Filled with Enthusiasm
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Look at it every day!

A young man came to me and said, “Haj Agha, I have a problem and I want to talk to you.” I said, “Go ahead.” So we talked together. He said, “My first problem is that my death is certain. Because of a problem, I will certainly pass away.” I said, “No, with God’s grace. The length of one’s life is in God’s hands. Many have had the worst disease...” He said, “No, this is different.”
Maybe it was my first time meeting a person who was passing away. I was wondering, “So he won’t be alive shortly?” It was a strange feeling. He said, “I’ve accepted this. In the beginning, it was very hard to accept this truth. One morning when I woke up, I told myself, ‘You’re going to die. Live for now. Go out. Work. Talk. Communicate with people. You’ll eventually die!’ So I got up and started living. After that, when someone bothered me, I wouldn’t get upset. I would say, ‘I’m dying! I wasn’t bothered at all. I wasn’t jealous. I would say, ‘I don’t want anything. Let others collect these things.’ If a car with a bride and groom passed by, I was happy for them like their mothers. [I would say,] ‘Aww, it’s their wedding. I hope they’ll be happy.’ I would pray for young people like older people do. If a person stepped on me to move up, I would say, ‘It’s fine. Let him take it.’ If I helped someone, I wasn’t trying to become known because I wouldn’t be alive that long to benefit from such fame. I’ve become very relaxed. I don’t see any badness. My understanding of good words has increased.”
He mentioned these things one by one. I felt he was talking about the pious people’s features that are mentioned in Nahj al-Balaghah. I said, “I see.” He said, “If I pass away, will God accept these from me?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “But I’ve become like this due to my thinking of death.” I asked, “Don’t you believe in God?” He said, “Yes! I do. But I haven’t become better because of that. I love God very much too. God is the only one that I have now. No one will remain for me. But death is what has corrected me. Is this ok? Won’t they tell me, ‘When you found out you’re dying you corrected yourself’?”
I said, “No, the Commander of the Faithful, Ali (as), said, ‘Death is enough to advise one.’ You were advised and corrected yourself.” [He said,] “Thank you. I’ll go.” [I said,] “Wait! Let’s become friends. I’ve found a real person.” He said, “No, I don’t want to put you out.” “No, sit down. I want to talk with you more. What’s your illness?” “I’m not ill.” “But you said you’ll certainly die.” “I said I’ll certainly die, but I didn’t say that I’m sick.” “What? What do you mean that you’ll certainly die?” “I’ve asked if there’s anyone who can help me so that I won’t die and they said no.” “So when?” “One day, 1000 days, 30,000 days from now. I don’t know.”
I thought a little and saw that I’ll die too - either in a day or a thousand days… I said, “So you’re not sick.” “No.” How many days from now will you die?

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The link for the book "How to Pray a Good Prayer," written by Ali Reza Panahian:
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God put Ali bin Abi Talib (as) as our commander and said, “I have completed My favor to you.” [Qur’an 5:3]

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People asked, “A person may worship God for 70 or 80 years. Let’s suppose he has never sinned and has always done the best deeds. But why does God take him/her to Heaven for an eternity?” This person will be taken to Heaven for an eternity, an eternity!
This question has been mentioned in the traditions. Now what is God’s answer? Imagine one has done good deeds. He could be rewarded ten times, one hundred times, one thousand times or even one billion times more than his deeds! Beneficence should have limits. God could take him to Heaven one billion times more than his deeds. After enjoying, this could stop! Don’t send him to Hell, but this could finish! [It could be said,] “You enjoyed Heaven. Now go back to where you were, ‘nowhere.’” Why is the reward for an eternity?
This is the Almighty God’s answer, “My servant worshipped according to his ability, and I’ll reward him according to My ability. He did what he could, and I will do what I can.” O God, don’t tell the rest. All He can do!? The infinite, great God! God doesn’t finish. His actions don’t finish. His favor doesn’t finish either.
Friends, be ready for what I want to say. God put Ali bin Abi Talib (as) as our commander and said, “I have completed My favor to you.” [Qur’an 5:3] Imam Ali (as), who has been given to us, is infinite! I don't know how to express the meanings that I want to convey to you. When a filmmaker makes a movie, you ask him, “Is this the best film you will ever make?” He’ll say, “No, I still expect myself to do better.” Isn’t this true? If you ask a calligrapher if this will be his best work, he will say no. These ordinary people are not satisfied with their own work. They want infinity. So how can we say that’s it for God’s actions? God gives His favor in Heaven for billions of years. You ask, “O God, is that it?” “No, it won’t finish,” He will say.
But when he gave us Ali (as), He said, “I have completed My favor to you!” I’m afraid to use this interpretation, but he was God’s finest work! He said, “I have ‘completed’ My favor to you.” O God, You’re infinite. You don’t finish! He says, “So I bestowed infinite favor on you.” God put Ali bin Abi Talib (as) as our commander and said, “I have completed My favor to you.” Imam Ali (as), who has been given to us, is infinite!

