In his address prior to the Friday prayers (July 3, 2026), Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol-Hamid pointed to the critical economic and financial situation of the people. He identified “political instability” as the fundamental cause of the country’s economic instability and emphasized the need to “abandon the failed policies of the past” and “adopt new policies and mechanisms.”
The Most Important Duty of a Ruler is the “Provision of Justice”; for a Ruler to “Discriminate” and “Deviate from Justice” is Absolutely Forbidden
The Friday Imam of Sunnis in Zahedan, Mawlana Abdol-Hamid, stated in a segment of his Friday prayer sermon: Jihad is not merely fighting against an aggressor and occupier; rather, “establishing justice” is the greatest jihad for those in government and power, and no government or ruler has a more important duty and responsibility than establishing justice.
He further added: A ruler must view his nation with an equal eye. It is absolutely forbidden for a ruler to deviate from justice and engage in discrimination. Discrimination and inequality are against Islam. Ensuring justice, equality, and freedom of the pen and expression are among the core emphases of the Islamic faith.
Welcome “Constructive Criticism” and Do Not Summon or Arrest Critics / Do Not Issue “Mohareb” Rulings Against Those Protesting Various Issues
The Friday Imam of Sunnis in Zahedan stated: A society devoid of constructive criticism drifts toward corruption and deviates from the right path. Rulers and officials should welcome critics and the well-wishers of society, especially academics, religious scholars, and intellectuals. Scholars, academics, elders, and influential figures must also speak the truth and concern themselves with reform.
Addressing the officials, he said: Listen to the words of well-wishers and experts, and consult with them. Let the people speak. Do not summon and arrest critics.
The Friday Imam of Sunnis in Zahedan further added: Do not issue the ruling of “Mohareb” (waging war against God) against those who have protested the economic and other issues of the country; this is not the right approach. “Moharebah,” as mentioned in the Holy Quran, has a specific definition, and the best definition of it is the one understood by the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), Hazrat Ali, and the Rightly Guided Caliphs from the Quranic verse.
Past Policies Have Proven Ineffective; Adopt “New Policies and Mechanisms” / The Most Important Duty of Officials in the Current Situation is to Improve the Living Standards of the Iranian People
Continuing his remarks, Mawlana Abdol-Hamid pointed to the economic hardships of the people and the country, stating: Economic problems are rampant in the country. Currency and the economy are suffering from turmoil and instability, and the root cause of this turmoil is political instability.
He added: If there is political stability, justice, and equality in the country, and if the country’s policies are set on the right track, all matters—including the economy—will stabilize, and the country will not face imbalances in any sector.
The Friday Imam of Sunnis in Zahedan emphasized: Experience has proven that past policies have not been effective. Abandon the policies and laws that have failed, and adopt new policies and mechanisms according to the current circumstances to achieve the satisfaction of the people. In the present situation, the most important duty of the country’s officials is to address internal problems and improve the living standards of the Iranian people.
Obedience to Allah the Almighty and the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) is the greatest jihad
Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol-Hamid, in the first part of his speech at the Friday prayer ceremony in Zahedan, explained the broad dimensions of “jihad in the path of Allah.”
He listed “struggling against the carnal soul and obeying the commands of Allah the Almighty and the Messenger of Allah (PBUH),” “enjoining good and forbidding evil,” “defending the truth,” and “confronting sins and social dilemmas” as clear examples of “jihad.”
Mawlana Abdol-Hamid, after reciting the verse “And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty. [It is] the religion of your father, Abraham. Allah named you ‘Muslims’ before [in former scriptures] and in this [revelation] that the Messenger may be a witness over you and you may be witnesses over the people. So establish prayer and give zakah and hold fast to Allah. He is your protector; and excellent is the protector, and excellent is the helper.” [Al-Hajj: 78], stated: Allah the Almighty has commanded us Muslims to perform “jihad” in the path of Allah with our lives and wealth, to move on the path of truth tooth and nail, and to spread the truth in society. Many assume that “jihad” is only fighting against aggressors, occupiers, and non-Muslims who have an arrogant nature, refuse to submit to justice and fairness, and violate the rights of others; while this is merely one instance of “jihad,” and the levels of jihad are far beyond this.
