The most influential Iranian Sunni leader strongly criticized mass executions in Iran and called them, painful, shocking and devastating.
“These executions are contrary to the teachings of the holy Prophet peace be upon him and the Rashdin Caliphs including the Caliph Ali may Allah be pleased with them, “said Shaikh Abdol-Hamid.
He was talking to tens of thousands of worshippers in Zahedan’s biggest Friday gathering on February 23, 2024.
The Iranian top Sunni leader continued his speech by saying: “The executions of the holy Prophet’s era did not even reach as much as the number of fingers of one hand. Unfortunately, executions in the country has increased. People are executed on various charges, including on the charges of drug trafficking and on political cases. Not only these executions have worried the people of Iran, but also shocked the world. Due to executions, foreign networks increase the propaganda against the country.”
“We are well-wishers to the country and to the nation. We don’t want that the foreign socials defame our country by saying these issues, but we want reform and change. I have already talked about executions but today I am going to explain this issue with scientific reasons. Often, the judges, refer to verse 33 of Surah Ma’idah, when they issue death sentence against accuses, convicting them of “moharebeh”, an Islamic legal term meaning “waging war against God”. It should be said that in order to understand the Qur’an, we must refer to the Seerah of the holy Prophet peace be upon him because the Prophet understood the Qur’an better than us. The main mission of the holy Prophet was to recite and explain the verses of the holy Qur’an to people. Therefore, we must follow the life of the holy Prophet and see how he acted, said the Friday prayer leader of Sunnis in Zahedan.
The president of Darululoom Zahedan added: “If we look at the Seerah of the holy Prophet, we will find that all the murders that took place during that period, may not even reach as much as the fingers of one hand. Most of the murders were due to retributions. The purpose of verse 33 of Surah Ma’idah is that if someone commits murder, he should be killed, but if he does not commit murder, he should not be killed. Moharebeh and corruption on earth are among the words that, if their meanings are applied generally, many people are involved in corruption and deserve punishment. Sins such as lying, slander, etc. are also corruption but no one is killed for committing these sins. Even a person who commits theft is not killed. Islam has provided other punishments for thieves”.
The judge should prevent the execution of sentences as much as possible
The eminent Iranian Sunni scholar of Zahedan called on judges to consider the social expediency in judgments and said: “It was a principle among jurists that they have tried to prevent execution of sentences. Once a person attended to the holy Prophet peace be upon him and confessed that he had committed adultery, the holy Prophet rejected his claim and said to him: Perhaps you have committed an action lower than adultery. The Prophet turned his face away from that person. He repeated his confession and the Prophet rejected to prove his claim. It is stated in the principles of jurisprudence that if a person confesses to adultery before the judge, the judge should reject the implementation of sentence as much as possible.”
“The second case that the judge should try to prevent its implementation is the retribution. Killing human beings under forced confession is against Shariah and against the country’s constitution. Such a murder is very dangerous, “Shaikh Abdol-Hamid added more.
Our biggest evidence for opposing the execution is the performance of the Prophet and his successors and Caliph Ali
Caliph Ali did not kill even a single prisoner of war
The most outstanding Iranian Sunni scholar went on to explain the methods of the holy Prophet and his successors in the implementation of sentences. He said: “During the period of the holy Prophet peace be upon him, the hypocrites spread the secrets of Muslims to the enemies, but the Prophet did not execute even one of them and referred them to Allah. When the Prophet was offered to kill the hypocrites, he refused and said: If I do this, the world will say that Muhammad is killing his own people. The Rashidin Caliphs also did not execute anyone. How many people were executed during the Caliphate of Caliph Ali? Caliph Ali did not even imprison the captives and did not kill any of them. There were no executions during the six-month caliphate of Hassan may Allah be pleased with him”.
“In the interpretation of verse 33 of Surah Ma’idah, the death sentence is issued when moharebeh and corruption on earth, are carried out with murder. If a person does not commit murder, he/she should not be killed only because he/she was affiliated with armed groups. If a person carries guns but he/ she has not committed murder, he/she should not be killed, “said Imam of the Grand Makki Mosque of Zahedan.
He continued: “The Caliph Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, did not kill the prisoners of the battles of Jamal, Seffeen and Nahrwan, and neither did the other side kill the prisoners. We do not have anyone higher than these elders. We follow the Seerah of the Prophet, the Rashidin Caliphs, Caliph Ali and Caliph Hasan.”
The interpretation of verse 33 of chapter Ma’idah on executions is not compatible with the interpretation of the Prophet, his companions, and moderate Islam
He added: “Executions (in Iran), which are often inferred from verse 33 of Surah Ma’idah, is not in accordance with the Seerah of the holy Prophet, Companions and Ahlul-Bayt. According to the reading of moderate Islam, these executions are not correct. These executions have negative consequences for the country, people and families in Dunya and Hereafter.”
