Human Rights Constitute a Large Part of Islam

Pointing out to the special importance of human rights in Islam, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid called on the audience of the Friday prayers in Zahedan, August 19, 2016 to observe the rights of parents and spouses.
The Friday Imam of Sunnis in Zahedan, Iran remarked: “Many people think that laws of Shari’ah are limited in commandments and worships like prayer and fasting whereas the rights of Allah are only one part of Islam. Moreover, Islam gives special attention and great emphasis to human rights.”
“Allah the Almighty, in many cases, has mentioned the human rights before His own rights. Allah will take humans to the paradise just for realizing human rights along with the rights of Allah. According to the laws of Islam, the one who, in opposition to the Shari’ah, takes usury transactions, he has violated the rights of human”, the rector of Darululoom Zahedan added.
He also said: “Islam has given much emphasis to the rights of people as the Quran has mentioned it after the Unity of God. In several signs, Quran has recommended the children to favor parents with kindness, beneficence, friendship, love and gentleness. Allah will not accept from a Muslim to regard the rights of Allah but he might be irrespective toward the rights of people and parents”.
Mawlana Abdol-Hamid referred to the importance of caring parents and said: “Once upon a time, a person came to the Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him, and asked for his permission to participate in Jihad. The Messenger of Allah asked him if he had old parents who may need to be cared. When his response was positive, he PBUH recommended him to do Jihad in caring his mother. According to this Hadith, sometimes serving parents is better and has more virtues than Jihad”.
“Unfortunately, many children, in our societies do not know the status of parents. They displease their parents while the satisfaction of Allah depends on the satisfaction of parents. Whoever wishes the consent of Allah, he must respect parents and serve them. Showing kindness to the close friends and relatives of parents is a kind of kindness to father and mother”, he added more.
The Friday Imam of Sunnis in Zahedan went to remind the audience about the rights of neighbors, saying: “According to the laws of Islam, neighbors have some rights upon a neighbor even if they are disbelievers; if the neighbor is an infidel, he/she has one right and if he/she is a Muslim, he/she will have two rights. But if he/she, in addition to being a Muslim, is a relative, then there three rights for him/her”.
He stressed on the rights of neighbors and said: “It is among the rights of neighbors to be conducted well, with kindness and caring. If they get sick, they should be looked after. In addition, if we suffer from any harassment of a neighbor, we should tolerate”.
The rector of Darululoom Zahedan pointed out to “the rights of spouses” and said: “Husbands and wives should observe and respect the rights of each other. The messenger of Allah PBUH says: “The best of you are those who are the best to their wives, and I am the best of you to my wives.”
“Husbands should fulfill the legitimate demands of their wives as much as they can. If one of couples is vile, impatient and sharp-tongued, the other one should tolerate him/her. Patience and tolerance are derived from the Islamic teachings that produce love and friendship among members of any family,” he underlined.
Mawlana Abdol-Hamid further said: “The Noble Quran addresses men advising them: “وعاشروهن بالمعروف”; behave with your wives in a good manner. Men should not dishonor or behave with their wives in immorality. If a woman has an unpleasing morality, of course, she would have several other good manners. Her bad habit should be ignored and she should be behaved well for her other good traits”.
Concluding his points in this part of the sermon, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid said: “The difference between the rights of Allah and human beings is that faults in the rights of Allah will be forgiven after repentance whereas faults and violations in human rights will not be forgiven with repentances alone, but in addition to repentance, the consent and satisfaction of the other party should be met”.

IRIB should apologize for insulting Sahabah to Sunnis officially
Reacting to the recent insult of Sahabah in a national state-run TV channel, the outstanding Islamic scholar criticized IRIB, asking the authorities of Iranian TV and radio to apologize to the Sunni community for insulting Sahabah officially.
In the second part of his speech, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid said: “Unfortunately, a TV show host and famous director has insulted some companions, may Allah be pleased with them, in ‘Nasim’ TV channel. It got coverage inside and outside of the country and many of elites including scholars and members of the parliament criticized the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.”
“Blasphemy is not allowed in all religions, schools of thought and sects. Insulting to holy persons and sacred things is bad in all sects; it is against the interests of all that only widens distances,” he added more.
Demanding the ‘official apology of IRIB to Sunnis’, Khateeb of Sunnis said, “Although the legal vice of IRIB has responded to the written warning of Sunni MPs that the TV show host had been warned and the controller of the comic program had been dismissed, but we expect the authorities should apologize to the Iranian nation especially the Sunni community.”
“The recent blasphemy should not be considered on the account of Islamic Republic of Iran; the stance of the high officials is clear in this regard. The supreme leader has issued verdict terming insult of Sunnis’ sanctities ‘Haram’ and illegal,” he underlined.

State TV should respect leader’s fatwa first of all
The rector of Darululoom Zahedan termed the state TV and radio organization ‘responsible’ for the recent blasphemy of Sunni Muslims’ sanctities. He said, “First of all IRIB is responsible for the recent act of blasphemy as some companions of the prophet, peace be upon him, were insulted. IRIB is affiliated with the supreme leader directly and it should not violate the fatwa and statements of its patron.”
“It is expected at least the directors, managers, hosts and producers in the state TV and radio should respect the fatwa and statements of the supreme leader before others.”
Shaikh Abdol-Hamid added more, “According to the constitution, the supreme leader is the most authorized figure in Islamic Republic of Iran. If other (Shia) extremists ignore the verdicts of the leader, it is not much surprising, but when figures inside the body of the regime and government disrespect the leader’s fatwas, it is unacceptable.”
Expressing his thanks to the Sunni and some Shia MPs over noticing the insult issue, the member of the MWL further said, “It is our demand that the door of blasphemy and insult of Sunnis’ holy persons should be closed forever. There must be legitimation to stop insulting of sanctities of all sects and religions. The violators should be punished. We hope the faction of Sunni MPs in the Majlis would follow up this case.”
“A blunder has been made in a channel, we should work hard to reform not to provoke differences and excite people. We should not give chance to the enemies to misuse such issues by provoking people,” Mawlana Abdol-Hamid stated.

Insulting sanctities of Shia is Haram
The prominent Islamic scholar of the Iranian Sunnis termed ‘insulting of sanctities of all’ Haram and illegal, saying, “As a Sunni imam who leads prayers, I consider insulting of Shias’ sanctities ‘Haram’, too. It is not a ‘political fatwa’, rather it is our belief.”
“Even we cannot insult the holy persons and places of Jews and Christians. However some Jews and Christians commit blasphemy and insult our sanctities as they created blasphemous cartoons and caricatures of the beloved prophet, peace be upon him. Some others burnt the copies of the Noble Qur’an. But none of Muslims has the courage to insult Christ and Moses, peace be upon them –God forbid- and burn the Bible,” he added more.
Khateeb of Sunnis concluded his points by saying, “We have not assaulted on Jews and Christians, rather they are the ones who insult our sanctities and invade on our countries. Insulting is not allowed in any religion. If any Muslim insults sanctities, he should be pursued to avoid blasphemy.”