Manifestation of the Friend

Subtle Spirit

part 17

Respecting the elder brother

On February 1, 1979, when the aircraft carrying the Imam landed at Tehran airport, Ayatollah Pasandideh, the brother of the Imam went inside the plane to welcome the Imam. In keeping with his ethical outlook, he requested Mr.Pasandideh to disembark from the plane first because the Imam would never walk ahead of his elder brother. On the other hand, because of the political sensitivity of recording the historical moment when a large number of film cameras and projectors waited for the Imam to disembark and to shoot the arrival of the Imam to the country, it did not seem proper that Mr. Pasandideh to walk ahead of the Imam.

Disposition and attitude in the mold of Prophet Muhammad

The  Imam  truly  behaved  like  in  the  mold  of  Prophet  Muhammad (PBUH). Throughout our stay at his residence and most of the tasks we would undertake for him and despite the complicated surgery he had to undergo, he never showed the slightest annoyance. Because of the immense respect that we had for the Imam, we would tell him beforehand for example, either to sit or walk if he could etc… and he never protested. He always behaved most respectfully with us and I can say in fact, that he truly was an ideal patient. I cannot imagine another person would be able to earn such a position of Divine pleasure, tolerate pain, possess a fine disposition and yet not do something that might cause us to become displeased with him.

He would be annoyed at being praised

I bear witness that the behavior of the Imam when the television network would shower praise on him and he would be hearing was such that he would cut off the sound of the television set and only after the broadcaster had finished praising him would he put it on again. The Imam basically disliked being praised.

Don’t sing my praise

Once along with colleagues from the High Court, we were received by the Imam and after we took leave from his presence, the Imam called me and when I returned he stated: “Mister so and so, I wanted to ask you not to sing my praise.”‌

Why is he praising me?

One day in one of my speeches before the Friday Prayer sermons, I spoke of an ordinary and frequent situation in the life of the Imam and that how in observation of economic issues, he was so thrifty that when he took a glass of water to drink and he drank some of it, he would not throw away the remaining water in the glass and would keep it for next time. On hearing my words over the radio, he complained to his honorable son Haj Ahmad Aqa that why so and so person had sung his praises and paid tribute to him.

I have pardoned him

In numerous instances, individuals who had gossiped or insulted the Imam personally and had later repented and taken back their words, would write a letter to his holiness seeking to be pardoned and amnestied. The Imam would be informed of all of them and he would without exception, state in all instances that “I have pardoned him.”‌ Among them was a Muslim of Arab descent from America who wrote in a letter to the Imam that “By making an insulting remark about you, I have committed a grave sin and this sin stalks me in the form a horrific nightmare”‌ and had pleaded him for his amnesty. When the Imam was informed of this, he stated in a tone that was filled with kindness and affection that: “I have pardoned him.”‌

No, it is not necessary!

The Imam would come to Jamaran and after a speech; he would fill dried fruits and nuts for the fighters at the warfront with his own blessed hands. I would say: “Allow me to write at the back that these dried fruit and nuts have been filled by the Imam because it would boost the morale of the fighters.”‌ However, he stated: “No, it is not necessary!”‌

Pardoning  and  forgiveness  of  Imam  Khomeini  vis-à-vis  breach  of etiquette

Among the lofty values of the Imam was his amazing pardoning and forgiveness of those that had wronged or insulted his person. The prominent examples were observed in some of the news media from the telegrams and letters of some of the eminent personalities. However, in addition to overlooking their breach of etiquette and use of foul language, the Imam would not permit even his devoted followers to come to his defense.

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Manifestation of the Friend: Subtle Spirit (part 13)

Manifestation of the Friend: Subtle Spirit (part 14)