Lessons from the Lives of our Ulema

Grand Ayatullah Mohamed Taqi Behjat (R.A.)

The Godly Scholar Alim-e-Rabbani of our times
Prepared & Translated by Shaikh Abbas Jaffer abbas@jaffer.org

A film on his leading prayer & weeping is at http://www.salehin.com/fa/film/wmv/bahjat.wmv

Biography & Studies

Grand Ayatullah Muhammad Taqi Beh at !umani was born into a religious and pious family in the year 1 !A" #1$1%&'( in )uman in *orth +ran. "e lost his mother before he was , years old. About his father" Mahmood Beh at" family members relate an interesting e-ent. .hen his father was around 1/011 years of age2 he fell seriously ill and they thought he would not sur-i-e. .hen the relati-es gathered around this young man2 one of the family members heard a -oi3e saying2 Do not worry, he will be fine, because he is going to be the father of Muhammad Taqi. After this e-ent2 the youth soon re3o-ered from his illness2 got married a few years later and had se-eral sons. "e named his third son 4uhammad Ta5i in memory of the e-ent of his 3hildhood. "owe-er2 in infan3y2 this 3hild fell into a pond and was drowned. "e had one more son after him2 and he also named him 4uhammad Ta5i. This last son grew up to be the great s#holar and arif" Ayatullah Beh at$ %is father was a re#iter of marsiyas and he would often ta&e the young Agha Beh at with him to his re#itals" thus in#ul#ating in him a deep and a'iding love for Sayyid al(Shuhada )A$S$*$ )rom a young age he showed signs of genius and a great thirst for a35uiring knowledge. After his primary studies2 he went straight into religious studies2 and at the age of 1!2 he mo-ed to 6erbala. )our years later he 3ame to the famous seminary of *ajaf2 where he had an opportunity to study under some of the best tea3hers and s3holars in the 4uslim world. "e studied Usul under Grand Ayatullahs Abul asan !sfahani, Mir"a #aini and $hay%h Muhammad asan Gharawi !sfahani &%nown as 'um(ani), and *iqh under Ayatullah Mir"a Muhammad Taqi $hira"i. "e studied the philosophi#al te+ts of ,'n Sina and Mulla Sadra under Ayt. $. asan +ad%ubeyi.

At the same time as attending the intermediate and higher le-els of religious studies2 he was -ery meti3ulous in his pursuit of spiritual and mysti#al instru#tion$ +n this regard2 his tea3hers were Ayatullah Muhammad asan !sfahani and Ayatullah $ayyid Abdul Ghaffar, and finally2 the 7odly s3holar2 the mat3hless instru3tor2 the giant amongst spiritual masters2 Ayatullah $ayyid Ali ,adhi Tabatabai. %e remained with his last tea#her for many years" learning from him the se#rets of the higher paths of A&hlaq and -,rfan$ 1% years later2 he returned to +ran and settled in 8um. "ere2 in the 3ompany of Ayatullah 'homeini, Ayatullah Gul(aygani and other great future figures2 he 3ontinued his studies under Grand Ayatullah +uru-erdi.

%is .hara#ter and /ualities

0$ 1iety and Self(Building )rom his youth2 Agha 9ehjat was 3onstantly engaged in self0purifi3ation and self0 building. +n his ethi3al instru3tions2 he always insists that one should work hard at this task and forego and abandon many lu:uries in order to make headway against the endless demands of the soul. %e is of the opinion that in order to su##eed in this jihad al-akbar" ethi#al purity )akhlaq* and &nowledge )ilm* go hand in hand$ ,n fa#t he #onsiders &nowledge without self(purifi#ation" to 'e the more damaging than anything else$ %is famous advi#e to youths is -to read and pra#tise one hadith daily from the .hapter of Jihad al-nafs in Wasail al-Shia of Shay&h %urr al(Amili$0 9y his deeds and words2 this great s3holar has always dire3ted himself to 7od alone. A great mu tahid has said a'out Agha Beh at" 2,t #annot 'e ust said a'out him that he is a man of piety3 in fa#t he is the true essen#e and manifestation of taqwa$4 Ayatullah $hay%h .a/ad 'erbalayi says about him2 ;<ne of his 3lose students #in *ajaf( reports that e-ery night2 or in fa3t at most times2 Agha 9ehjat sits alone2 deep in thought and 3ontemplation. %e never wastes a moment of his time" and does not parti#ipate in vain gatherings$ .hen the time 3omes for his 3lass2 or his "iyarat of Amirul 4u=mineen #A(2 he gets up abruptly2 puts on his 3loak and lea-es the house without interfering in the a3ti-ities of others. %e is e+tremely reserved and does not li&e to reveal anything a'out himself" espe#ially a'out the spe#ial favours and e+traordinary spiritual powers that God has granted him$4 5$ %is As#eti#ism )Zuhd* and Simple Lifestyle The 3lose ser-ants of 7od always look at the reality of this world2 3ontrary to other human beings whose eyes are fi:ed on its pleasures and lu:uries. 9y foregoing material 3omforts2 they attain spiritual strength2 and while the rest of the people stumble in this dark world2 these awliya soar in the illuminated heights in pro:imity to 7od.

