أحدث مقاطع الفيديو
See the Imam’s (as) outlook
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There is a beautiful tradition narrated from a man named Nauf. He said, “I saw Imam Ali (as) turn away from everyone and move away quickly and eagerly.” Have you seen when someone is pursuing something he likes how he moves away from others? He doesn’t say goodbye ten times. He‘s like an arrow that has been shot from a bow! This is a description of how the Imam went away.
The man asked him, “Where are you going?” It was midnight when he saw the Commander of the Faithful, Ali (as), leaving! Now see how the Imam said he wanted to go pray the Midnight Prayer and worship. [The Imam said,] “Nauf, leave me. Indeed my longings take me to the presence of my beloved.”
O Imam, may I be sacrificed for you. Worshiping to you is going toward your longings, right? May I be sacrificed for you. It’s obvious that this worshiping is fun and enjoyable for you.
“I said, ‘My master, what are your longings?’ The Imam said, ‘The One Who should know, the One Whom I long for knows this Himself. I don’t need to tell this to anyone else.’”
See how the Commander of the Faithful talked. This is how he was. Nauf said, “O Commander of the Faithful, I’m afraid of my greed...”He saw Imam Ali’s (as) position. He looked at himself and said he’s afraid! Nauf was a good person. He saw Imam Ali’s (as) longings and what was fun to him. So Nauf said he was afraid of his own greed for this world. He saw that he didn’t have that same enthusiasm the Imam had for worshiping. He asked what he should do. The Imam (as) was surprised.
The Imam said, “Why don’t you take refuge with He Who protects those who are afraid and is the shelter of the mystics?” Why don’t you get help from God? He gives refuge. If you’re truly afraid, He gives refuge to those who are afraid. Get help from God Himself! He is the shelter of the mystics. You understood you’re not in a good situation? You understood there is a better situation? He is the shelter of the mystics. He gives refuge Himself. Why do you ask the Imam?
What a truly high-level conversation. It is very beautiful and mystical. Nauf said, “Guide me to Him.” I don’t know how to read the words of the Commander of the Faithful (as). The Imam said, “He is the Exalted and Great God. Attach your longings to His good grace.” This is how worshiping becomes something fun and enjoyable! See the Commander of the Faithful’s (as) outlook. The Exalted and Great God will take you to your longings. Don’t you want to be like this?! So ask Him. God will take you to your longings. [The Imam said,] “Don’t you want to worship God like me?!” The Imam didn’t say, “like me.” I’m saying it like this. Don’t you want to worship God like the Imam? God will take you to your longings.
What is worshiping my dear ones? Worshiping means you talk about your longings with God and He takes you to them. O God, so worshiping is fun and enjoyable.
The Cure for All Pains
Prayer is the cure for incurable pains. What does prayer do? It eliminates your greed for this world and makes you want God. Friends, do you agree prayer does this? Or, should I explain how we should pray for it to have this effect? I should explain. So, you don’t believe that prayer does this.
Ayatollah Bahjat has a solution about how to pray for it to be like this. “Sir, do you want to say, ‘Praying while paying attention’? I’m not like a mystic for you to talk like that!” “Nah! I’m not like a mystic either.” “Do you want to say praying with observation of its long rituals, recommended supplications, and these kinds of things?! I don’t have time! I can’t put that much effort for God!”
How should prayer be for us to get the best result from it? The best result! All the results that you want to have from prayer! Pray on time. Someone asked Ayatollah Bahjat, “Paying attention while praying on time?” He replied, “No! A regular prayer.”
What is the advantage of it being on time? That is what I want to explain. Why does praying on time correct a person this much? Do you know when ‘praying on time’ is? This is the meaning of praying on time. God looks at you and says, “My angels, let My servant live his life for a few hours.” You are living and busy with different tests and tribulations. Suddenly, you become entangled in a simple or complex issue. You’re resting, studying or doing business. In a moment that God knows, He says, “Someone go and recite the Call to Prayer. Recite it right now. Let Me see if he leaves what he is doing and comes, or not?” “God, why now?” God replies, “He is now in a situation where he should leave what he is doing. Recite the Call to Prayer now.”
