Jumu'ah of Nasr (The Friday Help)
Jumu'ah of Nasr (The Friday Help) is an event that took place after the assassination of the flag-bearer of the resistance and freedom of Jerusalem and Palestine, during the Israeli attack on Beirut and the martyrdom of the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Hojjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Seyyed Hassan Nasrullah.It occurred on the eve of the first anniversary of the epic Operation Al-Aqsa Storm carried out by the fighters of the Islamic Resistance in Palestine. In Tehran, a memorial ceremony for Seyyed Hassan Nasrullah and his companions, including the martyr Sardar Nilfroushan, was held by Imam Khamenei at Imam Khomeini Mosque on the morning of Friday, October 5, 1403 (Gregorian calendar), after which the Friday prayer was led by Imam Khamenei.
The Flood of the Nation
The Islamic Ummah and the people of Iran enthusiastically gathered from various regions of this vast country, with some arriving a day earlier and others on the night before, to participate in this event held in honor of Seyyed Hassan Nasrullah and his companions, including martyr Abbas Nilfroushan. They conducted the Friday prayer led by the revolutionary leader, Imam Khamenei. In this historic event, both men and women, old and young, united together shouting “Death to Israel” and “Death to America.”
This Day of God, embodying the power and national unity under the three-colored flag of the Islamic Republic and the guidance of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, not only created an everlasting impact in the hearts of the worshippers but also in the history of this land and its global image.
Friday Prayer Sermons
Excerpts from the First Sermon
The Bond and Unity of Believers
In the verse I recited, the important issue of the connectivity of believers with one another is discussed, which in Quranic expressions is referred to as "Wilayah," the guardianship of believers over one another. This concept appears in several verses of the Quran. In this verse, the result of this guardianship and solidarity is introduced as divine mercy: "Those are the ones whom Allah will have mercy upon." This means that if you Muslims are connected, cooperating, and compassionate towards one another, God's mercy will encompass you. Then it states: "Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise;" it concludes the verse by mentioning divine might and wisdom, perhaps to indicate that God's mercy in this case is aligned with the might and wisdom of the Lord; because God's mercy encompasses all virtues bestowed upon His servants— all blessings, all kindnesses, all life events are encompassed by divine mercy; however, in this verse, this mercy is proportional to "might" and "wisdom." Divine might means the dominion of the Lord's power over all existence; divine wisdom means the firmness and stability of all the laws of creation. Perhaps this verse intends to draw our attention to the meaning that if Muslims unite, divine might and wisdom will be behind them; they can draw from God's endless power, and they can benefit from the implications of God's traditions and divine laws.
What does this guardianship mean? It signifies the bond and solidarity of Muslims with one another; this became the Quranic policy for Muslims. The Quranic policy for Muslims is that Muslim nations, Muslim groups, should have solidarity with one another, as though it promises that if you Muslim nations maintain this solidarity, it will result in God's might being behind you; meaning you will prevail over all obstacles and triumph over all enemies; divine wisdom will support you; it means all creation laws will be activated in your favor; this is the logic of the Quran and the Quranic policy.
The opposite of this policy is the policy of the enemies of Islam—namely, the oppressors and aggressors of the world. Their policy is "Divide and rule;" their work is based on sowing discord. They have executed this policy of division in Islamic countries using various tricks until today, and they still do not relent, causing discord among the hearts of the Islamic nations; however, today the nations have awakened. Today is a day when The Islamic Ummah can overcome these tricks of the enemies of Islam and Muslims.
Unity of the Enemy
I say that the enemy of the Iranian nation is the same as the enemy of the Palestinian nation, the same as the enemy of the Lebanese nation, the same as the enemy of the Iraqi nation, the same as the enemy of the Egyptian nation, the enemy of the Syrian nation, and the enemy of the Yemeni nation; the enemy is one—different methods are used against different countries. Sometimes through psychological warfare, sometimes through economic pressure, sometimes with two-ton bombs, sometimes with weaponry, sometimes with smiles; our enemies implement this policy, but the command room is one; they receive orders from one place, If any nation wants to avoid being subjected to the paralyzing siege of the enemy, it must open its eyes from the start and remain vigilant. When it sees that the enemy has turned its attention to another nation, it should consider itself a partner in the plight and oppression of that nation, help them, and cooperate with them so that the enemy does not succeed there. If the enemy succeeds there, it will turn to the next point. We Muslims have been neglectful of this truth for many years, and we have seen the results. Today, we must not be neglectful; we must stay alert. We must firmly establish the defense belt, the belt of independence, the belt of dignity—from Afghanistan to Yemen, from Iran to Gaza and Lebanon, in all Islamic countries and among all Islamic nations.
