Khateeb of Ahl-us-Sunnah in Zahedan, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid Isma’eelzahi, urged on the importance of repentance and returning to Allah Almighty. He said the Qur’anic verses contain lessonful materials; only blessed and lucky people take benefit of them.
The Friday Imam of Sunnis began his speech of Sep. 20, 2013 by the noble Qur’anic verse: “أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَن تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَلَا يَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونََ”, (Has the time not yet come for those who believe that their hearts should be humble for the remembrance of Allah and for the truth that has descended (through revelation)? They must not be like those to whom the Book was given before, but a long period passed on them (in which they did not repent), therefore their hearts became hard, and (thus) many of them are sinners.); [Hadid: 16]
Talking to hundreds of Sunni worshippers in Zahedan, Khateeb of Sunnis pointed, “The above-recited Qur’anic verse has a very heavy message and shocking warning from the Almighty. After reminding us the fate of previous nations who were guided by prophets and divine books but later neglected, Allah says they faced downfall and degenerated gradually. This negligence had made them hard-hearted.”
When the prophet Muhammad, peace & blessings be upon him, was dispatched, Christians and Jews were away from their true religions and the directions of their prophets. The religions of Moses and Jesus, peace be upon them, were mutilated by their scholars, he added more.
The rector of Darululoom Zahedan further said, “Allah Almighty has warned us about negligence keeping in mind the awful fate of the previous nations, as it has been mentioned in the noble Qur’an, the unchangeable divine book is protected from falsification. When people get busy with the worldly tools of life, they forget their end and terrible home in the grave. The noble Qur’an reminds us such facts in various verses and parts of the Qur’an to save us from negligence. We have the best book and source of guidance; despite enjoying this blessing, it is regrettable if we meet the punishment of Him.”
Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol-Hamid explained the noble verse more, saying the Companions (Sahabah) of the beloved prophet and other early Muslims used to weep after hearing this great Qur’anic verse. Has the time not yet come for Muslims to weep and remember the Sublime by listening to this verse? Many people experienced changes after listening to this verse as they returned towards Allah. Prosperity-seekers take lessons from such Qur’anic verses while hard-hearted people do not feel any move in their hearts by hearing these reminders.
“By the Qur’anic verses and commands of Shari’ah we can reach to Allah. Hajj, prayers, fasting and other rituals pave the way for us to reach to Him. On the other hand, misdeeds and lack of good deeds make us stone-hearted; thus we see some Muslims that commit very big sins,” he added more.
Khateeb of Sunni Muslims in the southeastern city of Zahedan concluded his points by calling on all to repent to Allah the Almighty and worship only Him all the time. Everybody must choose his way and decide to return to the noble Qur’an, Sunnah and the path of Sahabah and the pious men of the Ummah. All should go on the tracks of piety and preparation for the endless life.
At the end of his speech, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid pointed out to the scheduled trip of Dr. Hassan Rouhani, the Iranian president, to NYC in order to participate in the UN General Assembly and possibly negotiate with some western leaders. He expressed his best wishes for him saying, ‘We pray to Allah that the Iranian nation may get rid of the insufferable sanctions. We wish the possible negotiations would be in favour of the Iranian nation and the rest of Muslims.’