Hujjatul Islam Ustad Syed Jawad Naqvi
(Principal Jamia Orwatul Wuthqa – Lahore)
Delivered at: Masjid Baitul ul Ateeq
Lahore – Pakistan
Friday Sermon 25th July – 2025
Sermon 1: Quranic Mandate to recognize Truthful and be with them
Sermon 2: Adulteration of Humanity, Divine Wrath, and the Criterion of Truthfulness in the Age of Oppression”
1. The Command to Be with the Truthful (Surah al-Tawbah, 119)
The Quran states in Surah al-Tawbah, verse 119:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ
“O you who believe! Be conscious of Allah and be with the truthful.”
Society remains protected only when truthful (Saadiqeen) are present in society. Quran has ordered to live with truthful and also specified the attributes of truthful so that you can clearly know who are they and not carve your criterion for marking someone as truthful.
Truthful are not only those who were present at that time of Prophet (s). This doubt has been created by some commentators that certain verses of Quran are only for a particular category of persons of that time.
Though generally people do not take guidance from Quran and even though when some take only to the extent of those elements which they desire and not everything.
The truthful are present in every era and Quran has expressed on what standards you have to find the truthful ones in your society and not just go by claims.
If someone is deceiving everyone but till date has not deceived you, then you consider him as truthful which is not correct.
The hypocrites would claim that Prophet is the messenger of Allah but Quran says they are lying, even though the words were as per reality.
Truthfulness is not just by words, it should be in accordance with the reality and intention behind the words.
2. Difference between Faith and Verbal Claim (Surah al-Hujurat, 14–15)
One verse in Surah al-Hujurat:
قَالَتِ الْأَعْرَابُ آمَنَّا ۖ قُلْ لَمْ تُؤْمِنُوا وَلَٰكِنْ قُولُوا أَسْلَمْنَا وَلَمَّا يَدْخُلِ الْإِيمَانُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ تُطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ لَا يَلِتْكُمْ مِنْ أَعْمَالِكُمْ شَيْئًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ {14}
“The dwellers of the desert say: We believe. Say: You do not believe but say, We submit; and faith has not yet entered into your hearts…”
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَرْتَابُوا وَجَاهَدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنْفُسِهِمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الصَّادِقُونَ {15}
“The believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger then they doubt not and struggle hard with their wealth and their lives in the way of Allah; they are the truthful ones.”
The bedouins would come and say we are believers. Allah tells Prophet to inform that you are not believers.
We also are like this only and we should assess our faith on Quranic standards and see if Allah also accepts us as believers or not.Allah says tell them that they are not believers but instead say that we have submitted (Tasleem).A difference is made between faith and submission, it’s not that they are two different levels.
These bedouins of Arabs were staying in small villages and the Prophet was sending them invitations to Islam.These tribes whenever someone brings invitation they would see how strong and mighty is the person sending this invitation.
Even today when a weak person gives a strong message people do not listen to him but if a strong person or political party, scholar gives a weak or misleading message people listen and even accept.
In general people do not take serious the messages of weak persons.When the Prophet (s) was weak like before immigration people were not ready to accept his message, but when he established a state in Medina many people got impressed and accepted his message by considering the powerful status of Prophet like the Quraiysh.
When the message of Prophet (s) went to these tribes they submitted to the message.The faith and submission (Islam) are not two levels, when you have submitted means you have got faith.This submission in this verse means surrender.
So when they claimed we have got faith, the Quran says you have just surrendered and faith has not even entered inside your heart.It is not that Islam has entered in your heart but still you are not faithful.This “Aslamna” is surrender.If you obey Allah and Messenger then you will become believers then everything will be accepted from you.In next verse it is mentioned the believers are those who bring faith on Allah, messenger and then there should not remain any doubt, suspicion about this faith.Then he struggles with his wealth and life in the way of Allah.They are the truthful ones. These believers are Sadiqeen.
3. The Quranic Definition of Righteousness (Surah al-Baqarah, 177)
Compare with verse 177 of Surah Baqarah about truthful as mentioned in last sermon:
لَيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَنْ تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ… أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ {177}
“It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East and the West…”
The verse says your self-carved rituals are not acts of righteousness.Instead, it is those who brought faith on Allah, messenger, book and angels.Then they spend the wealth which they love for themselves on the relatives, orphans, needy, travellers, beggars, captives and established prayer and Zakaat.Then those who fulfill their commitments and demonstrate patience during distress and combats.They are truthful.
