By Javeed Ali
Assalamualaikum Molvi Nauman Sahab,
‘A person is either your brother in faith, or your equal in humanity’ —– Imam Ali (A.S.)
We have been hearing your lies and allegations which you very frequently make on the pulpit of Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) against all the sects of the Muslim Ummah except the one you like. Unfortunately the pulpit which is to be used for the propagation of Islam, is being used for dividing the Muslim Ummah.
Now, we can’t remain mute spectators as you are trying to break the strong bond between Shias and Sunnis in Kashmir. This message is meant for you not for our Sunni brethren. They are not only our brothers but our souls. Our existence is incomplete without them. As Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) has said that the Muslim Ummah is like a human body, if any part is harmed, the whole body feels pain. In the same way, if our Sunni brother gets hurt it gives us sleepless nights.
Your allegation that we abuse the Sahabas is utterly wrong. We don’t curse the Sahabas. Imam Khomeini (R.A.) and now Imam Khamenei has time and again reiterated that we should not indulge in anything which brings displeasure to our Sunni brethren. We may have differences but we have never allowed our differences to split our relations with other schools of thought.
We always try to make people aware about the evil plots of the MI6 created fake Shia clerics, who try to provoke our Sunni brethren with their malicious videos. We condemn them wholeheartedly because we love and respect our Sunni brethren and know the importance of Unity in Islam.
Molvi Sahab, there is no grave of Abu Lulu in Iran. You must do your research. The murderer of the second Khalifa had perished in Medina and Iran is miles apart from Medina. Propaganda was spread that a structure in the Iranian city of Kashan was the grave of Abu Lulu which is a complete lie.
There was a place there which people used to visit. But when it was wrongly projected as the grave of Abu LuLu by propagandists, Imam Khamenei ordered its permanent closure.
You accused us of having a distorted version of the Quran. Molvi Sahab, I suggest you read some of the commentaries of the Holy Quran like Tafseer-ul-Mizaan, Tafseer-i-Namoona, Tafseer-i-Safi by Shia Scholars. You will not even find a single distortion there. Allah Almighty says in Surah Al-Hijr, Verse No. 09, We will preserve it (Quran).
Now, Noumani Sahab tell me, how can you accuse anyone of distorting the Holy Quran when Allah Almighty promises to preserve it?
Imam Khomeini (R.A.) was a strong proponent of unity and it was he who coined the concept of Quds Days to express solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine. He called Sunnis and Shias two arms (Bazoo) of Islam and always stressed that we forge unity against the common enemies of Islam.
Imam Khomeini (R.A.) has written dozens of books and a large chunk of them lays emphasis on Tawheed and Unity. You must read all those books, only then you will realize the spirituality of his calibre. It was Imam Khomeini (R.A.) who issued a Fatwa against Salman Rushdie when he wrote the book “Satanic Verses” in 1988 against Islam, Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) and the Holy Quran.
Some people in Iran had warned Imam Khomeini (R.A.) not to issue any decree against Salman Rushdie, fearing that it will put Iran in a difficult position. Imam Khomeini (R.A.) gave the swift reply that even if Iran burns to ashes let it burn, for the sake of safeguarding Islamic principles and virtues.
Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) is the last messenger from Allah Almighty and we firmly believe in Khatmul Nabuwat (SAWW). We don’t have any Prophet after our beloved Prophet (PBUH). Yes, we believe in Imamat after Nabuwat and we have been proving it for the last 1400 years. We humbly invite you for discussion where we will again explain to you through the verses of the Holy Quran and the teachings of Prophet Mohammad (SAWW), our belief in Imamat. We follow the Holy Quran and Ahlulbayt (A.S.) whose purification was revealed in Surah Ahzaab, verse 33.
Coming to your assertion that the US has no animosity with Iran, I will just suggest that you check on Google the current value of the Iranian currency (1 Indian Rupee=603 Iranian Rials). This extreme low value is just because the US has put harsh economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1979.
