Muhammad Iqbal...

Muhammad Iqbal, the poet of the East, says: [Musa (P) and Pharaoh; and Shabbir (P) and Yazid are the two forces which appear in life]. It is not meant that people of the position of Prophet Ibrahim (P), Prophet Musa (P), (P), Imam Ali (P) and Imam Husayn (P) have always been there. What is meant is that truth and falsehood have always been at war with each other. There have always been two paths before the society -one is that of truth and the other is that of falsehood.

This is one aspect of 'majlis' and elegy, in which we participate. The other aspect is that of instruction and guidance and ordering to do good and restraining from evil. The question is: What should be done in this regard and what should be the method of action? I think we should act according to the method proposed for us in respect of Friday sermon and about which I quoted a hadith of Imam Riza (P) last night. This order of the Holy Imam (P) is very comprehensive.

However, in our society Friday prayers is not generally offered so that this order may be followed in Friday sermons. [Praise be to Allah. After the end of the Satanic government of the Shah, matchless gatherings for Friday prayers take place in every city of Iran. Only in Tehran forty to fifty lakh persons offer Friday prayers at one place.

In today's Iran this sentence of Imam Khomeini is seen written on the walls: "Friday prayer is not an ordinary prayer."] Hence it can be done in those sermons and speeches which are current amongst us by the blessings of Imam Husayn bin Ali (P). In the hadith of Imam Riza (P), the Eighth Imam, which I narrated last night the duties of a khateeb (preacher) have been divided into three parts.

About the first part it has been said: Friday is the day on which all people gather together and a large gathering of the Muslims is formed. Islam wishes that on this occasion the leader of the Muslims should preach, invite people to obey Allah and warn them against sins. There is not a single person who may not stand in need 'of preaching and advice.

It is possible that a person may not stand in need of receiving education from another, but there is none who may remain unaffected by any suggestions and pieces of advice. This is so because it is one thing to know something and it is another to be impressed by the instruction of a religious and pious preacher.