“The Middle East is in a State of Peace; the Authorities Should Seize this Opportunity”

Today (May 16, 2025), during the Friday prayer ceremony in Zahedan, Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdolhamid described the current state of the Middle East as one of “peace and dialogue.” Referring to the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States, he urged the officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran to seize this opportunity considering the country’s current situation, and to resolve issues through dialogue and reconciliation.

We Regard the Current Situation in the Middle East as a Positive Sign
According to the official website of the Sunni Friday Prayer Imam of Zahedan, Mawlana Abdolhamid said in part of his sermon:
“The current situation in the Middle East is one of peace, and we see it as a good omen.”
He added:
“It is very good that the Middle East and the world are moving toward peace and tranquility, that the doors of killing, violence, oppression, and crimes are closed, and that human beings engage in mutual interaction and trade, develop their countries, and that all governments pursue national interests and serve their people instead of war and conflict.”

War Does NOT Bring Honor or Good Reputation to Any Nation
The Friday Prayer Imam of Zahedan stated:
“War and ‘jihad’ in Islam are emergency and defensive measures, taken in response to oppression and injustice. Jihad is permissible only when the other party refuses peace and dialogue. But when both sides seek peace, everyone is obliged to contribute to establishing it — ‘And cooperate in righteousness and piety, and do not cooperate in sin and aggression’.”
He emphasized:
“War never brings honor or good reputation to any nation — unless a country is occupied and forced into defensive conflict. But peace is always the best state.”

Continued WAR and KILLING have Discredited Israel
Mawlana Abdolhamid remarked:
“Do not think that Israel has gained anything by rejecting dialogue and continuing the war — which has so far resulted in the martyrdom of over 50,000 Palestinians. On the contrary, Israel has become discredited, and even its supporters in Europe and the United States have turned against it.”
He continued:
“Killing humans and children is not an achievement and brings no honor. Whether the perpetrator is a Muslim, Jew, Christian, or anyone else, such actions are despicable and lead to disgrace. Thus, war and violence are not the solution — dialogue is.”

Now that the Other Side Seeks Agreement, the Authorities MUST Resolve Issues Through Dialogue
In a continued message to the Iranian authorities, Mawlana Abdolhamid stated:
“These days, the Middle East is in a peaceful condition, negotiations are underway, and the other party is persistently sending messages, asking to reach an agreement. Therefore, the authorities should seize this opportunity and resolve matters through dialogue.”
He emphasized:
“One of the principles of peace is that both sides avoid rigid positions, make compromises, and offer concessions to build mutual trust. No side should remain stubborn or cling to a precondition. Even the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) accepted the enemy’s terms during the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah and reached an agreement with them.”

The Current State of the Country Demands Negotiation and Agreement
The Friday Prayer Imam of Zahedan concluded:
“The people of Iran are currently enduring extremely difficult living conditions, especially in terms of livelihood. Daily power outages are severely affecting the economy, culture, agriculture, animal husbandry, production, and industry, leading to enormous costs for the country and its people.”
He added:
“Given these conditions, negotiations, dialogue, and agreement are essential to resolve issues peacefully and avoid war — because war brings nothing but loss of life and resources. No side should think about war. We hope that a mutually beneficial agreement will be reached that safeguards our national interests and relieves the suffering of the people.”

“National Interests” and “Preserving the Dignity, Security, and Freedom of the People” are Duties of Every Regime and Government
Mawlana Abdolhamid further stated:
“Caring for the people and prioritizing national interests is the most important policy for any country, regime, or government. The greatest responsibility that every regime — whether Islamic or non-Islamic — must attend to is ensuring dignity, livelihood, security, public health, and education.”
He added:
“Perspectives must go beyond ethnicity and sectarianism, and the citizenship rights of all people — Muslim and non-Muslim alike — must be upheld. Every country must protect the health, security, and freedom of its citizens. Freedom is extremely vital and important; all citizens, including women and men from every class and background, must enjoy freedom, and justice must be applied to all.
Writers and intellectuals must have the freedom to express criticism and reflect realities. Constructive criticism can lead to growth and development and help address weaknesses.”
The Friday Prayer Imam of Zahedan said:
“We hope there will be a reconsideration and change in both domestic and foreign policies. Developing countries achieve progress through changes in perspectives and policies.”