Rectors of Sunni seminaries of the Sistan-Baluchistan province gathered in the office of Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol-Hameed Ismaeelzahi, chairman of the Coordination Council of Sunni Seminaries of Sistan-Baluchistan, on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 in Zahedan, Iran.
The meeting was chaired by Shaikh-ul-Hadith Mawlana Muhammad Yousuf Hussien-pur.
After listening to nice recitation of one of the guests, Shaikh Ismaeelzahi expressed his gratitude over arrival of scholars. He welcomed warmly all guests particularly Shaikh Muhammad Yousuf Hussein-pur who reached to the meeting despite illness.
Later on, Shaikh Muhammad Dehqan and Shaikh Abdul-Ghani Badri, members of the Visitators Panel, delivered their reports about the second term of audit and suggestions to the undertakers of the Coordination Council.
Mufti Muhammad Qasem Qasemi, Molavi Abdul-Wahed Qalandarzahi and Molawi Azizullah Durani also talked to the audience giving their recommendations and responses to the reports.
Discourse of Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol-Hameed
Shaikh Abdol-Hameed Ismaeelzahi, chairman of the Coordination Council of Sunni Seminaries in Sistan-Baluchistan, Iran, began his speech by recitation of holy verses: «والذین جاهدوا فینا لنهدینهم سبلنا و إن الله لمع المحسنین»، «و جاهدوا فی الله حق جهاده هو اجتباکم و ما جعل علیکم فی الدین من حرج». He stated that people of villages and cities consider Ulama, Islamic scholars, heritors of prophets, peace be upon them, and they have lots of expectations from scholars. Prophets sacrificed whatever they had to salvage people. They endured all difficulties to give comforts to societies.
He further said, ‘As much expectances people have from you, they do not expect from any other stratum. Common Muslims think other people may betray but Ulama do not sell out themselves to earn money and material goals. Scholars are like candle that burns itself to lighten others. People consider scholars guardians of Islam; they protect their religion. So we have a lot of responsibilities.’
Khateeb of Ahl-us-Sunnah addressed present scholars and said that Muslims need a gracious A’lim who looks after them day and night in order to rescue them from negligence and misdeeds. A prayer leading or teacher is not enough for society; scholars should not be limited to their mosques and seminaries.
He underlined saying, ‘Ulama have been playing an important role in Islamic awakening across the region. If you see positive changes in the province now-a-days; these are the fruits of great scholars’ sincere efforts such as late Mawlana Abdul-Aziz and other Ulama. Today, they are not among us; so you should strive for your terms.’
Iran’s Sunnis are independent
The rector of Darululoom Zahedan, in another part of his speech, pointed out towards the independence of the Sunni community of Iran in demanding their needs and rights. He urged saying that the Sunni community is not affiliated with any particular party or junta. Although Sunnis may have more things in common with some parties than others; but they are independent in making decisions and stances. Sunnis’ stances are based on sobriety and temperance.
Terming “religious freedom” the most important need of the Sunni community, he stated, ‘We want religious freedom that is written in the Constitution. We do not want something extra of the law. “Equality between Shia-Sunni” is another demand of Ahl-us-Sunnah. As the founder of the Islamic Republic stated: “Shiites and Sunnis are equal in rights and brothers”, we ask the rulers to remove discriminative policies against Sunnis in the country. Discrimination is not suitable for the Islamic Republic of Iran.’
Independence of seminaries must be protected by any cost
Emphasizing on the protection of independence of the Sunnis’ seminaries, chairman of the Coordination Council of Sunni Seminaries of Sistan-Baluchistan pointed, ‘Your unity and solidarity enabled us to preserve independence of madrassas. We believe if we force to tolerate famine and hanger, our children leave us and wives demand divorce, we will keep protecting independence of seminaries and Islamic learning centers. Protection of seminaries is the preservation of beliefs and it brings the pleasure of Allah Almighty. We prefer our beliefs and religion on national and personal interests.’
Indicating towards some propaganda against Ahl-us-Sunnah and persuading Sunnis to convert to Shi’ism, Shaikh Ismaeelzahi said that some opportunist elements misuse the weakness of people in economic and cultural fields. According some reports Shiite missionaries try to change Sunnis’ sect by different ways such as providing health facilities in poor areas. Sometime they bring an ignorant person on TV screen to claim that he converted to Shi’ism! So far they attack Sunnis’ beliefs and religion. ‘We dislike such acts and our thoughts are higher than these things. We never bright any one to show him that he embraced Sunni sect,’ Shaikh underlined.
Mawlana Abdol-Hameed asked the authorities to remove obstacles created to halt establishing mosques in villages. He stated that there is no any law to enforce getting permission for building mosque in villages; such sensitivities are the sing of ignorance.
Jangizahi’s murder; provocative arrest of some scholars
When Shaikh Ismaeelzahi completed his points and examined the issues related to the Coordination Council, one of Sarbaaz’s scholars expressed his worries over the detention of Shaikh Naqshbandi, Khateeb of Raask, and Molavi Abdullah Mullazade, Khateeb of Parud, by the security officials.
He asked Shaikh Abdol-Hameed and other scholars of the province to follow up the case. Shaikh Abdol-Hameed Ismaeelzahi responded, ‘Mawlana Naqshbandi is one of the outstanding, active and experienced scholars in the region. He comported lots of problems to build the grand mosque of Raask city. It is injustice to detain him and send another man to his mosque.’
Khateeb of Ahl-us-Sunnah put the blames on Ulama baseless over murder of the pro-regime scholar; it took place some weeks ago. It is amazing that no one has been arrested over the assassination of Molavi Ali Dehwari of Saravan.
Rectors of Sunni seminaries and outstanding scholars wrote a letter to Governor Sistan-Baluchistan and other pertaining departments and entities asking them to release detained scholars as quick as possible. The letter was signed by all present scholars and other tribal elders.
SunniOnline.us
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