In The Name Of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Most Kind

To His Excellency the Supreme Spiritual Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran,
Hazarat Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei (May Allah aid you to do what pleases Him):

With salaam and dua al-khayr, I pray that Allah (SWT) gives you success in serving and propagating the holy religion of Islam, exercising justice, and doing whatever pleases Allah Almighty.

According to my religious duty and as a scholar and spiritual leader of Ahl-i Sunnah wa'l-Jama'ah on behalf of the Naqshbandi family and the followers of the Naqshbandi tariqah all over the world, I find it necessary to inform your Excellency of the un-Islamic behavior of a group associated with the Islamic Republic of Iran, whose actions are against the principles of all religions of God.
Please be informed that the officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran are creating "Islamic" groups in Iraqi Kurdistan, one of which is called Ansar al-Islam. The creation of such groups is done with the justification of protecting the Iranian government's interests in the region. In reality, however, it is for the personal financial gain of these officials.

This group of different nationalities is supported militarily and politically by the Islamic Republic of Iran and is financially under the control of the Saudi government. The actions of this group include: 1) the destruction of true Islamic aqidas and beliefs, 2) the propagation of the misguided belief of Wahhabism, 3) the destabilization of security in Kurdistan, and 3) the bloodshed of innocent Muslims.

In the name of Islam the appointed leaders of this group have deceived innocent Muslims. The Holy Quran says about such people: "The similitude of those who were charged with the (obligations of the) Mosaic Law but who subsequently failed in those (obligations) is that of a donkey which carries huge tomes (but understands them not). Evil is the similitude of people who falsify the Signs of Allah: and Allah guides not people who do wrong." (Surat Al-Jumu'ah, ayat 5). Also, in the Holy Quran Allah (SWT) states: "O ye who believe! There are many among the priests and anchorites who in falsehood devour the substance of men and hinder (them) from the way of Allah." (Surat at-Tauba, Ayat 34). The Prophet (SAW) says, "I am very concerned about evil scholars for my Ummah"

The latest atrocity of this anti-Muslim group (Ansar al-Islam) has been the desecration and destruction of the holy Ahl-i Sunnah shrines of the Naqshbandi shaykhs in Biarah and Bakha Koh. With guidance from their Saudi teachers, this group has been digging up and opening the graves and stealing the corpses of respected servants of Islam. By committing such crimes, they have proved that their animosity towards Muslims is much more than that of the disbelieving Quraish of Makkah.

It is not a surprise for scholars and intellectuals that the shrines of the Naqshbandi family would be the target of this group because of Ansar al-Islam's animosity toward the family of the Prophet (SAW) is well known. Please be informed that the Naqshbandi family of Hawraman is from Na`im Sadat and the founder of this tariqah, Hazarat Baha'uddin Naqshband was from Sadat-i Husseini and his lineage extends back to Hazarat Imam Ja`far Sadiq. In Tasawwuf this tariqah goes back to the Prophet (SAW) in three different lineages. 1400 years after the martyrdom of Hazarat Husain, the defilation of shrines and the stealing of the corpses of Ahl-i Bait (i.e., the family of the Prophet (SAW)) by the Ansar "al-Shaytaan" group, as I see it, is the continuation of animosity toward the family of the Prophet (SAW). All my thanks and prayers are to Allah (SWT) that the enemies of Islam see the shrines of these servants and propagators of Shariah-i Muhammadi as a major insurmountable obstacle to the propagation of their corrupted beliefs.
Your Excellency, a question that I have been pondering is how the Iranian government, who considers itself as lovers of Ahl al-Bait, could support a group with these beliefs and inhuman behavior. While the officials of the Islamic Republic repeatedly claim that Ahl-i Sunnah wa'l-Jama'ah are their brothers, the actions of the Ansar al-Islam are those which Allah (SWT) forbids. How can the lower level officials of the Islamic Republic on the border of Kurdistan unite with the Ansar "al-Shaytaan" ? These Ansar act like the Pharaoh toward the Ahl-I Sunnah wa'l-jama'ah and the Kurdish people by telling them: "Pharaoh said: 'I but point out to you that which I see (myself); nor do I guide you but to the Right Path!' " (Surat Al-Mu'min, Ayat 29). Allah (SWT) is aware of our condition and what is going on. The Almighty has warned those who are misguided and have taken the pathway of corruption in the Holy Qur'an for their actions: "Those who pervert the Truth in Our Signs are not hidden from Us. Which is better? He that is cast into the Fire or he that comes safe through on the Day of Judgement? Do what you will: He sees (clearly) all that ye do." (Surat Ha-Mim, Ayat 40).