This is now translated into 'nglish as 0ombat with the $elf2 a-ailable from +&AS Press.

Agha Beh at is one of the most glowing e+amples of these awliya in our times$ %e is a mysti# and s#holar who has always lived a simple life" without the remotest material atta#hments$ %e has understood more #ompletely than others the reality of this world and the worthlessness of its pleasures$ "e li-es in a simple2 small and old house and has resisted the many offers from relati-es and well0wishers to mo-e to more 3omfortable a33ommodation. Ayatullah Misbah says2 ;)or many years2 he has li-ed in a rented house with two rooms. <ne of the rooms has a 3urtain2 whi3h he would draw when we would -isit him. <n the other side of the 3urtain his family would 3arry on with their household 3hores. .e would sit on one side of this 3urtain and benefit greatly from his wisdom. Although simple2 the atmosphere was always full of a spe3ial nur and spirituality>? Ayatullah Masudi says" 2Many times people would sin#erely offer to pur#hase a 'etter house for him" 'ut he would not agree$ , myself told him" 2Agha6 This house is damaged" , dou't if even the sharia allows for a man to live in this sort of a##ommodation64" 'ut he would not pay any attention$4$ 7$ %is 8orship Agha 9ehjat=s students report that he has a spe3ial 3loseness to 7od2 that is immediately e-ident in his manner of worship. Those who have prayed 'ehind him have des#ri'ed it -as a spiritually uplifting and unique e+perien#e9. +n fa3t2 the )atimiyyah mos5ue at the end of the 7u@arkhan market2 where he has led prayers three times a day for the last !A years2 is always full at prayer time. "igh ranking s3holars make a spe3ial effort to 3ome and pray behind him. Allamah Tabatabai would 3ome here to pray. Almost as soon as Agha Beh at 'egins his prayer" tears flow from his eyes ( frequently he has to pause 'e#ause his voi#e is #ho&ed with emotion ( su#h is his awe in God9s presen#e$ <ne of the s3holars remarks2 ;+n the early days2 Agha 9ehjat would go to the unde-eloped part of 8um2 past some farms2 and re3ite his e-ening prayers with some 3ompanions in that remote lo3ation. :ne day" after the maghribain prayers" he #ommented" 2,f only the &ings of this world realised how mu#h pleasure a servant e+perien#es in worship" they would never even glan#e at the worldly delights;4 Ayatullah $hay%h .a/ad 'erbalayi says2 2Agha Beh at never misses his late night prayers )namaz -shab* and spends a long time weeping in the middle of the night" espe#ially on the night pre#eding !riday$4 A s3holar reports2 ;+ 3ame upon him one Thurday night in 4adressay0e0Sayyid in *ajaf. + saw him weeping and 3rying in prostration. "e was repeating in a broken -oi3e o-er and o-er2 2,lahi6 Man li ghayru&" asaluhu &ashfa dhurri" wan(na<ara fi amri=6 )My Lord6 8ho have , got 'esides >ou" 8ho , #an as& for relief and support=*4$ ?$ %is Ziyarat and !awassul )Saluting the Ahlul Bayt )A$S$* Bespite his ad-an3ed years2 the daily routine of Agha 9ehjat has remained un3hanged. @arly every morning )e+a#tly at A$BBam*" he presents himself at the shrine of Lady !atima Masuma )A$S$* to pay his respe#ts and send salutations$

