The eminent Iranian Sunni scholar urged on “equality” and “open-mindness” in the society on May 26, 2017 calling on review and change of some polices of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The official website of the office of Shaikh Abdol-Hamid, the Friday Imam and rector of Darululoom Zahedan alluded to the “huge presence” of masses at polling stations on last Friday to elect the new president and members of the city and village councils. He said it was a “particular” election.
“The whole Iranian nation and the Sunni community took part in the election with full zeal and zest unanimously. All ethnic communities and Sunnis including Baloch, Kurd, Persian/Fars, Arab, Turkmen and Turk people cast their votes,” he added more.
Mawlana Abdol-Hamid underlined: “Surely the unanimous participation of the Sunni community in elections helps them to pursue the case of their rights and demands. The provinces of Sistan-Baluchistan, Kurdistan and Tehran gave the highest percentage of the vote to Dr. Rouhani.”
“I took part in a conference held in Tehran two days ago where many Shia brothers welcomed me very warmly and showed their sincere feelings. I became ashamed seeing their gratitude and kindness to me. However this respect is the fruit of the unity of you Sunni people in the election,” he underlined.
The rector and principal of Darululoom Zahedan urged on consideration of nationality in employments and said: “As I have said in the conference held in Tehran where the high ranking officials were present, the biggest demand of the Sunni community is about equality; in distribution of posts and employment the nationality of Iran and country should be focused not race, sect and language.”
“All ethnic and religious communities are the children of this country and there should not be any discrimination among them. These communities and Sunnis ask for making a balance in the management of provinces and their share in national positions,” he further said.
Option of “sect” in employment forms is against national unity
Censuring strongly the option of “sect” in civil service forms and said: “There should not be any question about the sect and schools of thought in the forms of civil services; rather they should prefer the question about the country and loyalty to the homeland. There can be a question in forms about religion to separate Muslims from non-Muslims.”
“In none of Muslim countries the option of ‘race’ and ‘sect’ is not mentioned, rather they only ask about the nationality. The Iranian nation that is a revolutionary nation should be pioneer in such issues. We should not remain backward,” Shaikh Abdol-Hamid pointed out.
He added more: “The question of are you Shia or Sunni in files of hospitals, courts and civil service forms is painful which makes Sunnis to feel uneasy. The question about sect in the forms of civil services is against national unity and proximity of schools of thought; a slogan we hear it a lot in Iran but unfortunately acting on it is weak.”
“Iran does not belong to one sect or community. All sects and ethnic communities of Iran belong to one nation and one country. If there are branches and sub-sects among Shia and Sunni sects, it is an issue between the person and Allah Almighty; it has nothing to do with treatment in hospitals, process of pursuit of judicial cases and employment in services,” Shaikh Abdol-Hamid urged.
He added more: “All sects and ethnic communities including Sunnis ask the supreme leader, respectable president and other officials to put an end to such issues. Their participation was higher than others and now they expect the sectarian, ethnic and racial views harm the country.”
“I’m sure that unity cannot be achieved by chanting slogans and holding meetings and conferences. By ‘action’ bringing unity is possible and it has lesser expenses than organizing conferences,” Khateeb of Sunnis concluded his points.
Political parties and wings need to review their stances
Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol-Hamid went on to invite the political parties of Iran to review their past stances and said: “It is common tendency in the world that when a law, plan or policy fails to respond the needs, the planners and legislators modify or change it. Even we should review our own policies.”
“The political parties, including ‘principlists’ and ‘reformists’, should review their prospects, policies and opinions. Narrow-mindness and stringency do not work in today’s world,” he added more.
The member of MWL supreme council made it clear: “The Islamic revolution of Iran has been near to complete 40 years and this is the age of perfection. It is the time for the policies of this revolution to go towards national unity completely. The heavy expenses of military and guarding borders should decrease and people should protect security themselves.”
Shia & Sunni Ulama take the example of ‘high capacity’ of Islam, Sahabah and Ahl-e-Bait
The most influential Iranian Sunni scholar addressed Shia and Sunni clerics and said: “My message to clerics and personalities of Shia and Sunni communities, marja’s and officials to gather broad-minded people and advisors with different views around themselves.”
“The scholars and elites of the country should not collect only a particular group in their surroundings who are like-minded people. This is for getting better information about the society and understanding the facts of the society and deciding more correctly. If anyone criticizes us and points our weaknesses, we should be happier with them than the person who only admires us,” Shaikh Abdol-Hamid pointed out.
He stressed and said more: “Islam has a high capacity. Shia and Sunni Ulama, marja’s and statesmen should utilize this capacity. The prophet PBUH, his companions and households had a very high capacity. The imams of Ahl-e-Bait lived a life as Sunni Muslims consider them Sunnis and Shias call them their ‘Imams’.”
He criticized on restrictions for Sunni worshipers in some cities and said: “We should widen our tolerance and capacity. The Sunni worshipers in some cities and provinces should not face problems for establishing prayers.”
“I’d like to call on officials and Shia countrymen to take care of their Sunni brothers. We do not have mosques in some cities and some narrow-minded people do not allow us to establish prayers in congregation. The one who forbids worshipers from prayers will remain answerless on the judgment day,” Khateeb of Sunnis underlined.
He emphasized Salah/Namaz is a mere worship; it is not any political issue. “I’d like to ask Shia brothers to open the door of their houses for Sunni worshipers and support them to offer prayers without any hesitation,” Shaikh Abdol-Hamid stated.