“Sir, are you saying the Call to Prayer is mobile, fluid, and doesn’t have a certain time?” “Yes, it doesn’t have a certain time. Accept this from me!” God looks and says, “He is living his life. He is hungry.” When this person is hungry, God says, “Recite the Call to Prayer now! He is hungry. Recite it. Will he stop and come to pray, or not?! If he does, he will gain many things!”
The time of the Call to Prayer is not fixed. Friends, pay attention. God determines when the Call to Prayer for each person should be. God knows exactly when to recite the Call to Prayer to remove your bad mood and give you a good mood.
God is an ethics teacher and a tutor in mysticism. “Is God really like this?” “Yes, He is.” What would Ayatollah Bahjat do if you were in his presence? He knew everything. He used to say, “So and so…”
Once, Ayatollah HaqShenas was coming back from his class. It was after prayer, and friends were saying goodbye. Suddenly he said to one of them, “No matter how much your wife curses you, don’t say anything.” The man replied, “I don’t have any problems with my wife.” This man went home and saw a tragedy had occurred. All their relatives were there too. His wife started cursing him and ruined him completely. He wanted to get upset and answer her. But, he remembered what Ayatollah HaqShenas had said. So, he didn’t say anything. Not saying anything changed his life.
How good it is if someone, who knows my life, gives me advice at the right time. Better than Mr. HaqShenas is the God of Mr. HaqShenas! Are you willing for God to be your tutor? God says, “Live your life. I will fix you with JUST the time for prayer. Go do your work. Now recite the Call to Prayer to see what he does!” God knows at which moment, in what situation, He should announce that it is praying time for each person.
You say, “If this is how it is, then the time for the Call to Prayer will be different for each person.” I reply, “Yes.” “But, everyone hears the same call to prayer.” That’s nothing to do with you! You see that the apparent time of praying is the same for everyone. But, this Call to Prayer is only for you. In this situation, you should leave everything and pray. The reason for you is different from the reason for this person and that person. It’s enough for you to just say, “Alright!” God will fix the rest. He is a professional!
Someone asked Ayatollah Bahjat, “When Ayatollah Qazi said that whoever prays on time will reach to high levels, did he mean this prayer should be with careful attention?”
Ayatollah Bahjat replied, “No! If he meant careful attention was needed, people would have asked how they should pray? How can they pray a complete prayer? This sentence is useful when it refers to praying in general. If a person is committed to praying on time, he will reach high levels. He will automatically reach there, and go higher every day.”
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He misses us.
Can you believe it?
Being in contact with the “Friends of God” is a relation, which starts after spiritual maturity and not after maturity in age. The nature of a relationship will gradually show itself to a person. When I was young and single, my parents used to say things about parents’ hearts. I heard what they said, but I didn’t understand it the way they said it and I understood it later on. They said, “You haven’t become a parent yet. You don’t understand how we feel. Call us when you’re out.” I used to say, “What’s the use of calling? What should I say?” They would say, “You haven’t understood this relationship. Since you are not a father, you don’t understand the relationship between a father and a child. Sometimes your calling gives us parents energy.” A person should grow up and become a father in order to understand the nature of this relationship. Having a relationship with the Imam of the Time (‘a.j.) is also a relationship, which requires emotional and spiritual maturity.
Not everyone is able to understand the relationship between the Imam and him/herself. You must become very similar to the Imam to be able to understand the relationship of the Imam with yourself. What I’m going to say may sound strange. We don’t go to the Imam of the Time to benefit him. We think he doesn’t need us. So, what about his emotions? What about the fact that he loves his people, he loves the young people and he misses us? Have you heard such a poem talking with Imam Mahdi (‘a.j.) that speaks about his affection for the nation? Has anyone among us heard such a thing? If anyone knows such a poem, tell me, so that I can recommend other friends say poems like this. You’re tolerating so much.
“It is hard that I don’t hear any tangible sound from you.”[Nudbah Supplication] It’s hard that you cannot answer. It’s hard for me that everyone is able to answer when someone calls him or her, but you can’t. In the first part (of the supplication) it says, “Why is it that whoever we call answers us, but no answer is heard from you? It is hard for me that you can’t make others hear your voice.” Maybe this is a way of sympathizing with the Imam of the Time’s pain that Imam Mahdi likes his voice to reach to others. The Imam is like a father. If they put a father behind a barrier and his children whine, his heart burns that he is unable to answer his children.
