“The country is in need of profound and major changes”

“Moderation” and “Consultation”: the Only Path to Salvation for Iran and the World
In today’s Friday sermon in Zahedan, Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdolhamid strongly criticized the dominance of extremism in various spheres of the country and called for “profound and major changes” in domestic and foreign policies. He stressed that the only way to save Iran and the world is through moderation, balance, and consultation with all groups and critics.

Emphasis on Moderation in All Affairs
According to the Office of the Sunni Friday Imam of Zahedan, in his Friday sermon (September 12th, 2025), Mawlana Abdolhamid underlined the necessity of moderation in all dimensions of society and governance, saying:
“In all matters—including executions and governance—there must be moderation. We regret that the Iranian nation has suffered from the dominance of extremist officials, decision-makers, and their methods. The best approach is moderation.”
He added: “Even religion itself is harmed by extremism. If Muslims of any group resort to extremism, they damage the very essence of Islam. Today, campaigns are being run worldwide claiming that religion is inherently extremist and incapable of governing.”

Consequences of Extremism and the Religion-Politics Debate
The Friday Imam of Zahedan, referring to the ongoing debate in Iran about the relationship between religion and politics, said:
“One view held that an Islamic government could manage the country and that religion and politics can coexist. Another view maintained that religion cannot govern and must remain separate from politics.”
He noted that the conduct of extremists has weakened belief in the possibility of religious governance and amplified calls for the separation of religion and politics:
“Abandoning moderation and resorting to extremism in judgments, fabricated cases, trials, executions, and in all areas—economy, livelihood, and other issues—has caused serious damage to society and government.”

Criticism of the Country’s Current Situation
Mawlana Abdolhamid attributed today’s dissatisfaction and crises to straying from the path of the Qur’an, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Companions, Ahl al-Bayt, and Imam Ali, stating:
“The discontent of the people and today’s problems are the result of our failure to follow the path of the Glorious Qur’an, the way of the Messenger of Allah, and the way of the Companions, Ahl al-Bayt, and Imam Ali.”

Palestine, Gaza, and Extremism in Israel and Among Some Muslims
Addressing the issue of Palestine, the Sunni Imam of Zahedan stressed:
“Palestine has truly been oppressed; the people of Gaza and Palestine have suffered immensely. Gaza, once a newly built and beautiful city, has been reduced to rubble.”
He described the Israeli government as “highly extremist” but also noted that extremism exists among some Muslims as well:
“Some say the Jews must be expelled, while Israel says Palestinians must leave. Among Israeli leaders there is severe extremism, and the outcome has been losses for both sides—but the people of Gaza and the Muslims have borne the greatest harm.”
He stressed that the correct approach is moderation:
“The issue of Palestine and Israel must be resolved justly and fairly, with the Palestinian people exercising sovereignty over their own destiny.”

Israel’s Attack on Qatar and Global Reaction
Mawlana Abdolhamid condemned Israel’s attack on Qatar as “a blatant act of extremism,” saying:
“Qatar is a moderate country and a hub of global dialogue. It is unacceptable for anyone to violate its independence and territorial integrity. The whole world condemns this act of extremism.”
He added: “Qatar has been wronged in this incident. Israel’s global image has become more tarnished than ever and has suffered a serious blow.”

Criticism of ‘Unity Week’ and the Need for Practical Steps
Referring to the annual “Unity Week,” the Friday Imam of Zahedan remarked:
“It would have been better if instead of holding Unity Week gatherings, real unity had been implemented in practice. If over the past fifty years Sunni ministers and ethnic representatives had been included in the cabinet, and if permission had been given for a Sunni mosque to be built in Tehran, there would have been no need for so many conferences.”
He added:
“It is true that in Sistan and Baluchistan Province a governor has been appointed and in the Education Department a Sunni director-general has been designated, but the government offices remain uniform. With the departure of Sunni officials, discrimination continues to persist.”

