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Iran’s Sunni Friday Imams Defend Sahabah

Referring the blasphemous remarks of Iran’s Chief Justice, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i, and Abdollah Javadi Amoli, an Iranian Twelver Shi’a Marj’a, against Mu’awiyah, may Allah be pleased with him, that provoked the anger of the Sunni Community of Iran, the Sunni activists, and scholars issued various statements, denouncing such blasphemous remarks.
In this regard, the Iranian Sunni Friday prayer leaders decried these insults and defended the position of the Companions of the holy prophet PBUH, in the Friday sermons of Aug 19, 2022.
In his latest speech, in the Friday prayer ceremony in Zahedan, the capital of Iranian Baluchistan, the most influential Sunni leader went on to describe the high status of the Companions of the Prophet, peace be upon him. He considered Mu’awiyah, may Allah be pleased with him, as one of the best companions of the holy Prophet and as one of the conquerors of Islam.
The president of Darululoom Zahedan stated: “Sunnis will not accept any cavil and blasphemy against Mu’awiyah and Sahabah. They request the Supreme Leader to follow up their concerns personally related to the religious issues.”
He believed that handing over the caliphate by Imam Hassan to Muawiyah, may Allah be pleased with them, was an obvious reason for the greatness, and position of Mu’awiyah as Shias consider their Imams infallible.
Shaikh Mohammad Hossein Gorgij, a prominent Baloch scholar and president of Farooqia seminary in Galikesh of Golestan province considered Mu’awiyah as one of the great politicians of the Islamic and Arab world.
He called on the Supreme Leader to dismiss the Iran’s Chief Justice from his position because of his insults to Mu’awiyah, may Allah be pleased with him.
While describing the great position of Mu’awiyah, Mawlana Abdor-Rashid Shahbakhsh, the Friday Imam of Zabol considered silence in the face of such insulting unacceptable, and called on the officials for decisive action against blasphemers.
Shaikh Abdos-Samad Saadati, the Friday Imam of Saravan, called insulting the beliefs and sanctities one of the crises in the Islamic world, stating that the officials should not resort to insults in the face of political and economic problems to divert people’s minds from one side to another.
“Sunnis love Mu’awiyah and respect his position,” he said.
Sayyed Abdol-Karim Hossein-pur, president of Ain-ul-Uloom seminary of Gosht\ Saravan, said that the insult to Amir Mu’awiyah was an insult to Imam Hassan and Hussein. He called the blasphemous remarks by Iran’s Chief Justice shocking to the Sunnis.
“Shiites consider Imam Hasan to be infallible, how is it possible for the innocent Imam to hand over the reins of the caliphate to an ineligible person and commit a mistake?” he questioned.
Shaikh Muhammad Othman, another prominent Baloch leader and the Friday khateeb of the Grand Al-Khalil Mosque in Khash, strongly denounced any blasphemous remark against the Companions of the holy Prophet PBUH, especially against Mu’awiyah who was the writer of the revelation and did Jihad alongside the holy Prophet, peace be upon him.
Mawlana Abdos-Samad Damani of Iranshahr: “Insulting the sanctities of Sunnis is not appropriate for anyone. Blasphemy itself is an indecent act, how is it possible that some in the rank of the Chief Justice allows himself to offend a great and pure personality of Islam like Mu’awiyah, may Allah be pleased with him”, he said.
Shaikh Abdol-Qader Malek Raisi, who talked to the Sunni worshipers in Chabahar, said: “The Companions of the holy Prophet brought us the religion of Islam and the holy Qur’an, so it is forbidden to blaspheme them; their dignity must be preserved.”
“Just as Allah Almighty chose the Prophet, peace be upon him, He also chose his Companions from among the people,” he believed.
Mawlana Muhammad Ishaq Sepahi of Saravan said in the grand Mohammadi mosque: “We will not tolerate any negative behaviour against our sanctities. No religion or sect has grown and advanced with insults; offending others creates discord and division.”
The Friday Imam of Nashtifan/Khaaf said: “We condemn the disgraceful act of the Chief Justice of Iran. He has hurt the feelings of the Sunnis by expressing such remarks. The Chief must apologize to the Sunni community.”
Mawlana Abdos-Sattar Hosseinzahi urged on punishing the insulters during his Friday sermons of Honafa Mosque in Khash.
Shaikh Fazlullah Raisi asked the Iranian authorities to study the life of Mu’awiyah and imitate him instead of insulting him, during his Friday sermons in Sarbuk of Qasar-Qand, south of Balochistan.
Shaikh Abdol-Karim Alibai, the Friday prayer leader of Mashhad Rizeh/Taybad, called the Companions as the best and most beloved people before Allah after the prophets, and believed that all Muslims are indebted to the good deeds and actions of the Companions.
Mawlana Nawab Hoot of Konarak called the insult to the sanctities of Sunnis intolerable and asked the authorities to avoid from such bad behaviors.
Shaikh Ahmad Qohestani said in a part of his speech before the Jumu’ah prayers in Khaf: “There are many verses about the virtues of the Companions in the Qur’an. Therefore, they have a big place in the hearts of all Muslims.”
Mawlavi Mohammad Akram Koohi said during the Friday speech of Pashamag\Sarbaz, south easternmost of Balochistan: “Recently, the head of the country’s judiciary has offended Mu’awiyah, may Allah be pleased with him. Insulting such high-ranking Islamic personalities cannot be justified and tolerated.”
‘We hate such people’, he urged.