Manifestation of the Friend

Subtle Spirit

part 1

Intimacy with the Qur’an

He would sit on the ground

After the year 1942, the Imam would usually spend the summers in Mashhad and on this occasion, one or two senior clergymen of our theological school who were friendly with him organized visits. The school had a small number of students and an exclusive group of theologians whose number did not exceed ten or fifteen persons and who knew the Imam would come to meet him. He would also make several visits over there. The head of that school was a prominent theologian and was very close to him. It was the blessed month of Ramadhan and summer. At nights until the break of dawn, the Gowharshad mosque would be filled with people. The people would not sleep at night in order to supplicate at nights and instead would sleep during the  day.  I  would  go  to  the  Gowharshad  mosque  because  prominent sermonizers would deliver sermons there. One of them was my own father. Inside the Gowharshad mosque and its precincts, there were persons who would supplicate on their own. I would often note the Imam place his robe on the ground and sit in the midst of the people. In those times, not many people knew him. At nine in the night when I would pass from there in order to go to the Shrine of Imam Reza (A.S), I would see him sitting and being engaged in supplication. I would go to the shrine, recite my daily prayers, engage in debate with the seminary students in a corner of the mosque and about three hours later when I returned and passed from there, I would see that he was still sitting and reciting prayers, supplications and the Qur’an. I would be very amazed at his patience and endurance that he was so much devoted to prayers and worship.

The Imam finished reciting the Qur’an at the age of seven

The Imam studied at the religious school of Akhund Molla Abul-Qasim. Molla Abul-Qasim was an old man whose religious school was located near the Imam’s house. I too studied at his school. Each one of the children would recite half a chapter of the Qur’an at the religious school daily and whenever any of the children would finish recitation of the complete Qur’an, it was customary for him to offer lunch to the Molla as well as the rest of the

children.

He would recite two chapters from the Qur’an daily

In the hours before the dusk and night mandatory prayers the Imam would either read the “the Key Book”‌ or the Qur’an. Once I remember telling me that he would recite two chapters from the Qur’an everyday in rapid reading style.

He always read the Qur’an

In the blessed month of Ramadhan, the Imam would develop a great affability for the Qur’an. I do not recall not having gone to meet him in the blessed month of Ramadhan especially in the last year of his life in mid-1989 and not see him deeply absorbed in recitation of the Qur’an. Whenever something came up and I would go into his presence, I saw him busy reciting the glorious Qur’an.

Recitation of the Qur’an is part of the daily routine of the Imam

As far as I can remember, the Imam from the beginning of his life until now would recite a part of the Qur’an daily and this was one of his routine tasks that is based on the exacting discipline that he had in life. He would devote an hour for recitation and devotion to the glorious Qur’an. In that hour nobody went to him and he would not give a reply to any query and would submit his heart and soul to the Qur’an and focus on its verses and their interpretations.

He is deeply attached to the Qur’an

The Imam is deeply attached to the Qur’an. For instance, after breakfast and meeting with authorities and others, at around half past nine in the morning and after taking a stroll, he begins to recite the Qur’an. Thereafter, he resorts to some of the affairs and reading the confidential letters that must be attended to exclusively by him. At the approach of the noon prayers, he again performs ablutions and recites the Qur’an. The Imam has a profound attachment and affinity for the Qur’an and the supplications.

Source:

The Book "Manifestation of the Friend: A collection of memoirs about Imam Khomeini (R.A)"

Other Links:

Manifestation of the Friend: With the People (part 3)

Manifestation of the Friend: With the People (part 4)