Shaikh Abdol-Hamid declared extremism and excommunication “heinous phenomena and dangerous tribulation” in his speech at an international conference in Qom city of Iran on Monday 24th Nov. 2014.
Talking on the behalf of Sunnis in Iran, he stressed on necessity of “perception of the roots” and “presentation of solution” for the phenomenon in the World Congress of Excommunicating and Extremism Movements in the View of Muslim Scholars”.
After reciting the Noble Qur’anic verse: «فَإِن تَابُواْ وَأَقَامُواْ الصَّلاَةَ وَآتَوُاْ الزَّكَاةَ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَنُفَصِّلُ الآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ» [توبه: 11] at the congress -where more than 300 Muslim scholars were present- Mawlana Abdol-Hamid stated: “All praises belong to Allah! We are together instead of backbiting and hating each other which is the wish of our enemies. This will be the source of concern and sorrow for enemies.”
Mawlana Abdol-Hamid went on saying: “I think this meeting is important from two points; the time of assembly and secondly its place. The world congress against excommunication and extremism is being held in an important situation and moment when the Muslim world is afflicted by divisions, conflicts and extremism.
Excommunication and extremism have reached to the peak. The location of congress is so vital, too. It is being held in the scientific city of Qom, one of the religious centers of the Shia community across the globe. Today, a significant amount of Shiite and Sunni scholars have gathered together in this city so the location of congress is also considerable.”
Islam abrogated all previous religions
Referring to the wave of extremism in the Muslim world, Friday Imam of Sunnis in Zahedan noted: “The Almighty Allah has made Islam a wide religion. It is the last and chosen religion of Allah which will last until the Resurrection day as well as it has abrogated all religions. Some people want to narrow the scope and extent of this universal religion. The followers of Islam are nearly two billions; however, they are estimated one billion and seven hundred millions. Some narrow-minded groups and ignorant individuals – as stated in the Hadith «أحداث الأسنان و سفهاء الأحلام» whose ages are few and their minds are narrow- want to limit and restrict this religion in themselves and those who believe like them and expel the rest of Muslims from the religion (Islam).”
He mentioned the turmoil of excommunication “a dangerous trial” and said: “Although the tribulation of Takfeer is so dangerous, if we return to the Noble Qur’an, it says: «فإن تابوا و أقاموا الصلوة و آتو الزکوة فخلوا سبیلهم»; the noble book of Allah has posed repentance, faith, prayer and Zakah (obligatory donation) which are the important pillars of Islam. Then, it has ordered to open their ways because they are Muslims. It has been underlined also in another verse that they would be your brothers-in-faith by offering prayers, paying Zakah and repentance.”
Pointing out to a Hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari: «أُمرتُ أن أقاتل الناس حتی یقولوا لا إله إلا الله، فإذا قالوا لا إله إلا الله فقد عصموا منی دماءهم و أموالهم. »; when they said “لا إله إلا الله” their blood and properties are safe and protected. The prophet, peace be upon him, also says: «من صلی صلاتنا و استقبل قبلتنا و أکل ذبیحتنا فذلک المسلم له ذمة الله و ذمة رسوله فلا تخفروا الله فی ذمته»; Don’t betray Allah in His guarantee regarding to whoever prays our pray, faces toward our Qibla (establishes five-time prayers) and eats (the meat of) our slaughtered animals and consider Muslim as a Muslim because he is in fact a Muslim and he is in the guarantee of Allah and His prophet. His wealth and blood are protected and nobody can exile him by issuing the verdict of Takfeer from the guarantee of Allah and His messenger or punish him to death.
“Unfortunately, the insurgence of excommunication and its ramifications have been since the early ages of Islam. At the first age of Islam, ‘Khawarij’ emerged and excommunicated the Companions of the Prophet who were the best figures and exemplary. They even targeted Sayyidana Ali – may Allah be pleased with him- despite his high-rank position. Sayyidana Ali – May Allah be pleased with him- didn’t excommunicate them, but he called them ignorant and preferred to convince them and make them aware of the facts. When some disputes were created among the Companions by enemies, no party excommunicated the other one; rather, they mutually praised each other. The Companions even didn’t excommunicate the Takfeeri Khawarij. The fourth caliph Ali said there must be a plan that Khawarij might recognize and rectify their mistakes, repent and return”, Shaikh added more.
Muslims’ unity is not temporal
Mawlana Abdol-Hamid urged on the ‘unity and fraternity between Shia and Sunni Muslims’ and said: “Nowadays Sunnis and Shias as well as other factions need more unity and fraternity. Our unity is not confined to any specific time or politics; it is not like the unification of Europe, the East or West, rather it is an ageless Islamic unity. We have so common points that we don’t need to pay attention to disputable issues. The Noble Qur’an, Ka’bah, monotheism, the holy prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him, and his household are among our common issues. We all believe and love the household of the holy prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him.”
“These common points can bring us together as the Qur’an states: «قل يا أهل الكتاب تعالوا إلى كلمة سواء بيننا وبينكم ألاّ نعبد إلا الله»; there was only one common point with the People of Book (Jews and Christians) in monotheism, due to that, the Almighty Allah ordered the holy prophet, peace be upon him, to call them toward unity,” Shaikh Abdol-Hamid added more.
The Friday Imam of Sunnis in Zahedan emphasized: “However there are some disagreements between different Muslim sects – even among the members of a family-, it is necessary to focus on common points and tenets, especially in the current situations. I think there are three important points which should be considered: 1- We should know our enemies; who are they and what are their goals? 2-We should recognize the intentions and the purposes of the enemies; 3- We should recognize plans and possible plots of them.”
He further said: “On the same time, we should recognize the heinous phenomenon of extremism and excommunication before offering any solution to dissolve this problem.
Scholars can play a key role in the world
The rector of Darululoom Zahedan stated more: “Muslim scholars can play a much bigger role in the world. Today, the Muslim world respects scholars and listens to their suggestions and directions. It is the time for Muslim scholars, including Shia and Sunni ones, to come out of their circles and covert rooms; they must observe and take care of the Muslim world. Therefore, they can logically convince a lot of extremists and take them away from extremism and excommunication.”
‘War on Terror’ is just cover for hidden aims
Alluding to the main intentions of the West from “war on terror”, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid said: “The slogan of ‘war on terror’ is just a cover and a pretext. They actually pursue some other goals. They (West and especially America) want to ensure the security of Israel. They want to revive the Western culture and civilization again in the Muslim world after a long time; it was collapsed by the Islamic awakening previously. Thus they want to create footprints and follower for themselves in the Muslim world.”
“In such circumstances, we need to respect each other and be united. We should avoid targeting sanctions. The dignity and respect of Islamic sects must be preserved and we should heed and realize the rights of each other. The legal and customary liberties must be carried out and we should tolerate each other; then we can make a strong line in front of the conspiring elements,” the member of the International Union for Muslim Scholars added more.
At the end of his speech in the congress, he said: “I hope the influences of this congress will be clear and expressive as well as some particular scholars should sit in smaller circles and think about issues of the Muslim world.”