BY MOHAMMAD TARIQUE SALEEM
“Maybe I may not be alive one day, maybe Iran may not be anymore, but I want that Islam must be alive.” These stirring words of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran, reflect a vision rooted not in self-preservation, but in the eternal values of Islam, truth, justice, and resistance. At a time when these principles are being compromised for political convenience, his message serves as a call to conscience for the entire Muslim world. Echoing this spirit from the heart of India is Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, a fearless cleric whose voice has become a symbol of defiance against oppression and hypocrisy. No longer confined to sectarian leadership, he is emerging as a unifying figure for the Muslim Ummah, respected by both Shias and Sunnis alike. In this exclusive and powerful interview with Mohammad Tarique Saleem, Editor of Arabian Times, Maulana Jawwad addresses the genocide in Palestine, the betrayal by Arab regimes, and the growing normalization with Israel. His words cut through diplomatic niceties, invoking the legacy of Karbala and calling for unity, awakening, and a return to principled resistance across the Islamic world.
Q: Do you believe that Palestine has become Iran’s responsibility while the rest of the Islamic world remains silent?
Maulana Kalbe Jawwad: Without a doubt. The silence of the Arab world is deafening. Despite the bloodshed in Gaza, the deaths of over seventy thousand women and children, the Islamic countries have done nothing. Iran stands alone because it refuses to bend to imperialist pressure. The Arab rulers, meanwhile, are shackled by American presence. Their countries are filled with U.S. troops. If Saudi Arabia even flinched, the U.S. could retaliate within minutes. The rulers aren’t concerned with Islam or justice; they’re desperate to protect their thrones and luxuries. They know that Israel’s plans include Mecca and Medina as part of Greater Israel, along with Basra, parts of Iraq, and other sacred Islamic lands. Yet they remain inactive, watching as Gaza is reduced to rubble. It’s shameful. These rulers have become so enslaved that they can’t even issue a proper condemnation, let alone support a boycott.
Q: What role has the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) played in this situation?
Maulana Kalbe Jawwad: The OIC is toothless. It’s a body born of submission, created by and for rulers who cannot act without American approval. Even a basic boycott of Israeli goods is too much for them. This is not just political subjugation, it is spiritual and moral collapse. They are slaves on every level.
Q: Many Arab nations are normalizing ties with Israel. What does this mean for the Muslim Ummah?
Maulana Kalbe Jawwad: It means betrayal. The Qur’an warns against befriending the enemies of Islam. Yet these rulers openly, and in some cases secretly, engage with Israel. They are betraying the legacy of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). They have abandoned Palestine, Yemen, Syria, Iraq places where Muslims have shed blood to resist oppression. Iran, meanwhile, continues to support these oppressed groups. It is the Shias who are on the frontlines, fighting against Israel’s aggression. Yet they are demonized by the very people who have surrendered their faith and principles.
Q: Why has Iran remained so committed to the Palestinian cause?
Maulana Kalbe Jawwad: Because Iran is rooted in Islamic values. From the moment of its revolution, it declared Palestine a priority. The Islamic Republic shut down the Israeli embassy and opened a Palestinian mission immediately. This wasn’t a delayed decision based on diplomatic advantage; it was a principle. Iran’s policy has always been to stand with the oppressed. It has supported resistance movements not just in Palestine, but in Lebanon, Syria, and beyond. This is what leadership looks like. Compare that to the Arab countries that do nothing but hold meaningless summits.
Q: Shouldn’t this be a collective effort by all Muslim countries?
Maulana Kalbe Jawwad: Ideally, yes. But in reality, most Muslim nations are under Western dominance. Only Iran has the courage to stand up. The rest are silenced by media manipulation and political pressure. Let’s not forget how biased the international media is. In India and elsewhere, the media is mostly controlled by Zionist interests. When Israel bombs hospitals, kills children, and flattens cities, the media responds with silence or justification. But when Iran retaliates, suddenly the world remembers “humanity.” It’s hypocrisy of the highest order.
Q: Would you compare Iran’s resistance to the legacy of Karbala?
Maulana Kalbe Jawwad: Without question. Imam Hussain (AS) taught us that it is better to die with honor than live with humiliation. Iran is walking that path today. When the West pressures it to surrender, Iran answers like Hussain: “We will not bow.” Ayatollah Khamenei is leading with the same spirit. He has said openly that Iran will not compromise. This is the Karbala of our time.
Q: The media often blames Iran and downplays its role. Why?
Maulana Kalbe Jawwad: Because Iran’s defiance threatens the global order built on injustice. The West wants to silence Iran so that no voice of resistance remains. That’s why they impose sanctions, spread propaganda, and isolate Iran diplomatically. But the truth is, Iran has become a moral leader in the Muslim world. When Iran responds to Israel’s war crimes, it does so with moral clarity. Yet the world cries foul. They forget the massacres, the war crimes committed by Israel. They only remember to criticize Iran. This is media manipulation, plain and simple.
Q: What message would you like to share about Ayatollah Khamenei’s leadership?
Q: Has Iran’s strength taken Israel and the U.S. by surprise?
Maulana Kalbe Jawwad: Yes. Israel miscalculated. They believed that attacking Iran or its allies would be easy. But Iran was prepared. When Iran struck back, it sent a clear message. Even Trump was forced to delay his decisions. Arab rulers are now terrified. Their glass palaces are vulnerable. Iran’s military strength has shocked them. And that’s the power of resistance rooted in faith.
Q: What about the claim that Iran wants to become a superpower in the Muslim world?
Maulana Kalbe Jawwad: That’s propaganda. Iran isn’t seeking domination. It is resisting domination. If others feel threatened, it’s because they see their own moral failure in Iran’s strength. Iran doesn’t need to proclaim superpower status. Its actions speak louder than any words. It has shown the world what Islamic resistance looks like.
Q: How do you view America’s policy towards Iran and the Muslim world?
Maulana Kalbe Jawwad: America wants submission. It supports Israel unconditionally, vetoes resolutions in the UN, and bullies nations into silence. It labels resistance as terrorism while funding occupation. The United Nations itself has become a puppet. It has never punished an oppressor. It has only offered lip service while watching massacres unfold. Iran is challenging that status quo.
Q: How do you respond to those who say Iran is Shia and shouldn’t interfere in Sunni matters?
Maulana Kalbe Jawwad: That’s a divisive argument. Iran’s support transcends sect. It supports Muslims in distress, whether they are Sunni or Shia. Where were the Sunni rulers when Sunni Palestinians were being bombed? It was Iran who stood by them. This Shia-Sunni divide is fueled by enemies of Islam. Iran’s actions show it sees all Muslims as one Ummah. And that is what Islam teaches.
Q: What final message would you like to give?
Maulana Kalbe Jawwad: My message is simple: Islam calls for resistance against oppression. Iran is fulfilling that duty. The rest of the Muslim world must wake up. Scholars must speak up. The Ummah must unite not in slogans, but in action. Ayatollah Khamenei represents the spirit of Hussain (AS) today. His leadership deserves our respect and our support. If we fail now, history will judge us like it judges the silent bystanders of Karbala.
