“Let’s make big efforts and start goodness from the inside. The first step on the path to goodness is to let go of grudges, because grudges, lies and slanders are part of what happens in our society.”
This is part of the remarks made by the grandson of the late founder of the Islamic Republic in a weekly session on Mawlana’s Masnavi at the National Library of Iran where he also congratulated the Christians on the birth of Jesus (PBUH).
A society which is not prepared for the reappearance [of the savior], will gain nothing if thousands of Imam Mahdi-like saviors come to their help.
The following is the partial translation of what else a January 3 edition of Ettela’at newspaper quoted Seyyed Hassan Khomeini as telling the gathering to mark the start of Imam Mahdi’s leadership:
One of the big dreams of Muslims, Shiites included, is the reappearance of the Savior. Throughout history people have set their sights on human well-being, waiting for the emergence of a savior. However, one key question arises here: why doesn’t the savior reappear? The clear answer can be found in Mawlana’s words.
A society will reach perfection after the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (PBUH) only if it has strived for perfection and elevation beforehand;
A society which is not prepared for the reappearance [of the savior], will gain nothing if thousands of Imam Mahdi-like saviors come to their help […].
A society will reach perfection after the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (PBUH) only if it has strived for perfection and elevation beforehand; otherwise the imam will be like a scholar who finds no room among the ignorant or he will be hurt by the ignorant.
So we can draw a lesson from Mawlana’s words that if we are waiting [for Imam’s second coming], we should work on ourselves. That applies to every single individual in society.
[…]
Those who tie their goodness to the coming of another person are looking for excuses, because goodness should come out from inside of a society and its members.
The goodness of a society is nothing beyond the goodness of people living in that society. Those who tie their goodness to the coming of another person are looking for excuses, because goodness should come out from inside of a society and its members.
[…]
To become good humans, we should first trample upon our inner self. A society and individuals that are awaiting [the second coming of Imam] should take a step forward. To rise up and take a step for the sake of God, one does not need to take any lesson. It needs perseverance and endeavors.
If we open our hearts, God Almighty will definitely help us. In so doing, we can wait for the arrival of the Savior and the creation of a Utopia. If not, the twelfth imam will be left alone in society.
