Iran’s Sunni leader:

Government, Valuable as Long as People Want it

Government, Valuable as Long as People Want it

Shaikh Abdol-Hamid considers the persecution of prisoners and forced confessions as violations of human rights. He calls on the governments to imitate the holy Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him, in dealing with opponents and prisoners. The most influential Iranian Sunni leader urged that governing is valuable as long as people support the system.
Talking to tens of thousands of people in Zahedan’s biggest Friday gathering on Feb. 3, 2023, the president of Darululoom Zahedan said: “The holy Prophet Mohammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, did not torture even a single prisoner. While they were the blood enemies of the holy Prophet, he freed them all. People suggested to the Prophet PBUH to torture the captives in order to defeat the enemies, but the Prophet did not allow beating even one person. He released all of them and said: we hope that they would find out the truth in the future.”
“Islam teaches us that prisoners should be treated well. The prisoner should not be beaten and treated brutally. No prisoner should be tortured to force confessions. Whether the prisoner is a woman or a man, his/her respect and dignity should be protected; because they are human beings. As human beings, not only as Muslims, we have a duty to treat everyone well. We should not look at their creed and race,” he said more.
The Iranian top Sunni cleric added: “Insulting the prisoner is forbidden. No one has the right to beat or torture a woman. Forced confession is a violation of the prisoner’s right. This is not in accordance with the teachings of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. We do not know those who permitted these acts how they think of Islam.”

The current situation of Iran is the result of closed doors of criticism
The eminent Iranian Sunni scholar considered the country’s current problems to be the result of closing the doors of criticism and stated: “Do not imprison the scholars and critics. Criticism opens the doors of goodness. What we see in the country today is the result of closing the doors of criticism. Writers and journalists should enjoy full freedom to reflect the facts. We must overcome our weaknesses and correct them.”
“The best system in the world is a system that respects the freedom of speech, and allows people to find their way in the shadow of criticism. Of course, I do not believe in destruction; criticism should be constructive and in accordance with reality, not based on lies and slanders. This is the method of the Prophet of Mercy, and the path of Sayyidana Ali and Ahl al-Bayt,” said the Iranian Sunni leader in his Friday sermons of Zahedan.

Governance is for the implementation of justice, not for collecting money
Insisting on the implementation of justice, the most outstanding Iranian Sunni scholar said: “The Caliph Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said: ‘governance has no value for me, and I have accepted the caliphate only because justice is valuable to me’. Governance is valuable when it is for the implementation of justice, and for taking the right of the oppressed from the oppressor, and for serving the people.”
“Government is worthy as long as people support it. If the people do not want it, why officials are suffering from running the affairs? What do they want to get? We are the most comfortable people; because we do not have any political responsibility in the state. If I am given a government post, I would never accept it. Governance is for the implementation of justice and for giving the right of the oppressed, not for material things and for collecting money,” he said in his Friday sermons.
“What a great personality the Caliph Ali was. He took the reins of the caliphate poor, and died poor. During his caliphate, Ali may Allah be pleased with him, did not collect anything for himself. Sayyidana Hasan, may Allah be pleased with him, ruled for six months. This was a big government, but Hassan handed over the government to Sayyidana Mu’awiyah; Hassan did not consider the dispute between Muslims to be good. He had the power to confront Mu’awiyah, and most of the Muslims were on his side,” Shaikh Abdol-Hamid added.
He continued: “If today our life was compatible with the life of Ahl al-Bayt and the Companions of the holy Prophet, peace be upon him, justice and morality would spread in the world. When we say we love Allah, we should follow His commands. If we say we love Ali, Hasan, Hussain, and Fatimah, but do not follow their ways, we are not on the right path. Those who love Ahl al-Bayt must imitate them in moralities.”

Mawlana Abdol-Majeed is a compassionate person / tolerate criticism of scholars
Regarding the intensifying pressures on the Sunni Ulama and scholars amid nationwide protests, the president of Darululoom Zahedan noted: “Mawlana Abdol-Majeed Moradzehi, Mawlana Gorgij, and Kurdish scholars have only spoken. If some of them have interviews with abroad media, tolerate them. The government and all systems should have broad vision. Scholars have a fatherly role for the nation and are benevolent. We are well-wishers to all. We believe that all human beings have rights and we all deserve mercy, and we should have mercy on others.”
“Mawlana Abdol -Majeed is a compassionate person. We hope he will return soon with the efforts of the provincial officials. Many top and compassionate scholars of Kurdish areas who have only spoken must be released. Other prisoners, including men and women, youth, artists and academics, should be released too. Sit with them and do not inquisition or threaten them. If they are wrong, convict them, and if they are right, accept from them,” said the Friday Imam of Sunnis in Zahedan.