We don’t feel sorry for the Imam of the Time being behind the curtain of occultation. We are very interesting. “It is hard that I don’t hear any tangible sound from you.” [Nudbah Supplication] It’s hard that you cannot answer. The relationship between the Imam and the nation is almost incomprehensible. How is Imam Mahdi (‘a.j.) with us? Think about it. When we go to him, does he say, “Go. Go. I didn’t answer people greater than you. You have come to me this simply?!” Is it like this?!
Someone came to Imam Reza (‘a) and said, “Don’t forget to pray for me.” The Imam replied, “Do I forget that you remind me?” The man thought a little and said, “I’m sorry.” The Imam asked, “Why did you say you’re sorry?” The man said, “Because you don’t forget.” “How do I not forget? What is your reason that I don’t forget? I just said it, and you accepted it?” He replied, “When I thought, I realized that you pray for your friends. And, I’m one of your friends. So, you pray for me too. There was no need for me to tell you.”
The Imam said, “No, this analysis is wrong. When you like me to pray for you, at that same time
I have raised my hands and am praying for you privately.” The relationship between the Imam and the nation is almost incomprehensible. If we mature, what will we understand? The relationship with the Imam.
If we mature more, what will we understand? The relationship between the Imam and ourselves. This is the peak of humanity’s maturity.
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Don’t make money as much as you need!
A part of the meaning of passive devoutness, which makes clever people feel sick, and they’re right to feel that way, is erasing the problem. Only weak people enjoy this, and it is very bad. What does active devoutness say? It says, “Yes! You should welcome some matters, which you think may bring corruption. You should even create these issues, and then, obey religion in those situations like a real man.” An example is making money. Religious people should be able to make money.
With this introduction, be ready to hear something different. “I am a good person.” “How much do you produce? How much business do you do?” “No, I don’t do business, but I’m a good person.” Firstly, you’re out of favour with the Prophet (s). Secondly, one can’t count on you at all.
When the Prophet looked at a man and was surprised at his good points, he would say, “Does he have a profession?” (Jami al-Akhbar, p. 139) If people answered, “No,” he would say, “He is out of favour with me.” Religious people must be able to make money. A religious person shouldn’t say, “I’m religious. Give me a job.” This isn’t the way to live.
Talha and Zubayr said, “Ali bin Abi Talib doesn’t have any money to become the caliph.” (Osul al-Kafi, vol. 6, p. 440) The Commander of the Faithful, Ali (‘a), commanded his workers to bring his money, which was in their hands and they were working with. It was a mound of cash. He called Talha and Zubayr. He said, “This was only the cash of my workers who were in and around Medina. I didn’t bring my estates, farmland, wells, etc.” Were the gardens, which Imam Ali (‘a) planted, the wells he dug, the farming he was doing, and the money he made, as much as he needed or more than that? Right.
Don’t make money only as much as you need! “We’re afraid we will become corrupted!” “You will become corrupted without money too. Even now you are corrupted!” If they taught you the ethics of being content, but didn’t read this tradition from Imam Sadiq (‘a) for you, “There is no good in a person who doesn’t like to increase his wealth,” (Osul al-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 72) that is being passively religious. It is harmful for the society!
A tradition says, “The survival of Islam and the Muslims requires that money be in the hands of people who know the truth. One of the factors, which destroys Islam and the Muslims, is for money to be in the hands of people who don’t know the truth and don’t use it for good deeds.” (Osul al-Kafi, vol. 4, p.25) If the rich people are the ones who don’t understand where to spend, instead of spending for Arbaeen, they will spend their money in Antalya. This destroys the Islamic society!
“So, you’re encouraging people to be rich?!” A religious person, whose poverty is due to his ineptitude, shouldn’t count this as being due to his piety. He should struggle. If he became rich, God gave it. If he didn’t become rich, God didn’t give it. Having this mind-set is perfect.
A religious person, whose poverty is due to his ineptitude, shouldn’t count this as being due to his piety. Why don’t religious groups encourage the culture of striving for wealth? I don’t know why they don’t start a factory or plant a garden to make money.
The command to pay Zakat (Islamic poor tax) always comes next to praying. You don’t have any money to pay Zakat! You have amputated your arms so that you don’t need to make an ablution. Fine, make your ablution with dust. Rub your face on dust. Fine, you’ve erased the problem description. How hard was ablution? You amputated your arms so as not to make an ablution?! You have become poor so as not to pay Zakat?!
