Lovely Sedition!

The philosophy behind the seditions at the end of time is completely clear. For example, there is a tradition from Imam Baqir (‘a), “Never, never! The reappearance won’t take place until you’ve been filtered, filtered again, and filtered again.” The reappearance won’t happen until you’ve been filtered and separated from one another.
At the end of the “Iftitah Supplication,” we read, “God, we complain to You about the severity of the seditions that come to us and the passing of time, which are to our detriment.” God, in the severe seditions that come upon us, and the domination that our enemies want to have over us, have mercy on us . The Almighty God wants to put aside those who are not worthy, and keep the pure people.
It has been clearly said in a tradition, “The seditions at the end of time, are for the hypocrites who are among the believers and should be removed.” It is possible that hypocrisy be in those who are awaiting the Imam (‘a.j.). It doesn’t matter how the people who are not awaiting are, because filtering has been mentioned for the believers.
For example, Imam Reza (‘a) said, “Some of the people who have fondness for us, the Household of the Prophet (‘a), create more severe seditions than the sedition of the Dajjal.” People asked him, “O son of the Prophet, what’s their sedition?” The Imam’s (‘a) explanation can clarify the sedition of these kinds of people. The Imam (‘a) said, “They are friends with our enemies and enemies with our friends.”
About the complexity of the seditions at the end of time, and how much people can be incited, people asked Imam Sadiq (‘a). The Imam (‘a) raised up the curtain of the tent and sunlight entered. The Imam asked, “What’s this?” The person said, “O the son of the Prophet, this is light.” The Imam said, “Are you mistaken?” He replied, “No, I can see the sunlight.” The Imam said, “It is true that the seditions at the end of time are horrific. Many fall down. The filtering is severe. Making distinctions is a serious matter. But, the truth is this clear for the people of the truth.”
If a person claims to be a believer, he or she should be ready for seditions. The Holy Prophet of God (s) said, “Don’t’ be upset about the seditions at the end of time, because they destroy the hypocrites.” In another tradition, the Household of the Prophet (‘a) even said, “Ask for the seditions at the end of time.” Ask God for these tests to happen one after another. Because in these seditions the work will finish sooner, and the believers will be rescued sooner.
Sedition is a horrifying event. It’s hard. Some will fall down. It also brings some surprising growth too, and it creates a strength for the believers. Because of that strength, it has been said to ask for the seditions at the end of time. “Don’t’ be upset about the seditions at the end of time, because they destroy the hypocrites.” “Until you’ve been filtered, and filtered again.”
[From the series of speeches under the topic of “The Month of Ramadan, the month of hope for the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (‘a.j.).” ‘A Commentary on the Iftitah Invocation.’ An excerpt from the 28th session.]

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Is it right to give hope about the Reappearance?

If people become hopeful but the Imam doesn’t reappear, won’t they become irreligious?


We should make each other hopeful about the Reappearance (of the saviour) that is close. God willing all these events are preparing the preliminaries for the quick Reappearance of Mahdi, the son of Fatimah (‘a.j.). The doubt is that what if we make people hopeful, but the Reappearance is delayed? Then what will happen? This is truly a wrong statement. If we are worried about making people hopeful using logic, reasons and in accordance with the divine traditions about people’s lives, because if the Reappearance is postponed, we will have hurt people’s religion, this idea is wrong. I’ll give some examples.
The Holy Qur’an says, “Call on Me and I will answer you.” [40:60] It’s wrong to say, “No, we shouldn’t promise that He will answer. A person may pray but not be granted his request. Then, he’ll become irreligious!” Or, the Qur’an says, “If you help God, He will help you.” [47:7] But, in some cases in the frontlines, some people were martyred and God didn’t help them, in appearances. Should we say, “This verse isn’t good to propagate”?!
The Jewish people of Medina created this doubt for the first time. After the “Battle of Uhud,” Ammar Yasir and his friend were passing by. The Jewish people said, “Your prophet gave you good news of victory and divine help. So why did you lose? Even ‘Hamza’ was martyred.”
Ammar Yasir’s friend said, “I won’t discuss it with you. You make people irreligious.” But, Ammar Yasir said, “I will discuss it with you. Our Prophet promised us, but he had set a condition. The condition was for us to listen to what he said. The Prophet told us, ‘If you listen to me, God will move mountains with your power.’ But, we didn’t listen to him completely. We went to war, but we left our posts and pursued the bounty. We didn’t follow the rules and were defeated.” After answering them, he went to the Prophet. He said, “O Prophet of God, I had this conversation.” The Prophet told Ammar, “Since you answered them, you have struggled on the path of God.”
Due to a fear of not getting an immediate, certain result, we shouldn’t refrain from increasing good thoughts about God and decrease good thoughts about Him. This is like visiting patients who have difficult diseases – may God heal all patients, especially those with Corona - and saying, “According to logic, you will either pass away or live!” You must give hope. This is what religion recommends. We should pray for them and not stop praying. We should wish them health. No one should say, “Why are you giving false hope to them?!” We shouldn’t be hopeless about praying since some prayers have not been accepted.
If the believers’ hope increases but the Reappearance is delayed, they’ll be broken-hearted. These broken hearts will turn to God. It is at this time that praying and supplicating truly starts. This is a very beautiful scene! “Imam, we hoped you would come. We really hoped you would come on the 40th anniversary of the Revolution. We really hoped that when one of these oppressed believers who were beheaded moans, you would come.” More than 200 thousand martyrs in this region, all the oppressed and even the scholars throughout history have brought us to this point. Maybe, just maybe, we are only moments away from the Reappearance. When a person has much hope, he will struggle and work hard.