#EidAlGhadir

What is your understanding about a family?

Differences bring both sweetness and bitterness.

What is our understanding about a family? A family means putting two opposite genders next to each other so that their contradictions and harmony can be seen. Some young men have certain perceptions about their wives. There are many incorrect perceptions in this area. Many men get married without being familiar with women’s particularities at all. No one was around to explain to them how a woman’s nature is. When complaining they may criticize everything or be totally thankless. Don’t get upset!
I have ended an argument with a tradition. A man said, “When my wife starts complaining she says, ‘I haven’t seen any goodness from you!’ She denies all the rest of my good points.” I replied, “Imam Ali (‘a) and the Holy Prophet (s) have said in various statements that women are like this. If they criticise without any bounds, they talk as you have said.” The man asked, “Is it ok for women to talk like this?” I replied, “No, God will severely punish women who talk like this. But, the Commander of the Faithful (as) told the husband of such a woman, ‘When you see that your wife starts making a commotion, be silent.’” The man said, “I didn’t know that! I thought she should talk very accurately. I thought when she talks like this it means that she really hates me.” I said, “No, it’s not like this. Actually, she may even love you too. However, women sometimes talk sharply.” He said, “No one had told me this!”
Women themselves don’t know this either. When you tell them that they are like this, they think some and say, “Oh, yes. So I’m not such a complaining person. This is how I talk.” Since a woman says something sharply she herself believes it too. Her pride doesn’t allow her to back down. So she doesn’t say, “I didn’t mean that.” Thus, she doesn’t stop the argument and he doesn’t stop either. They stick to what they’ve said and gradually hate comes between them. It gets to a point where they say, “I can’t tolerate this anymore.” Women don’t get to this point that easily. Women are very flexible creatures. They even have the power to change their husbands.
These are all due to the incorrect perceptions and wrong understandings that exist. Many times women don’t have an accurate understanding about men. But men have more inaccurate impressions about women than women do about men. Now, what is our understanding about a family? Two different beings with these obvious differences are going to live together. These differences bring both sweetness and bitterness. If you have not foreseen this, you’ll lose your control. You won’t have the capacity to benefit from its sweetness, nor will you have the capacity to deal with its bitterness in the correct way.
A family means putting two opposite genders next to each other so that their contradictions and harmony can be seen.

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We will be much happier this way.

