Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol Hamid, today (January 31 , 2025), in the Friday prayer ceremony in Zahedan, referred to the current situation of the people of Gaza following the end of the war and Israel’s aggression against this region. While urging the general public to help the people of Gaza rebuild their devastated city, he also called on world governments to “uphold justice” and “ensure a just and permanent resolution of the Palestinian issue.”
Excessive Demands and Injustice Have Prevented the Resolution of the 70-Year-Old Conflict in Palestine
According to the official website of the Sunni Friday prayer office in Zahedan, Mawlana Abdol Hamid stated: “The situation in Gaza is evident to everyone. Nearly fifty thousand people in Gaza have been martyred, and the city has been destroyed. The events in Gaza have shown how, when a person is arrogant and has power at their disposal, they can oppress their fellow human beings.”
He further added:
“Western governments, which claim to uphold civilization and human rights more than others, host the United Nations and human rights organizations in America, and yet support Israel, must respect human rights more.”
The Friday prayer leader of Zahedan said:
“The seventy-year-old conflict in the occupied territories remains unresolved because people make excessive demands and refuse to accept justice and dialogue. In the past, it has been Israel that has rejected justice and negotiation.”
The New U.S. Government Should Seek a Just and Permanent Resolution of the Palestinian Issue
Mawlana Abdol Hamid emphasized:
“The expectation from the new U.S. administration and European governments is to establish a fair resolution and agreement for Palestine so that everyone receives their due rights, and a lasting settlement is achieved between Israel and the Palestinians. Palestinian lands must be returned to their rightful owners, and no one should seek to seize others’ land.”
He further stated:
“The security of the Middle East is tied to a just and fair resolution of the Palestinian issue. Mr. Trump and his administration should consider a fair resolution for Palestine. Any U.S. or European government that can achieve a just resolution for Palestine will gain international recognition and a major diplomatic advantage.”
Security and Lasting Peace Cannot Be Achieved Through Oppression and Injustice
Mawlana Abdol Hamid continued to emphasize the necessity of “justice” and said:
“I advise Americans, Europeans, and all Muslim and non-Muslim governments in the region to uphold justice.”
He added:
“The world that today claims to fight terrorism must understand that security and lasting peace cannot be achieved through oppression and injustice.”
Justice and Freedom Can Secure a Nation and Satisfy Its People
The Friday prayer leader of Zahedan further stated:
“Religious and ideological freedom is a fundamental human right. Once the truth becomes clear to a person, no one has the right to force another to accept it. The prophets were only tasked with preaching and conveying the religion; they had no other responsibility. Allah has given people the freedom to choose their faith. Show people the path to paradise and hell, and let them decide which way to go. You cannot force anyone into paradise.”
He continued:
“Justice, fairness, and freedom can make a country secure and its people content. Political freedoms, freedom of thought, expression, and the press are fundamental human rights that all countries must ensure for their citizens. Criticism, expression, and the press must be free, and no one should be imprisoned or restricted for these reasons.”
Solving the Country’s Economic Problems Requires “Serious Determination” and “Policy Changes”
Mawlana Abdol Hamid emphasized: “The solution to all problems lies in ‘dialogue’ and ‘justice.’ One of the country’s senior officials recently stated that anyone with solutions or suggestions for economic problems should present them. To resolve economic issues, justice must be implemented. Justice is not limited to the judiciary; it must be upheld in all sectors and aspects of governance.”
He further stated:
“Until domestic and foreign policies are reformed and aligned with justice, the country’s economic problems will not be resolved. In the past, one U.S. dollar was worth seven tomans in Iran, but now it has exceeded 80,000 tomans. Even if you manage to bring the exchange rate down to 7,000 tomans, that would be a great achievement.”
The Friday prayer leader of Zahedan added:
“Lowering the dollar exchange rate and solving economic issues require serious determination, strong efforts, and major changes in domestic and foreign policies. Although we are not very hopeful, if there is true determination, solving economic and other national problems will be possible.”
Purification of the Soul is the Greatest Jihad / Make Use of the Opportunities in Sha’ban and Ramadan for Self-Improvement and Reform
Shaikh -ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol Hamid, in the first part of his speech at the Friday Prayer ceremony in Zahedan (January 31, 2025), referred to the purification of the soul as the greatest jihad and emphasized utilizing the opportunities of the months of Sha’ban and Ramadan for purification and self-improvement.
According to the official website of the Friday Prayer Imam of Zahedan, Shaikh -ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol Hamid, after reciting the verse:
“He has succeeded who purifies himself and remembers the name of his Lord and prays. But you prefer the life of this world” [Quran, Surah Al-A’la: 14-16], stated: “Allah the Almighty has commanded humans to purify and reform themselves. The purification of the rebellious soul, which constantly urges toward sin and evil, is the greatest jihad. Everyone must prevent the soul from disobeying Allah the Almighty and compel it to obey the Lord.”
