Hawzah News Agency- Hojatoleslam Sayyid Shabbir Hasan Maisami, secretary-general of the Shia Ulema Council of Pakistan, made the remarks during his Friday sermon at the Baqiyatullah Mosque in Karachi, according to a report by the Hawzah News Agency.
Muslim states must move beyond sympathy for Palestine
Stressing the responsibility of Islamic countries toward developments in Palestine, Maisami said Muslim states must stop getting bogged down in mutual disputes and rivalries, and instead rally around common causes and support the oppressed Palestinian people against the enemies of humanity.
He added that expressing sympathy alone is not enough to ease the suffering of the Palestinian nation — Islamic countries must take practical, effective action and seriously fulfill their responsibility toward the oppressed Palestinians.
Differences must be resolved through dialogue
Referring to disputes among some Muslim states, the cleric said these disagreements and conflicts must be settled through negotiation, dialogue, and mutual understanding.
Citing the teachings of the Holy Quran, he noted that the holy book calls on Muslims to reconcile and establish peace when disputes and conflicts arise. Islamic countries, he said, must adopt this Quranic principle as the basis for their interactions and work to reduce tensions and resolve differences through dialogue.
The prominent religious figure also pointed to Pakistan's internal situation, stressing the need for vigilance against efforts that could undermine unity and solidarity between Shias and Sunnis.
He said creating distance and mistrust among Muslims benefits no one, and all must work to preserve an atmosphere of unity in society. He also called for avoiding actions that fuel suspicion, distrust, and division among Muslims.
Islamic states must cooperate on shared challenges
Maisami stressed the need for cooperation among Islamic countries, saying Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Turkey, and other Muslim states must work to resolve the common problems of the Islamic world by reducing differences and boosting engagement and cooperation.
He noted that current tensions and conflicts in the world are not confined to the political and security spheres — their effects are also visible on the global economy and people's daily lives. Achieving lasting peace, stability, and security therefore requires serious, responsible efforts by Islamic countries and the international community to reduce tensions and settle disputes through dialogue and cooperation, he said.
Piety, gratitude the path to success and tranquility
Emphasizing the importance of piety, gratitude, and proper use of divine blessings, Maisami described piety as one of the most important paths to human success and happiness, saying a person must always keep alive in their heart the awareness that the source of all blessings and favors is God Himself — even if a blessing may outwardly reach them through a person, institution, or group.
Referring to the abundance of divine blessings, he added that God's favors are so numerous that counting them all is impossible for humans. The Holy Quran says: "And if you count the blessings of Allah, you will not be able to number them." A believer, therefore, must thank God first and foremost when receiving any blessing and regard it as coming from Him. Gratitude, he said, is not merely a verbal expression — it helps a person better understand the value of a blessing and paves the way for its more proper and blessed use.
Four principles for dealing with divine blessings
Maisami outlined four fundamental principles on how humans should deal with divine blessings: first, a person must regard the blessing as a gift from God; second, they must offer thanks and gratitude to God as soon as they receive it; third, they must not use divine blessings in the path of sin and disobedience; and fourth, they must use their blessings to help others and share them with God's servants.
He stressed that a person must always be careful not to let the blessings God has given them become a means of disobedience and distancing from the Lord. Everything a person has in life — including spouse, children, wealth and property, social status, abilities, and other resources — is a divine blessing and must be used in the right path.
Blessings must not become tools of sin, oppression
Referring to human responsibility toward divine blessings, the Shia Ulema Council chief said a person must not use the blessings God has granted them for oppression, anger, mistreatment, harming others, or committing sin.
If God has granted a person power, wealth, family, knowledge, or social standing, these blessings must be used in the path of goodness and servitude to God — not turned into a means of violating others' rights and disobeying the Lord, he said. One manifestation of piety, he added, is that a person observes divine limits in using blessings and always asks whether their use of a blessing is pleasing to God.
Remembrance of God prevents sin
Citing a narration about Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), Maisami said it presents the ways of avoiding sin in such a manner that a person realizes there is no place to hide from God. If someone wanted to avoid sinning with God's blessings, they could not do so in a land belonging to God and in a place where God would not see them — such a thing is impossible.
He noted that God is present and watchful everywhere, and this sense of divine presence and oversight can deter a person from sin. Whenever a person believes God always sees them and is aware of their deeds and intentions, the ground is prepared for greater piety and self-restraint.
Worship an opportunity to return to God
The Karachi Friday prayer leader stressed that God does not approve of His servants distancing themselves from Him, saying acts of worship and religious gatherings — including Friday prayers — provide a good opportunity for a person to step away from daily preoccupations, turn to God, and take the path of servitude and return to the Lord.
Divine blessings encompass all people, he added, but a believer feels greater responsibility toward these blessings and must use what God has provided both in the path of worship and servitude and in service to His servants.
Charity is not only financial help
Turning to the importance of charity and good deeds, Maisami said charity does not only mean giving money and financial aid to the needy — any action done with the intention of pleasing God to solve a believer's problem can count as a good deed.
Sitting beside a believer who is distressed, listening to them, offering advice, praying for them, trying to solve their problem, or even looking at a believer with a cheerful face and a smile can be examples of charity — provided these actions are done with the intention of seeking closeness to God and His pleasure, he said. Serving others is not solely dependent on having financial resources; every person can, according to their ability, offer part of their time, attention, energy, experience, love, and prayers to others.
Sharing blessings increases their abundance
Stressing the need to share divine blessings with others, Maisami said a blessing does not decrease when it is passed on to others in the right path — rather, it can pave the way for an increase in its abundance.
A person must serve others to the extent of their ability and capacity, he said. Sometimes this help is financial, sometimes by dedicating time and energy, sometimes by listening to a distressed person, sometimes by offering proper guidance, and sometimes through prayer, empathy, and expressing love.
A society in which people are not indifferent to each other's problems and where everyone places part of their divine blessings at others' disposal will have a greater capacity for empathy, tranquility, and cooperation, the secretary-general added.
Parents' role in teaching gratitude to children
Maisami also called on parents to pay special attention to raising their children and familiarizing them with the concept of divine blessings, saying a sense of gratitude and awareness of God's favors should be strengthened in children during their upbringing.
Parents must teach their children that many of the resources and blessings available in daily life — including family, health, living conditions, education, love, and security — are divine blessings for which humans must be grateful, he said. If a culture of gratitude takes shape from childhood, a child will not later take blessings for granted, but will appreciate what they have and feel responsible for it.
Putting the four principles into practice
In conclusion, Maisami stressed the need to translate moral teachings into practical behavior, saying that if a person consistently and practically follows the four principles — recognizing blessings as divine gifts, expressing gratitude, not using blessings in the path of sin, and sharing blessings with others — these teachings can gradually become ingrained in their behavior and character.
Persistence on this path and practical exercise of these principles, especially over a 40-day period, can pave the way for positive changes in a person's life and lead to greater tranquility, spirituality, responsibility, and abundance, he said. Gratitude is not merely a reaction to receiving a blessing — it is a way to properly recognize a blessing, use it responsibly, and turn one's possessions into a means of serving God and helping others.
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