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Why do we like to follow celebrities?
What a great plan God has for us to become good!
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We read in Chapter Waqi’ah that people are three groups, “You will be three groups. The People of the Right Hand - and what are the People of the Right Hand?! And the People of the Left Hand - and what are the People of the Left Hand?! And the Foremost are the foremost. They will be the nearest ones to God.” [Qur’an 56:8-11]
But those who win the contest and those who speed up, they are the ones who are close to God. The People of the Right Hand are different from the Foremost. The Almighty God explicitly differentiates between the group of the Foremost and the group of Good People. What a great plan God has for us to become good! How does one feel about winning a contest? “I have to win the gold medal.” Religion means winning the contest.
This should be the basis for the religious education of teenagers. You should tell them, “Do you want to be one of the Good People or among the Foremost?” If you don't give these two options to a teenager, you have destroyed him/her, because a teenager has a tendency toward wanting to win the contest. Don’t you see that he is constantly playing? Don’t you see that he is constantly following celebrities that have won contests? He spends his time to win a contest. But we have asked a group of elderly people who are not in the mood to win a contest anymore to write the texts for Guidance School. They don’t understand teenagers. God has created this age group to win in contests.
May this outdated method of propagating religion be eliminated! Some consider religion to be like the rules for driving that are only for preventing accidents and traffic jams. But this is not religion at all. Religion is a rule book for a competition. If a person doesn’t want to participate in a contest, why does he need religion?! Religion wants all of us to enter into a contest.
Once I travelled abroad. I went to participate in a group prayer downtown in a Mosque there. There were three or four people there who had come to pray. I joined the prayer. I stood in the second row. There were a few [in the first row], and there were a few of us standing in the second row. I prayed and afterwards I was smiling and feeling I had done a good job for praying with my brothers in faith. But the prayer leader kept frowning at me.
Then he talked to me in his own language, which was a little hard to understand. He asked, “Why did you stand in the second row?” I said, “No special reason. So where should I have stood?” He asked, “Don’t you know that standing in the first row brings more reward?” What a mistake! He was right. I should have stood in the first row. You’re arrogant if you say that you don’t need the reward of standing in the first row. You ruin everything like that.
From that day on, wherever I join a group prayer, I stand in the first row. And the first row is always empty! “Agha, you go ahead [stand in the first row]!” “You go ahead!” “No, we are full of spirituality [and don’t need to]!” Is this the way to participate in a contest?!
According to the traditions, if two people arrive at the group prayer at the same time and there is only one empty space in the first row, they must draw lots. We shouldn’t say, “You go ahead.” Rather, we should say, “I’m more in need. We got here at the same time, so we must draw lots. I can’t let go of this reward.” If you are willing to let go of this reward, this means you haven’t understood that religion is a competition!
The Almighty God explicitly differentiates between the group of the Foremost and the group of Good People. “And the Foremost are the foremost.” What a great plan God has for us to become good! Religion means winning the contest. How does one feel about winning a contest? “I have to win the gold medal.”

The sign of Imam Husayn’s (as) special love for those who walk for Arbaeen

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From the Series “The Secrets of Ashura,”
Part 8. [To be continued…]

“The truth has come and falsehood has vanished.”

