Ramadan; Month of Purification of Spiritual Element

Khateeb of Ahl-us-Sunna in Zahedan, Shaikh-ul-Islam Abdul Hameed enlightened on the efficacy of fasting (Sawm) in reformation of observers in his latest Friday sermon in Grand Makki mosque of Zahedan.

He began his speech by recitation of the Quranic verse: «یا أیها الذین آمنوا کتب علیکم الصیام کما کتب علی الذین من قبلکم لعلکم تتقون» and said that human being is an amazing creature of the Almighty. Human beings neither are innocent like angels, nor material completely to be like animals. The body of humans is corporeal, where; the soul is spiritual spirit from the sky. We have links with both of the universes.

Shaikh added more saying, ‘There are different ideas over the nature and elements of humans; some people declare human beings mortal like animals without any liaison to spirituality; this is a wrong view. According to the Qur’an and Sunna people are combination of both material and spiritual elements. So, as body needs food to live, soul requires “food” to stay alive as well.’

Indicating towards the immaterial element of humans, the eminent Islamic scholar urged that Allah Almighty sent some particular rules and instructions to nourish the soul of human beings and their incorporate part. Many prophets and divine books were sent and revealed; Islam contains main teachings of the previous divine religions, the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) brought all tools to feed spiritual part of human beings.

Mawlana Abdul Hameed further said, ‘All ethereal books were sent in holy Ramadan month, the Qur’an was revealed in this great month as well. Holy Qur’an is a comprehensive book for spiritual nourishment of humans. The Qur’an was revealed at the night of destiny (Lailat-ul-Qadr) which is better than one thousand months. This valuable book orders us to perform fasting for one month (in Ramadan) in order to purify our souls and nourish the incorporate part of body.’

At the end of this part of his sermon, Shaikh emphasized that everyone should take the advantages of the divine project and curriculum for reformation and purification. Taqwa (piety) is the fruit of fasting, observers must try to attain it in this month. Aslaaf (late holy men) used to recite holy Qur’an in Ramadan more than other months completely. They used to feed people and help them financially. We should imitate them in this regard as well.

Gov. should allocate a ground for Eid prayers of Sunnis in Zahedan
In second part of his speech in grand Makki mosque, Shaikh Abdul Hameed asked the provincial authorities to allocate a significant ground where Zahedan’s Sunnis offer Eid prayers easily.

He said that Sunni citizens have been facing problems for years to offer Eid prayers in Zahedan as there is no enough place for worshipers.

‘We informed the Iranian president about the matter in his latest visit to the province; he referred it to the provincial governor. We hope they would take immediate steps to allocate a significant place for Sunnis, men and women, to offer Eid prayers in suburb areas of Zahedan,’ Khateeb of Ahl-us-Sunna continued.

The prominent Sunni leader pointed that Shiite citizens, despite lower population, has no any problem in this regard; they had a mosalla of 27 hectare which has been extended up to 40 hectare recently. But on the other hand, Sunnis have only a ground of 6 hectare to offer Eid prayers, it is quite insufficient.

Shaikh urged that Sunnis are the local residents of Zahedan who have given sacrifices to protect their mother land; they have right to offer Eid prayers in an appropriate place where men and women could gather for prayers. The concerned authorities must show open-mindness and deal with this issue in a way which fulfils the demand of entire Sunni community of Zahedan.