Standing Firm Against the Enemy
Today, most of my message is directed towards our Lebanese and Palestinian brothers who are facing difficulties, which I will address more in my next sermon. The second point is that the defensive rulings of Islam have clarified our duty; both the defensive rulings of Islam and our own constitution, as well as international laws; the very laws in which we had no hand in drafting, but even in those laws, the matter I am stating is among the certainties: every nation has the right to defend its land, its home, its country, and its interests against aggressors. This means that the Palestinian nation has the right to stand against the enemy that has occupied its land, seized its home, destroyed its fields, and ruined its life; the Palestinian nation has that right. This is a strong logic that is confirmed by today's global laws.
Support and Legitimate Defense
Whose land is Palestine? Who are the people of Palestine? Where did these occupiers come from? The Palestinian nation has the right to stand against them; no court, no institution, no international organization has the right to protest against the Palestinian nation for standing up to the usurper Zionist regime; they have no right. Those who help the Palestinian nation are fulfilling their duty; no one, under any international law, has the right to protest against the people of Lebanon or Hezbollah for supporting Gaza and the uprising of the Palestinian people; it is their duty, and they must do it. This is not only an Islamic ruling but also a rational and international logic. The Palestinians are defending their own land; their defense is legitimate, and helping them is also legitimate.
Neither Delay Nor Hastiness
Therefore, all the attacks and the Al-Aqsa Storm that took place almost at this time last year was a correct, logical, and lawful international movement, and the right was with the Palestinians. The courageous defense of the Lebanese people for the Palestinian people also falls under this ruling; it is lawful, reasonable, logical, and legitimate, and no one has the right to criticize them for joining this defense. The brilliant actions of our armed forces a few nights ago were also entirely lawful and legitimate. What our armed forces did was the least punishment for the usurper Zionist regime for its astonishing crimes; the bloodthirsty regime, the wolf-like regime, the vicious American dog in the region. The Islamic Republic will carry out any duty it has in this regard with power, strength, and decisiveness. We will neither delay, nor be hasty, in fulfilling this duty; we do not procrastinate, we do not fall short, and we are not caught up in hastiness. What is logical, reasonable, and right will be carried out at the right time, as decided by the military and political decision-makers, just as it has been done, and if necessary in the future, it will be done again.
In the second sermon, issues pertaining to Lebanon will be addressed, and the audience for that sermon will be our Arab brothers in the region; therefore, I will deliver the sermon in Arabic.
Excerpts from the Second Sermon
The second sermon was delivered in Arabic; thus, what follows as the second sermon is its translation into Persian.
The Voice of the Nations of the Region
I felt it necessary to pay tribute to my brother and dear one, my source of pride, the beloved figure of the Islamic world, and the voice of the nations of the region, the shining gem of Lebanon, Mr. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah (may God bless him), during the Friday prayers in Tehran, and to convey some reminders to all. The audience of this sermon is the entire Islamic world, but the dear nations of Lebanon and Palestine are its special audience. We are all grieving and mourning the martyrdom of our dear Sayyed. This is a great loss, and it has indeed made us mournful. However, our mourning does not mean sadness and despair; rather, it is akin to mourning for Sayyid al-Shuhada, Imam Hussein (peace be upon him); it is life-giving, instructive, motivating, and hopeful.
Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's physical presence has left us, but his true character, his spirit, his path, and his resonant voice remain among us and will continue to do so. He was the lofty banner of resistance against the tyrannical and plundering evildoers; he was the articulate voice and brave defender of the oppressed; he was a source of encouragement and courage for fighters and seekers of justice. His popularity and influence extended beyond Lebanon, Iran, and the Arab countries; now, his martyrdom will further enhance this influence.
His most important verbal and practical message during his worldly life for you, the loyal people of Lebanon, was that with the loss of prominent figures such as Imam Musa Sadr, Sayyed Abbas al-Mousawi, and others, you should not be disheartened and distressed; do not doubt the path of struggle; increase your efforts and capacities; double your solidarity; resist the encroaching and hostile enemy by strengthening your faith and reliance, and leave him unsuccessful.
My dear ones! Loyal people of Lebanon! Enthusiastic youth of Hezbollah and Amal! My children! Today, the request of our martyred Sayyed from his nation, from the axis of resistance, and from the entire Islamic community remains the same.
The foul and cowardly enemy, unable to inflict serious damage on the strong structure of Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other organizations striving in the path of God, regard the assassination, destruction, bombardment, and slaughter of civilians and causing grief to the unarmed as signs of their victory. What is the result? The outcome of this behavior is the accumulation of anger and increased motivation among the people and the emergence of more men, leaders, and martyrs, tightening the siege around the bloodthirsty wolf, and ultimately, the removal of its disgraceful existence from the stage of existence, God willing.
