Shaikh Ab. Hamid Calls for Coordination of Eids in Muslim World

Expressing his concerns about the inconsistency in announcing Eid al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha in the Islamic world, the most influential Iranian Sunni leader called on the Muslim world to create a joint moon-sighting committee in order to coordinate and announce the Eids of Muslims in one day.

Talking to tens of thousands of Sunni worshipers in the Friday gathering of Zahedan, capital city of Iranian Baluchistan, on July 8, 2022, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid said: “I wish the Islamic world would declare one day for Eid in all Muslim countries. Incoordination of Muslims in holding and celebrating the Eid festival is a weakness for Muslims and Islamic countries.”

“Unfortunately, Muslims still do not have a central joint moon-sighting committee that is trusted by all Islamic sects and schools of thought,” the Friday prayer leader of Sunnis in Zahedan expressed his concerns.

He continued his speech by saying: “Muslim countries should form a committee consisting of different views of Islamic schools of thought to look for the moon of and announce the days of Eid and Ramadan.”

“As long as this committee is not formed in the Islamic world, the people of each region should follow their Islamic and religious affairs according to their own sighting and calculations,” president of Darululoom Zahedan further said.

He urged that as there were efforts to sight the moon of Dhul-Hijjah on Wednesday evening (29 June, 2022) by a joint national moon-sighting committee, but we did not see the moon and no one testified that s/he had seen the moon. So Eid in Iran will be celebrated on Sunday 10th July.

Army’s new recruitment announcement made us happy
Referring to the new statement of the Army in hiring all Iranians without restrictions for any religious or ethnic community, the most influential Iranian Sunni leader expressed his happiness over the Army’s announcement and called on the Sunni community of Iran to welcome the statement and serve their country and nation.

In this regard, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid said: “The army has been struggling to protect the territorial integrity of the country; that’s why it has a special status in the hearts of people. The new announcement that was about the recruitment of people in the army regardless of religion and sect, made us happy; the announcement stated that anyone who is qualified can be engaged in the army.”

The Friday prayer leader of Sunnis in Zahedan continued: “We take this action of the army as a good omen and advise the dear people to welcome this announcement and enroll in the army and serve their country. Our people, both Shia and Sunni citizens of different backgrounds, love their country and want to serve their country in all fields, including by platform of the army, police, other armed forces, in the ministries and etc.”

“We hope that the views of the authorities will be broader and that the rights of all Iranians including ethnic groups and religious communities will be given equally. All Iranian citizens have human and patriotic rights to each other,” Imam of the Grand Makki Mosque of Zahedan concluded his points.