I’m not infatuated with anyone but God.

Follow us:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Panahianen/ ...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PanahianEN/...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PanahianEN
Telegram: https://telegram.me/Panahianen/
==============================
What is faith? Faith is something that eliminates your useless entanglements and makes you ready to understand this point that the only thing worth living for is the excitement of getting close to God. How close have I become to Him?
Our likings and fears are keeping us busy. These don’t let us see our high goal in life, which is getting close to God. What does faith do? Faith wants to give us peace of mind so that we can abandon the games they have designed for our minds and our hearts’ entertainments. It keeps you safe in calamities and fears. It keeps you safe from the harms of the sweet points in life! Do you know what is one of the harms of this sweetness? When you experience this sweetness, you’ll be repelled by it afterwards. This is one of its harms.
[One might think,] “Having too much calm is not good either! If I’m too calm, I won’t work anymore. If I’m too calm, where will I experience excitements? People want a life with excitement. But by talking about faith, you are calming everything down. The excitement of marriage! Thinking about what will happen! The excitement of having a relationship. Excitement…”
But God says, “These excitements are not enough for you. I’m not against excitements. I want to give you a deeper excitement.” People pay money to be in an exciting atmosphere. One says, “If we don’t have such excitements, we’ll rot.” He’s right. One cannot live without excitements. But what does God say? He says, “I want to give you a deeper excitement.” Nothing will remain from these excitements for you afterwards, and you’ll feel upset. And they’re not useful for you. What happens? You became rich? You used all your money. What was added to you? And you’re bored by these too.
One says, “I’ve seen this show before and I’m tired of it. Couldn’t we go to a different show?” “I’ve seen this movie before.” “I’ve gone to this amusement park before.” So he goes to do something else. He is constantly trying different things. People say, “Islam is against us having excitements.” But Islam is against our wrong lifestyle. Islam has announced many relations are unlawful. Why? They have some sort of excitement, but Islam says, “Why do you waste yourself for such excitements? You won’t gain anything afterwards. Instead, have a serious excitement.
Pure Lady Fatimah Zahra (as) would pray in such a way that she experienced spiritual excitement and its effects could be seen in her appearance. Even if we have the best worldly life, we won’t have such excitements even once a year. The spiritual excitements are without harms, but those excitements have many harms. Spiritual excitements are useful, but those excitements are harmful. Spiritual excitements are eternal.
I confess to you that I don’t believe in a god whom when one goes to him for the second time, it feels like the first time again [in terms of enjoyment]. I don’t believe in such a god. God is not like this. It is said in the traditions that on the eve before Fridays, the Friends of God receive a new understanding of God. Their new understanding is such that when they look back, it’s as if they didn’t know God before. But such a thing doesn’t happen in our lives even once! See what excitement they experience.
What does having faith do? It takes away false excitements so that there is space for the main excitement. What is the name of that main excitement? “Getting close to God.” I want to get close to God. How should we communicate with God? The way is to have faith. Faith cuts your dependance on others. That is why the main dhikr of faith is«لا إله ‌إلّا ‌الله» [There is no god but Allah]. What does “Ilah [god]” mean? It means whoever you’re infatuated with.«لا إله ‌إلّا ‌الله» I’m not infatuated with anyone but God.
Faith gives a person this safety. Faith tells a person, “Forget the sweetness and bitterness of the world. You don’t want the small excitements from the sweetness of this world, nor do you want the useless fears. Let me give you safety.” Faith wants to give us peace of mind so that we can abandon the games they have designed for our minds and our hearts’ entertainments.

From the Series “The Secrets of Ashura,”
Part 1. [To be continued…]

How important is our innate nature?

Who is a good person in your opinion?

These people will be the companions of the Saviour (‘a.j.).


