Physical Education Teacher

It was Ordibehesht in the year 1359 AHS. I was the Physical Education teacher in the Shohada High School. The Abu Rayhan High School was close to our high school. Ibrahim was their Physical Education teacher. I went to see him. We talked for a long time. I became enthusiastic about Ibrahim’s morals and ethics. It was at the end of the school time. He asked, “Shall we play volleyball together?!” This made me laugh. I had participated in the World Championships with the National Team. I considered myself to be a person who had a style in playing. Now this man wants…! I accepted. I told myself, I will play weakly so that he won’t be ashamed! He hit the first service. It was so strong that I couldn’t get it! The second one, the third one… My face was pale. I was ashamed in front of the students! He had a strange, strong hand. It was really hard to catch his services. There were students all over the field. He looked at me. This time he hit more slowly. I got the first point, the next point, and the next time… He didn’t want me to be ashamed. He ruined his services on purpose! I reached Ibrahim’s score. One of us had to get two points to win. My dignity was preserved! I threw him the ball to shoot the service. He took the ball in his hand. He wanted to throw it when a sound came. Allah Akbar… It was time for the noontime prayer. He put the ball on the ground, faced Qiblah, and started reciting the Call to Prayer loudly. His voice resonated in the high school. The students left. Some of them went to make the minor ablution and some went home. He started praying in the yard. The students stood behind him. A crowd formed in the yard. We all followed him in praying. When the prayer finished he turned back to me, shook hands and said, “Mr. Reza, a competition is beautiful when it is with friendship.”[1]

[1] The commander-sportsman Reza Huryar went with the deaf volleyball team to the World Championships before the revolution and was a champion (although he wasn’t deaf!). Reza joined his martyr friends in the Karbala 5 operation.