Don’t make money only as much as you need! The Prophet of God (s) said, “When the end of time comes, the only way is for people to have money to maintain their religion and their worldly life.” People need money to keep their religion in the end of time.
Were the gardens, which Imam Ali (‘a) planted, the wells he dug, the farming he was doing, and the money he made, as much as he needed or more than that? A religious person, whose poverty is due to his ineptitude, shouldn’t count this as being due to his piety.
[From the series of speeches under the topic of, “Lifestyle, More Effective than Knowledge and Belief”]
What can I do not to sin?
What can I do not to sin? What can I do to fear God? In order to be religious, people should first be trained to have a program and to plan. Help him or her to understand that we have to be disciplined. We must plan in addition to being disciplined, so that we can manage our own lives. They have told us repeatedly about this fact in the traditions that discipline is first.
You prove God to me a hundred times, and I still don’t listen to him. You prove the Hereafter and other things too, and I still don’t obey, because my will has become stubborn. I can’t listen! I haven’t been disciplined.
If we want to convince someone not to sin, the first step is to convince him that he can’t live without a program. Being without a program means being passive. A passive person doesn’t get up until he’s kicked. God hasn’t brought Hell to kick him now! It’s for later. So, he doesn’t do anything! He’ll only get up if he’s kicked!
His temperament is such that his life is without any program. He does things when he’s forced to, threatened, encouraged, or someone is standing over his head. He doesn’t know how to live based on a program at all! If you keep telling him about Hell, it’s useless! This Hell isn’t now. It’s later on. This undisciplined person without any program won’t move himself because of a future Hell. He’ll move whenever he’s kicked. An undisciplined person won’t move himself because of a future Hell.
If my child doesn’t pray, what can I do to get him or her to pray? I’m confused and don’t know what to do. Where should I start? Have you taught your child the key, necessary element in life, which is discipline? We ill-manneredly eat, say Salam, sleep, wake up, walk, dress... Ill-mannered, ill-mannered, ill-mannered! If a child isn’t disciplined, can you turn him into a disciplined person?
It’s easy to add one or two etiquettes to a disciplined person. He observes the etiquettes about neighbors, about sleeping and being awake, about his own room, and about other things. It’s not hard if you add a couple more etiquettes. He says, “What should I do?” “Observe the etiquettes about the Lord.” “What are they?” “Stand like this and say ‘Allahu Akbar.’ Don’t move for five minutes. Prostrate. Bend. Stand up. These are its etiquettes.” He’ll understand and do it. It’s not hard.
It’s hard for the child who has no discipline in his house. There’s kindness, but no discipline. There’s belief in God, but no discipline. There’s spirituality, but no discipline. It won’t work with just these! I’m not talking about whether dancing is forbidden, or not. Whether vulgar songs are vulgar, or not. Or, from what age should we teach children the differences between genders? I’m not talking about Islamic covering and other such things.
People who don’t want discipline for children in Elementary Schools are criminals. The argument is not over religion! Everyone needs a plan to live. And, this planning should be in a person’s blood. For planning to be in a person’s blood, he or she must have been disciplined in childhood. This discipline may be that of the Communists, the East, or the West. But, there should be discipline! The politicians who advocate unruliness in the education environment are criminals.
In order to convince someone not to sin, we must first convince them that we cannot live without a program. Why do you talk to a person about religion when he's not used to living with a program? It’s easy to add one or two etiquettes to a disciplined person. He says, “What should I do?” “Observe the etiquettes about the Lord.” “What are they?” “Stand like this and say ‘Allahu Akbar.’ Don’t move for five minutes. Prostrate. Bend. Stand up. These are its etiquettes.”
Imam Sadiq (‘a) said, “Planning is part of religion.”
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The Prerequisite to Devoutness
It says in the beginning that if you are pious, this Book will guide you. “This Book, there is no doubt in it, is a guide for the pious (Muttaqin).” (Qur’an 2:2) It says in the beginning of the Qur’an that if you are pious, this Book will guide you. “But, we haven’t read it yet. Let us read it to see what’s going on. When we have become good Muslim believers, then talk about becoming pious. From the beginning I have to be pious just to start?”