8ith the greatest of humility" he stands near her Carih" and re#ites the Ciyarate Ashura of ,mam %usain )A$S$*$ $ayyid Muhammad usein Tehrani2 in his book2 Anwar al1Mala%ut2 5uotes Ayatullah $hay%h Abbas ,uchani, the great s3holar and spiritual su33essor of the famous Mir"a Ali ,adhi Tabatabai, as narratingC ;.hile he was in *ajaf2 Agha 9ehjat would often go to 4asjid0e Sahlah and spend whole nights alone there in worship and 3ontemplation. <n one -ery dark night2 when the lights in the mos5ue were not lit either2 he needed to go out to refresh his wudhu. "e went out of the mos5ue towards the wudhu area to the east of the mos5ue. Suddenly he e:perien3ed some an:iety and fear2 perhaps due to the total darkness. +mmediately2 a light appeared ne:t to him2 by whi3h he 3ould 3learly see his way. This light a33ompanied him while he went out2 made wudhu and returned to his pla3e in the mos5ue. Then it disappeared.?. D$ %is hum'leness :ne of his noti#ea'le traits is his hum'leness and simpli#ity" despite his fame and status as a leading #ontemporary s#holar and urist$ !or many years he had refused to print his religious edi#ts )tawdhih al-masail* and he only agreed after mu#h pressure$ 8hen he is s#heduled to le#ture he requests that his name not 'e mentioned as the le#turer$ A s3holar reports2 ;<n3e + went with my guest2 Shaykh *asrullah Dahuthi2 to -isit Agha 9ehjat. Agha Dahuthi said to his tea3her2 ;AghaE + was in 4ashhad and someone was 3riti3ising you2 and + be3ame -ery annoyed.? Agha Beh at responded" 28e have reports in the ahadith" that if a s#holar pays too mu#h attention to worldly matters" then he will 'e #riti#i<ed 'y others$4 + remember thinking2 ;+f the way Agha 9ehjat li-es is 3alled ;paying too mu3h attention to worldly matters?2 then what about usE? E$ %is Mysti#al 8ayfaring )sayr wa suluk* and his Spiritual Station Ayatullah Beh at has many de#ades of e+perien#e in mysti#al wayfaring" the spe#ial ourney through esta'lished stations that the soul underta&es to attain pro+imity to God. "e is one of the outstanding pupils of the great master2 Ayatullah $ayyid Ali ,adhi Tabatabai and had re3ei-ed spe3ial instru3tions from his tea3her. @ven as a youth" he had passed many stations of the spiritual path$ %is elevated ran& in these matters is well &nown 'y others who travel this path3 immediately after the revolution" one of the first s#holars that Ayatullah "h#m ini visited was Ayatullah Beh at in /um$ Similarly" when Ayatullah "ham n i assumed the position of Fah'ar" he first #ame to Agha Beh at in /um for spiritual instru#tions$ A$ %is Awareness of the Unseen )$hayb* and his 8ondrous A#ts )"aramat* Unli&e the ma ority of men" who have no idea of the e+isten#e or happenings of the unseen world" Ayatullah Beh at has rea#hed a station" 'y the gra#e of God" where he frequently witnesses the events that o##ur in that world. +n fa3t2 a reminder of this ability is his 3onstant repetition of the Bi-ine name ; al1 $attaar? 0 the &on3ealer. This dhi%r and tasbih is 3onstantly on Agha 9ehjat=s lips2