Ask all the good people in our city, “What are the signs of a good person? The first features people mention are these. Good people are kind, disciplined, affable, humble…” Friends, many of these good characteristics, like kindness, affability, humbleness and self-sacrifice, if not accompanied by spiritual power and strength, are worthless. This is an indicator to show us that our morality and faith are not fake, our prayer is not like Satan’s prayer, which was useless, and our faith is stable as the Qur’an says and not unstable. An unstable faith will be lost.
If we want to choose a prominent indicator for a healthy religion, spirituality and good behaviour, for it to become clear whether this morality is fake or it’s a good, pure morality, we can choose spiritual power and strength as an indicator.
For example, one is kindness. “Why are you kind? Why are you so modest? Why are you so quiet? Why do you smile at everyone?” Imagine if he has these characteristics due to his spiritual weakness. This is worthless. “Why do you smile at everyone?” “I’m afraid people might ignore me,” he replies. “I want to be dear to everyone. I’m afraid people will notice my faults. I want to gain status. I’m afraid…” Due to his weakness, he behaves well with others. This is worthless.
If a feeble person prostrates before God, God won’t accept his prostration. You can see this in, “La Ilaha Illallah.” (There is no god except Allah.) There is a kind of strength and power in the first part of this honourable phrase, “La Ilaha.” There is no god! A person has to be very strong to say this. We should teach our children in what way to say, “La Ilaha Illallah.” “La Ilaha Illallah” is a strong slogan. It’s not a delicate slogan to say “La Ilaha Illallah” feebly. We shouldn’t say it like a frail person. We should be like a superpower. “La Ilaha Illallah!” This fills a person’s being immensely!
You see this about the companions of the Imam of the Time (‘a.j.). The foremost of the attributes, which have been mentioned for the Imam’s (‘a.j.) companions, are courage, fearlessness and power. A group has been mentioned in the traditions, “They prepare the groundwork for Imam Mahdi’s government,” and they rise up from the East. They have been described as having power, greatness and courage too. Religion, from start to end, wants to make people and human society powerful. Religion wants human society to achieve power, dignity and glory. Strength is a very central issue in religion.
The most important indicator, which shows the spirituality, morality, faith, religiosity, and mental health of a person or a society, is being strong. All the religious commands help people, who practice religion well, to achieve strength. They have the strength to have determination and are stronghearted, which no fear can shake. These strong people will be the companions of the Saviour (‘a.j.).


===================================
Follow us:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Panahianen/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PanahianEN/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PanahianEN
Telegram: https://telegram.me/Panahianen/
===================================
Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/c/PanahianEnglish
===================================
See our pages in various languages: https://panahian.net/
===================================

It’s time to show people’s inner being.

What are tests for? They are for you to manifest your hidden goodness. The 8-Year Holy Defence did something that manifested the light, which existed in many people’s hearts. These good manifestations happen in hardships. And bad manifestations can be seen in the hardships of bad people. Why should it be manifested?!
God’s tests have two purposes for the people whom it is clear what they will choose. The first purpose of testing is for you to choose, to see what you choose. One group are those whom when God brings a choice, they definitely choose the good. God says, “I know he/she chooses what’s good. But, I want him/her to show, express, and manifest the goodness of his/her inner being. This servant makes sacrifices. I want to prepare an environment for him/her to make a sacrifice.”
Tests have another goal too. God says, “If I bring a choice for this person, he will definitely choose the bad way. That’s fine. I will bring it up for him so that he shows himself.” Show yourself. The Almighty God looks at His servant’s hidden inner being. The hidden part is different from a person’s inner being. The hidden part is the part of our interior, which we are unaware of! You see your inner being, but you don’t see your hidden part. God says, “I look at the hidden part of My servant. Whatever is deep inside there, I will make apparent like clothes. If it’s good, it’s good. If it’s bad, it’s bad.” Tests are where our interior is shown. Who knows what he has hidden? “No one hides something in his heart except that God shows it like clothes. If it’s good, it’s good. If it’s bad, it’s bad.” [From the Prophet, Nahj al-Fasahah, p. 695, tradition no. 2616]
Ayatollah Bahjat said, “All of us are a potential ‘Shimr.’” How do I know my hidden part hasn’t hidden such vileness within itself?! It will come out when being tested. God says, “Testing is not for you to choose. You have chosen. Now I want to show it. Done!” God knows Aba Abdillah al-Husayn (‘a) won’t be in a quandary. If he wants to choose, he will choose sacrifice. God says, “Husayn, I want to show you to the people of the world.” I want to show you to everyone! Sometimes God tells us, “I want you to choose.” Sometimes He says, “You have chosen before. I want to show your hidden part to say who you are.” I don’t know why God has decided to show the hidden part of His bad servants too. I take refuge from when God becomes angry with a person. God says, “One day I will prove your ability to be a ‘Shimr’ to you and to the whole world!” I don’t know where such a servant has chosen what’s bad that he has such a test.
Friends, in short, always repent. Ok? We are making an agreement. Repent a lot. God I was wrong. Whatever I did was wrong. Forgive me. Pass on me. Don’t decide to prove my badness. I confess myself. We can’t stand it. We can’t stand Your test or Your punishment. We don’t have the strength to stand against Imam Ali (‘a). Don’t put us among the potential “Shimrs.” Friends, don’t you like to say this sentence? Doesn’t this come to your mind to say, “We wish we knew what is in our hidden part?” This is similar to Imam Sajjad’s (‘a) sentence in a prayer, “God, I wish I knew if I am wretched or fortunate! I wish I knew.” Tests are for our hidden part to become manifested. I don’t know what’s inside there. God, manifest our good hidden part.

[From the series of speeches under the topic of “The most determining factor in human destiny.”]


