|
A preface to Ayatollah Masudi's life in his own words
My name is Ali Akbar and my sure name is Masudi. I was born in 1310 in Khumein. My father was Gholam Ali and my mother was named Sakinah. My grandfather was Mohammad Baqer and my father's grandfather was Mohammad Hassan. I have no more information on my family tree and other ancestors. I have three sons and three daughters, a brother and a sister.
I can remember a great pious man named Haj Sayed Mohammad Taqi Khansari from my childhood. Although we were not well off, my father invited him every Friday night to join us to have Abgoosht bread and cheese together. I was just a small child. Nevertheless I was so fascinated in his character and attitude that I can never begin to express. After all, I always reminisce about the recollection of meeting him, talking to him and going to the big mosque of city. His memory lives on.
Furthermore, Haj Sheikh Al Taher who was a student of Akhund Kashi, had inhabited Khumein to set up Jama't prayers of the city as a Pishva. He was also a really pious and great man. I did the basic courses in Khumein. Having finished studying the book of "Jame ol Moghadamat",I moved to Arak and studied the books of Hashieh and Ma'alem being taught by Sheikh Ghanbar Ali. Then we moved to Qom to study Motaval and Ma'alem in MR. Sobhani's presence. I studied some parts of Lomeh with Imam Musa Sadr. I also learnt some parts of Ma'alem along with some subjects such as Haj, Marriage (Nikah) and divorce in Lomeh with Mr. Sheikh Javad Tabrizi. I studied the books of Rasa'el and Makaseb with Mr. Meshkini and Sheikh Asadollah Isfahani. Although I was being taught the mentioned books by great teachers of that time, I was dissatisfied with my progress and had the intention to study with much better and stronger teachers. Ultimately I studied Makaseb with Haj Sheikh Abdol Javad Jabal Ameli Isfahani. I also learnt the majority of Kafayeh with him. Haj Sheikh Abdol Javad was religiously and spiritually in a high position, who had trained many students and was approved by all other teachers of Hozeh. I studied some parts of Rasa'el with Mr. Bahaodini and some other parts of makaseb with Mr. Mojahedi who was a really great teacher.
When I was in Khomein,I had heard about one of the greatest Khomein's Olamas who was living in Qom. I had heard he was one of the most dominant masters in Hozeh in Qom but had never seen him in person. Once while I was passing Mohammadieh Mosque, I heard an attractive voice. I looked into the mosque, saw Imam teaching. I kept waiting for him there. He went out of the mosque and I saw he had Rasa'el book in his hand to refer to in case of narrating some important quotes while teaching. I said hello to him and he replied kindly. At that time Imam was not in search of attracting people and speaking with them. He kept going on and I followed him quietly until he got to Bagh ghal'eh where his house was located. He went inside his house and closed the door. The other day I felt I really needed to see him again. Hence I kept waiting for him to come and followed him again. I was desperately waiting for a chance to start talking to him. Many times I decided to open a conversation with him by introducing myself. However his fiercing look and thoughtful face hindered me from doing that. Many days passed without getting the chance to talk to him. Finally I decided to talk to him about Kharej course. At that time he had moved to Salmasi Mosque for teaching.
During Fatemiah, Imam would hold a mourning ceremony for 3 days and I also attended them. In deed Haj Agha Mustafa had invited me to participate in the ceremony. Since there was no one to entertain the guests, Sheikh Ali Tehrani asked me to collect the glasses so that he could get tea for the guests. I asked him to sit and let me collect the glasses, pour tea and get the guests the tea. I had the intention to get closer to Imam in this way. I got to know some interesting things about Imam in that ceremony. While Mr. Kosari was describing the tragedies of Fatimah Zahra, Imam was deeply touched and started weeping a lot. After the revolution I was with Imam in Refah School and also accompanied him to Qom. At that time, the Islamic Committees of Revolution had just begun to work. After a while, Imam received plenty of complaints about these committees. Therefore, he assigned Mr. Amini and I to travel to Hormozgan to investigate the situation and sort the problems out.
Upon arrival in Tehran, Imam asked us to travel to Turkeman Sahara in Mazandaran. So we went on the mission. He had also asked us to investigate the conditions in Sunnite schools there.
Having done that, we made a full report of our mission in Turkeman Sahara which took about two months and a half. After a while the war broke out. When we returned, Imam had made his command about prisons. This time he sent us on a mission to Bushahr. The mission was aimed to investigate the condition of prisoners in prisons and courts. Mr. Feiz accompanied us on this mission as well. Having fulfilled the mission, we returned to Tehran. At that time the attorney general was Shahid Ghodusi. I got a position in Bazresi Kol Keshvar. I was supposed to investigate all the prosecutor's offices and courts of justice in Markazi province. A group of five members was assigned to undertake the responsibility. We stayed there for about two months and a half to investigate everything. Our report of 500 pages was given to the related managers to tackle the problems. Having done that mission, I asked Imam to let me go to Qom to proceed what I was doing before, which he accepted.