The Human Being, a Creature Who Gets Used to Everything

What are we getting used to now? Whoever wants to counsel the youth should say, “Don’t do this, or you’ll get used to it!” If he/she answers, “Just one time,” say, “You’re wrong. You’ll get used to it.” Because, getting used to something gradually turns into fondness. And, this will have an effect on a person’s spirit too. Some say the word “Insan” (man) is from the root “Uns” (fondness), because he is fond of things.
A human being is strange. He sticks. He didn’t want to start liking these walls and doors. But, since he has passed by them every day, he is now in love with them. They want to take his life, but he won’t give up his life to the angel Azrael. He is unsatisfied with God because of these doors and walls. “Leave them! They’re just doors and walls.” He says, “I have become fond of them.” In 90% of the cases, when God wants to blame human beings in the Qur’an, He uses the word “Insan” (man). In other cases, when He wants to use a good term, He says “Bashar” (humankind).
It is written, “I am only a ‘Bashar’ like you.” [Qur’an 18:110] It doesn’t say, “I am only an ‘Insan’ like you.” “Surely ‘Insan’ is created of a hasty temperament; being greatly grieved when evil afflicts him.” [Qur’an 70:19-20] “‘Insan’ is created of haste.” [Qur’an 21:37] “Nay! ‘Insan’ is most surely inordinate, because he sees himself free from want.” [Qur’an 96:6-7] Whenever He wants to blame human beings, He uses “Insan.” “Insan” is from “Uns” (fondness). Fondness grips a person’s soul unwantedly. A person gets used to things. Whoever wants to counsel the youth should say, “Don’t do this, or you’ll get used to it!”
I went abroad, maybe 30 years ago. Jaz or this kind of music had just come out. In Iran and our environs this kind of music wasn’t played. But, wherever we went was full of this music there. It really bothered us. Not because I’m that religious! Because of its style. Bang, bang, bang! What is it doing?! I came back to Tehran. A few months later, we were in the car. A car was playing the same kind of music. I was infatuated. Ahhh! It was a memory. What could I do with it? I had become fond of it. Even if I say it’s Haram and I don’t have a spiritual connection with it, what should I do about this fondness? The weather was very good there. It had a Mediterranean climate. I could even feel the weather. That music had this effect.
Therefore, the traditions have said to build a wall between yourself and sins. You shouldn’t even be aware of what’s going on there, because a person gets used to things very quickly. After a person becomes fond of things, it will be impossible to detach oneself from them! Because, getting used to something gradually turns into fondness. And, this will have an effect on a person’s spirit too. Some say that the word “Insan” (man) is from the root “Uns” (fondness), because he is fond of things. Build a wall between yourself and sins. You shouldn’t even be aware of what’s going on there, because a person gets used to things very quickly.

Watch how God interacts with you.

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We are truly dependent on God and are His servants. We should truly worship and obey God. Do you know what these mean? Protect your independence and be independent!
It’s interesting that the Almighty God never talks and guides a person in a way that removes his independence. That is why many of you may not love reciting the Qur’an. The Qur’an does not cause one to love it that easily. When you recite it a little you get tired. [It’s as if the Qur’an says,] “Go! I’m not a novel that is here to attract you with tricks so that you can’t let me go until you read the whole book!” Friends, this is God’s plan if you aren’t easily attracted to the Qur’an! Don’t think God wasn’t able to do more. Don’t think you’re a bad person [that you’re not attracted]. This is God’s plan. He takes you a few steps forward then releases you.
Independence is a basic principle; otherwise, He wouldn’t have created you as a human being. The traditions say after you wake up for the Midnight Prayer a few nights, God will do something to make you feel very tired. He even tells the angels, “Let him miss his Morning Prayer too.” Then you will come to your senses, “Why has this happened? God, why did You let go of me?” [God says,] “I told you that you should stand on your own feet.” God doesn’t care about your good behavior. The reason for your good behavior is important for Him. Why doesn’t God punish you immediately? Why doesn’t He encourage you immediately? He wants to protect your independence.
Someone asked, “Where does the Qur’an talk about freedom?” I said, “At least one third of the Qur’an talks about independence and freedom.” He asked, “Where? How?” I said, “It talks a lot about Heaven and Hell.” God says, “I’ll punish you later.” How? “I may forgive you. I will reward you later.” God punish him now! God says, “I value people. I don’t show Hell to them at all. I won’t let even one person return after death to tell others what is going on there.” “God, why do You hide it? Tell me! Show me!” He says, “Your independence would be damaged. Then if you come [on this path], it’s due to being influenced by seeing these. I don’t want to force you. It was easy for Me to force you. Why in a dream?! I could let you see these when you’re awake.” It was easy for God to make you dependent and obedient to Him and not let you have any independence.
He could have caused each person who had reached maturity to see a dream about this. It was easy! He could show the Resurrection Day, Heaven and Hell, then say, “Will you pray?” A person would answer, “Just tell me how many cycles!!” A person would even pray the recommended Midnight Prayer the next day too! Would this be hard for God? Why didn’t He do this? He wants you to have independence in your servitude.
My friends, many of us like to be dependent on God. We love Him. We say, “God, direct my life. Help me not to make mistakes anymore. Please. You don’t need to let me be this independent. I have made myself wretched with my decisions, my weaknesses, and fears. Compensate for me for all of these.” But He won’t do it. Even after becoming closer to Him and being in a good spiritual mood, for example, after experiencing a spiritual trip to Hajj, to Karbala, or ten days of mourning in Muharram, do you know what will happen? He’ll put a great hardship, test or sin in front of you. Then you may easily lose all those blessings you had gathered. God doesn’t show mercy in such situations.
I’ve told the story of a young Russian man before. He fell in love with Imam Husayn (as) after watching the Muslim’s chest beating on Euronews. He searched and realized that this is a mourning ceremony for a man named Husayn. One of our friends went to Russia and found this man. He had been strongly influenced by Husayn (as). He constantly listened to elegies. He said, “When I listen to these elegies, these things you recite” - and he didn’t know its name - “I feel a warmth in the cold weather of Siberia.” He didn’t know anything about Islam or Imam Husayn (as).
Our friends invited him to Iran. They took him to Imam Reza’s (as) shrine. He enjoyed it and was getting closer to God. It was his first or second trip that he said he wanted to become Muslim because it’s the religion of Husayn (as). When he was in the shrine, he repeated the testimonies of faith (Shahadatayn) and became Muslim. When they came out his mobile rang. He suddenly turned pale. We asked him what had happened. He was very attached to his mother.

