Khateeb of Ahl-us-Sunnah in Zahedan, Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol-Hameed Ismaeelzahi, began his recent Friday sermon on 11th January by reading the Qur’anic verses: «مَا عِندَكُمْ يَنفَدُ وَمَا عِندَ اللّهِ بَاقٍ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّ الَّذِينَ صَبَرُواْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ*مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ» [النحل: 96-97], (What is with you shall perish and what is with Allah shall last. And certainly, We shall bless those who observed patience, with their reward for the best of what they used to do. Whoever, male or female, has acted righteously, while being a believer, We shall certainly make him live a good life, and shall give such people their reward for the best of what they used to do.)
Advising wise people to meditate upon the Qur’anic verses, he said the noble Qur’an urges worldly life and its all related blessings are mortal in very eloquent words. The noble Qur’an is a miracle of Holy Prophet, peace & blessings be upon him. Its explanations and exegeses are also miracle. The Qur’an has clarified subjects and meanings in a very beautiful and logic method; sage people must contemplate on the Qur’anic commentaries.
Explaining the above-recited verse, Shaikh Ismaeelzahi stated, “Allah Almighty has made it clear in a very nice way that whatever is in your possession is mortal, while what is with Allah would remain for ever. There is no any exception; all we have and enjoy have been declared mortal. It includes soul, wealth, post, rank, time and all you may think. See your lost relatives when they leave all behind; it is regrettable we see graves of people without getting any lesson.”
Allah Exalted bestowed us a great blessing of ‘time’ that is one of the biggest capitals of people. We can utilize this blessing to get pleasure of Allah. In this way, we can make mortal blessing of time an eternal blessing. Wealth and money can be ‘immortal’ by donating and building mosques, seminaries, schools and supporting orphans and other needy people. Allah stores our donations and doubles their rewards on the Judgment Day, Shaikh Ismaeelzahi further said.
Adding more, he said mankind should comprehend the realty of this world. Allah introduces worldly life: «وَمَا هَذِهِ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا لَهْوٌ وَلَعِبٌ وَإِنَّ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ لَهِيَ الْحَيَوَانُ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ» [عنکبوت: 64], (This worldly life is nothing but an amusement and play, and the Last Abode is the real life indeed. Only if they know!) We are like travelers in this life. Mankind must not prefer the worldly life neglecting the eternal life of Hereafter. A day will come we would be buried without any soft bed; luxury houses, palaces and cars would remain behind for others.
At the end of the first section of his sermon, rector of Darululoom Zahedan underlined, “There are two options for every human being; Paradise or Hell. It depends on people which one they select. Wise people choose the route of Paradise. They make continuous efforts to get Allah’s pleasure. The people who spend their lives in useless acts and misdeeds would realize what a massive blunder they had made. Repentance would not be accepted on that day. So everyone must be vigilant and work hard for prosperity in the both worlds.”
Tribal clashes defame society
In the second part of his speech in the Grand Makki Masjid, Shaikh Abdol-Hameed alluded to the recent reconciliation between two big tribes of “Shahnawazi” and “Gamshadzahi” in the province, saying it made everyone happy.
He added more, “Fighting is a very abhorrent phenomenon, unlike conflict, ‘peace’ is a blessing thing. When people leave their disputes, Allah’s mercies cover them; but when they fight and have disputes, they lose divine mercy. Disputes open the door of fitna and other misdeeds; it damages society.”
Mawlana Abdol-Hameed introduced peacemaker people “vigilant and sage”. He said if people do not try to polish off disputes, they are not responsible citizens.
He pointed out to some suggestions for getting an end to disputes, saying the first thing which forbids such clashes is a close relation with Allah. Obedient servants of Allah never boost tribal clashes. Guidance and religiosity forbid people to kill innocents.
Most of differences are derived form ignorance and illiteracy; if our youths get education, they would not try to open fire on anyone. Knowledge makes people aware of bad effects of disputes. Scholars, tribal elders, intellectuals and all people should strive to make the new generation religious and educated.
Alluding to the third point, Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol-Hameed said, “All tribal chiefs agreed upon a pact two decades ago who had gathered in the Grand Makki Masjid of Zahedan. They promised to hand over murderers to security authorities unanimously. When killer is under trial, it may stop tribal disputes. So the agreement should be brought into practice.
Shooting fuel-smugglers is very painful
Condemning shooting of a man reportedly by security forces in Zahedan city, Shaikh Ismaeelzahi declared opening fire on smugglers of legal items very painful in the Friday sermon of the Grand Makki Masjid.
Pointing out to the ongoing economic crises of Iran, he urged some people smuggle fuel and other legal items; security forces must connive. It is very painful to shoot anyone because of loading some gallons of diesel.
A man reportedly was shot dead by security forces last week just because of carrying fuel to smuggle. It has been common in the country to open fire on people for worthless things. Unfortunately, human soul has no enough value in Iran unlike other states. Israel, despite its aggression, released more than one thousand Palestinian hostages to protect only one captured Israeli soldier, Khateeb of Ahl-us-Sunnah underlined.
He asked, “Why we shoot our people for smuggling for few liters of fuel inside and outside of cities? Such incidents have been taking place on roads now and then.”
At the end of his speech, Shaikh Ismaeelzahi stated, “We do not courage people to smuggle; it is a fact, the severe economic crises have affected lives of all citizens. They should be given proper opportunities to earn while they have no other choices. I would like to suggest personnel of police and other security forces to show some cunctation in this regard; they should not shoot people for such worthless things.”