whether he is walking or sitting. Ayatullah Misbah 2a"di says in this regard2 2,t seems that he is at the level where he witnesses many things from ghayb$ :ften he is aware of the real nature and inner se#rets of those who sit around him" and he in-okes 7od2 who is the &on3ealer of defe3ts 0 al1$attaar al134yub2 so that the se3rets of the people around him may be 3on3ealed from him.? This is usually the way of these 3lose ser-ants of 7od. Their humbleness is su3h that they would not like to display anything2 or do anything2 that will bring about e-en a tra3e of pride in themsel-es. And in return for their utter humility2 7od grants them e-en greater insight and status. There is no doubt in the minds of those who know Agha 9ehjat well2 that he is one of those for whom many se3rets are re-ealed. Ayatullah Misbah says in this regard2 2Those who have 'een around him for many years have seen things that he has done or said that are truly e+traordinary$ "e sometimes says something that seems 5uite normal2 but on later 3ontemplation2 one realises that it was due to some spe3ial knowledge that he possessed. )or e:ample2 when !mam 'homeini was in e:ile in Turkey2 many of his students would make statements in his defen3e and get into trouble with the go-ernment. They would be imprisoned and fre5uently tortured. + remember distin3tly when Agha .annati was 3aptured and no one knew where he had been taken. + mentioned it to Agha 9ehjat2 who said2 2,nshallah" you will soon inform me of his release$4 <f 3ourse2 some might say this was just a prayer2 but in fa3t2 he did not make su3h statements about e-ery prisoner. 4any times we would say2 ;pray for so and so2? but he would remain silent. Gust as he had promised" Agha Gannati was released soon without having 'een hurt$4 :ne of his students says" 2My wife was e+pe#ting a #hild$ ,t was the month of Famadhan" and , wanted to go on a ourney" so , #ame to Agha Beh at to say good'ye$ %e turned to me and said" 2,n this month" you will be blessed with a baby boy2 name him 4uhammad "asan.? This is e:a3tly what transpired.? There are many su3h episodes that people ha-e related about their en3ounters with Agha 9ehjat. Agha 9ehjat himself dislikes a lot of fuss made about these episodes but his students o33asionally narrate them so the mumineen may realise that there e:ist in our times 3ertain indi-iduals2 to whom 7od has granted spe3ial fa-ours. &ertainly2 for the one who sin3erely stri-es in 7od=s way2 then "e "imself be3omes their guide2 %And &as f#r' th#s wh# stri( hard f#r )s* W will m#st + rtainly guid th m in ,ur ways- )An&a'ut" 5HIEH*4 Jrin&ing from the !ountain of the 8isdom of Ayatullah Beh at +n this se3tion we will e:amine se-eral e:amples of the ad-i3e and replies of Agha 9ehjat to 5uestions about different matters. 0$ %ow to #ounter and #ure riya )showing off or trying to impress others while engaged in a#ts of worship*

A student in the "aw@a of 8um relates that Agha 9ehjat was on3e asked2 ;Sometimes a person de3ides to perform a -irtuous a3t sin3erely for 7od2 but Shaytan 3on-erts his intention and the person starts to think instead about how people will be impressed2 how he will be3ome popular2 et3.2 when he performs the a3t. Are these thoughts 3ounted as riya2 and do they nullify his -irtuous a3t and make it worthlessF? Agha 9ehjat stated in reply2 ;5iya is only rele-ant in a3ts of worship #3ibadat(. And any a3t of worship that has riya asso3iated with it is a sin2 and it makes the a3t null and -oid. "owe-er2 riya itself 3an be3ome a 3ounter and 3ure for riya2 by simply 3hanging the fo3us of who one is trying to impressE +f a man 3an approa3h a president to sort out his problem dire3tly2 would he waste time in trying to 3on-in3e the president=s ser-antsF +n the same manner2 if a man has sense2 he would raise his sights from the people2 and attempt to impress and perfe3t his a3tions for 7od2 who is the &reator of man 0 this attitude would itself be3ome the 3ure for his riya.? At another time2 he said2 ;About riya2 there is a hadith that says2 ;.hoe-er tries to impress the people by his manner of prayers #salat(2 will be resurre3ted in the form of a donkey.? And this is 5uite true be3ause what 3an be more donkey0like than a man trying to impress the sla-es of 7od instead of dire3ting his attention to 7od "imselfFE *ow2 if someone 3alls us a donkey2 we feel insulted2 but why should we feel insulted2 if night and day our a3ts resemble those of a donkeyF? 5$ The #onditions ne#essary to o'tain presen#e of heart and pleasure from a#ts of worship" espe#ially salat$ <ne of his students says that Agha 9ehjat was asked2 ;<ur li-es ha-e passed away and we still ha-e not e:perien3ed pleasure #halaawa, la""at( from our worship2 espe3ially salat. .hat is your ad-i3e so that we 3an taste some of the pleasures that our infallible leaders #A( ha-e des3ribedF? The esteemed master replied2 ;This is something that we would all like to e:perien3eE? The student replied2 ;Please2 Agha2 you ha-e a high status in these matters2 while we are empty0handed. .hat should we doF? Agha 9ehjat again ga-e a modest reply2 saying2 ;Perhaps your own status is one that + en-y>?. "owe-er2 the student was insistent2 and so Agha 9ehjat replied2 ;This pleasure that you seek in worship has two prere5uisitesG one outside salat2 and one within salat itself. .hat is ne3essary before salat and outside of it is that a person abstains totally from sin2 and does not bla3ken his heart with the disgra3e of disobedien3e2 be3ause sin will rob his heart of light. As for the se3ond re5uirement2 within the salat itself a man must 3reate a barrier around himself so that no thought other than the remembran3e of 7od 3an enter. "e must not allow his thoughts to stray away from 7od e-en for an instant. H+n this manner2 you will a3hie-e what you seek.I? To another s3holar who asked a similar 5uestion2 he responded2 ;+n order to a3hie-e absolute 3ontrol of one=s thoughts in salat2 and to a35uire presen3e of heart2 the groundwork must begin outside and prior to salat. <ne must 3ontrol one=s fi-es senses during the day and be 3areful about what he allows himself to obser-e2 hear2 eat et3. This will enable him to a3hie-e presen3e of mind and heart in salat.?

