International
Khamenei issued a Fatwa prohibiting insulting Aisha, Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) wife
Ayatollah Khamenei, the spiritual leader of Iran, issued a Fatwa in which he prohibited insulting Aisha, the Prophet Muhammad’s (ﷺ) wife and any Islamic Sunni icons.
This fatwa was warmly welcomed in the Islamic World.
The official website of Khamenei reported the fatwa in June 2016, but has skipped the mention it deserves.
The leader had on October 12, 2011 mentioned how “devils on the one hand, are spending huge amounts of money in order to establish anti-Shia groups among Sunni Muslims in certain Islamic countries. On the other hand, they pay certain so-called Shia preachers to insult and level allegations against the Mother of the Faithful, Aisha, in the name of Shia Islam.”
Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Khamenei stated in response to a query that “Insulting the symbols of the Sunni brothers, including the Prophet Muhammad’s (ﷺ) wife (Aisha) is forbidden. This includes the women of all prophets and especially the holy Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), the leader of all Prophets.”
The Fatwa was issued in a response to a query by a group of religious Shia scholars and intelligentsias of Al-Ahsa in Saudi Arabia. The query was made after one Kuwaiti Shia cleric, ‘Sheikh’ Yasser Al-Habib, insulted Aisha which faced strong oppositions. In a severe reaction, the Kuwaiti Cabinet decided to strip Al-Habib of his citizenship.
This matter put the Shia minority in the Persian Gulf states under heavy pressure and tension.
The leader’s Fatwa in condemning and prohibiting the insulting Aisha, was the newest and the highest-level reaction. Tens of Shia clerics in Saudi Arabia, Iran and other Persian Gulf States condemned disdaining or insulting Aisha, the wife of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
Muhammad Al-Bohrani, the Al Jazeera’s reporter in Tehran presented a book by Ayatollah Khamenei in a report and said: “Iran’s leader has insisted and emphasized the unity between Islamic sects so many times.”
He added: “Ayatollah Khamenei, in his newest Fatwa, has also forbade insulting Hazrat Aisha, the Prophet Muhammad’s (ﷺ) wife and Islamic icons respected by Sunnis.”
He said: “Iran’s leader had issued Fatwas and allowed Shias to take part in a Prayer by a Sunni Imam in the past.”
The Fatwa was widely welcomed and discussed in Arab press and media such as Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Anba,the popular Mohit website, Al-Safir in Lebanon, Al-Hayat in London and website of Egyptian Broadcasting. However the Al-Arabiya News, led by Saudi extremists, neglected the news and remained Silent.
Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah Khamenei have both emphasized the importance of unity between Muslims.
