Creating obstacles for Sunni worshipers and sealing some prayer-houses in Tehran and other parts of Iran have forced the notable Sunni scholars of Iran to express their deep concerns.
According to reports received by “SunniOnline”, Sunni scholars asked the elite officials, including the Supreme Leader and president, to stop and control ‘fanatic elements’ which cause problems for Sunni worshipers.
Mawlana Mohammad Hussein Gorgij, a prominent Sunni leader in the northeastern regions of Iran said in his Friday sermon Namaz (daily prayers) has no danger for the establishment.
He said, “Those who claim Namaz is a threat for the society, they should be identified and their aims should be discovered. They just want to destabilize unity of the Islamic society of Iran. Don’t bring the Shia-Sunni conflicts to Iran.”
The rector of Farouqia seminary in Galikash, Golestan province of Iran, urged, “Namaz is our red line and we will never compromise on it. If you give the legal right of people, there is no need of the security forces. Namaz and other principles are our due rights.”
Mawlana Abdol-Samad Saadati, another eminent Sunni scholar from Saravan district shed light on the importance of Salah and said, “Facilitating the way for offering prayers is one of the important duties of any Muslim state.”
“If anyone offers prayers, don’t ask him why you do offer prayers? But the one who doesn’t offer prayers should be questioned. Muslims must not have any problem for establishing congregation and offering prayers wherever it is needed,” the rector of Darululoom Zangian, Saravan added more.
Mawlana Mohammad Tayyib Mollazai, Friday imam of Masjid-e-Nour in Iranshahr criticized the restrictions for Namaz in some metropolises and called on the officials to stop the ‘extremists’.
He said, “The question is that does Namaz create insecurity? We have no political activities in mosques; we want to offer prayers in congregation. Sunni Ulama have been demanding for a Masjid in Tehran for 36 years, but there has not been any attention to this legal demand.”
“It is regrettable that restrictions have been imposed on some prayer-houses of Sunnis in Tehran and some other parts of the country. Such acts don’t suit a country that carries the flag of unity in the world and invites all for the unity conference,” the rector of Shams-ul-Uloom seminary underlined.
Mawlana Mohammad Othman Qalandarzahi, imam of Al-Khaleel Grand Masjid in Khash city also reacted to the limitations for Sunnis in some parts of the country and said, “Offering Namaz has no political and sectarian aspect. It does not need official permission but it is a divine order and permission for Muslims to offer prayers.”
“Those wayward elements who seal prayer-houses should know a day comes when they would face the Almighty and His punishments. Allah says “who are more unjust than those who prevent the name of Allah from being mentioned in His mosques and strive toward their destruction.”
Before it, in the last week Shaikh Abdol-Hamid expressed his deep concerns on the subject and said, “There is no sensitivity about Salah/namaz in any corner of the world. We will object if anyone create problems for a Shia or Sunni establisher of prayers in Muslim or non-Muslim countries.”
“We see in the blessing month of Ramadan that people face problems to offer prayers and security police ban worshipers to enter prayer-houses. Aren’t we brothers? Aren’t we Iranians? Why there is a difference between Zahedan and Tehran?” he asked.
The outstanding Iranian Sunni scholar urged, “All parts of Iran belong to every Iranian. We expect the authorities will ensure our freedoms and we will be free to offer prayers without any fear and hesitation.”