People to Govern

Are we willing to help Imam Husayn (‘a), or not? Even if we are willing to help Imam Husayn (‘a), we haven’t done something special. The Imam of the Time’s (Mahdi’s) (‘a.j.) coming, won’t be fixed with this. You can’t say, “O Ibn al-Hasan, come. If there is a night like Ashura for you, I will be one of those who stay in your tent.”
The Imam would reply, “I’m sorry. I won’t have a night like Ashura. I believe you. If they surround me in a ditch where they want to slaughter me, you will help me. But, the world’s problems won’t be fixed like that. I want something else.”
I, as a witness and observer, believe that all of the people who mourn for Imam Husayn… Not all, 99% of them. No, 50%. If 50% of these mourners were in Karbala, they would have been sacrificed for Imam Husayn (‘a). If half of the mourners are willing to be sacrificed for Imam Husayn, how many people will that be? How many people? 50 million people? 20 million people? 1 million people? The number will be much more than 1 million people. So, why doesn’t Imam Mahdi (‘a) come? He is looking for 313 people.
Imam Mahdi’s (‘a.j.) mission is not like that of Imam Husayn (‘a) in Karbala. Do you understand? When a person is going to be martyred, he will be corrected automatically. Imam Mahdi (‘a.j.) wants to govern.
Like the martyrs of Karbala, who were so devout the night before Ashura, you must be that pure in Imam Mahdi’s government. “It’s very hard to be that pure while governing! Many religious people have gone astray. How? They were revolutionary. But, they went astray. There is money and fame in power! It’s not that simple.”
Imam Husayn’s training is the beginning of the way. Because, we won’t have a situation like what Imam Husayn (‘a) had. If there is a situation like Imam Husayn’s, the Islamic nation will win. Look at the Martyr Hujaji and other martyrs. There are many people like them.
So, why doesn’t Imam Mahdi (‘a.j.) come? It is not that the level of the companions of Imam Mahdi is higher than the martyrs of Karbala. Their function is different. The martyrs of Karbala were unique people in their own situation. But, in a situation like Karbala, what Imam Mahdi wants to accomplish won’t happen. Imam Mahdi wants very special companions.
If we are going to sacrifice ourselves for a lonely and oppressed person, we will certainly do this. Imam Mahdi says, “Excuse me, I don’t want to be lonely and oppressed. I want to be a ruler. I want to be powerful.”
What should you sacrifice? Your world, although you are still alive. It is very easy to pass on this world when a person is going to be martyred. If there is a situation like Imam Husayn’s, the Islamic nation will win. It is not that the level of the companions of Imam Mahdi is higher than the martyrs of Karbala. Their function is different. It is very easy to pass on this world when a person is going to be martyred. What should you sacrifice? Your world, although you are still alive. Imam Husayn’s training is the beginning of the way.

Agha Panahian explains the concept of the domino effect to us and where in history did the event of Karbala start.

Everything at the right time!

I told half of a story in a gathering. Because, that half of the story was suited to that gathering. Now, I’ll tell you the whole story.
[Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 26, p. 237; Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, vol. 12, p. 335]
A scorpion had stung two people. They were dying from the pain. They were the friends of the Commander of the Faithful, Ali (‘a). They were brought to the Imam. The Imam said, “You’ll get well; don’t be afraid. You’ll be in pain for a while, and then, your body will get rid of it.” After a while, the Imam went to visit them. The Imam asked, “Would you like me to tell you what the reason behind these stings was?” What was the hidden reason for these stings? They said, “Yes, please.”
The Imam told one of them, “The scorpion stung you because you were sitting in a meeting where they said bad things about Salman since he is my friend. You could have defended him, but you didn’t. If you had defended him, they wouldn’t have killed you, taken away your money or beaten you. You were shy to say anything. This sting is because of that. From now on, wherever they say bad things about my friend, defend him.”
I have told this story up to this point a few times to say we should defend the truth. Now the rest. The Imam asked the other person, “Do you know why the scorpion stung you?” He said, “Why? I defend you well.” The Imam replied, “Once, you were sitting next to a brutal person who really hates us. My servant Qanbar came to you. Due to your affection for me, you got up in front of him and respected him very much. That man asked, ‘Who is this that you respect him this much?’ You praised Qanbar a great deal. That man had a hatred towards us, so he hit Qanbar very much. Was it right to praise him there for him to be beaten like this?!”
“Pious people have superior virtues. Their words are proper.” [Imam Ali (‘a), The Muttaqin Sermon] At the top of the list of moral virtues, which Imam Ali (‘a) lists for pious people, are controlling one’s tongue and using it correctly. “The pious people’s words are proper.” They’re not only honest. Honesty is one of their features. Such a person should have some other features too.
One of the aspects of “being proper” is knowing what to say and to whom. One of the aspects of “being proper” is knowing when and what to say. Much consideration is needed! Should I say this to that person, or not? God! Is it time for this, or not? If I say it when it’s unfitting, or if I don’t say it when it’s necessary, it’ll get worse. “Their words are proper.” See what points it is referring to.
For example, a man has come home and he is very tired. The woman thinks, “I’m tired too, and I’m upset at him.” So, she says a few negative things as soon as he comes in. They argue and get tired. Then the woman says, “I’m sorry. I really become very happy when you get home. I was so upset with you because of that matter.” She starts expressing her love.
It has been said in the traditions to first express your love when a man comes home. If you want to nag, do it 10 minutes later. When you change the timing, everything is ruined. It is the same person. Say both things. But, say this one first, then the other one. Arguments will stop.
Men should do the same concerning women. Sometimes they don’t pay attention what they should say and when. When your child is born, you shouldn’t ask first, “Is the baby alright?” You should say, “Are you alright?! God willing, the baby is well too.” When they bring the baby forward, pay a little attention to him/her. But, focus on your wife. “Darling, you should be healthy. You’ll always be dear to me. This baby put you through so much trouble.” It is very important what you say and when.
One of the aspects of “being proper” is knowing what to say and to whom. One of the aspects of “being proper” is knowing when and what to say.
“Pious people have superior virtues. Their words are proper.”