The Need for Fundamental Changes in the Country
Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdolhamid, addressing the authorities, emphasized:
“Our goodwill compels us to say that fundamental action must be taken. Reforms in the country have failed, and the Iranian people are not satisfied with reforms — they want change. Profound and extensive changes are required, and both domestic and foreign policies must be transformed.”
He warned:
“Extremists should not be allowed to impose their views on centers of power and decision-making, because both religion and the country have suffered from extremism.”

Criticism of Limited Consultation and the Need to Hear Critics
Mawlana Abdolhamid, criticizing the way top officials interact with the people, said:
“It was once said that the Supreme Leader wanted to communicate with the people, but we realized they had spoken with individuals from different parts of the country who concealed the realities and were mere yes-men. They distanced themselves from those who could have voiced the people’s concerns.”
He stressed:
“For nearly fifty years, no inspector or representative of the authorities has come to ask how conditions are here. We believe that even the opinions of opponents should be sought. Our mission is to desire good for everyone, and we see that good in major change and transformation.”

Praying for Global Peace and Moderation
The Friday Imam of Zahedan’s Sunni community concluded by expressing hope:
“We pray that the world moves toward moderation, balance, wisdom, and prudence, so that the nations of the world do not suffer further losses.”

In Islam, there is neither “excess” nor “negligence”
Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdolhamid, in his Friday sermon in Zahedan (September 12, 2025), stated that in the pure religion of Islam there is no extremism or negligence, urging all Muslims to embrace moderation and balance in every aspect of life.
According to the official website of the Sunni Friday Imam of Zahedan, Mawlana Abdolhamid recited the Qur’anic verse:
“And thus We have made you a justly balanced nation so that you may be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger may be a witness over you” [Al-Baqarah: 143],
and said:
“Allah Almighty has made Islam a religion of moderation and a middle path. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was always careful that no one should fall into extremism or negligence in religion. In Islam, there is neither extremism nor negligence. The path of religion is wisdom, prudence, foresight, tolerance, and patience.”
He continued:
“Islam is the straight path; it has no crookedness, deviation, extremism, nor carelessness, weakness, or indifference. Islam is a religion of action and pragmatism, a religion of reflection and planning. Islam is not a religion of raw emotions. Emotions cause harm, ruin efforts, and damage religion. Extremists bring nothing but problems for people. Today we are witnessing the harm caused globally by anger, emotions, and extremism.”

Extremism Harms Both Religion and Humanity
The Friday Imam of Zahedan added:
“When extremism enters sectarianism, it weakens and discredits it; when it enters religion, it damages and defeats it. Extremist politics also harm society, the nation, and the world. Political powers who possess nuclear weapons and destructive force—if given to extremism—can destroy the world; they are a danger to all of humanity. In short, extremism is dangerous for both religion and worldly life. The path of the Prophets and the Messenger of Allah was the middle way. Islam spread across the world through wisdom, forbearance, patience, and tolerance of others.”
He further stated:
“The Qur’an is a book of moderation, and all its verses and teachings are wise. Innovations and superstitions deviate from moderation and fall into extremism or negligence. Sometimes negligence reaches the point where people deviate from the true path and even commit shirk (associating partners with Allah) — which is a grave loss.”

Marriages Should Be Based on Foresight
Mawlana Abdolhamid also stressed the importance of moderation in social matters, saying:
“Unfortunately, sometimes marriages are arranged merely because of the insistence of a brother, sister, uncle, or relatives. But in marriage, the boy and girl must be compatible so they can build a life together and bring their families closer. If the boy is unsuitable — lacking in knowledge, character, upbringing, or responsibility for worldly and religious life — then in the future the marriage faces a dead end. The result is that the same siblings and relatives who were once close may fall into conflict, and two families once united will be torn apart.”
He continued:
“Marriages should not be arranged merely out of formality or social pressure. Look ahead with foresight. Do not focus on wealth; instead, focus on character, piety, and upbringing. In marriage, the boy and girl themselves must want each other, have affection for each other, and give their consent.”