Let me talk about all the blessings that are in brotherhood and unity. It is important to avoid giving any excuses to those who want to divide the Muslim community by presenting Shia versus Sunni or Kurds versus Persians. I will not go into the political and religious background of this incident, but I would like to bring your Excellency's attention to the very sensitive timing and place of this crime. Let me emphasize again the ugliness of this un-Islamic behavior against Ahl-i Sunnah wa'l- Jama'ah. The news of this incident has gone far beyond Kurdistan and the Naqshbandi followers in Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and other Muslim countries. It has deeply saddened Muslims all over the world. Muslims outside of the region have no knowledge of this small group's activities, but they hold the Islamic Republic of Iran responsible for this anti-Sunni behavior. Many believe that attacks over the past few years against Ahl-i Sunnah wa'l-Jama'ah inside Iran have increased, and this incident is an example of the Islamic Republic of Iran's attacks on Ahl-i Sunnah's holy places.

Many believe that the people around you are presenting the news of the country, especially the news concerning Ahl-i Sunnah wa'l-Jama'ah and Kurds, to your Excellency the way that they think is the best and most pleasing to you, not the truth and reality. The experience and history of the Muslim world has shown that even though the Muslim ummah always wanted unity and brotherhood, because of the misguidance and corruption of the people in Muslim leadership, the Islamic lands are divided and degraded to the point that we see them today. This is according to the hadith of the Prophet (SAW): "The land can prosper with kufr, but cannot prosper with oppression even if it is an Islamic land."

I ask your Excellency as a supreme Islamic scholar with your position of authority and responsibility to serve Islam according to Qur'anic orders by judging this recent atrocity. Is the defiling of shrines and stealing the corpses of Muslims in accordance with any ayah of the Quran or with any recognized school of Islamic law?

Which ayah of Quran does the Islamic Republic of Iran's officials use to support this un-islamic and inhuman action? If this conduct is in accordance with Islamic rules and orders of the Prophet (SAW), then even the unbelievers will laugh at Muslims.
Now that your Excellency as the supreme spiritual leader is informed of this repugnant act, and because of the authority that Allah (SWT) has blessed you with, you are responsible and have to answer Allah on the Day of Judgement. I would like to remind you of Hazarat Ali who said: " The most frightening ayah of the Quran is 'And fear the day when ye shall be brought back to Allah. Then shall every soul be paid what it earned and none shall be dealt with unjustly.'" (Surat Al-Baqara, Ayat 281).

Presenting the above concerns and reminders is according to the Messenger Shuaib (AS) who said in the Holy Quran: "I do not want to do that which I forbid to you - (even) in opposition to you. I only desire what is best for you to the best of my ability. Success can only come from Allah, in whom I trust and look (for guidance)." (Surat Hud Ayat 88)

My intention in presenting you with this letter is not to ask justice for Awliya' Allah, because that belongs to Allah Almighty. I performed my religious and scholarly duty by informing you of this incident. Now I am requesting on behalf of myself, Ahl-i Sunnah, and Naqshbandi followers:

1. Officially and clearly in a statement from your Excellency condemn the un-Islamic actions of desecrating the shrines and the theft of the corpses of these true servants of Islam.

2. The corpses of the descendants of the Prophet (SAW), who according to some reports have been brought to Iran, should be returned to the Naqshbandi family. You can be a major figure in solving this problem.

3. Order the Islamic Republic officials to find and arrest those who carried out this un-Islamic action, committed crimes, and killed innocent Muslims to be arrested and given to the responsible authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan (Arbil or Suleimaniah).

4. The authorities from the Islamic Republic of Iran who were aware of this plan or supported this criminal action should be investigated and tried in an open Islamic court.

If this request gets no answer "Your Lord watches over you" (Surat al-Fajr, Ayat 14) is the truth, and Allah (SWT) will carry out the justice. Should the responsible authorities in your government be just, Allah will reward them. Gratitude for Allah's blessings in giving you such a postion of authority is best done by doing justice. With the history of your Excellency's piety, scholarship, and your personal belief and commitment to Muslim unity, I pray and trust that you will order whatever is necessary to deal with this fitna.

Wa'l-salaamu alaikum wa-Rahmatullah,

Dhyai Naqshbandi Shaykh Mohammad Masum

cc: Dr. Khatami, President of Islamic Republic of Iran
His Excellency Ayatollah Makaram Shirazi