The Friday sermon for April 24, 2026 (corresponding to 6 Thu al-Qi'dah 1447 AH) - Sayed Hashim Behbehani Mosque - Sheikh Ali Hassan Ghuloum - Kuwait

The 1st sermon:

Beyond the Fabric: Redefining Elegance Through the Wisdom of Nahj al-Balagha

In an era often dominated by fleeting trends and material display, the timeless wisdom of Imam Ali (p) from Nahj al-Balagha offers a profound perspective on true beauty: “Knowledge is a noble heritage; manners are ever-new garments; and thought is a clear mirror.”

While we previously explored the value of knowledge, we now turn our focus to a transformative concept: “Manners are ever-new garments.”

The Eternal Wardrobe

We all appreciate the joy of purchasing new attire to enhance our appearance. However, external fashion is inherently temporary. Fabric fades, styles become obsolete, and—as seen in modern social customs—expensive garments are often discarded after a single use to avoid social "stigma."

Imam Ali (p) directs us toward a superior source of elegance: Ethical Conduct. Unlike physical clothing, the "spiritual garments" of refined manners never wear out. They do not lose their luster with time; rather, they renew the wearer’s prestige and grace in every interaction.

A Modern Crisis of Etiquette

The contemporary landscape reveals a concerning decline in these essential manners among the youth. From the disappearance of a simple "thank you" to a general disregard for social graces, this shift is driven by several modern challenges:

• Parental Gaps: The preoccupation of parents and a growing reliance on domestic help for child-rearing, leading to a lack of direct moral guidance.
• Social Rebellion: A tendency among some youth to reject traditional manners as part of a broader rebellion against their environment.
• Cultural Assimilation: An uncritical fascination with Western lifestyles that often prioritizes individualism over traditional etiquette in dining, dressing, and social conduct.
• Institutional Silence: A weakening influence of religious and media discourses in promoting character-building.
• Media Influence: The negative impact of entertainment products that often glamorize behavior contrary to refined values.

The Call to Action

True sophistication is not found in a price tag, but in the beauty of one's behavior. Refined manners are a "renewable adornment" that remains vibrant throughout a person's life. We invite all members of society—especially our youth—to embrace this timeless elegance.

“Manners are a renewed beauty in behavior; let us adorn ourselves with them.”

 

The 2nd sermon:

The Methodology of Truth: Navigating the Clear and the Allegorical in Sacred Texts

In the renowned scholarly work ‘Uyun Akhbar al-Rida, a pivotal principle of interpretation is recorded from Imam al-Ridha (p). The Imam provides a roadmap for intellectual safety, stating: "Whoever refers the ambiguous (Mutashabih) parts of the Quran to its decisive (Muhkam) parts is guided to the Straight Path." He further clarifies that the traditions (Hadith) of the Prophet’s Progeny follow the same pattern, urging believers not to follow ambiguous narrations in isolation, as it leads to misguidance. 

Understanding the ‘Mother of the Book’

The Holy Quran describes its own verses as being of two types: Muhkamat (decisive/clear) and Mutashabihat (allegorical/ambiguous). The Quran identifies the decisive verses as "Umm al-Kitab"—the "Mother of the Book"—meaning they are the foundational source to which all other meanings must return. 

Why Does Ambiguity Exist?

One primary reason for this structure is the nature of language and eloquence. High literary expression often necessitates the use of metaphor (Majaz), where the true intended meaning lies beneath the surface. 

Case Study: The Flight of Birds

Consider the verse: “Do they not see the birds held poised in the midst of the sky? Nothing holds them up but Allah.” (Surah An-Nahl: 79).

• The Surface Meaning
  A literal reading might suggest that God has a physical hand visibly holding each bird to prevent it from falling.
  The Allegorical Nature
  This is a metaphorical expression. The Quran warns us against taking such surface meanings literally. Instead, we must refer to the decisive verses that serve as our corrective reference.
  The Corrective Principle
  By referring to the decisive verse, “There is nothing like unto Him” (Surah Ash-Shura: 11), we immediately correct our understanding. Since God has no physical likeness or limbs, we realize the "holding" refers to His Divine laws and sustaining power, not a physical act.

2. The Limits of Human Imagination
   A second reason for the existence of ambiguous (Mutashabih) verses is the limitation of human perception. When the Quran speaks of the Divine Throne, the angelic realms, or the intricacies of the Day of Judgment, Paradise, and Hell, it describes realities belonging to the "World of the Unseen" (Alam al-Ghayb). As humans, we can only grasp these concepts through linguistic illustrations that bring the imagery closer to our limited experience.

