Khateeb of Ahl-us-Sunnah in Zahedan, Shaikh Abdol-Hameed Ismaeelzahi, initiated his latest Friday sermon by reading the Qur’anic verse: «قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لاَ تَغْلُواْ فِي دِينِكُمْ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ أَهْوَاء قَوْمٍ قَدْ ضَلُّواْ مِن قَبْلُ وَأَضَلُّواْ كَثِيرًا وَضَلُّواْ عَن سَوَاء السَّبِيلِ» [مائده: 77] pointing out to anniversary of Sayyidah Fatima’s demise, may Allah be pleased with her. He counted some virtues of Hadhrat Zahra and termed her a shining star of the Islam’s sky.
Shaikh Ismaeelzahi propounded sobriety and temperance specialty of Islam and said that insulting religions and sects is forbidden in all religions.
He went on to say more about the topic, ‘Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace & blessings be upon him, had four daughters, Roqayyah, Omm-Kolthum, Zainab and Fatimah –Radhiy-Allaho A’nhunn-, Roqayyah and Omm-Kolthum died when the prophet Muhammad was alive. He used to love his daughters a lot; especially Fatimah who was very similar in both characters and figure to him. Ali bin Abi-Talib married her when she was 15.’
Addressing tens of thousands in the Grand Makki mosque of Zahedan, the eminent Islamic scholar said that there are many sayings of the last Prophet, Alaihis-Salam, suggesting higher status of Fatimah. A narration in Sahih al-Bukhari states that Fatimah is the lady, Sayyidah, of Elysian women, as Hasan and Hussein sons of Fatimah and Ali are chiefs of youth in the paradise. Sunnis’ books of Hadith narrated lots of narrations on the virtues of Sahabah and Ahl-ul-Bait, households of the prophet, forming particular chapters for it.
Maulana Ismaeelzahi further said, ‘It is very regretful that now-a-days many Muslims are suffering from excessiveness and wasting while Islam teaches us to be sober in all circumstances. Some people deny Sufism completely terming it superstition. This group is on the path of excessiveness. On the other hand, some people misuse mysticism making it a shop for giving phylactery, Ta’weez, to get more money! It is not Tasawwof and Sufism. In Islamic point of view, Sufism means to follow Holy Qur’an and Sunnah step by step. Mysticism means to build and reform characters by adopting Holy Prophet’s ways.’
He added more saying that some people go against the Shari’ah by the name of Sufism like dancing, singing etc. it must be kept in mind that all extraordinary acts are not ‘miracles’, a non-Muslim can also show such extraordinary juggles. Imitating the Qur’an and Sunnah is the sign of greatness as Shaikh Abdul-Qader Gilani affirms as well.
‘It is shameful that some opportunist people have spread superstitions in the society by the name of Sufism; real Sufis hate such fetishes. Seeking help from others than Allah is not Sufism. Tawhid is warp and woof of real Sufis,’ Shaikh continued his points.
Indicating to some other examples of aberration from the right and sober path, the rector of Darululoom Zahedan said that there are some other issues where the previous nations left the correct way. Allah Almighty addressed Jews and Christians: “Say, O people of the Book, be not excessive in your religion unjustly, and do not follow the desires of a people who have already gone astray, misled many and lost the right path.” No one should execrate in the respect of prophets, the Companions and the household of Holy Prophet, peace be upon them. Allah says Jesus is not God or His son, as Ozair is not son of Allah; they were servants of Allah and His prophets. Holy Qur’an mentions these stories to warn Muslims to love and respect prophet and other holy people soberly. Holy prophet and Ahl-ul-Bait are very respectable but they did not have the qualities of Allah Exalted.
Khateeb of Sunnis made it clear saying, ‘Prophets and the Companions were close servants of Allah; but they were needful to Allah. Sahabah and Ahl-ul-Bait were very friendly together. Ahl-ul-Bait, daughters and wives of the Prophet Muhammad, are parts of Sahabah. Both common sense and authentic narrations deny accepting claims of some people that Fatimah was insulted by Sahabah. She had a great rank that even non-Muslims were not able to disrespect her.’
The head of the Coordination Council of Sunni Seminaries underlined saying that Omar bin Khattab remained next to Holy Prophet in most difficult situations; he did not leave beloved prophet for a while in Ohod and Badr battles. How did he can insult his daughter! Such false claims are baseless and away of the Excellency of Zahra, Ali and Omar, may Allah be pleased with them. Abu-Bakr and Omar were proud of their family relations with the prophet. Sunni Muslims love all of them respecting Sahabah and Ahl-ul-Bait. It is the order of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
‘There was not any division between Sahabah and Ahl-ul-Bait; so Shias and Sunnis must not have disputes so far. We do not mourn as Shia community does; but we respect their sacred things. It is not sensible to insult the companions of the Prophet who are very respectful for more than one billion Muslims. We have fraternity with Iranian Shias in religion and country, so we hope they would respect Sahabah in their ceremonies and media,’ Maulana Ismaeelzahi urged.
He said that as Ayatollah Khamenehi issued a fatwa forbidding insult of Hadhrat Ayisha and wives of the Prophet, Iran’s Sunnis want Qom’s religious “sources of imitation” to order their followers to stop offending Sahabah in their meetings and functions. Insult is not allowed in any religion. Insult negates Islamic and humane brotherhood. Fraternity can be meaningful when all respect beliefs and sacred signs of each other. Sunni Muslims ask the Iranian authorities to respect their rights and religious freedom in all corners of the country.