Khateeb of Sunnis in Zahedan cited the noble verses of the Qur’an and some Hadiths, terming the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah a ‘golden opportunity’ for people to atone their past defects.
Shaikh Abdol-Hamid began his Friday sermon of Sep. 26, 2014 by the initial verses of al-Fajr chapter of the Noble Qur’an and said, “Most of the exegetes of the Qur’an and commentators believe the phrase ‘Layal-e-Ashr’ in the chapter means the first part of the month of Dhul-Hijjah and ‘al-Fajr’ means the morning of Eid al-Adha.”
He added more, “Allah Almighty has taken oath by the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and warned His servants to take the advantage of these days and nights to retrieve their shortcomings of the past. Offering prayers, observing fast, reciting the Noble Qur’an, giving donation, doing Dhikr and the rest of the worships and good deeds have lots of virtues.”
“Nowadays pilgrims travel to the land of revelation to carry out the great obligation of Hajj. If we could not reach Makkah and Madinah for Hajj, it does not mean we should not worship Allah in our homelands; rather we must take the benefits of these days to enjoy the great blessings and virtues of Dhul-Hijjah. According to some narrations from the prophet Muhammad, peace & blessings be upon him, fasting on each day of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah is equal to fasting for a whole year, and fasting on the ninth, a day before Eid al-Adha is equal to two years fasting. As well as, worshipping at the nights of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah is like worshipping at the nights of Qadr in Ramadan,” he further said.
Shaikh concluded his points by calling on the audience to make Du’a for pilgrims that may Allah accept their Hajj and make it the cause of blessings for the world.
Strive to bring peace & stop violence
In the second part of his speech, Friday Imam of Sunnis in Zahedan decried the bellicosity of the Western powers urging on the UN and states claim called ‘superpowers’ to bring peace and stop violence.
Shaikh Abdol-Hamid alluded to the recent UN general assembly held in New York, and said, “Most of the leaders took part in the general assembly of the UN expressed their concerns over extremism and spread of violence and terrorism. Some leaders of the world powers used the language of threat to fight against terrorism. The US wants to uproot extremism by war and it has some allies too.”
Showing his reaction to some statements made at the assembly of the UN, he said, “It was a regrettable point that nobody talked about peace and reconciliation that is the fundamental solution to counter-terrorism. The US president called on the world to target ‘the cancer of violent extremism’. But he did not say anything about the biggest cancer, a virulent cancer which has given birth to other small cancers; I mean the malign regime of Israel.”
The outstanding Iranian Sunni leader went on to say more, “As the president of Iran underlined in his speech in the general assembly of the UN, terrorism has some reasons and those causes must be eliminated first. Otherwise fighting with effects cannot gain any durable success. Injustice, cruelty and refusing the voice of oppressed people are the main roots of extremism in the region. As well as the criminal regime of Israel and pointless support of the Western powers from Israel are the biggest bone of contention.”
“When Israel massacred more than two thousand men and women, and children injuring thousands more in Gaza for 50 days, why the world did not condemn the barbaric steps of Israel? Why they did not stop Israel? On the other hand, the motherland of Palestinians has been occupied; their wealth and souls are not safe too. While the international community cannot ensure an independent state for Palestinians, then how can they put an end to extremism?” Shaikh Abdol-Hamid asked.
He added more, “When Israel is not going to stop violating the rights of Palestinians and injustice is continuing in the world, of course some vehement people cannot endure such unjust acts and take arms. It should be clear we are against any kind of extremism and terrorism, but in the same time we disagree with making alliances forcefully to bomb others.”
Reminding his previous statement about the roots of terrorism in the region, Khateeb of Sunnis addressed the claimants of counter-terrorism: “Where were you before emergence of extremism in the region to maintain peace and security for all? You had invaded Iraq and occupied it by arms and bombardment; instead of forming a unity government and bringing different classes together, you created more disputes and forced them to a civil war. You paved the way for intervention of others. In the same way, when differences began in Syria, you did not do anything to bring people together; if you helped them to have a national reconciliation, the world would not have seen such crises.”
Security of Israel, main reason of insecurities in the Middle East
Mawlana Abdol-Hamid pointed out to the main reason of insecurities in the Middle East and said, “The basic reason of many incidents and insecurities in Iraq, Syria, Egypt and Lebanon is to ensure security of Israel; it is next to derailing the Islamic awakening wave forcing it into conflicts and violence. These powers want to make Muslims busy with internal conflicts to give Israel safety.”
The rector of Darululoom Zahedan termed the ongoing policy of the Western powers a blunder. He said, “Terrorism should be uprooted by peace and reconciliation. Israel must withdraw from Palestinian territories and Palestine should get independence. Establishing national governments in Iraq and Syria can lead the region towards peace; end of oppression and giving importance to due rights of nations can bring peace.”
He further said, “The UN and other states which claim to be superpowers, should strive to bring peace and reconciliation, and put an end to violence and war. It is irrational to root up war and violence by war and violence but in some special cases.”
Shaikh Abdol-Hamid welcomed the statement of the Iranian president in the 69th general assembly of the UN on the necessity of fighting against the reasons of extremism. He expressed his sorrow as all leaders were talking about war and fighting without any allusion to peace in Palestine and the rest of the world.
Education and edification is infrastructure of material and spiritual developments
In another part of his speech, Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol-Hamid pointed out to the presence of the provincial director of education and edification in Sistan-Baluchistan and said, “Education is an important subject that needs attention of all. It is good that the provincial director of Education Ministry strives to decrease illiteracy in the Sistan-Baluchistan.”
He called on all classes of the society, including Ulama, tribal elders and officials to uproot illiteracy in the province.