Drug executions have not been in the interest of the system and society
The Iranian top Sunni scholar referred to the execution of two Baloch young brothers in Kerman, saying: “What shocked me a lot was the execution of two brothers in Kerman for the crime of drug trafficking. I said that it was the ultimate cruelty when a judge sentenced two brothers to death. I wish they would not execute at least one of them. However, I believe both of them should not have been executed. I am against execution and I believe that no drug execution was in the interest of the system and the society so far.”
“Ordinary people do not take drugs and many hands are involved. I wish those who drafted and approved these laws would show mercy. All our laws need revision. Who will take care of the children who become orphans? Have we been able to take care of those children whose fathers you have executed?” said the president of Darululoom Zahedan.

Our currency should have been one of the most valuable currencies in the region
Emphasizing the need to pay special attention to the interior affairs of the country, the Friday Khateeb of Zahedan said: “I have emphasized that you should think of the interest of the country, this is very important. Instead of focusing on foreign affairs, you should give priority to the domestic affairs. In foreign affairs, the government should focus on peace, and strengthening ties with others. There is a drastic need of focusing on domestic affairs, and building the inside.”
“If you focused on domestic affairs instead of foreign affairs, today our currency would have been one of the most valuable currencies in the region. Today, we have progressed in making weapons; this is good for our security, but if these capitals were spent on the development of the country, it would establish peace.”
“I have talked with the Minister of Industries and the First Vice President during Mr. Rouhani’s presidency and said that their views on industries were wrong. I said: the industry will be destroyed when you take tax from producers; rather, you need to strengthen the producer so that the industry expands,” he said more.

I believe seculars should have been employed in state affairs
The most influential Iranian Sunni leader believed that capable people of different faiths and backgrounds should serve the community whether they are laics, secular or of another thought.
He said: “The view should have been trans-ethnic, trans-religious, and trans-sectarian. I believe that seculars should have been employed in the affairs of the government. Do not blame me! I have written letters to other countries about this, too. Not all people are religious, but they have merit and honesty. Engage them. This policy is correct.”
“Every president, official, and government should consider the merits, abilities, and capabilities of the people regardless of their race, gender, creed, or orientation,” Shaikh Abdol-Hamid underlined.

When we say respect the rights of the nation, they insult
The Friday prayer leader of Sunnis in Zahedan continued his speech by saying: “When we said respect the rights of people, some insulted us. We urge on peace, and some say no to peace! I said we want a ‘just peace’ not an ‘unfair peace’. We said the same thing here.”

The attackers of the mosques are far away from Islam
Regarding the terrorist attack in a mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan, the most influential Iranian Sunni leader condemned this crime and said: “It was very shocking for me that a fatal explosion took place in a mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan. It was really a heartbreaking incident. Who are those who blow up mosques? No one has claimed responsibility for this explosion, but such people are far away from Islam. If they imagine that they will go to the heaven, they should know that they are not allowed to be near the paradise. What religion is this? It is not the religion of the Prophet and the Qur’an to attack mosques. Such incidents are very painful.”
In another part of his speech, while expressing his sympathy with the people of Khoi who suffered massive damages in the earthquake, the Iranian top Sunni leader said: “Another heartbreaking incident happened this week. In Khoi earthquake, our dear compatriots were displaced, martyred and injured. They are in cold weather in this season. I would like to advise both the officials and the people to help them. Dear people of Iran and officials should carry out their duty.”

The injured people of Zahedan’s Bloody Friday incident insist on punishment of perpetrators behind the attack
Regarding the meeting with the injured people of Bloody Friday in Zahedan, Imam of the Grand Makki Mosque of Zahedan stated: “I had a meeting with the injured of Zahedan’s Bloody Friday this week. Nearly 300 people were injured and about 100 people were martyred in this incident. Almost fifteen people have been blinded and some have had their spinal cord severed. The request of all the injured is to handle the case. We expect the perpetrators of this crime to be punished.”
He referred to the bad situation in Zahedan city after installing new check points, saying: “The security environment is affecting the economy of the city. According to the news that we have received, some traders are about to migrate to other cities, and this affects the economy of Zahedan city and the people of the province.”
“I recommend that the officials should not be worried about security. If the situation is normal, the security will be better. As long as people cooperate, we will have no problem with security. We all want security and we have been maintaining it until now, and we have not allowed anyone to disrupt security and hit it,” said Shaikh Abdol-Hamid in his last points.

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