The First Call of the Prophets was “Tawhid” and “Purification of the Heart from Polytheism and Disbelief”
The Friday Prayer speaker of Zahedan said: “The first mission of the Prophets, who are the greatest healers and teachers, was the purification of the soul and the cleansing of hearts from disbelief and polytheism. The Prophets, through revelation, used the knowledge of Allah and worked to cleanse the hearts of people from disbelief, as Allah says: ‘And We did not send any messenger before you except that We revealed to him that there is no deity except Me, so worship Me’** [Quran, Surah Al-Anbiya: 25].
He explained: “Tawhid (the oneness of Allah) is the first call that every Prophet has made to their people. By believing in Allah, the heart is cleansed from polytheism and worship of other than Allah, and the connection between the person and Allah is established. The heart turns to the worship of the Lord, who is the only Creator, Sovereign, Sustainer, and Deity. The first call of the Prophets was to purify the heart from polytheism and disbelief. This purification should continue throughout one’s life.”
He further stated: “The Prophets’ efforts were to purify people from outward and inward polytheism. Hypocrisy is a form of hidden polytheism and a type of shirk. Although hypocrisy does not take a person out of the fold of religion, it is a great sin. It is narrated that prayer performed with hypocrisy is polytheism, fasting with hypocrisy is polytheism, and the pilgrimage with hypocrisy is polytheism. Prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, charity, and all acts of worship should be performed solely for Allah. When a person does acts of worship for the sake of others or with the intent of showing off, Allah does not accept them. Even worldly work, when done for Allah’s sake and with divine motivation, becomes an act of worship. A person can transform their worldly actions into acts of faith by performing them with sincerity and for the sake of Allah.”
Arrogance is the Source of Corruption and Extremely Dangerous
Mawlana Abdol Hamid further stated: “The greatest purification is the purification of the heart, and the thing that has caused the most misfortune throughout history is ‘self-centeredness.’ A person becomes trapped in arrogance and self-importance, considering themselves superior to others in terms of lineage, wealth, power, numbers, and beauty, and they are deceived. Allah the Almighty says: ‘O human, what has deceived you concerning your Lord, the Generous?’ What has made you arrogant? Has your knowledge, education, inventions, or innovations caused your arrogance? What has made you forget the Creator, who made you from a lifeless drop, and gave you beauty and power?”
He continued: “The greatest source of arrogance comes from the abilities and beauties that Allah has given to humans. A person does not consider who has given them this intellect, body, and stature, and they become negligent and proud. Whatever we have, we have received from Allah. We should be proud of Him and recognize His greatness.”
He added: “The heart must be free from arrogance, egocentrism, and vanity, and a person should consider themselves the weakest and most sinful. Arrogance is a source of corruption and a very dangerous sin. Murder, oppression, and all sins arise from arrogance and rebellion. What caused Satan’s curse and his expulsion from the divine presence was arrogance. Arrogance caused him to become one of the disbelievers. When Satan refused to obey Allah’s command to respect Adam, Allah asked him whether he thought of himself as superior without justification or whether he truly believed he was better. Satan responded by claiming that he was better than Adam because he was created from fire, while Adam was created from clay. Allah cursed him and expelled him from the ranks of the illuminated angels.”
Prayer Removes Arrogance from the Heart
Mawlana Abdol Hamid said: “Sincere prayer and prostration remove arrogance from the heart. Satan became arrogant because of his refusal to prostrate. This shows that prostration, prayer, and worship are the greatest tests and the best solutions for removing arrogance. For someone who reflects on what they were created from and observes their weaknesses, humility will arise in their heart. Humility and sincerity are among the best traits.”
Love for Wealth Should Not Overpower Love for Allah / Charity Removes the Trait of Stinginess
The head of Darul-Uloom Zahedan continued: “You must give charity from your wealth for the sake of Allah the Almighty. Charity removes excessive and misplaced love for the world from the heart, and by giving charity, stinginess is removed, protecting a person from the intense love and greed for money.”
He added: “Love for wealth is correct and necessary, and a person should protect and increase their wealth, but the love of wealth should never surpass love for Allah. First comes love for Allah. When a person loves Allah more, they fulfill their financial obligations, take care of the rights of their spouse and children, and pay the rights of others and Allah’s command over their wealth. Love for wealth should never overpower a person; rather, a person should have mastery over their wealth.”
Sha’ban and Ramadan are Months of Returning to Allah, Prayer, Charity, and Good Deeds
Mawlana Abdol Hamid, in another part of his speech, referred to the beginning of Sha’ban and the approaching blessed month of Ramadan, emphasizing the importance of spiritually utilizing these months. He said: “Sha’ban is a month of reform and purification. We must crush our arrogance and reform ourselves both internally and externally, leaving behind our sins.”
He continued: “Sha’ban and especially Ramadan are months of returning to Allah, prayer, charity, and good deeds. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) fasted in the month of Sha’ban after Ramadan. Fasting is one of the best acts of worship that has a profound impact on the building, purification, and reform of a person.”
The Friday Prayer Imam of Zahedan stated: “Sha’ban prepares the person for the larger season of worship, which is Ramadan. In this month, we should try to fast, engage in more recitation and remembrance of Allah the Almighty. During this month, let us increase our return to Allah, repentance, and seeking forgiveness, working towards purifying the rebellious and disobedient soul so that it becomes tamed, reformed, and without defiance.”
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