4. Truthful Ones in Struggle and Sacrifice (Surah Ahzab and Surah Hashr)
Then in Surah Ahzab, those men are truthful who fulfill their covenant to the extent of martyrdom and those who are waiting for their stage.Now in Surah Hujurat it is mentioned those who struggle with their wealth and life are truthful ones.We are ordered to live your life with them.
In Surah Hashr, verse 8:
لِلْفُقَرَاءِ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ الَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ وَأَمْوَالِهِمْ… أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الصَّادِقُونَ {8}
“(It is) for the poor who fled their homes and their possessions, seeking grace of Allah and (His) pleasure, and assisting Allah and His Messenger: these it is that are the truthful.”
Here the criterion of truthful gets completed.
The verse says truthful ones are those poor whose possessions have been usurped and they have been removed from their lands.These poor people had to forego everything in their life and migrated in the way of Allah only for the sake of seeking pleasure of Allah.They sacrificed everything in the way of Allah but still are assisting Allah and His messenger.They are supporters (Nasir) even in this state of poverty, misery and distress.These are the truthful ones.
5. Self-Assessment and Recognizing Truthful Ones in Every Era
You can see this in history as well which we generally do but do not look at our own generation. One of the biggest guidance is to look inside yourself and is a big bounty if someone assesses his own self.The second principle of guidance is to find people, categories enlisted by Quran in our era.The truthful ones of history are not present today so you have to find them in your era.I have to find in my country, era who are truthful ones as per Quranic standards.I will present the reference of this from our era in second sermon.
6. The Outcome of Companionship: Hereafter with the Truthful
Quran says if you accompany truthful ones then we will also be amongst truthful ones and in hereafter as well we will be with them.
The law is that with whom all you spend your life in this world in hereafter as well you will be with them only.The realities do not change if you do not believe in them.We have to accept the reality and it is that your hereafter would be those only with whom you are in this world.When Imam Hussain (a) was asked what is the meaning of that you will be raised with your Imam.He (a) replied that two types of Imams are there: one destined for hell and one on right path.So with whom you spend your life you will be raised with that Imam.
7. Practical Taqwa Means Living with the Saadiqeen
The practical interpretation of Taqwa is to spend life with truthful ones. We have to assess this and see where our life is heading towards.
SERMON 2
1. The Death of Humanity Without Taqwa
In this era, the beasts and monsters that roam among us are a living testimony to the Quranic principle that without Taqwa, the humanity of man perishes. This generation bears witness to this spiritual death, just as previous generations did. In the past, entire communities were corrupted, and Allah destroyed them. After Prophet Nuh (a), a new generation arose, but they too followed the same path of deviation and adulteration. The moral degeneration reached such an extent that some were transformed into swines and apes, while others were completely annihilated by divine punishment. Today’s generation has also become deeply adulterated and stands on the brink of divine wrath.
One of the most glaring and undeniable proofs of this is Gaza. The scale of brutality and injustice there has stripped away the façade of global humanity. Despite being fully aware of the atrocities, the world remains unmoved and indifferent. We receive minute-by-minute updates—how many were killed in the morning, how many by the afternoon, and how many more by night—yet there is no collective movement or serious reaction. This numbness is not just a lack of action; it is evidence that our humanity is dead. If we were truly human, we would have responded. Ironically, it is not the Muslim world but some individuals in the West—non-Muslims—who are bearing the flag of human conscience. From artists to ordinary citizens, many are raising their voices to such an extent that even the oppressors have begun to fear them and contemplate an end to their tyranny.
2. The Moral Collapse of the Muslim World and the Stand of Yemen
The most tragic and disgraceful condition is that of the Muslim world. They are in a worse state of moral adulteration than any other community. Gaza has exposed that not even the letter “I” of Islam remains within them. In stark contrast stands Yemen, a people who manifest the verse of the Quran in Surah al-Hashr, verse 8:
لِلْفُقَرَاءِ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ الَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ وَأَمْوَالِهِمْ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا وَيَنْصُرُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الصَّادِقُونَ
“(It is) for the poor who fled their homes and their possessions, seeking grace of Allah and (His) pleasure, and assisting Allah and His Messenger: these it is that are the truthful.”