Yes. Before coming towards religion, you should be pious. I didn’t talk about whether you pray or not, you fast or not, you go on Hajj or not. I didn’t talk about these things. These deeds are for Muslims. But, there is a non-Muslim piety too. “What is a non-Muslim piety? Let’s see if I have it or not?” Piety is either general, meaning that a person can be pious without religion too, or it is of the faithful and religious, which means a person is pious in the atmosphere of religion. The piety, which is mentioned in the beginning of the Qur’an, is general piety.
It says, “This Book, there is no doubt in it, is a guide for the pious (Muttaqin).” (Qur’an 2:2) This is a kind of piety, which a person can have without religion too.
“I want to become a Muslim.” Are you a pious person? Do you usually watch yourself? Or, do you live without having any sense of responsibility? Do you usually evaluate yourself? Or, do you generally live recklessly? Are you careful in your life? Or, do you live carelessly? Are you bound to some belief? Or, are you totally unconcerned?
In the stories about big people who repented, but used to be bullies, ruffians and alcoholics, they were all like this. None of them were without piety beforehand. You see that in a certain case, he stood up to his own will and was bound to something.
How did “Rasoul Tork” who was an alcoholic, ruffian, etc. repent? Surely he had piety beforehand, a general piety. He used to go to the ceremonies, which were held for Imam Husayn (‘a). But, this was not necessarily due to his piety! It may have been due to his love. So, where was his piety? He was an alcoholic. When he wanted to go to a ceremony, which was held for Imam Husayn, he would wash his mouth. He used to say, “It is bad to call Imam Husayn with an unclean mouth.” He had something. See! A politeness. This is having a little piety! These people observe something in their life. You see that in a certain situation, he stood up to his own will. He is bound to something. This is having a little piety!
I want to read the words of Ayatollah Khamenei for you. He said, “The Holy Qur’an says, ‘…is a guide for the pious.’ It doesn’t say, ‘…is a guide to those who believe.’ This means that it is possible that someone isn’t religious but has piety. It is based on this meaning that I said he will receive guidance from the Qur’an without a doubt and become a believer. But if a believer doesn’t have piety, it is up to his luck whether he keeps his belief or not. If he is in a good environment, he will keep his belief. If he isn’t in a good environment, he won’t keep his belief.”
Are you a pious person? Do you usually watch yourself? Or, do you live without having any sense of responsibility? Do you usually evaluate yourself? Or, do you generally live recklessly? Are you careful in your life? Or, do you live carelessly? Are you bound to some belief? Or, are you totally unconcerned?
Visit Aba Abdillah’s (as) shrine whenever you can.
At times, things come to our minds that are good, divine inspirations. We’re sure they’re good and not bad. Right? Pay attention to them and they’ll become clearer. You’ll gradually hear. Do not ignore or disrespect any good inspiration that comes to your mind.
If someone reminds you of God, be passive and let it affect you. Let it be to your benefit. Don’t turn away or push it aside. God works with you in your mind. God exists. You’ll gradually hear. Some people experience false, foolish inspirations. They say, “Maybe it was an inspiration. I was inspired to kill you!” I say, “How foolish! An inspiration is never like this!” I’m talking about good inspirations that you’re sure are good. You prayed and read recommended supplications too. It comes to your mind to read one more. Don’t say no to it. Read it. What is another example of these inspirations that come to one’s mind and heart?
You suddenly wish to make a pilgrimage. You should go. Maybe Imam Husayn (as) is calling you. You suddenly wish for Aba Abdillah al-Husayn (as). Or you’re driving in a desert and you remember Imam Husayn (as). Stop. Get out of the car. Find the direction. Put your hand on your chest while facing the shrine of Aba Abdillah al-Husayn (as). Any way you like, say three times, “Sallalahu Alayka Ya Aba Abdillah [peace be upon you O Aba Abdillah].”
Or it occurs to you to visit Imam Reza’s (as) shrine. Go! You say, “That’s far away. I’ll go to Abdulazim’s (as) shrine [,which is closer].” Go! Don’t ignore it. Maybe something [spiritual] is destined for you to go and receive. Or it occurs to you to go to the shrine of Lady Masumah (as). Go! Maybe there is something there for you. If remembering God comes to the mind of a believer, he accepts it.
If something comes to a believer’s mind, he should not reject it. One such inspiration is visiting the shrine of Aba Abdillah (as) whenever one can.
