His Father’s Love

We lived in a small, tenant house close to the Khorasan Square. It was the beginning of Ordibehesht, in the year 1336. It had been a few days that our father was very happy. God had given him a son on the first day of this month. He thanked God continuously. Although we were now three boys and one girl in our home, our father loved this new born baby very much. Of course he was right. He was a very cute boy. He chose the name of the baby: Ibrahim. Our father put the name of a prophet on him who was a symbol of patience and a hero in trusting in God and believing in monotheism. This name was very suitable for him. Whenever family and friends saw him, they would say with surprise, “Mr. Husayn! You have three other children too; why are you so happy about this baby?!” Our father would answer with a special calm, “This boy has an unusual disposition! I am sure that my Ibrahim will be a good servant of God. This boy will keep my name alive too!” He was right. Our father’s love for Ibrahim was an unusual love. Although God gave another boy and girl to our family, our father’s love for Ibrahim did not diminish. Ibrahim went to Taleqani Elementary School in Ziba Street. He had a unique behavior. From the time he was in elementary school, he never quit praying. One time he told one of his friends in elementary school, “My father is a very good man. He has seen Imam Mahdi (a.j.) in his dreams several times. When he wanted very much to go to Karbala on pilgrimage, he saw Hazrat Abbas in his dreams. He came to see him and talked to him.” When he was in the last year of his primary school, he told his friends, “My father says, ‘Ayatollah Khomeini, whom the Shah has sent into exile since a few years ago, is a very good man.’ My father even says, ‘Everyone should obey him, because his orders are like the orders of Imam Mahdi (a.j.).’” His friends told him, “Ibrahim! Don’t say these things anymore. If the school disciplinarian hears you, he will expel you.” Maybe these words were strange for Ibrahim’s friends; however, he really believed in his father’s words.