Women will not be Silent until They Get their Rights

The most influential Iranian Sunni leader referred to women’s rights and considered the position of female very high in society. Shaikh Abdol-Hamid believed that women’s rights have not been fulfilled in some countries.

“Restrictions against women are contrary to the Islamic law and international costumes. As long as women do not get their rights, you cannot silence them,” he addressed the Iranian officials in Zahedan’s Grand Musalla on June 16, 2023.

“Women make up a large part of the human population, and they have talent, abilities, and qualifications. Throughout history, women have created epics. For example, the Pharaoh’s wife stood against Pharaoh and defended Musa’s right. Hajar, the wife of prophet Ibrahim, was a brave and strong woman; she was more resistant than thousands of men. In the dry desert of Makkah, she tolerated hardship along with her son. Among men, today, you cannot find someone who has the ability of Hajar. The house of Kaaba was built with the will, and efforts of the Prophet Ibrahim, and Ismail and Hajar. Along with the Prophet Ibrahim, Sara emigrated and endured the hardships of the emigration,” the Friday prayer leader of Sunnis in Zahedan mentioned some examples of women’s efforts during past times.

He added: “Look at the life of Mary; when Jesus was born, Mary tolerated the slander and raised Jesus and supported him until the end. Look at women of history of Islam. At the earlier years of revelation, Khadijah supported the holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and spent her wealth to strengthen and help Islam. Asma, the daughter of Caliph Abu Bakr, inspired her child to defend Islam during the attack of Hajjaj bin Yousuf on Makkah and asked him to fight courageously against the oppression.”

“They were the women of the epic and history-makers who played a decisive and key role in the good destiny of thousands of men. Why women have lost their real position today? That is why they are crying and raising their voices in our society. Actually, women have not got their due position in education and in training. You cannot silence women until they get the position that they deserve it,” the Iranian top Sunni leader further addressed the Iranian officials.


Release women and political prisoners
The president of Darululoom Zahedan continued his speech by saying: “At the time of the holy Prophet, peace be upon him, women used to attend the mosque, and they would benefit from the teachings of the Prophet. Masjid-un-Nabi was not just a worship place, but also an educational center where women and men got knowledge. The holy Prophet encouraged women to attend the mosque and participate in congregational and Eid prayers.”

“Women can play a vital role in different social arenas such as workplace and university, and can be effective. All Muslim nations should pay attention to the education of women and maintain their real position. Today, women who protest in Iran, say that their dignity and rights must be preserved. Give women their full rights, the rest of the problems will resolve soon. If these cases were resolved, today we would not see the status quo,” said the eminent Iranian Sunni scholar.

Anti-riot forces should not disturb people in cemeteries
A ruler that does not have a wide view cannot rule
During his Friday sermons, Imam of the Grand Makki Mosque of Zahedan defended the rights of Iranian people, saying: “It is a human and an Islamic duty to sympathize with those who have lost their loved ones. We hear that sometimes anti-riot forces disturb people in cemeteries; this is not suitable. To all those who have state responsibility, I would like to say: have a broad heart and a high vision; because no one with a limited look will succeed.”

Mawlana Abdol-Hamid underlined: “The ruler must have a broad view and a paternal vision, and even tolerate curses and slanders. The ruler must listen to opponents and tolerate the criticism of all religious and ethnic communities, including Muslims and Non-Muslims. The holy Qur’an refers to the holy Prophet and Muslims’ endurance to the slanders and harassment of Jews and Christians; Islam has taught us this morality. So have a high capacity. When the capacity is high, you can tolerate all.”

The Iranian top Sunni cleric referred to the rights of Baha’is and Non-Muslim sects, by saying: “Baha’is citizens have human and citizenship rights; respect the rights of Dervishes and Zoroastrians too. The Baha’is community complains that some want to seize their cemetery, and may not hand over the dead bodies of their people; this is annoying for me. It is true that the Baha’is are non-Muslims, but they have human rights. Why their citizenship right should not be observed? I have heard that several women from the Baha’i community had been executed, and their dead bodies were not given to their relatives and they (the authorities) have buried them.”

Shaikh Abdol-Hamid said in his last points: “When I hear such news, I get shocked and ashamed as a human and as a Muslim. Islam does not give us such permission, and these are personal and illegal behaviors that some do. Baha’is, Dervishes, and Zoroastrians are human beings and have rights. All those who live in Iran, including Muslims and non-Muslims, are Iranians, and their rights must be observed; this is the order of Islam. If Islam has another command, you convince us. When you call the country ‘Islamic’, you must respect the rights of all religions, sects, ethnicities and rights of women and other strata.”