Khateeb of Ahl-us-Sunnah in Zahedan, Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol-Hameed Ismaeelzahi, started his latest Friday discourse by reading the holy verse: «یا أیها الذین آمنوا کتب علیکم الصیام کما کتب علی الذین من قبلکم لعلکم تتقون», (O you who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as they were enjoined upon those before you, so that you may be God-fearing.) He put “creation of motive of obeying Allah” one of the most important goals of observing fast.
Talking to tens of thousands in the Grand Makki Masjid of Zahedan, Iran, Shaikh Ismaeelzahi pointed, ‘By studying Holy Qur’an, great sayings and instructions of the beloved messenger of Allah, it would be proved that Allah Almighty had enjoined fasting to generate propellant of imitating Allah’s commands. If fasting, sawm, can make any of us submissive and obedient, the fasting is effective. True fasting enables us to overcome the self and ego as well as Satan; it brings us nearer to Allah, the Sublime.’
He added more saying that the self and Satan were the biggest enemies of mankind; fasting has been ordered obligatory to resist those enemies. It has come in some narrations from holy Prophet that bloc the way of Satan by hunger. When Satan gets away of people, they will be near to Allah, holy Prophet, angels and other holy men.
The rector of Darululoom Zahedan underlined saying, ‘Beside revealing divine books, Exalted Allah dispatched prophets to be practical models for mankind. If a Muslim wants to adopt Holy Qur’an, s/he should imitate the life of Holy Prophet. The lives of Sahaba, although they were not innocent but protected from sins, are the best examples for Muslims. No one can claim that Qur’an is enough for him, and there is no need of example and leader. Holy Qur’an orders people to obey both Allah and His last messenger, peace & blessings be upon him. Great sayings of holy Prophet are practical explanations of the Qur’an.’
Mawlana Abdol-Hameed urged on the importance of nafl prayers in Ramadan saying that Ramadan was the month of reciting holy Qur’an and offering prayers at nights. Holy Prophet says: «من صام رمضان إیمانا و إحتسابا غفرله ما تقدم من ذنبه، من قام رمضان إیمانا و إحتسابا غفرله ما تقدم من ذنبه و من قام لیلة القدر إیمانا و إحتسابا غفرله ما تقدم من ذنبه». Allah will forgive sins of the one who observes fast in Ramadan, awakes at nights in Ramadan offering prayers, and awakes at the night of Qadr. These all valuable worships must be on the bases of true faith and motivation of rewards from Allah. So everyone should try to recite more and offer nafl and Tarawih prayers as much as possible particularly in the last decade of Ramadan.
He asked the audience to pay obligatory donation, Zakah. He said that no one should show negligence in this regard; denying to pay Zakah causes Allah’s displeasure and drastic punishments.
Darululoom Zahedan; glory for all free-thinkers
Shaikh Abdol-Hameed Ismaeelzahi pointed out to the status of the greatest Sunni seminary of Iran, Darululoom Zahedan, in another part of his Friday sermon- 03.08.2012 –saying, ‘Darululoom Zahedan is honor of Ahl-us-Sunnah and all other free-thinkers. Sunni Muslims and even many Shia intellectuals respect the status and positive role of the seminary in society; Islam is the path of Darululoom Zahedan. We have promised to not leave the way of Allah and His messenger.’
Shaikh further said, ‘Darululoom is extremely indebted; it does not enjoy any particular source of income but common people’s donations. So try to give charity more and more especially in Ramadan.
Journalists, reporters should broadcast facts
At the end of his speech, Shaikh Ismaeelzahi indicated to the national day of reporters in Iran saying, ‘Reporters bear a sensitive and imperious task. They play a very notable and important role in the world’s ups and downs.’
He pointed saying that reporters and journalists should broadcast facts of societies to people. Conveying realities to people is a very important and vital work. It makes the society developed and aware of facts.
‘We hope one day our reporters and journalists would get full freedom of speech to broadcast facts without censorship,’ Shaikh Abdol-Hameed concluded.