Ayatollah Khamenei issued a fatwa in which he prohibited insulting Aishah, the Prophet Muhammad’s wife and any Islamic Sunni icons. This fatwa was warmly welcomed in the Islamic world.
Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Khamenei stated in response to a query: “Insulting the symbols of the Sunni brothers, including the Prophet Muhammad’s wife (Aisha) is forbidden. This includes the women of all prophets and especially the holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the leader of all Prophets.”
The fatwa was issued in a response to a query by a group of religious Shi’a scholars and intelligentsias of al-Ahsa in Saudi Arabia. The query was made after one extremist Kuwaiti Shi’a cleric, ‘Shaykh’ Yasser al-Habib, insulted Aishah which faced great commotions and strong oppositions. In a severe reaction, the Kuwaiti Cabinet decided to strip al-Habib of his citizenship. This matter put the Shi’a 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 great Shi’a clerics in Saudi Arabia, Iran and other Persian Gulf States condemned disdaining or insulting Lady Aishah, the wife of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Before this Hujjat al-Islam Sayyed Ali Fadhlullah, the eldest son of Ayatollah Muhammad-Husayn Fadhlullah Had forbidden insolence against Lady Aishah in his talk with Kuwaiti newspaper al-Rai.
The fatwa, neglected by western media and criticised by opponents of Muslim unity, was widely welcomed by Sunni scholars and Arab media, especially al-Jazeera. This channel, in addition to broadcasting the news of fatwa in different news programs, discussed ayatollah Khamenei’s fatwa and its effect and role in the unity between different Islamic denominations in a program called “Behind The News.”
Muhammad al-Bohrani, 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 Lady Aishah, the Prophet Muhammad’s wife and Islamic icons respected by Sunnis. Iran’s leader had issued fatwas and allowed Shi’as 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.
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