Comparing the world’s present situation to the past, the most influential Iranian Sunni leader considered the new worldview as the basic need of the current situation. Shaikh Abdol-Hamid advised governments and communities of the world to change their views and policies and move on according to the world’s new needs and conditions.
Talking to tens of thousands of worshippers in Zahedan’s biggest Friday gathering on the first day of December 2023, the Iranian top Sunni leader referred to Israel’s invasion of Gaza saying: “The international community should respond for not finding out a fundamental solution to the Palestinian issue. The present conditions of the world are very different from the conditions the past. The people of today are not people of yesterday and the people of the last century. Today, people are aware of what happens in the world and are not succumbed to religious and ethnic prejudices. They are truth seekers and judge based on the facts.”
“All over the world, rulers and scholars must see the world’s present conditions. The current situation of the world needs a new worldview. No one can deny the facts. In the Israeli-Palestinian war in Gaza, people see the conditions and realities, “he added more.”
The eminent Iranian Sunni scholar went on to say: “In the past, some (countries) may have fought to expand their territories through occupation, but today the situation is different. People have been observing the war scenes in Gaza. People of the world, including Europeans and Westerners even Jews, except religious fanatic Jews, are against this war. What Israel has done in Gaza is to the detriment of Israelis.”
He further said: “If the Palestinians or any government in the world commit such actions, it will be harmful to them because the people do not accept massacres and destruction of cities. In the current situation, problems should be solved through debate and negotiations.”
He questioned: “Why did this difference last seventy-five years? Why Palestinians, Israelis and the international community have not reached a basic solution?”
“The world, especially those who support Israel, must answer why they could not convince Israel. If a Palestinian or an Israeli is killed, they are all human beings, “said the Friday Imam of Zahedan.
Oppression, injustice and occupation of Palestine are the roots of terrorism and extremism
As Israel resumes attacks on Gaza after a temporary ceasefire, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid says: “Unfortunately, Israel’s attacks on Gaza have started today and heavy bombardment began on Gaza. We hate this war. Even the governments which support Israel are unpleasant and say that Israel must stop the war. This destructive war is not in the interest of Israel, nor in the interest of anyone else. As it has already been said that the oppression and occupation of Palestine is the root of terrorism, it should be clear that the root of so many violence and extremisms have originated from occupation of Palestine and Israeli attacks on Palestinians.”
“Oppression and injustice are the source of terrorism, extremism. The implementation of justice, and seeing the facts are best ways to fight terrorism and extremism; this helps to keep the world safe and secure, “Shaikh Abdol-Hamid believed.
“Today’s conditions are not war conditions. The world should avoid war. We wish to witness the end of the 75-year conflict in Palestine. We wish the return of the occupied territories to the Palestinians and the resolve of this conflict forever, “the prominent Iranian Sunni leader said in his Friday sermons of Zahedan.
I was happy when I heard Hamas treated the Israeli prisoners well
The most outstanding Iranian Sunni scholar alluded to the release of Israeli captives and said: “I was worried about how Hamas treats Israeli prisoners. It was pleasant when the Israeli prisoners said that the Hamas forces respected them and treated them well.”
“I was happy that they (the Hamas) obeyed the Islamic rules in this case. People of the world will be satisfied when Islam is practiced in all fields, because Islam is close to the nature. Islam is the religion of mercy, forgiveness, justice and fairness. If there is no compassion and forgiveness, there will be nothing in Islam.” “Islam is the religion of humanity. We have commonalities with all people of the world; these commonalities should always be considered, “said Shaikh Abdol-Hamid.
Narrow religious opinion will not solve problems
The eminent Iranian Sunni scholar believed that the clerics and leaders should have a broad vision and said: “I have said many times that the circle of religious view is limited. Narrow religious view is not effective anywhere in the world, especially in countries where different ethnicities, attitudes and religions live together. At least the vision should be Islamic because Islamic vision is board and also close to human nature. Islam says that everyone should think about humanity and that everyone’s faith is related to him/her. Everyone answers God by him/herself.”
“If you think about humanity you will achieve the satisfaction of people. Islam gives everyone his/her due right and dignity. Islam has taught us not to torture captives and prisoners. Islam orders to respect the captive, to give the prisoner the food even better than you eat, “Shaikh Abdol-Hamid explained the Islamic conduct in treating captives and all human beings.
“Humiliating captives is against the teachings of Islam. Treating captives and prisoners well, has a positive effect all over the world, “he believed.
Countries that do not consider the new conditions will lose their people
The Friday prayer leader of Sunnis in Zahedan urged on consideration of the world’s current conditions and said: “Today the winner in the world is the one who moves on according to the needs of the current condition. I have warned in the past in many conferences that the conditions of the world have changed. I have said to the seminary scholars of both Shiites and Sunnis: if you do not change the views in accordance with the current conditions of the world, you will face problems and people will separate from you.”
“If the governments of the world do not consider the new conditions and do not change themselves, people will be separated from them. We must see the youth. Today, the majority of our country’s population is young. Young generation have different believes and expectations and we must take these issues into consideration. Today’s women also have much more different thoughts and morals than the women of the past, “Shaikh Abdol-Hamid believed.
“We must consider the conditions of the youth and women and be aware of the situation of society. Today’s world is a different world. I have advised many times to the families, to consult with girls and ask them about their opinions in marriage, “said Imam of the Grand Makki Mosque of Zahedan in his last points of his Friday speech of Zahedan.
Comments