Salam dear young friends, how are you all? Hope you are all fine by the Grace of Almighty Lord.
Yesterday on Tuesday we all celebrated the occasion of the National Day of Resistance, as the 3rd of Khordad or the May 24 is marked every year in the Islamic Republic of Iran with rejoicing and thanksgiving, since it is the anniversary of the memorable liberation of the once-thriving port city of Khorramshahr from Ba’thist occupation.
It is indeed a Red Letter Day for Iran, which proved to the world that what makes a nation triumphant is faith in God, devotion to Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and the Infallible Imams of his Blessed Household, determination to continue the fight in the face of heavy odds, confidence in its capabilities, and trust in the Leadership of the Righteous.
That is why the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA) expressed those famous words this day in 1982 “God liberated Khorramshahr” when informed of the humiliating retreat of the Ba’thist war machine across the Arvandroud despite receiving weaponry worth a hundred billion dollars from the Persian Gulf Arab states, in addition to military support from both the Capitalist West and the Communist East.
Well friends, as here we present you a gem of a saying from Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (AS), the 6th Prophet’s 6th Infallible Heir whose martyrdom anniversary we will be marking on Friday, the 25th of Shawwal:
“A Muslim always has three characteristics: knowledge about religion, good management of life, and perseverance in the faces of calamities.”
What a wonderful code of safety and security bequeathed by the Imam who flourished at a crucial period of history and who revived for Muslims the genuine practice and behaviour of the Prophet, which is known till this day as the Ja’fari Jurisprudence.
Let us present to you youngsters an interesting incident from the life of Imam Sadeq (AS), who once asked students and companions who had gathered around him: “Who is a youth?”
A person answered: “Someone who is young in age.”
The Imam said: “Despite the old age of the People of the Cave (As-haab-e Kahf), on account of the faith which they possessed, Allah the Exalted has referred to them as “youths”. In ayah 10 of the Surah all-Kahf of the Glorious Qur’an, He the Almighty says: “When the youths took refuge in the Cave, they said, ‘Our Lord! Grant us a mercy from Yourself, and help us on to rectitude in our affair.’”
It is obvious that not all of these Sleepers of the Cave were youths when they fled persecution and sought refuge in the mountains, falling asleep in the cave for 309 lunar years before waking up.
The Imam then went on to say: “Whoever believes in Allah the Exalted and observes piety is a youth.”
Well friends, this was all for this week’s chat. God bless you all, goodbye till we meet again.