The Girl’s Consent is Essential in Marriage
The Friday preacher of Zahedan said:
“Many girls complain that their guardians do not consult them or seek their consent when arranging marriage. This is a grave mistake — for a father to say that a dear relative came to ask for his daughter’s hand and he could not say no.
Consult your daughters in marriage. A girl must be able to live comfortably with her husband. If her life becomes bitter, it will also embitter the lives of her family and others. Foresight in this matter is extremely important.”

Child Marriage is a Wrong Practice
Mawlana Abdolhamid further said:
“The rights of women and girls must be respected. Do not marry off boys and girls when they are still children. Child marriage — or, as some say, ‘engaging a child’ — is wrong and unacceptable. Let boys and girls reach the age of maturity and intellectual growth, so they can distinguish right from wrong, and then proceed with marriage.”
He [Mawlana Abdolhamid] noted:
“Unfortunately, many marriages are concluded only verbally, and later disputes arise between the bride and groom over the amount of dowry, which in turn creates conflict between the two families. Marriages must be documented. It is very important that such matters be handled properly, in writing, and with consultation. When affairs are conducted correctly and with mutual consultation, the outcomes are far better.”

Excess and extravagance in wedding ceremonies
The Friday prayer leader of Zahedan said: “Unfortunately, there is excess and extravagance in wedding ceremonies. People invite several thousand guests to a wedding—what is the need to invite such a large number? In the hadith it is mentioned: ‘Hold a wedding banquet, even if it is only with one sheep.’ This shows that in the early days of Islam, the walimah (wedding feast) was limited to slaughtering one sheep and inviting about twenty people.”
He added: “Another hadith says the worst wedding banquet is that in which only the wealthy and affluent are invited while the poor are forgotten. Invite the poor, the needy, and those in financial difficulty who are deserving, because if they are neglected, you will lose a great blessing.”
He continued: “Keep wedding banquets and ceremonies simple. Instead of spending enormous sums on wedding receptions, give the extra money to the bride and groom, who are just starting their lives and need essential items. With the money spent on a single wedding ceremony, you could assist many students, providing them with notebooks, pens, and other supplies, or even build a shelter for someone who has none. This is where true blessing lies, and Allah’s pleasure is found. This is the right path—the path of moderation.”
Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdolhamid further stated: “When you give bread to people at a wedding feast, there should at least be remembrance of Allah Almighty, words of advice, supplication, Islamic songs, and recitation of Qur’anic verses. The Qur’an is a book that brings joy and happiness and establishes a connection between the people of earth and the people of heaven. We are in need of this connection—we must have Allah in times of sorrow and in times of joy, in all circumstances.”

Failure to observe Islamic legal principles in funerals has created many problems for grieving families
The Friday prayer leader of Zahedan stated: “Just as there is extravagance in weddings, the same problems exist now in funerals. Practices that scholars of the past had fought against, and which people had abandoned, have unfortunately been revived once again.”
He added: “Unfortunately, we have failed to observe Islamic legal principles, and the result is that grieving families, instead of focusing on shrouding and burying their loved ones, are forced to think about taking loans to provide food for crowds of people. Yet Islamic law has recommended that neighbors should prepare food for the grieving family and send it to them. And if neighbors cannot perform this recommended act, at the very least, large crowds of people should not pour into the house of the bereaved family, compelling them to provide food for such an enormous number. It is not lawful that some people attend funerals merely to eat food, thereby creating hardship for the grieving family and causing them financial harm.”
Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdolhamid concluded: “Do not burden yourselves with formalities; live simply. Hold weddings and funerals in a simple manner. If people come to offer condolences at a funeral, there is no harm in that—but when it is time to eat, they should rise and go home to eat in their own houses. Let us always choose the path of moderation and balance in all matters.”