The Most Important Factor in Training Children

If parents pray, will a child pray too? If they do a few good deeds, whatever they are, is this enough for children to have outstanding personalities? What should parents do to raise their children in a good way? Among the good deeds and among the bad deeds, which deeds are more important than others? What is the difference between an architect and us? We say it like this, “A house needs iron, wood, glass, electric cables, and tiles.” But, what does an architect say? He says, “Wait, I’ll tell you the order. First this, then that.” He’s an architect. He knows how to do it.
Now, we want to design some concepts for the process of training children and distinguish priorities. Each good deed doesn’t have a good effect on children. In the same way, each bad deed doesn’t have a damaging effect on children. Each good or bad deed does not affect training children. Which good deed or behaviour has the most effect on children? What is the main one, the first one? Being friends with the child? No. This is not the main good deed, which causes a child to be brought up well.
Since some people are religious, they answer, “Prayer.” No, this is not the answer at all. Prayer is not the first good deed for parents to do for their children to become good. I can show you many parents who pray, and even pray on time, but their child has become corrupted. There is a first and most important feature in parents, which causes children to become “Human Beings!” “A Human Being” means a real human being and a noble, strong person. I have understood it this way that when you say it with a Turkish accent, it gives a stronger meaning to this concept.
What is the most important behaviour of parents, which affects children? Patience and tolerating hardships. Actually, tolerating hardships means patience. Parents, who are unable to tolerate hardships, will corrupt their children. When honourable mothers are upset, they shouldn’t say everything that comes to mind. Children understand that their mother is sad, but she smiles and says, “It’s fine.” When the child sees the mother’s patience, he or she grows ten years at once. They come out from being a child.
For example, there are very religious parents. When they get upset, they start cursing. “Wait a moment. Be patient or your child will be destroyed.” “No, one defect of mine won’t destroy my child.” “Actually he’ll be destroyed with this one defect! He won’t become good with all the rest of your good points. I’m telling you.” No defect is like impatience, and no goodness is like patience.
The most important factor for training children, which if it’s eliminated, it’s the most important reason for a person becoming impolite, is tolerating hardships. The Almighty God has mentioned patience before prayer in the Qur’an many times. “Seek assistance in patience and prayer.” (Qur’an 2:153)
[From the series of speeches under the topic of, “The special importance of patience in training children.”]

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The third book of Ali Reza Panahian in English is now available on Amazon!

https://www.amazon.com/Alireza....-Panahian/e/B00DSJYW

This book attempts to answer the question "Why does God command?" from the perspective of the effects God’s commands have on one’s personal training and morals. While answering this question, he also explains some of the deep, educational concepts of Islam in a simple language. The valuable effect this book has is that it leaves the reader with a delightful, glorious, pleasant image of the concept of "God's commands," which has an automatic impact on one’s spiritual development.

While describing the beauty of the divine commands, this book answers questions such as:
• Why does a person like to not be obliged to do things and to not have to adhere to commands?

• If all divine given duties were recommended actions, wouldn’t we feel better?

• How do God’s promises of “punishment” and “reward” eliminate egotism?

• Is the desire to “not be obliged to do things” an unnatural feeling?

• What is the difference between a selfish enjoyment and an enjoyment through which one seeks God?

#WhyDoesGodCommandMe