The US attacked Iran for 8 years through their imposed war of 1980. After the eight year war, the US and Israel killed so many scientists and intellectuals in Iran through their proxies. How can you forget the Iranian passenger plane which was brutally hit by US missiles killing hundreds of civilians?
The US has its military bases in almost all Muslim countries except for Iran. They tried so many times to trespass into Iranian air space and waters but always faced the stiff resistance of Iranian forces.
Once, US forces sent a highly sophisticated drone which was successfully brought down by the Iranian troops and they reengineered it for their own purpose.
Mr Nouman, you might have forgotten the recent custody of US marine soldiers who tried to enter Iranian territorial waters but were captured by the alert IRGC soldiers. You might have forgotten the crying faces of US soldiers.
You are over the moon that US troops are pulling out from Afghanistan but you forgot to tell your followers that they are also leaving Syria. What’s your take on that? Molvi Sahab, America and Israel are the worst enemies of Islam and their ambition is only the destruction of Muslim countries. The US has not left Afghanistan. They may reduce their troops but their presence will remain under the disguise of ISIS.
Don’t create confusion that the US is not attacking Iran. They are always targeting it but the strong defense system of Iran manages to repel their advances meticulously. Did you know the Iranian-backed Hezbollah is the only resistance group which has defeated Israel so far? Iran is supporting the Palestinian group Hamas at the cost of huge economic sanctions.
Just ponder, why is Shia Iran supporting Sunni Palestine, who are miles apart? Eight crore population of Iran is suffering miserable financial conditions due to this perpetual support of the Palestinians.
It’s Wilayat-e-Faqih, which you are unable to comprehend, that motivates the people of Iran to have strong belief in Allah Almighty and His divine power. Otherwise Iran has negligible support from the international community.
Your grievance that Iran only has Shia Presidents is silly to say the least. My dear Molvi Sahab, the population of Iran is 90% Shia Muslim so it’s rational that the President will be a Shia. Despite that he has to spend a big portion of his budget for Shia-Sunni Unity. Tell me, which country allocates their funds for Shia-Sunni unity? Bahrain is a Shia majority country but it’s ruled by the US-backed monarchy. Have you ever asked them why they don’t held elections there to choose a deserving president?
Every year Iran organizes the International Unity Conference where prominent Sunni Scholars are invited from all over the world. You can also join them if you wish. Then you will see yourself the beauty of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Why are you spreading lies about Iran when you don’t even know it’s location on earth?
Revered Sunni scholars like Sheikh Ahmad Deedat and Dr Israr Ahmad have eulogized the Islamic System of Iran. They had even suggested that other Islamic countries follow the same pattern. Do you have more knowledge than them? You tainted Mufti Khurshid Ahmad Qanungo Sahab just because he wants Unity with fellow Muslims as is directed in the Holy Quran. You call yourself an Islamic Scholar. Please tell me which Quranic verse says to slander members of other schools of thought on the pulpit of Prophet Mohammad (SAWW)?
Islam needs Unity not division. Islam needs those scholars who will bind various sects together and confront the common enemies of Islam, not to create discord among fellow Muslims. Your divisive rhetoric is not serving any purpose to Islam, it’s only helping the vested interests of American and Zionist Israel. The Islamic Revolution which Imam Khomeini (R.A.) brought in 1979 led to the elimination of 2500-year-old monarchy in Iran.
Now, the other illicit monarchs of the World are feeling threat to their illegitimate rule and that’s the main reason they have started smear campaign against the Imam Khomeini (R.A.) and Islamic Revolution. Unfortunately, you have also become the victim of their propaganda crusade.
Moulana Sahab! At the end, I would like to request that you preach lessons of ethics and morals on the Mimber (pulpit) as our society is badly degraded with immorality and drug addiction. Another disease is on the rise in Kashmir; unwed pregnancies. Please try to stop this menace through your sermons. Allah Almighty and Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) will greatly reward you for this noble cause. But you will be held accountable for dividing the Muslim Ummah.
May good sense prevail in all of us! Ameen
-The author is a freelance writer and can be reached at [email protected]
