The eminent Islamic scholar in Iran, Zahedan, expressed his views on the excellent impacts of fasting on purification, terming the ‘enhancement of spiritual nature’ one of the most important features of this great worship.
Khateeb and Friday Imam of Sunnis in Zahedan was talking to tens of thousands worshippers on June 26, 2015.
He said, “Shari’ah makes balance between the two natures of mankind; if someone leans fully on the spiritual nature, his worldly life would be affected. On the other hand, if the person neglects this nature and materialism prevails on him/her, then it will be really dangerous.”
“When the person forgets the Almighty Allah and only obey his/her wishes and desires, his/her status would be lower than animals. The Noble Qur’an clearly says: «أُولَئِكَ كَالأَنْعَامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْغَافِلُونَ», (They are like cattle – indeed, even more astray. Such are utterly heedless.) They are out of humanity.”
The rector of Darululoom Zahedan added more, “The commanding self (nafs-ul-ammarah) is the biggest and most dangerous enemy of human beings. Nafs-ul-ammarah commands us and tells us what to do from wishes and desires without any law. A human soul without purification can lead mankind to fatality. Allah says: «وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَى* فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَى», (But he who feared to stand before his Lord, and restrained himself from evil desires, most surely his abode shall be the Paradise.)”
He termed all Islamic commands on the route of ‘enhancement of spiritual nature’ and said, “The prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and the Islamic Shari’ah have the best plans for purifying of mankind. Ramadan is for promoting the spiritual nature of mankind. It plays a key role in the purification and reformation of human soul.”
“Fasting is not an exclusive worship of Islam; rather it was obligatory in the previous obsolescent religions too. The divine religions have many things in common like ritual worships; these are the acts which purify human beings. Each worship has its particular effects and none of worships can replace it.”
Khateeb of Sunnis criticized refusal of some people to observe fast during Ramadan and said, “Ramadan is the month of blessings and mercy, but these blessings and mercy cover fasting Muslims. Those who deny to observe fast without any legal excuse or they do not believe in fasting, they would not receive any blessings; rather the divine curse and punishment will be their end.”
Implementation of justice, the most important duty of the judiciary
The outstanding Iranian Sunni leader alluded to the Judiciary Week in Iran and presence of some judiciary officials in the second part of his sermon and said this department has a special status in any regime and system.
He added more, “The importance of different entities depends on their responsibilities. The judiciary has huge responsibilities in execution of justice, defense of oppressed people and their due rights. Ali bin Abi-Taleb, may Allah be pleased with him, said I had no tendency to get the power for ruling; just because of execution of justice and taking the right of oppressed I accepted caliphate.”
He counted ‘fighting against economic corruption’ in the county and ‘constitution of reconciliation councils’ the two major works of the judiciary in recent years.
Alluding to World Drug Day, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid said, “Everyone accepts drug is harmful. Ulama in the Muslim world unanimously consider narcotics illegal and Haram. Trade of illicit drugs is a threat to all human world and Muslims.”
He warned the audience about the bad consequence of narcotics and said, “Narcotics and illicit drugs destroy families. Many of crimes such as thievery, robbery and various kinds of sins are being born from narcotics. Families should be vigilant.”
He criticized the ongoing policy of counter-drugs in Iran and said, “Hundreds of youth from the personnel of security offices and common people have been killed and hanged because of drugs. Only by force this phenomena cannot be eliminated; first poverty, unemployment and illiteracy should be fought.”
“Unemployment and illiteracy are two disastrous threats for any society. The authorities must remove first of all these phenomena; otherwise they cannot achieve their goals in counter-drug campaign. Experts and Ulama can help the authorities in this regard. The public and government can obtain any achievement by cooperation,” he concluded his points.
At the end, the rector of Darululoom Zahedan called on worshipers to support ‘Blood-money Campaign’ which has been working to free prisoners.