Sermon of Imam al-Sajjad (a) in Levant

Question

It is said that Imam Sajjad (a) delivered a speech against Yazid in his court. What did the Imam (a) say in this speech?

The Sermon of Imam Sajjad (a) in Sham is one of the most famous speeches delivered by Imam Sajjad (a) after Ashura, in which the Imam was able to shake the legitimacy of the Umayyad rule and neutralize their 40-year propaganda against Imam Ali (a) and the Ahl al-Bayt (a). The main themes of this sermon are considered to be the clarification of the status of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) to demonstrate the injustice of the caliphate's actions against them during the Event of Karbala.

The sermon of Imam al-Sajjad (a) in Sham is regarded as a testament to his courage and eloquence, as well as his role in illuminating the path of truth by reviving the message of the Ashura movement. It is said that this speech had an immediate enlightening impact: protests against Yazid ibn Muawiyah's actions erupted, the gathering was filled with wailing and weeping, and a group of people left the assembly without following the caliph in prayer.

According to sources, the sermon was delivered after the Event of Ashura, when the survivors of the tragedy were taken as captives to Sham. According to one account, Yazid ordered his court orator to ascend the pulpit and praise Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan while slandering Imam Hussain (a) and his family. The orator did so, but his speech was met with protest from Imam Sajjad (a), who requested permission to speak. Initially, his request was denied, but after the people insisted, Yazid reluctantly allowed the Imam (a) to deliver his speech.

Significance

The sermon of Imam Sajjad (a) in Sham is considered one of his most famous and unparalleled speeches, described as extraordinary and impactful. It is said to have shaken the legitimacy of the Umayyad rule and neutralized their 40-year propaganda against Imam Ali (a) and the Ahl al-Bayt (a).

This sermon is seen as a demonstration of the courage and eloquence of Imam Sajjad (a) and his role in illuminating the path of truth by reviving the message of the Ashura movement. It is said that the speech had an immediate enlightening effect: protests against Yazid's actions erupted, the gathering was filled with wailing and weeping, and a group of people left the assembly without following the caliph in prayer.

Some researchers have considered this sermon as a model for Hussaini pulpits; a model that, when followed, can leave a deeper and more profound impact on the hearts of people.

Context and Conditions of the Sermon

According to sources, the sermon of Imam Sajjad (a) in Sham was delivered after the Event of Ashura, when the survivors of the tragedy were taken as captives to Sham. According to one account, Yazid ibn Muawiyah ordered his court orator to ascend the pulpit and, taking advantage of the captives' situation, praise Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan while slandering Imam Husayn (a) and his family. The orator did so and uttered numerous insults against Imam Ali (a) and Imam Hussain (a).

According to sources, while the orator was delivering these insults against the Ahl al-Bayt (a), Imam Sajjad (a) suddenly cried out: Template:Arabic text Then, the Imam (a) turned to Yazid and said: «أَتَاْذَنَ لي أَنْ أرْقى هذِهِ الْأَعْوادَ فَأَتَكَلَّمَ بِكَلامٍ فيهِ للَّهِ تَعالى رِضىً، وَلِهؤُلاءِ أَجْرٌ وَثَوابٌ» Yazid refused the Imam's request, knowing that allowing it would lead to his own disgrace. However, the people insisted, and Yazid eventually relented, allowing the Imam (a) to ascend the pulpit. The Imam (a) then delivered his famous sermon after praising Allah.

Main Themes of the Sermon

The main themes of Imam Sajjad (a)'s sermon in Sham are considered to be the clarification of the status of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) to demonstrate the injustice of the caliphate's actions against them during the Event of Karbala. Imam Sajjad (a) began by introducing Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Imam Ali (a), and Lady Fatimah Zahra (a), identifying himself as their descendant and the son of Imam Hussain (a) and Lady Khadijah (a).

In his sermon, Imam Sajjad (a) attributed six noble qualities to the Ahl al-Bayt (a): knowledge, patience, generosity, eloquence, courage, and love in the hearts of the believers. The Imam (a) also listed seven characteristics that distinguished the Ahl al-Bayt (a) from others: that the Prophet (PBUH), Imam Ali (a), Ja'far al-Tayyar, Hamzah (the Prophet's uncle), and Imam Hassan (a) and Imam Hussain (a) were from this family. Imam Sajjad (a) then introduced himself as the heir of the best servants of Allah.

Text and Translation of the Sermon

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text	translation
بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّ‌حْمَـٰنِ الرَّ‌حِيمِ	In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful.
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أُعْطِينَا سِتّاً وَ فُضِّلْنَا بِسَبْعٍ.	“O people! We were granted six things and have been favoured with seven:
أُعْطِينَا الْعِلْمَ وَ الْحِلْمَ وَ السَّمَاحَةَ وَ الْفَصَاحَةَ وَ الشَّجَاعَةَ وَ الْمَحَبَّةَ فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ.	We were granted knowledge, clemency, leniency, fluency, courage, and love for us in the hearts of the believers.
وَ فُضِّلْنَا بِأَنَّ مِنَّا النَّبِيَّ الْمُخْتَارَ مُحَمَّداً وَ مِنَّا الصِّدِّيقُ وَ مِنَّا الطَّيَّارُ وَ مِنَّا أَسَدُ اللهِ وَ أَسَدُ رَسُولِهِ وَ مِنَّا سِبْطَا هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ.	And we were favoured by the fact that from among us came the Prophet Muhammad, the Siddiq, the Tayyar, The Lion of Allah and of His Prophet, the lady of both universes Fatima al-batool and both Masters of the Youths of Paradise from among this nation.
مَنْ عَرَفَنِي فَقَدْ عَرَفَنِي وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَعْرِفْنِي أَنْبَأْتُهُ بِحَسَبِي وَ نَسَبِي.	O people! Whoever recognizes me knows me and whoever does not recognize me, let me tell him who I am, and to what family I belong:
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنَا ابْنُ مَكَّةَ وَ مِنَى أَنَا ابْنُ زَمْزَمَ وَ الصَّفَا.	O people! I am the son of Makka and Mina; I am the son of Zamzam and al-Safa;
أَنَا ابْنُ مَنْ حَمَلَ الرُّكْنَ بِأَطْرَافِ الرِّدَا.	I am the son of the one who carried the rukn on his mantle;
أَنَا ابْنُ خَيْرِ مَنِ ائْتَزَرَ وَ ارْتَدَى. .	I am the son of the best man who ever donned clothes
أَنَا ابْنُ خَيْرِ مَنِ انْتَعَلَ وَ احْتَفَى	I am the son of the best man who wears shoes and is proud of himself.
أَنَا ابْنُ خَيْرِ مَنْ طَافَ وَ سَعَى.	I am the son of the best man who ever made tawaf and sa’i,
أَنَا ابْنُ خَيْرِ مَنْ حَجَّ وَ لَبَّى.	I am the son of who offered the Hajj and pronounced the talbiya.
أَنَا ابْنُ مَنْ حُمِلَ عَلَى الْبُرَاقِ فِي الْهَوَاءِ.	I am the son of the one who was transported on the buraq
أَنَا ابْنُ مَنْ أُسْرِيَ بِهِ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى.	I am the son of the Prophet who walked from Masjid al-Haram to Masjid al-Aqsa in one night.
أَنَا ابْنُ مَنْ بَلَغَ بِهِ جَبْرَئِيلُ إِلَى سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَى.	I am the son of the one who was taken by Gabriel to sidrat al-muntaha,
أَنَا ابْنُ مَنْ دَنا فَتَدَلَّى فَكانَ قابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنى‏.	I am the son of the one who was near his Lord like the throw of a bow or closer still.