To a young student2 he said in reply to the same 5uestion2 ;*e-er knowingly let you thoughts drift away from 7od in salat.?

Sin+ r int nti#n and harm#ny b tw n kn#wl dg and a+ti#n

"e was asked by a s3holarC ;Agha2 what should we bear in mind so that our intention in wearing the amamah #turban( is sin3ereF? "e repliedC 2>our #riterion in your a#ts must 'e Allah swt9s religion$ Always as& yourself whether your words and deeds #onform with the sharia or not. Jou should make the niyyat that the knowledge #3ilm( that you possess and will gain in the future2 will always be translated into a3tions. +n other words2 there should 'e perfe#t harmony 'etween what you &now and what you do$ The greatest misfortune is when s3holars a3t without proper knowledge or possess knowledge but do not a3t upon it. So ma&e a firm resolve that your &nowledge and a#tions will 'e harmonious$4 Another student reports that Agha said to him about the same matterC 2An alim who does not a#t on his &nowledge is li&e the #andle that illuminates the path for others 'ut itself 'urns away$4

.- !rust and r lian+ #n Allah swt

Ayatullah 4isbah narrates that Agha 9ehjat on3e said to himC ;<ne day + was sitting in my room and 3ould hear the -oi3es in the street outside. + went out and saw that my neighbour=s son was playing in the street when a beggar approa3hed him saying2 ;+ am a needy person. &an you please go into your house and get something for meF? The boy replied2 ;.hy don=t you ask your mother if you want somethingF? The beggar said2 ;+ don=t ha-e a mother. Jou go and ask your mother to gi-e me something.? Agha 9ehjat remarked2 ;+ was stru3k by this 3on-ersation and the inno3en3e of the 3hild who had so mu3h trust and faith in his mother that he felt that she 3ould sol-e any problem. And then he said2 K,f only we #ould develop the same a'solute trust and relian#e on Allah swt that this #hild had in his mother$ ,ndeed all our pro'lems would 'e solved if only we sin#erely turned to %im for all our needs64 /- 0f w +#nstantly think #f 0mam- Zamana &A-S-'*w#uld h n#t think #f us1 Agha 8uddus re3alls that he on3e asked Agha 9ehjatC ;4y presen3e in the -illage where + ha-e gone for tableegh was -ery produ3ti-e. The people ha-e responded positi-ely2 treated me with respe3t and heeded my religious ad-i3e.

