Only for a Moment | Alireza Panahian

Only for a Moment

Some people don’t have a nice opinion about the emotional and beautiful moments that come up for you when you go to Aba Abdillah al-Husayn’s shrine or these meetings of the believers.

Someone told me in Imam Reza’s shrine, “What’s the use of your meetings? You excite people. When they leave, they become lethargic and return to the same state as before.” I said, “Is it very bad that people come to these spiritual meetings, have a beautiful moment, gain a good feeling, and leave?” He said, “It’s useless.” I said, “So, being in the presence of the Prophet of God is useless too.” Because people told the Holy Prophet, “O Prophet of God, we are fervent when we are in your presence. We have a good feeling. But, when we leave here, we become lethargic.” The Prophet (s) said, “This is natural. If you were able to keep the mood you have in my presence away from here, you could have walked on water like Jesus (‘a).” (Osul al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 424)

Is it very bad that people come to these spiritual meetings, have a beautiful moment, gain a good feeling, and leave? All this greatness that you see is for creating one pure, spiritual moment in a person’s heart. If the effect of Arbaeen was going to be eliminated by doing a few sins, the Imams would have stated the stipulations in the traditions after talking about going on a pilgrimage to Aba Abdillah al-Husayn, crying for him, and these good feelings. For example, they would have said, “Of course, provided that you don’t sin.” If I adhere to all those stipulations, then I am a good person myself and (of course) I am going to Heaven. So, what about Aba Abdillah taking our hand?

“You have to pay attention all the time.” “But, we are not always able to pay attention. Maybe we can only pay attention for a moment. We have so many bad habits that drag us to sinning in each moment.” Why do you make people disappointed with words that look good? Let’s not make this hard. A person is the result of these single moments.

The Commander of the Faithful, Ali (‘a) said, “Fear Allah to some degree even though it be little; and set a curtain (of modesty) between you and Allah even though it be thin.” (Nahj al-Balagha, saying no. 242) See how beautifully he gives advice.

The prerequisite for paying attention to the Lord of the universe is not for a person to suddenly become one hundred percent good. Sometimes, a moment of paying attention makes a big difference. It connects the earth and the sky. Sometimes a person realizes this good moment. When he realizes and enjoys it, he tries to repeat this moment. Then, he tries to repeat that moment again. Gradually, light will fill his whole heart.

A tradition says, “If God wants to look at someone, He first creates a luminous spot in his heart. Then gradually, He expands this spot until it covers the entire surface of his heart.” (Osul al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 214) Then, when the servant of God has a good feeling for a moment, God puts his whole life, destiny and success under the influence of this good moment.

“Fear Allah to some degree even though it be little; and set a curtain (of modesty) between you and Allah even though it be thin.” “If God wants to look at someone, He first creates a luminous spot in his heart. Then gradually, He expands this spot until it covers the entire surface of his heart.”