Insulting the noble Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is Strongly Condemned; the Offenders Must Receive the “Severest Punishment”

Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdolhamid, today (April 25, 2025), during the Friday prayers ceremony in Zahedan, strongly criticized the insult directed at the Companions on Channel One of IRIB, condemned the offense in the strongest terms, and called for the “severest punishment” for the offenders.

Abu Bakr Siddiq(the Most Truthful) was the “Companion of the Cave” and the “Special Advisor” to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
According to the official website of the Sunni Friday Imam of Zahedan, Mawlana Abdolhamid first spoke about the virtues of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), saying: Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) was someone who, without asking for miracles, believed in the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) with pure instinct, sound intellect, and correct judgment, and served him through all hardships before and after the migration (Hijra). He added: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) chose Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) as his companion during the migration from Mecca to Medina. Siddiq-e-Akbar (may Allah be pleased with him) bore the hardships and pains of the migration journey, serving the Prophet (peace be upon him) with his wealth and life, solely for the sake of Allah. Abu Bakr was the Companion of the Cave and the special advisor to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).

Insulting the Companions and Ahl al-Bayt is “Harming Allah and His Messenger” and a “Repulsive Act”
The Friday Imam of Zahedan further pointed out the “heartfelt support of the Companions for the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him),” strongly condemning any insult towards the Companions. He said: Insulting the Companions and the saints of Allah, no matter who commits it, is strongly condemned. He added: Insulting the purified wives, Ahl al-Bayt, and the Companions of the Prophet is an act of harming Allah and His Messenger and is a despicable deed. The Qur’an states:
“Indeed, those who offend Allah and His Messenger, Allah has cursed them in this world and the Hereafter and has prepared for them a humiliating punishment.” [Surah Al-Ahzab: 57]

IRIB and Other Organizations Must Be Purged of Extremists
Mawlana Abdolhamid continued: It is truly regrettable that in IRIB, which is a national organization funded by public money, there are extremist individuals who lack wisdom. Sadly, such extremists are present in many other organizations as well. These extremists infiltrated some previous governments under the guise of loyalty, seeking to create a monolithic system, and now that they feel unsuccessful, they insult and attack the Companions and the righteous. He stressed: Our demand is that the offenders be publicly subjected to the severest punishment, and that extremist individuals be purged from all organizations and institutions, replaced with reasonable and moderate individuals.

The Position Taken by Some Officials and IRIB’s Response Helped Calm the Public / The People Should Control Their Emotions
The Friday Imam of Zahedan also said: The people are deeply wounded by the insults that occurred. However, the positions taken by some officials and the actions of IRIB in response to the recent insult have somewhat soothed the public’s sentiments. He emphasized: Our advice to you, dear people, is to control your emotions and maintain your composure, because the goal of the offenders is precisely to stir religious tensions and exploit the chaos. These individuals are either extremely radical, ignorant, or agents of foreign powers seeking to create problems for the country. He added: Religious emotions and sectarian biases must not be provoked. Stirring religious bigotry incites madness among the people, which is detrimental to any nation, country, or ethnic group.

The Strength of Any Government Lies in Its “Popular Support”
Mawlana Abdolhamid, in another part of his speech during the Friday prayers ceremony in Zahedan, referred to the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States and said: Negotiations between Iran and the U.S. are underway. One of the key demands of the Iranian nation has been a change in both domestic and foreign policies, as well as constructive engagement and good relations with the world, in order to bring about the country’s prosperity and advancement. Islam has also permitted and recommended engagement and good relations with other nations. He said: A government’s strength does not lie in its military weapons and armed forces, but rather, the most important foundation of a government’s strength is its popular support. A government that enjoys the backing of its people can rightfully claim to be powerful and stable. He added: Proper domestic and foreign policies and good relations with the world can bring strength to a country, government, and nation. A country that governs with policies that win both the hearts of its people and of other nations will no longer face any threats, nor will it need to spend exorbitantly on arms production.

Alongside Negotiations with Other Countries, Sit Down with Your Own People and Address Their Demands
The Friday Imam of Zahedan further stated: One of the most important demands of the majority of the Iranian people is that, alongside changes in foreign policy, there must also be changes in domestic policy. The country has faced deadlock due to both internal and external problems, resulting in inflation, poverty, and hardship. He added: Our recommendation is that, just as you engage in negotiations with other countries and nations abroad, you should also sit down with your own people at home, listen to their demands, and address them. This approach could steer the country onto the right path and alleviate the hardships and suffering of the people.

Do Not Arrest the Ulama(Religious Scholars)
At the end of his speech, Mawlana Abdolhamid referred to the recent arrests of several Kurdish religious scholars (Mamustas) in Kurdistan Province and said: Recently, a number of Kurdish ulama have been arrested. Our request is that you do not arrest the ulama, but rather, sit with the scholars and political prisoners and hold discussions with them. He emphasized: Scholars are well-wishers of all, and the people’s scholars see it as their duty to voice the concerns of the people. Their criticisms stem from goodwill and sincere concern; therefore, their criticisms should be heard.