"owe-er2 they are -ery poor and the money that they gi-e me in the months of 4uharram and Lamadhan is -ery little. +n other pla3es where + 3an go2 the publi3 is not so re3epti-e2 but they pay more.? Agha 9ehjat replied2 2,f you ma&e an intention to enter into the employment of ,mam Mahdi )A$S$*" do you imagine that he will not loo& after you=4

2- 3ar in narrating traditi#ns

Agha ,uddus narrates that once he was recounting his (rogram and tableeghi acti/ities (erformed during the month of 5amadhan to Agha +eh-at and he said6 ! do not go on the (ul(it in the day time in the month of 5amadhan and only deli/er my tal%s and lectures at night. Agha +eh-at as%ed him why, and he re(lied, +ecause ! ha/e some doubts about certain ahadith that ! recite and ! am afraid that if they are incorrect 7then my fasts will become in/alid8. Agha +eh-at stated6 Then at night are you certain about these traditions that you feel confident in re(eating them9 Agha ,uddus says6 %0 r alis d that h disa44r#( d #f my a+ti#ns and was ad(ising m t# b + rtain #f th fa+ts b f#r 0 r 4 at d th m t# #th rs-5

6- !abligh by A+ti#n &and n#t #nly w#rds'

%u atu9l ,slam Lutfi saysK ;<ne day2 after the morning prayers + approa3hed Ayat. 9ehjat and re5uested him to gi-e me some ad-i3e?. "e said2 ;%unu duatan nasi ilallahi bighayri alsinati%um?,L0M 2.all people to Allah swt with something other than your spee#h$4 + understood that although as a s3holar2 my responsibility was to engage in tabligh #propagating the faith(2 Agha wanted to draw my attention that the 'est tabligh was not that whi#h was delivered from pulpits" 'ut that whi#h was demonstrated 'y #ondu#t$

7- Staying away fr#m Sin

Ayat$ Shay&h Gawad Ner'alai" the great s#holar of a&hlaq remar&sK ;+ had a great benefit from the many years that + studied under Ayat. 9ehjat. +n that time + also witnessed first0hand many of the wondrous gifts that he has been granted. Among his words of wisdom + re3allC

,H1I

Msul al06afi2 -ol. ,2 p. 11 0 5uoting imam al0Sadi5 #A(.

"e always insisted that no progress 3ould be made without abandoning sin. "e used to say2 2The great and spe#ial 'ounties of Allah are availa'le freely to all %is true servants" the only requirement is that a person has to qualify for these gifts$ The only way to qualify for these spe#ial favours is 'y a'andoning the diso'edien#e of Allah swt$ <f 3ourse2 there must be some 3ommitment to attain pro:imity to Allah swt as well. The more a person knows the station of 7od #attains marifat( and the more he lo-es "im2 the more important it is to a-oid e-ery sin2 e-en minor ones and e-en loss of 3on3entration in "is presen3e in worship. +t is be3ause some ser-ants rea3h this stage of pro:imity that it is said2 ;hasanaatul abrar, sayyiatul muqarrabeen?2 or ;the -irtuous a3ts of the righteous people are #only( ordinary a3ts for the 3lose ser-ants?.? :n#e a student who had only re#ently oined the hawza as&ed Ayat Beh atK ;+ ha-e 3ome to the haw"a to attain knowledge. .hat should + do so that + 3an be3ome a proper s3holarF? Ayat. 9ehjat lowered his head and remained silent for a while2 then he said2 2There is no differen#e 'etween a hawza student and any'ody else$ 8hat is important is that he does not #ommit a sin$4 <n another o33asion he was askedC28hat is the 'est dhikr )invo#ation*=4 "e replied2 ;+n the opinion of this simple ser-ant2 the best dhi%r is the dhi%r of a3tionE .hat + mean is refraining from sinful 'eliefs )aqida* and sinful #ondu#t )amal*$ 7oodness and true su33ess will only 3ome from this way.? +n a letter2 he was asked how one #ould attain pro+imity to God and also gain #loseness to %is khalifah" the ,mam of our time )A!*$ "e repliedC ;+ismihi taala. Fefrain from sin and pray the salat at the e+a#t time$4

8- !h S +r t #f Salaat
Ayat Beh at has saidK ;#ama" #Salaat( symboli@es the 6a=ba. The Ta%birarutl !hram stands for 3asting aside e-erything other than Allah swt and entering "is haram #san3tuary(. The ,iyam represents a 3on-ersation between two friends. The 5u%u symboli@es the bowing of a sla-e in front of his master and the $a-dah is the ultimate display of lowliness2 humility and helplessness in front of the 4aster. And when the slave returns from su#h a 9amaz" the souvenir he 'rings 'a#& is the greeting of pea#e )salaam* from his Lord;4