===================================
Follow us:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Panahianen/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PanahianEN/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PanahianEN
Telegram: https://telegram.me/Panahianen/
===================================
Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/c/PanahianEnglish
===================================
See our pages in various languages: https://panahian.net/
===================================

This is the root of all sadness, unrest, anxiety, and depression!

God dislikes a person who acts indifferently towards God’s Kindness. For example, a verse says, “Call on Me and I will answer you.”(Qur’an, 40:60) This is a display of kindness. “Call on Me and I will answer you.” Immediately, the Almighty God says in this same verse, “Those who are too proud to worship Me shall enter Hell utterly abject.” I’m telling you My dear to call on Me and I will answer you. A person says, “Ok, later.” God calls this being too proud to worship.
Do you know what the punishment of Hell is for? It is not for some rules that you didn’t obey! Is God like a policeman or the rules for driving?! No! Hell is for being bold against someone who is kind! This brings punishment. The Imam (‘a) has sworn that, “People won’t be saved from their sins unless they confess to them.” Say what your problem is. Have your realized it? If you’ve realized it, I’ll save you.
Now we want to say, “God we have a problem. Our problem is that we haven’t believed in Your Kindness. We have no understanding about Your Mercy, and we don’t pay attention or benefit from it. My whole life has been spent being indifferent about Your Kindness. All of my concerns are due to being indifferent about Your Kindness. All of my depression, all of my attachments to things, are due to being indifferent about Your Kindness.” An Arabic poem says, “Your sin is from within, which no sin can be compared with.” How should I repent from this?
I live without understanding Your Kindness! I am not sure that You are kind and will give my sustenance. I don’t work in order to create something, because of Your order, and for Your satisfaction! I say, “I should work; otherwise, I’ll stay hungry. What are you saying?!” My life is based on not believing in Your Kindness. I argue with this person and that person due to not believing in Your Kindness. I think they can take something from me.
I am jealous due to not believing in Your Kindness. I think someone else has taken my share. God says, “I have kept your share. Why are your jealous? Forget them!” I feel a lack of affection due to not believing in Your Kindness. I feel lonely due to not believing in Your Kindness. I go after worthless entertainments because I don’t believe in Your Kindness to be able to enjoy Your Kindness. I go somewhere else to enjoy. I don’t believe in Your Kindness; otherwise, I would have become a good person.
What will happen if we believe in God’s Kindness? Suddenly we will see all of God’s actions to be due to His Kindness. When we look at the stars, we will start crying. When we look at the mountains, plains, and deserts, we will start crying. When we see a child, we will start crying. When we see an old man hunched over and walking with a cane, we will start crying. God! You love all of these. You have created all of them. You give sustenance to all of them. When we see the birds flying, we will start crying. We will live!
Our problem is that we haven’t believed in Your Kindness. We have no understanding about Your Mercy, and we don’t pay attention or benefit from it. I don’t believe in Your Kindness; otherwise, I would have become a good person.

Why are you so sure about yourself?

As soon as some people become religious, they become completely sure about themselves! "I'm in a perfect position." A perfect position?! What have you achieved? It's possible for a person's being religious and revolutionary not to continue. A person's fervour for Imam Mahdi ('a.j.) may not continue. A person may not continue praying. We must talk about this, especially in religious groups. A person's participation in religious meetings might not continue. Yes, talk about this. Persistence is hard.
Believe me, a person can feel this in the people around him. As soon as some people become religious, they become completely sure about themselves! "I'm in a good position." A perfect position? What have you achieved? He doesn't study, think, moan, talk with God, rush to struggle to collect rewards so that he doesn't stay behind. So, what kind of a religious person are you? He goes to the Mosque or a meeting and returns.
He doesn't have any special smell or use. No good smell can be sensed from him, nor any sweetness. He is not worried about persistence at all. Are you sure you will stay on this path? There are many people who haven't remained!
My dear, you are not a unique person in your era. Did you know that Ibn Muljam was a unique person in Yemen? The Commander of the Faithful, Ali ('a), said, "Send 10 of your best people to me." The people of Yemen chose 100 people. They chose 70 of these 100 people from among themselves. They chose 30 people from the 70. They carried out a very succinct selection process. 30 people were reduced to 10. 10 people came to the Commander of the Faithful (a) and sent one forward. That one person was Ibn Muljam Muradi. There weren't that many traitors in Yemen to say one was Ibn Muljam. Yemen was praiseworthy from the beginning, and still is.
Sometimes God chooses one bad one from among the best ones to warn others. It's possible for a person's being religious and revolutionary not to continue. We should talk about this. Especially in religious meetings. Perseverance is hard. Do you think a religious person who doesn't do anything will stay on this path? You're joking!