“Due to death penalties, many families have become homeless. In Sistan-Baluchistan, due to drug executions, so many families became homeless and children have been deprived of education. Therefore, instead of executing the people, it would have been better to consider other punishments for them, such as fines and prison, “Shaikh Abdol-Hamid said.
Israel’s attack on Rafah is against reason and logic
The most influential Iranian Sunni expressed his concerns about Israel’s decision to attack Rafah and said: “The veto of the resolution of the UN Security Council regarding the immediate ceasefire in Gaza, by the United States was far away from justice. Israel has so far massacred nearly 30,000 people of Gaza, including women, children and defenseless people.
Israel continues war in Gaza and says it will attack Rafah to kill all Hamas members. Israel insists on attacking the city of Rafah, which is the last place of Gaza’s refugees. More than one and a half million people from Gaza have taken refuge in Rafah”.
The president of Darululoom Zahedan questioned: “Israel wants to kill all Palestinians in order to eliminate Hamas! Is this compatible with reason and logic, fairness and humanity?”
He added: “The people of Gaza have nowhere else to go. The United Nations, Americans and Europeans say that the people of Gaza have nowhere to go, but the extreme Israeli government says that it will not won until it destroys Hamas. Do you want to destroy all the people of Palestine because of a few people of Hamas? All issues cannot be solved by military means and through killing people, and this is against reason and logic. There are other ways to adopt. Solve your problems through political means”.
Referring to the veto of the UN Security Council’s resolution by the United States regarding the establishment of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the Friday Imam of Zahedan said: “The United States vetoed the NN Security Council’s resolution regarding the immediate cease-fire in Gaza. This action was against reason and justice. All the people of the world are unpleasant with American’s this action and blame it. When the Americans themselves say that they are against Israel’s attack on Rafah, why they vetoed the ceasefire resolution in Gaza?”
“An immediate ceasefire should be established in Gaza and the prisoners should be released as soon as possible. Israelis and Palestinians must negotiate with each other. The occupied lands should be returned to the Palestinian people and a fair agreement should be established. The Palestinian people must determine their own destiny and this long-standing dispute must end, “Shaikh Abdol-Hamid insisted.
Political and drug executions have not had any results
Iran’s top Sunni leader continued his Friday sermons of Zahedan and said: “The executions did not have any positive result in the country. In the past, a judge executed a large number of people due to political cases. Maybe he will be punished in the hereafter. In fighting drug trafficking, the authorities must have comprehensive programs. They should have economic planning and efforts to create jobs.”
“Political executions have not been preventing people from their demands. The Iranian people have legitimate demands. They are well-wishers and compassionate to the country. Today, people suffer from poverty and economic problems. The value of the national currency has fallen. People want to resolve the material and spiritual problems of the country and make the country well, “said the president of Darululoom Zahedan.
Shaikh Abdol-Hamid referred to the problems of the people of Ahwaz and said: “The people of Ahwaz, are our Arab brothers. They have complaints. They go to jail for religious reasons, While the constitution has given freedoms in belief. In Iran, different ethnicities live together. All love their homeland and want to maintain the fraternity. We have fraternity with all human beings and think of Islam and humanity. The dignity of Islam and Iran is vital to us, “the prominent Iranian Sunni scholar urged on freedoms.
He added: “All Iranian ethnicities have brotherhood with each other. They think of the territorial integrity of the country. Iranians want authorities to stop all executions except retaliation for murdering. This is in the interest of everyone”.
You fight cyberspace and want people to be deprived of information
The Iranians want justice and freedom
Shaikh Abdol-Hamid further insisted on the implementation of justice and said: “The Iranian nation wants justice and fairness. People want that their wealth be spent inside not outside, because they are hungry. They want to have reputation in the world”.
Shaikh Abdol-Hamid insisted on freedom of press and said: “The freedom of press and media is the main demand of the nation. The nation wants freedom of press and media. You fight cyberspace and want the nation not to have information about the issues, while people see that there is freedom in the world. They see everything.”
The people of Balochistan are protesting against the extraction of Taftan mines
The authorities should stop the extraction until the problems are resolved
Referring to the concerns of the people of Balochistan about the extraction of gold mines from Taftan Mountain, the eminent Iranian Sunni scholar said: “The Mount of Taftan considered as Baluchistan’s forehead. Tourists from inside and outside of the country have been visiting this area. The Mount of Taftan is one of the main water resources in the province. The people of Taftan are very good and hardworking people. They are mostly engaged in agriculture and livestock jobs.”
“The people of Taftan call on the officials to stop extraction of gold mines. People believe that the mining activities hit the environment and destroy the agriculture and the water resources. The lives of people is disturbed. This is the demand of all people of the province to stop mine extraction in this areas. Mining should not hit the environment, nor eliminate water resources or cause people to move from this areas.”
He insisted: “This problem should be resolved and the satisfaction of the people must be achieved”.
“I call on the authorities to stop mining extraction until the problems are resolved, he said in his last points.
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