He identified “jihad against the carnal soul” as the greatest jihad and said: It is mentioned in a Hadith that “The Mujahid is the one who strives against his own soul in obedience to Allah.” The greatest mujahid and conqueror is the one who fights the rebellious and carnal soul and overcomes his own desires. This jihad is obligatory on a person as long as he is alive, to restrain the soul from oppression and violating the rights of others, and to set it on the path of the Quran and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH).
You can also be a “mujahid” by practicing divine rulings and commandments in your home
The Friday Imam of Sunnis in Zahedan continued: Acting upon divine commandments and obeying Allah the Almighty and the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) is the greatest jihad. The carnal soul prevents a person from paying zakat; for this reason, someone to whom God has given a capital of forty billion tomans finds it difficult to pay one billion as zakat. This is while one billion is very little compared to forty billion, and by paying zakat, a person not only earns reward and attains the pleasure of the Lord but also brings blessings to his wealth and capital.
He continued: A person who stays awake all night, sleeps near the call to prayer (Adhan), and does not wake up for the morning prayer (Fajr) has not performed jihad against the carnal soul. Therefore, jihad is in your home, and you can be a “mujahid” by acting upon the divine commandments in your own house.
Staying awake at night and sleeping during the day is a calamity that has gripped our society
Mawlana Abdol-Hamid further expressed concern and regret over the “increase in staying awake at night in society” and said: Sleeping after the Isha prayer is part of the Sunnah. The Prophet (PBUH) used to advise the companions to sleep after the Isha prayer and wake up in the last third of the night for prayer and worship.
He added: Staying awake at night and sleeping during the day is a calamity that has unfortunately gripped our society. Regrettably, many youths spend the entire night busy with their mobile phones, staying awake, and then sleep during the days. Meanwhile, sleeping early at night, which is a need of the body and in accordance with nature, eliminates human psychological and physical diseases; however, sleeping during the day causes various physical and mental illnesses. The meal times for many of us are also contrary to a healthy nature; if food is consumed at its proper and appropriate time, it strengthens the body, but someone who eats in the middle of the night will suffer from various stomach diseases, etc. Sleeping during the day reduces a person’s sustenance and deprives them of the joy of life. Therefore, everyone should resolve to combat this dilemma.
“Proper upbringing” is the best legacy of parents for their children
The Friday Imam of Sunnis in Zahedan then offered advice to parents, saying: My advice to parents is not to pass down the innovation of staying awake at night as a legacy to your children in the family. If you parents sleep early at night and do not preoccupy yourselves with mobile phones, the children will also learn from you. Manage and control your children’s use of mobile phones.
He added: The best legacy that you parents leave for your children is proper upbringing. Teach your children honesty and truthfulness, and advise them to avoid breaking promises, violating pacts, harassing people, and unlawfully consuming the wealth of others. If parents lie, or are criminals, hostage-takers, bandits, and ill-mannered, their children will also grow up with these same traits. However, if parents are religious and righteous, the children will also become religious and righteous.
Defending a thief, hostage-taker, and criminal is by no means right
Continuing his remarks, Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol-Hamid listed “defending the truth” as another instance of “jihad” and said: Enjoining good, forbidding evil, and defending the truth is also “jihad.” Everyone must speak the truth with wisdom according to their ability; even if it is to their own detriment or that of their relatives and kin. We should not praise anyone unduly. Flattery and undue praise of a manager or official is not right, and Allah the Almighty becomes displeased with this act.
He strongly condemned “defending a criminal”, and said: Defending a thief, hostage-taker, criminal, and someone who has committed a crime is by no means right. We should not defend a criminal, thief, or hostage-taker simply because they are our relative.
The Friday Imam of Sunnis in Zahedan pointed out: Defending the innocent is good, but if a scholar, elder, parent, or relative defends a criminal, they are a sinner and an accomplice to the crime. During the time of the Prophet (PBUH), a woman named “Fatima” had committed theft, and some people, in order to prevent the execution of the Sharia punishment on her, came to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to intercede, saying that the execution of this ruling would bring disrepute to the tribe and family. The Prophet (PBUH) became extremely angry and said: Even if Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad (PBUH), had committed this theft, I would have carried out the Shariah punishment on her.
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