Transcription
We begin with Allah's blessed name. We praise Him and we glorify Him as He ought to be praised and glorified. We pray for peace and for blessings on all Noble Messengers, including the last of them all, the Blessed Prophet Muhammad (S).
As we greet you from my native island of Trinidad on this the 28th day of the month of Muharram, this brief video is entitled "Iran and Israel." We want to respond in this brief video to the second Iranian attack on Israel, this time using ballistic missiles. The last time they used so many drones, and it was a very prominent attack that captured the imagination of the world. Iran was not afraid to attack Israel; the Iranians did not have any fear in their hearts. This is the profile of Iran.
I am not Shia and I deplore sectarianism. I ask my brothers to not identify yourself as sectarian; identify yourself as Muslims. When the Imam comes, the Imam will not say, "I'm Shia" or "I'm Sunni" or "I'm Salafi." Not that nonsense; the Imam will declare, "I am Muslim."
So what is taking place now, and Iran's attack on Israel, has nothing to do with the sectarian divide in Islam. I deplore and I condemn anyone who seeks to use a sectarian argument that validates their sectarian beliefs, that Iran is able to attack Israel while others cannot. No, don't go down that road; I condemn you for that. We are all Muslims.
Now then, having said that, we must applaud Iran for having the Islamic revolution in Iran and for having achieved this level of technological advancement to be able to manufacture hypersonic missiles flying at such tremendous speed. This is a great achievement on the part of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Russia also has these hypersonic missiles.
Now there appears to be some measure of collaboration and cooperation between Iran and Russia, their allies. This should be the relationship of the entire world of Islam with Russia, as Russia is our natural ally. My comment will cause anger in the world of the West and among supporters of the Western world, but it is not my purpose to talk to please them. No, I have to speak in accordance with the truth.
I am a scholar of Islam; I am not a terrorist. I am a scholar of Islam, and I have earned credentials over the years for my scholarly analysis. If we don't have the freedom to speak, then those who want to silence us, we say to you, shame on you that you will not allow me to speak. Shame on you!
But I am allowed to speak in Britain. I have been visiting Britain regularly, and the British government has never placed any obstacles in my way to speak in Britain. Not at all! But I cannot speak in Pakistan, my own Pakistan, because those who control power in Pakistan would not allow me the freedom to speak.
So here is where we part from our own people who prevent us from being able to have the freedom to speak, whereas others allow us the freedom to speak; for example, in Britain.
Back to our subject: while we commend Iran for the courage of replying to Israeli terrorism in the assassination of the head of the Islamic resistance of Gaza, the assassination of the head of the Islamic resistance in Lebanon, and the killing of almost 50,000, maybe Muslims and Christians in Lebanon and Gaza, we commend Iran for having responded with such courage, and we pray that Allah might protect them.
What now is likely to come out of this? What is a likely response of Israel? My view—I hope I am wrong—but my view is that I don't believe Israel wants war with Iran at this time. War with Iran at this time can bring about a collapse of the world economy because oil is the largest trading matter in the world economy today; it moves the world economy.
If there's a war with Iran, it will collapse the oil economy around the world, and there will be plenty of blame for Israel. The United States will take a lot of beating if such a thing were to happen, so they are likely to be restrained. The United States now is like a stage begging Israel, "Don't do that because the consequences for us will be terrible."
So I am of the view that Israel will not respond with war against Iran, maybe with acts of terrorism, as they did in the past: assassination of people, and so on. The same old story continuing as it was in the past.
This is my response to Iran's attack on Israel. Thank you.