a commander in the battlefield.
Yet Pakistani clerics express hatred toward him, falsely claiming he is afraid. Israel’s attacks on Iran failed to break its strength, and they know that as long as Rahbar lives, Iran will not weaken. As Rahbar himself said: “Even if I am martyred, nothing will happen to the resistance.”
6. The Religious Duty to Defend Rahbar and the Resistance
Some senior Maraji‘ (religious authorities) have now issued fatwas (verdicts), declaring that:
• Any attack on Rahbar is a red line.
• The U.S. and Israel are now at war with Muslims and are apostates.
• If Rahbar is attacked, it becomes wajib (obligatory) on every Muslim to respond, regardless of location.
These rulings should have been given earlier, but now that they are issued, Muslims must act. Even without a fatwa, the Qur’an has already commanded believers to rise to defend Islam.
7. The Awaited Response: Divine and Earthly Forces
If Rahbar is targeted, the response should not be limited to Iran’s military. It becomes fard (obligatory) for every Muslim to confront the aggressors wherever they may be—even within their own homes.
Allah says in the Qur’an that He will bring forth hidden armies when the visible ones grow weak. These divine battalions will rise and punish the enemies of Islam.
This Muharram, all Muslim resistance groups should declare that they will avenge the blood of the innocent, and anyone who threatens the Rahbar will be struck down.
8. Message to the Yazids of Today
In all Ashura processions, we must raise the message loud and clear to today’s Yazids:
“This is not an era of silence. We will stand with the truth and destroy the Yazidiyat of this time—just as Imam Hussain (a) did in Karbala.”