Dear ones! Grieving hearts find peace in the remembrance of God and seeking help from Him; ruins will be rebuilt, and your patience and steadfastness will bring honor and dignity. Our dear Sayyed led a challenging struggle for thirty years; he raised Hezbollah step by step: "Like a seed that sprouts and gives strength until it stands firm and astonishes the farmers, to make God incite the disbelievers among them out of [their multitude]. God has promised forgiveness and a great reward to those among them who have believed and done righteous deeds." With Sayyed’s wisdom, Hezbollah grew step by step, patiently, logically, and naturally, showcasing its existential effects at various times in pushing back the Zionist regime: "He gives its fruits at every time by permission of its Lord."
Hezbollah: The Good Tree
Hezbollah is truly a "good tree." Hezbollah and its heroic and martyred leader are the essence of Lebanon's historical and identity virtues.
We Iranians have long been acquainted with Lebanon and its distinctions; figures such as martyr Muhammad ibn Maki Ameli, Ali ibn Abd al-Aal Karaki, martyr Zain al-Din Ameli, and Hussein ibn Abd al-Samad Ameli, as well as his son Muhammad Baqir al-Din, known as Sheikh Baha'i, and others from the world of knowledge and religion, have enriched Iran with their vast knowledge during the periods of the Sabzevar and Safavid dynasties in the 8th, 10th, and 11th centuries Hijri.
Paying homage to wounded and bloodied Lebanon is our duty and the duty of all Muslims. Hezbollah and the martyred leader have embarked on a crucial service for the entire region and the whole Muslim world by defending Gaza, striving for Al-Aqsa Mosque, and striking against the usurping and oppressive regime. America's reliance, along with its allies, on maintaining the security of the usurping regime serves as a facade for a lethal policy that turns this regime into a tool for seizing all resources in this region and utilizing them in major global conflicts. Their policy aims to transform the regime into a gateway for energy exports from the region to the Western world and to facilitate the import of goods and technology from the West to the region, which means guaranteeing the existence of the usurping regime and the total dependence of the entire region on it. The ruthless and reckless behavior of the regime toward fighters stems from its greed for such a situation. This reality makes it clear to us that every blow to the regime by anyone or any group is a service to the entire region and indeed to all of humanity.
Certainly, this Zionist and American dream is a vain and unattainable fantasy. The regime is like the wicked tree torn from the earth, which according to divine truth has no permanence. This wicked regime is rootless, artificial, and unstable, maintained only with the injections of American support; and this will not last long, God willing.
The clear evidence of this claim is that for nearly a year now, the enemy has spent several billion dollars in Gaza and Lebanon, with the comprehensive assistance of the United States and several other Western governments, yet has failed in confronting a few thousand fighters and martyrs in the way of God who are besieged and barred from any external assistance. Their only skill has been bombing homes, schools, hospitals, and civilian gathering places! Today, even the criminal Zionist band has gradually come to the conclusion that they will never triumph over Hamas and Hezbollah.
Pillars of the Revolution
Resilient people of Lebanon and Palestine! Brave fighters and patient, grateful people! These martyrdoms, these spilled bloods will not weaken your movement, but rather strengthen it. In Islamic Iran, during one summer (the year 1981), several prominent figures were assassinated, including great personalities such as Seyyed Mohammad Beheshti, a president like Rajai, and a prime minister like Bahonar, as well as scholars such as Ayatollah Madani, Quddusi, and Hashemi Nejad, among others. Each of these individuals was a pillar of the Revolution at either a national or local level, and their absence was not easy to bear; however, the Revolution did not stop, nor did it retreat, but rather gained momentum. Today, the resistance in the region will not retreat because of these martyrdoms; the resistance will be victorious. The resistance in Gaza has captivated the world's attention; it has honored Islam. In Gaza, Islam stands firm against all evil and malice. There is no free human who does not salute this steadfastness and curse the treacherous and bloodthirsty enemy. The Al-Aqsa Storm and the one-year resistance in Gaza and Lebanon have brought the usurping regime to a point where its primary concern is preserving its existence; that is the same concern this regime had in the early years of its malignant birth. This means that the struggles of the brave men of Palestine and Lebanon have succeeded in pushing the Zionist regime back seventy years.
The Zionist Regime: The Cause of War, Insecurity, and Underdevelopment
The main cause of war, insecurity, and underdevelopment in this region is the "existence of the Zionist regime" and the presence of governments that claim to seek peace and tranquility in the region. The main problem of the region is "foreign interference." The governments of this region are capable of establishing peace and security within it. For this great and salvific goal, the efforts and struggles of the "nations" and "governments" are necessary. On this path, God accompanies the travelers, and indeed, God is mighty in granting them victory. May God's peace be upon the martyred leader Nasrallah, the martyred hero Haniyeh, and the illustrious commander, General Qassem Soleimani.