We human beings are used to not having fun. We are used to living badly and being in a bad mood. Sometimes when we feel good, we go and ruin our mood ourselves. We have become like this! “What was your problem?” “I had a problem which took all of my attention.” “Thank God. So it is solved now?” “Yes, it just got solved right now.” “So thank God, enjoy yourself.” “Yes, but you know…”
“What are you thinking about now?” “I want to see what others problems I have that I should think about.” “Shame on you! God solved that problem, and you are searching for another problem?!” Life is like this for many of us. We are used to keeping our minds busy with problems. Like a sick person! When God solves one of our problems, we start thinking about the next one.
Recently they published some pictures in webpages of young girls and boys injuring themselves. They cut themselves, are hurt, and bleed. They say it brings calmness. Then people say, “Oh! How strange!” Everyone is like this! We are used to thinking about miseries, conflicts, anxieties, regrets, and jealousies. It is the food of our minds! Like a sick person!
When your mind is free, don’t start thinking about miseries! Some people dwell on their negative thoughts. Last night he was thinking about a negative issue. After he sleeps, he has forgotten it. His tension and pressure have gone down. “Leave it and go recite some Quran, pray, or do something else!” Again, he brings out that negative thought and starts chewing on it. “What was I saying? Aha! I was very upset about this problem! Let me focus on it and get as upset as I was last night. Looks like I didn’t understand the depth of this disaster!”
Shame on such a way of living. What can I say? He is sick. He is addicted. He is addicted to negative thoughts. Leave it to God! “If I leave it to God, will it get solved?” “Yes! Yes!” God says, “I am your secretary. I am your manager. I am your colleague. Go on a vacation! I will work in place of you! Release the problems from your mind!”
A good secretary is the one who makes his manager’s mind free. He says, “If you leave this to me, you don’t need to write it down anymore. Be comfortable, I will do it on time.” God says, “Leave it to Me. I am your secretary. Let your mind be free. Relax!” “If I leave it to God, will it get solved?” “Yes!” God says, “I am your secretary. I am your manager. I am your colleague. Go on a vacation! Relax!”
[From the series of speeches under the topic of “How can we live more relaxed?” Section 2]

===================================
Follow us:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Panahianen/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PanahianEN/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PanahianEN
Telegram: https://telegram.me/Panahianen/
===================================
Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/c/PanahianEnglish
===================================
See our pages in various languages: https://panahian.net/
===================================

Our Book Corner
Based on the book "Why does God command me?" by Ali Reza Panahian

Watch for the upcoming clips from this series!

The link for the book "Why does God command me?" written by Ali Reza Panahian:
http://amazon.com/author/panahian
==============================
Follow us:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Panahianen/ ...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PanahianEN/...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PanahianEN
Telegram: https://telegram.me/Panahianen/


#WhyDoesGodCommandMe

What is God’s purpose in each test?

Think about your weak points.


Some say, “I need to consult with you.” I say, “I’m not a good counselor!” “We have a family dispute.” “I don’t know!” “Tell me what I should do. Should I tolerate my spouse or not?” I say, “How should I know?! This depends on many factors.” Some people are so brave that they counsel everyone. “Do such and such!” But this involves many considerations. Some friends say, “You didn’t make it clear. I had an argument with my family, parents, or a colleague. Should I consider it to be a test in having patience or should I consider it to be a test where I have to separate from them, for example?” “If you can, see which of your weak points this test wants to eliminate.”
Another example, “I have received a large sum of money. Should I keep it, make an investment and make money with it, or should I give it in charity? There are needy people who need this money.” “I don’t know. Both are tests. It is possible that your test is that since you are a very compassionate person, you want to give this money to others. But God wants you to resist what you like. Instead of giving this money to the poor people around you, start up a factory with this money. Then, you can help ten other people as well as those needy people.” “I don’t have the spirit to do that.” “You’re very wrong to say that. Actually, this test is exactly because you are lazy in working. You have been given this easy money so that you may be corrected, work and move forward!”
Each person should see the purpose of his test himself. Pay attention to tests. In each event, good or bad, that takes place we should evaluate what the purpose of that test probably is. If you weren’t able to understand its purpose, you can do your duty in general. You can consider what the purpose could be in general. May God give you the “Furqan,” which means being able to separate good from bad, so that you may always recognize your duty.
I’ll say a prayer and tell you who said this prayer afterward. “O God, use us in the way for which You have created us. For any reason that You are taking these tests from us, make us successful to move in the direction of that purpose.” This is Lady Zahra’s (as) prayer.
«وَ اسْتَعْمِلْنِی لِمَا خَلَقْتَنِی لَهُ»
What have You created me for? Use me for that so that I won’t do other, unnecessary actions. In each event, good or bad, that takes place we should evaluate what the purpose of that test probably is. Each person should see the purpose of his test himself. If you can, see which of your weak points this test wants to eliminate.

===================================
Follow us:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Panahianen/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PanahianEN/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PanahianEN
Telegram: https://telegram.me/Panahianen/
==============================

Who is really suffering in this world?