These are the very Yemenis who, despite being ravaged by war, remain in the field assisting Allah and His Messenger. They have been crushed by so-called Muslim regimes like Bin Salman, Aal-e-Saud, and the Emirates. Their ports, airports, and infrastructure have been destroyed, their people rendered homeless. Yet, they remain unwavering in their stance, standing in the battlefield of truth. Today, it is only Yemen where Israel is being directly confronted. On Fridays, millions come to the streets despite not having full clothes on their bodies or shoes on their feet. They may be materially impoverished, but their hearts burn with pain for Palestine. The people of Yemen—poor, oppressed, and battered—are the truthful ones. If you seek to be with the Saadiqeen, you must walk their path. Otherwise, you are siding with beasts, tyrants, and oppressors. The path of Ahlulbayt (a) allows for no compromise or formality in this matter.
3. The Criterion of Quran and Ahlulbayt (a) for Hadith and Reality
There is a tradition found in the books of Ahl al-Sunnah, and Musnad Ibn Hanbal narrates it while Shi’i sources often don’t, due to the chain of narration. However, if one studies the content of the hadith, it aligns entirely with Quranic principles. The Ahlulbayt (a) taught us that the first step in accepting a hadith is to evaluate it on the scale of the Quran. Today, some scholars wrongly equate hadith and Quran, while a few even go further, giving preference to hadith even if it contradicts the Quran. But the authentic and proven methodology of Ahlulbayt (a) is to assess all narrations in the light of the Quran.
The hadith states that a time will come upon my Ummah when they will fear oppressors so much that they will not even dare call them oppressors. Rather, they will praise them, grant them awards like the Nobel Prize, and form diplomatic ties with them. At that time, Allah will take away all His blessings and bounties from this Ummah and leave them at the mercy of those very tyrants. This is the divine consequence. Another narration from Ahlulbayt (a) states that when someone seeks help from people instead of Allah, Allah hands them over to those very people and withdraws His guardianship. This is the revenge of Allah. In yet another hadith, Allah declares that He will take severe revenge not only from oppressors but also from those who remain silent in the face of oppression.
4. The Wrath of Allah and Sunan-e-Ilahi (Divine Principles)
The Quran repeatedly mentions the traits of oppressors, and if one counts the verses, the references are numerous. Imam Hussain (a) declared that a life spent with tyrants is a life of humiliation, and he chose death over such disgrace. This is the ethos of the school of Ahlulbayt. Now reflect—oppression is at its peak in today’s world. People often ask, if Allah exists, then why doesn’t He stop the oppressors? Why is there no divine wrath upon them?
The answer lies in understanding Sunan-e-Ilahi, the divine customs of Allah. The world operates through systems and principles established by Allah—laws of cause and effect. Allah’s wrath doesn’t manifest as random strikes upon individuals like Netanyahu or Trump. Rather, when oppression spreads and the societal atmosphere becomes conducive to destruction, that very environment becomes the cause for the downfall of oppressors. This is the system of Allah.
The hadith says that when the time comes upon my Ummah and they are even afraid to call tyrants as tyrants, Allah will lift His bounties and blessings from them. Has this not already begun? Has Allah not said farewell to this Ummah and left it at the mercy of tyrants? Look at your own country—are you not at the mercy of Trump? You want Trump to save you from India. You want Trump to fix your economy. Are you not already in the hands of tyrants? And history tells us where tyrants eventually dump their dependents.
5. The Side of the Truthful vs. the Side of Tyrants
In contrast, Yemen, Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas have stood firm and labeled tyrants as tyrants. Even today, people in the West are calling out these oppressors for who they are. Ironically, those very people are considered, by the so-called Muslims, to be hell-bound. But in the divine scale, those who call oppressors what they are—they are close to Allah. And those who do not, they will suffer.
Today, this is unfolding in front of our eyes. If you cannot save Gaza, then at the very least, save your own nation from the clutches of Trump and these tyrants. Modi is not the only oppressor from whom you seek protection through other oppressors. They are all tyrants. Those who have identified tyrants for what they are—though they are suffering today—Allah has promised His help to them, and His promise will be fulfilled in this very era.