Faith is sweet, beautiful, and beloved - faith itself! Faith takes one to a higher level of life. The Holy Prophet (s) lived with God! His existence depended on God. God gave flavor to his life. God was the sweetness of his life. God was what made things sweet for him. His soul didn’t enjoy anything else except God. Is the sweetness of faith something small? Are we just mentioning one of many things that are sweet?!For God’s sake, look at how indifferent we are about what is happening in the world. The Qur’an says, “He is with you wherever you are.” [57:4] We say, “Aha, ok.” “He is with you.” Such a person doesn’t taste this. He is with you wherever you are. He says, “So? What should I do?” “We are nearer to him than his life-vein.” [Qur’an 50:16] He says, “Aha.” Such a person’s brain has shut down! Tell him, “‘Wherever you turn, you are always in the presence of God.’ [Qur’an 2:115] Can you see how God has encompassed you?” But a person still feels lonely. This means you haven’t tasted the sweetness of faith. You should taste its sweetness. Do you remember when you were a little kid? As soon as your mom or dad would hug you, you would say, “Yes! Now I’m in my place. He/she is holding me. This is better.” When I was a child, I would go into my dad’s embrace in cold weather. When he would hold me under his cloak, all the problems in the world were solved for me in his embrace. After growing up, your dad’s cloak was supposed to be replaced with God, but it hasn’t happened. So you thought it’s natural for human beings to feel it’s just them. No, it’s not human beings that feel it’s just them. Yes, it’s… um... I don’t want to say sheep. They feel it’s just them, not human beings. Human beings have not been created to feel they’re alone. God says, “He is with Me. I’m with him Myself.” Faith is sweet, beautiful, and beloved - faith itself! For God’s sake, look how indifferent we are about what is happening in the world. Tell him, “‘Wherever you turn, you are always in the presence of God.’ Can you see how God has encompassed you?” But this person still feels lonely. This means that he hasn’t tasted the sweetness of faith.
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The link for the book "How to Pray a Good Prayer," written by Ali Reza Panahian:
http://amazon.com/author/panahian
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Relinquishing the Ismails in Our Lives

Many religious people have a problem in this area! The way to test a person’s internal being is for him to ignore an interest. The good interests that you have gained, now you have to sacrifice some of those good interests.
Whenever you decide to do a valuable action, you should pass over one of your interests. Therefore, the Commander of the Faithful, Ali (‘a), said, “Any sin is accompanied by desire. Any act of obedience is accompanied with feelings of aversion and hardship.” With this design that the Almighty God has made within us, He has created the opportunity for testing.
So, if we resist our desires and bad interests, activate our good interests, and taste the enjoyment of good interests, will we live happily? No my dear! One should oppose his or her good desires for better desires!
After you have become good, will everything be solved? No, then it’s time to sacrifice the good interests that you have gained. Many religious people have a problem in this area!
Satan didn’t want to open up a bar! He didn’t want to act like a gangster! He said, “Instead of this prostrating, I’ll pray 2 thousand years for You.”
One might say, “One has to resist his bad interests for his good interests! He has to oppose his lesser interests for more valuable and higher interests!” No my dear! One should oppose his or her good desires for better desires! Which good interests? Give an example.
For example, you love your Ali Akbar (the son of Husayn (‘a)). Now you must sacrifice your Ali Akbar. Or, you are Ibrahim. And, you love your Ismail. Now sacrifice your Ismail.
In this world, the Commander of the Faithful, Ali (‘a), loved to protect Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (s) more than anything else. But, the situation required that because of God he not use his sword to defend Hazrat Fatimah (‘a) due to superior interests. And this anguish remained with him till the end of his life. It wasn’t easy for him!
It is for this part of the story that we gather to read eulogies about tragedies. The way to test a person’s internal being is for him to ignore an interest. The good interests that you have gained, now you have to sacrifice some of those good interests. One should oppose his or her good desires for better desires! And, this continues until the last moment!

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