:;- Staying Awak at <awn &Sahr' and in th 9ight

Ayat$ Ahmadi saysK 2Ayat Beh at always advised us to stay awa&e in worship 'etween dawn and sunrise and to rise in the night for prayer" )Oama<(e(Taha udISalaatul Layl*$ "e e-en said2 ;+ a3tually belie-e that it was through these -ery two a3ts that the Prophet #S( a35uired his perfe3t gnosis #marifat( of Allah swt.? <n3e + asked him about the hadith of the +mams #A.S.( that 28e eagerly await Thursday nights so that the gates of Allah9s mer#y are opened$ 8e" the family of the 1rophet )SA88*" are 'lessed with an in#rease in our &nowledge on every Thursday night and every night of /adr$4 Ayt. 9ehjat repliedC ;+ndeed2 these are spe3ial times when the mer3y of Allah swt is espe3ially a-ailable. And one of the 'est of times is the sahr )dawn*$ And he repeated these words ;sahr, sahr? se-eral times.? Ayat$ Beh at relates from his tea#hers that whenever they desired to re#eive greater favour and understanding from Allah swt" they would ta&e advantage of the solitude" pea#e and a'undant 'lessings that is availa'le in the depths of the night and at dawn$ At these times" one #an form a #onne#tion with God that is not easily possi'le at other times$

::- !h =irst St 4s in th J#urn y t# $#d &Sayr 0lallah'

Ayat Beh at has saidK ;The first step in the journey towards 7od and in attaining "is pro:imity is for a ser-ant to realise that he has allowed a gulf to form between himself and his 4aster. "e must ensure at all 3osts that he does not allow this gulf to widen and this must be his first goal. .hen he has put that 3ontrol in pla3e2 then he may begin the pra3ti3es that will gradually draw him 3loser and 3loser to his Dord.?

:>- !h ?alu #f 3#nt m4lati#n and !h#ught

Agha Shahi remar&sK ;Ayat 9ehjat is 3onstantly stressing the importan3e of 3ontrolling one=s tongue and maintaining silen3e. "e would say2 ;.e must 3ontrol our spee3h. .e should spend , hours of the day in 3ontemplation and thought2 and only one hour in spee3hG in fa3t2 often e-en that is too mu3h.

:@- A ing in a Stat #f 3#nstant <hikr

Ayt$ Beh at often advises his students to in3ul3ate the habit of being daim al-dhikr" i.e. remaining in 3onstant remembran3e of Allah swt. "e has said2 2Someone who is #onstantly in dhikr" will always per#eive himself in the presen#e of Allah swt and will 'e #ontinuously #ommuni#ating with %im$4

)or those who want to 3ombat waswasa2 #3onstant suspi3ion of the moti-es of others(2 he re3ommends highly to 3ontinually re3ite the %tahlil5" whi3h is the dhi%r2 2Ba 0laha 0llallah4$ Another great 3ontemporary s3holar2 Ayt$ %asan %asan<adeh Amuli has remarked that tahlil is al-dhikr-al-khafi )se#ret dhikr*3 i.e. it 3an be 3onstantly repeated without anyone else being aware of what you are doing2 be3ause this dhi%r 3an be pronoun3ed without e-en mo-ing the lips2 unlike other dhi%rs like ;Subhanallah? or Alhamdulillah?E

:.- 9#t 3#nsid ring #n s #wn ?irtu#us < ds as Signifi+ant

Ustad Nhusrushahi relatesK Ayt. 9ehjat always 3onsiders the -irtuous deeds and the worship that he performs as insuffi3ient. "e often says2 2%ow good it would 'e that when a person performs virtuous deeds and a#ts of worship" he says to himself" 2, have done nothing great4" 'ut when he sees the virtuous a#ts of others" he admires them" thin&ing" 2what a no'le deed they have performed$4 The Ustad #on#ludes2 ;+n other words2 his ad-i3e is to #onsider one9s own virtuous a#ts as insignifi#ant" while regarding highly the good deeds of others$4

:/- $ tting th S al #f A44r#(al #f 0mam al-Asr &A='

Ayt Beh at on#e advised the students of hawzaC ;.e students should 3onstantly be thinking about how we 3an earn the seal of appro-al of our master2 the .ali al0Asr #A)(. All students2 whether junior or graduates or prea3hers2 should be 3on3erned about how they learn their lessons2 what should their attitude be and how they should 3ondu3t themsel-es. They should #ontinually as& themselves if their attitude" #ondu#t" spee#h and a#tions would please their master when they are presented to him and would he approve of them$ Ayt$ Beh at says thatC ;+f this thought is always at the ba3k of our minds2 we will ne-er stray in our 3ondu3t2 spee3h or deeds.?

