Shaikh Abdol-Hamid urged on enjoining to good and forbidding from bad terming it a guarantee for the full safety of any society in his Friday sermon of Feb. 6, 2015.
Presenting his weekly sermon before tens of thousands worshippers in southeastern city of Iran, Zahedan, Khateeb of Sunnis began his speech by the Noble Qur’anic verse: «يَا بُنَيَّ أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا أَصَابَكَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ», (My dear son, establish Salah, and bid the Fair and forbid the Unfair, and observe patience on what befalls you. Surely, this is among the matters of determination;) [31: 17]
He said, “The biggest challenge that has been threating the humanity since the beginning is ‘sin’; carrying out misdeeds and opposing the orders of Allah Almighty and His Last Messenger threaten both lives of mankind. Sinners not only damage and threaten their lives but also they are dangerous for the entire humanity.”
“The wisdom requires people to enjoin to goodness and forbid from badness in order to maintain humanity; we should call on the society to virtues and goodness. Enjoining to goodness and forbidding from badness ensure the outward and inward safety of the society. Negligence is one of the main and important reasons of wars, bloodsheds and spread of various kinds of diseases in the current time,” he added more.
Khateeb of Sunnis urged on ‘establishment of ritual prayers’ saying, “It is regrettable many of Muslims do not offer prayers completely or they show laziness in establishment of the five-time ritual prayers (Salah); it is a very serious and calamitous matter. Salah is the biggest pillar and base of Islam. It should be offered correctly and in congregation. Many of the Qur’anic verses emphasize on establishment of prayers that is possible with offering prayers in congregation.”
“Rights of people have been being violated. It is a big sin that has been spread in the society.”
Mawlana Abdol-Hamid termed ‘negligence in enjoining to good and forbidding from bad’ the main cause of sins’ outbreak. He went on to say, “Unfortunately, the society does not act upon its duties. Ulama and academians have a huge responsibility towards society. Intellectuals and common people have no choice but to return towards Allah and enjoining to good and forbidding from bad. It is not only the duty of Ulama and activists of Tablighi Jamā’at; rather it is the duty of the entire society and its all angles.”
Iran’s Sunnis Want Their Due Rights
Shaikh Abdol-Hamid urged on the execution of due rights of all Iranians including the Sunni community in the second part of his speech.
Khateeb of Sunnis pointed out to the anniversary of Islamic Revolution in Iran and said, “The revolution of people was for independence and freedom. When the nation felt their country had been dependent on strangers and people have no liberties, they revolted against the tyrant regime of Shah.”
“The Iranian people wanted to obtain their religious and basic rights. They wished to hold their fate in their own hands and get respect. All parts of the society including traders, academians and etc. participated in the revolution. The Iranian Sunni community also supported the revolution and took part in the success of a public revolution.”
“Sunnis of Iran have been taking part in all national events and grounds actively; they supported the Islamic Republic of Iran as they provided their sacrifices to defend their country during Iran-Iraq war. Sunnis have been going on the track of unity and fraternity, no doubt it is the cause to maintain the revolution,” Shaikh added more.
The outstanding Iranian Sunni leader shed light on some demands of the Sunnis in Iran and said, “The Sunnis of Iran belong to this country and Iran is their motherland; they demand their due rights. The capabilities of educated Sunnis must be utilized in different levels of the management of the country. They must be engaged in development, security and instruction of their motherland.”
“Participation of different classes of the nation in management of the country is the cause of honor for the regime of Islamic republic of Iran. Sunnis must not be marginalized; rather they should provide their services next to their Shia brothers in higher posts,” he reminded the authorities.
Pointing out to an important issue, the rector of Darululoom Zahedan underlined, “Freedom is one of the demands and expects of Sunni citizens in Iran; they want to worship Allah and equip their children education freely according to their juridical principles. They want to live along with their Shia country-fellows without any hesitation and fear.”
He asked the officials to focus on the demands of the Iranian Sunni community and strive to resolve their problems. He expressed his hope the fraternity and unity would be strengthened more than past as Sunnis would remain in national occasions present as the past.
In another part of his speech before tens of thousands worshippers in Zahedan, Khateeb of Sunnis mourned the painful death of Dr. Jamālzahi, a Baluch physician doctor in Zahedan, who lost his life in a road accident.
He also expressed his regret over the martyrdom of a Sunni scholar and teacher at a religious school of females in Zahedan, Hafez Muhammad Zaher Khammar, who was shot dead apparently by armed robbers at Thursday night near his home.