Descriptive Attributes: Similarly, when verses describe God as "the Best of Planners," or as "All-Hearing," "All-Seeing," or "Established upon the Throne," these are linguistic tools. They enable us to form certain concepts of Divine action and presence, but they do not imply that the ultimate reality matches the literal pictures our minds create.

The Visualization Gap: A simple example illustrates this: if each person were asked to draw their conception of a "jinn," every individual would draw something different based on their imagination. Yet, does the reality of a jinn actually match those drawings? Certainly not.

The Foundational Rule: In the face of these complexities, we must always return to the decisive (Muhkam) verses. These provide the essential rules and guidance that prevent us from going astray. A decisive verse might clarify the true image for us, or it may simply serve as a reminder that the ultimate reality far exceeds our capacity to comprehend.

 

3. Contextual Circumstances and Scriptural Brevity
   The third factor involves the specific circumstances of revelation and the requirements of context. A verse may offer a summarized ruling or address only a single aspect of a broader issue. If we are hasty and rely solely on an isolated verse, we risk forming a narrow or incomplete understanding of the Divine law. 

Case Study: The Prohibition of Blood: Consider the verse: "Prohibited to you are dead animals and blood..." (Surah Al-Ma’idah: 3). If we were to limit our understanding to this verse alone, we would conclude that consuming any trace of blood is forbidden. This would make eating meat virtually impossible, as some blood inevitably remains within the tissue. 

The Holistic View: However, when we gather all the verses related to this subject, the picture becomes clear. In Surah Al-An’am: 145, the Quran clarifies: "Say, 'I do not find within that which was revealed to me anything forbidden to one who would eat it unless it be a dead animal or poured-out blood (Masfuh)...'" 

Defining the Prohibition: Therefore, it is specifically the "poured-out" or flowing blood that is prohibited, not the traces remaining in the meat of a slaughtered animal. Historically, this addressed practices such as those of the polytheists, who would collect, dry, and consume flowing blood, a practice still found in some cultures today, such as among the Mongols. 

While there are many other reasons for the existence of ambiguous verses, these three points serve as a vital foundation for a balanced and accurate understanding of the text

 

The Principle Applied: Caution in Prophetic Traditions
Just as we apply this methodology to the Holy Quran, Imam al-Ridha (p) cautioned against the hasty acceptance of narrations (Hadith), as their contents may also be "ambiguous" (Mutashabih). A striking example of how ambiguity can lead to dangerous misconceptions is found in a narration from Al-Kafi:

The Case of Misunderstood Grace: Muhammad ibn Marid relates: "I asked Imam al-Sadiq (p), 'A narration has reached us where you said: If you have attained [true] knowledge, then do as you wish?' (implying that recognizing the Imam's leadership grants total immunity). The Imam replied, 'I did say that.' I then asked, 'Even if they commit adultery, steal, or drink wine?'" Observe how the "ambiguous" phrasing led to a critical failure in understanding—a misunderstanding so severe it leads to misguidance.

The Correction: The Imam (p) responded with deep distress: "We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return! By God, they have not been fair to us. Is it possible that we are held strictly to our duties while the burden of action is lifted from them? What I truly said was: If you have attained [true] knowledge, then do what you wish of good deeds, whether small or large, for they shall surely be accepted from you."

Summary: True religious understanding requires the patience to return the ambiguous to the decisive. Whether in the Quran or the traditions of the Pure Progeny, the "ambiguous" is a call to deeper study, while the "decisive" remains the unbreakable anchor of faith. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) entrusted us to return to his Pure Progeny (Ahl al-Bayt) just as we return to the Holy Quran; they are the two fundamental textual authorities for understanding the religion, complemented by the Intellect (Aql) as the essential tool for analysis and reflection. 

Just as the Quran contains both "decisive" (Muhkam) and "ambiguous" (Mutashabih) verses—where ignoring the former leads to error—the traditions of the Progeny follow the same pattern. This necessitates a deliberate and cautious approach. Narrations face unique challenges that the Quranic text does not, including: 

• Fabrication and Distortion: Narrations that may have been forged or altered.
• Incomplete Transmission: Contextual gaps or missing parts of a statement.
• Human Error: Mistakes occurring during the initial hearing or subsequent transmission.
• Contextual Specificity: Teachings intended for a specific circumstance whose details were not preserved.

Recognizing these complexities, Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) provided the ultimate safeguard: "Indeed, in our traditions, there is ambiguity like the ambiguity of the Quran, and clarity like its clarity. Therefore, refer the ambiguous to the clear, and do not follow the ambiguous in isolation, lest you go astray."