Sheikh Maher Hammoud’s Statement

MEP: Sheikh Maher Hammoud, a Sunni scholar in Lebanon and secretary – general of resistance scholars union has issued a statement entitled “Bain al-Qaed & al-Mufti” (between the Leader and the Mufti), emphasizing that Saudi Mufti’s response to the felicitous remarks of Islamic Revolution’s Supreme Leader was irrational, hasty, irresponsible,  and invidious.

Abdul-Aziz ash-Sheikh, Saudi Wahhabi Mufti, following other authorities’ groundless remarks, described Iranian people as Non-Muslim.

It was mentioned in Sheikh Maher Hammoud’s statement that Hazrat Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader, has addressed Hajj pilgrims with a message during which he launched into a tirade against Saudis’ misbehavior and misconduct regarding last year’s tragic incident in Mena with a large number of casualties. His criticisms were appropriate and commensurate with the gravity of Mena tragic incident.

Secretary-general of the international Union of Resistance Scholars stated that: where’s the truth – seeking committee? What are the findings? What was the cause of Pilgrims’ pressure and crush? Why the large gate was closed, which made this pressure intense, while the same gate opened slowly after that? Did it occur because a prince was passing by? Or was there another reason? Why has the Muslim World remained silent?

He added: weren’t the victims from all Islamic countries? Why didn’t other countries react to this incident if Iranians should remain silent for the sake of Muslim Unity? Why didn’t other governments ask any questions regarding casualties from their own country? Why were the corpses buried before being identified? Why were the containers piled with corpses of the pilgrims?

All these are rational questions which have to be answered by Saudis.

This prominent Sunni scholar pointed out that Iran – Saudi negotiations followed the tragic incident in Mena. Saudis prevented Iranians from participating in Hajj rituals by setting irrational conditions as if Iranian pilgrims were not the victims. Saudis pretended as if they were not accountable and as if it was not because of their imposed conditions, which made Iranians not participate in this year’s Hajj rituals. They made it look as if Iranians did not brook the proposed conditions. This act was orchestrated in a way that was both farcical and deplorable. He said: Iranians were prevented simply because they sought to unravel the mystery and find a solution in order to prevent another possible incident. He reiterated that Ayatollah Khamenei’s remarks were out of sympathy and understanding, coming from the heart of the bereaved. But it was misconstrued to the point that Saudi Mufti responded in an impractical and irrational manner and dubbed Iranians Non-Muslims.

Secretary-general of the international Unity of Resistance Scholars added: Saudi Mufti’s irresponsible reaction exacerbated the situation and such a response was not expected from a religious scholar let alone a Mufti from a large Islamic country which has the two Holy Shrines.

His recent statement contradicts his previous words saying that Iranians can participate in annual Hajj rituals. Has he recently discovered that Iranians are not Muslims? And will they be prevented forever?

Having considered the obvious contradiction between Islamic discourse which is based on obvious religious rights and duties and Saudi Mufti’s irresponsible reaction, pointed out several points:

1. Hajj event is not peculiar to a particular nation. It is for all Muslims and there is no exception. It is also mentioned in the Quran, Sura Hajj, Ayah 25.

This behoves Saudi government to be the organizer. It should not arbitrarily prescribe rules and allow some but not the others to establish Hajj rituals without considering Islamic criteria and advisability.

2. The phrase “Politicizing Hajj rituals by Iranians” can be interpreted in several ways. For example, how can Saudi authorities and media arrogate to themselves the right to describe their aggression against Yemen as Jihad, while Iranians do not have the right to chant slogans against Israel?
3. The Saudi Mufti’s affront to Iranians does not change the obvious realities. Iran has always advocated the resistance against the Zionist and its supporters in Lebanon, Palestine and any other regions and has ignored any religious or ethnic attachment or cause.
4. The statement that Iran has supported Resistance for its expansionist goals is not appropriate since Iran has already suffered a lot because of taking such a stance.
5. Intimidating Sunnis from Iran’s plan to make them Shiite is a patent calumny which is not believed by any perspicacious person and is a tell-tale sign of the weakness of those who make such statements and spread such rumors.

On behalf of Sunni scholars in different regions of the world, who support Resistance policy and Islamic Republic of Iran’s stance, I say that their belief in Sunni schools outweighs that of many others.

They ask: “who is the true representative of Sunni school in political stages? Are normalizing the relationships with the Zionist Regime, siege of Gaza strip, annihilation of Syria, support of contemporary renegades, spending oil revenue which belongs to the whole nation on debauchery, corruption and wars, and submission to the US policies in the region exigent and expedient for the whole nation and Sunnis? Or do they pretend to be the spokespersons for Sunnis and distort Islam and the religious realities?

6- Sheikh Maher Hammoud asserted : we strongly react to those who  have started to get into this dirty play, by emphasizing the fact that Sunni school of Islam constitutes a vast portion of  Islam and  all  streams are leading to this school and  potentiality, and greatness of the Sunni leaders in the contemporary world and throughout history and extensive heritage of its jurisprudence , politics, and science do not allow anyone to claim to be the representative of  Sunnis on  their behalves  and talk about  the danger  of imaginary and false claims regarding transition from Sunnis to Shiites.

The true representatives of the Sunni community must find its place in the leadership of the community in order for the rest of the people to follow them, other than looking for other people’s mistakes and ignoring their outstanding good deeds.

7. Superiority among Muslims lies in practicing religious texts ” Wa Qol E’maloo” (and say, start acting) and meaning of this holy verse demonstrates the story of Palestine.

In Shi’a jurisprudence, and Ja’fari and Imami divisions, there is nothing more than Sunni jurisprudence to make them distinct in supporting Palestine or in fighting global arrogance.

Iranians cite the same comprehensive Islamic texts to prioritize the matter of Palestine. The difference is that they sacrifice their lives and properties for practicing their beliefs, while others hesitate over the matter and just pretend to be caring or at most pay lip service and do not put into practice their beliefs.

8 – The leading Sunni scholar reiterated: One of the most important obligations and mandate of this stage is to avoid religious persecution and to bring Muslim groups together despite religious, ethnic and political differences.

Recent decades’ developments are on the verge of being nullified by intrigues or plots and it will possibly make us a laughing stock by other communities. So I would urge all those who have endeavored to support Islam and Muslims to play their role and focus on seeking closeness in the hearts and unity of Muslims, and no one is excluded from our invitation. Surah al-Mutaffifin, Ayah 26 is a testament to this claim.