Mr. Molayee was in charge of Fatimah Masumah's Holy shrine's Tooliat in Qom before me. Since he was too old and sick to manage the affairs there, I undertook the responsibility of that. Soon after he passed away and was interred in Qom. Since it has been Ayatollah Khameneiee's responsibility to appoint the new tooliat, he assigned me to do that. Once when I was in Mecca for Haj, I met Ayatollah Golpayegani. He told me that Agha was going to talk to me after I went back to Iran. I asked him in what regard but he refused to reply.
When I went back to Iran, I went to present Ayatollah Khamenei a report of the tasks I were given and there he asked me to undertake the responsibility of tooliat in Qom as Mr. Molayee had lost his efficiency due to old age and sickness. I asked him to give me some time to think about it to evaluate my abilities in that regard. Finally I accepted to do so as it was always one of my greatest wishes to work in Hazrat Masumah's Holy Shrine. However I told Agha that I would commence working but if I found myself unable to go on in practice, he would let me resign from the job.
Fortunately I could achieve a great success there.
What you read was a brief story of a great man's life whose name is not much mentioned in the political fields of our country and whose role in revolution is unfortunately neglected. He is still working in Hazrat Masumah's Holy Shrine. The following lines can slightly illustrate his dominant role in the Islamic Revolution of Iran.
|
|
|
|
|
Recurring contact with Imam inspired the spirit of moderation in Hashemi
This sentence is really right about Mr' Hashemi. I had not been closely involved in Mr' Hashemi's programmes. Nevertheless, concerning his attitude, ideas and speeches it goes without saying that he was deeply impressed by Imam's personality. Through the events they went through and by the help of Imam's speeches and guides he and a lot of other followers of Imam could reach the necessary temperance in their thoughts and reactions. For instance it was observed that Mr. Hashemi used to show a strict reaction towards some events and would ask Imam to do the same, whereas, Imam always advised them to be moderate. This is true about Mr. Khamenei as well.
Imam encouraged Mr. hashemi to do military service
I can remember well that once we talked with Imam about Mr. Hashemi and that he was taken to do the military service. Imam answered coolly that he would be useful there. Imam believed that a determined person would carry on his programs at any place he is. If I am not mistaken, I think Imam even encouraged some persons such as Hashemi Rafsanjani to do the military service as some one like Mr. Hashemi could well impress the other people in military service and introduce them with Imam and Islamic beliefs.
I had seen Mr. Hashemi in a soldier's uniform and I think he has got a picture of that as well. Although this didn't last more than two months, he could impress a lot of soldiers with his manner and attitude. He even managed to make speeches in that difficult restricted situation. He carried on his preaching programs in different ways such as reading Quran in the morning and debating religious topics in the barracks.
Contrary to us, Hashemi was well off
At that time we did not have a good financial situation. Nevertheless, we spent all we got on issuing papers. Among us, Mr. Haeri seemed to have a better situation. Mr. Khamenei and Hashemi were also well off, especially Mr. Rafsanjani who had some relations in Bazaar and could receive financial help. They had also pistachio garden in Rafsanjan.
Confidential meetings to change and reform Hoze
Apparently, Mr. Brojerdi's lack of interest in Hoze's reformation could account for the reason why there were no changes occurring in Hozeh. As Mr. Brojerdi was a dominant Marja, many other clergymen followed him in this regard. However, they had few meetings under the title of "Hozeh's Reformation". Hozeh's reformation was forgot when the country got involved in the problem of provincial and state committees. However, some impressive characters such as Hashemi, Yazdi, Khamenie, Montazeri, Mesbah, Rabani Shirazi and Azari Qomi organized meetings which led to publishing papers such as Be'sat and Entegham.
The Idea of Rohaniat's dominancy was seen in Shahid Beheshti, Mofateh Kahmenie, Hashemi
Unfortunately many of the geniuses in country were opposed to the dominancy of Rohaniat in Iran. They didn't approve of the fall of Shah. It was enough for them to have a new minister who was moderate and apparently showed no objection to religious or Islamic thoughts and they could freely pray or read Quran and women's cover would improve. Just a few such as Mr. Khamenei, Rafsanjani, Beheshti, and mofateh had the idea of forming a government by Rohanait. Even the important and outstanding Taghlid Maraje could never imagine having a government like that. Theoretically and practically they had not come to this conclusion or maybe they had considered it impossible.
Referance: Ayatollah's Masudi Khumeini's memories taken from the Centre of Islamic Revolution's Documents and Paper, 1381