:2- !h Cur4#s #f Digh r 0slami+ Studi s

Ayt. 9ehjat greatly en3ourages students who are pursuing higher +slami3 studies and fre5uently ad-ises junior students also by saying2 28henever you learn something new" immediately apply this &nowledge to improve your wajib a#ts and to help you in staying away from sinful a#ts$ "e would remind them of the hadith2 man 3amila bima 3alima, warrathahullahu 3ilma ma la yalam2 whoever a#ts on what he &nows" Allah swt will tea#h him what he does not &now$7
+ihar al1Anwar2 -ol. 1N2 p. 1N$.

:6- 0t is th Cr#Eimity t# Allah swt that matt r in th

nd

To senior students2 his words are more thought pro-oking. <ne of his students re3alls2 ;+ remember on3e when + was a33ompanying him from his house to the mos5ue where he led the prayers. Ayt Beh at turned to me and as&edK ;A student starts with ;muqaddamat? #introdu3tory lessons( and then studies the ;maalim? and ;mughni? and then where does he go ne:tF? + said2 ;lumah?. "e asked2 ;then whatF? + said2 ;ma%asib?. "e asked2 ;then whatF? + said2 ;%ifayah?. "e asked2 ;then whatF? + said2 ;Dars al1%hari-?. "e asked2 ;then whatF? + said2 ;"e attains i-tihad?. <n3e again2 he asked2 ;then whatF? The student 3ontinues2 2This was a great lesson to me$ , realised that &nowledge itself was not the goal3 it was only the means )to a#hieve the goal* i$e$ to gain the pro+imity of Allah swt$ ,f at every one of these su##essive stages" the student did not a#hieve even a little more pro+imity to Allah swt" then he has not progressed mu#h at all$4

:7- D#w t# !rain #n s S#ul &!ahdhib al-9afs'

<n3e2 some haw"a students from Debanon re5uested Ayt$ Beh at for spiritual and a%hlaqi #moral( ad-i3e. "e repliedC 2:ne of the most 'enefi#ial a#tions in these matters is to sit with your fellow students every day and study one hadith from the #hapter jihad al-nafs of the 'oo& Wasail al-Shia of Shay&h %urr al(Amili$? :f #ourse" the hadith must 'e dis#ussed properly" pondered over #arefully and then transformed into a#tion$ This will 'e a spiritual toni# that within one year" will transform an individual in a way that he will himself see the #hange$4

:8- !h Status #f Su44li+ati#n &<ua'

Ayt. 9ehjat belie-es that dua has a -ery great status and insists that dua governs the out#ome of every stage of our lives$ Ustad %adawi relatesK ;4y daughter was -ery ill and + 3ame to Ayt. 9ehjat and asked him to pray for her. "e told me2 ;Jou yourself re3ite the following dua three times e-ery dayC Allahumma ishfiha bi shifaa1i%a, wa daawiha bi dawaa1i%a, wa 3aafiha bi 3aafiyati% 2: Allah" #ure her with >our #ure" and treat her with >our medi#ine" and restore her health with >our strength4$ Then2 after the third time sayC +il !mamil1'a"im &A.$.), fa innaha amatu%a wa bintu 3abdi%. 2By the sa&e of ,mam al(Na<im )A$S$*" for she is your servant" and the daughter of your servant$4 And this #on#ludes the se#tion on this great s#holar and #lose servant of Allah swt )may Allah swt prolong his life" Ameen*$ .ondensed from 2Bargi a< Jaftar(e Aftaa'4" A Leaf from the Boo& of Fadian#e )A'out the Life of Ayatullah Beh at*$ AG5EB0BE$

This 3hapter has been translated into 'nglish and is a-ailable from the +slami3 &ollege for Ad-an3ed Studies #+&AS( Press2 Dondon.