The Clergyman Mojtahedi’s Islamic Seminary

It was the last years before the revolution. Ibrahim was doing something else besides going to the bazaar. Almost no one knew anything about it. He himself didn’t say anything either. But his behavior and manners had completely changed. Ibrahim was more spiritual. In the mornings he would take a black plastic bag in his hand and go towards the bazaar. There were a few books in it.One day I saw Ibrahim as I was passing by at the top of the street. I asked him, “Brother Ibram! Where are you going?” He said, “I am going to the bazaar.” I picked him up. On the way I asked, “It has been a while that I see this bag in your hand. What is it?!” He said, “Nothing, a book!” He got off on the way at Naeb Alsaltaneh Street. He said goodbye and left. I was surprised. Ibrahim’s workplace wasn’t here. So where was he going?! I followed him curiously until he went into a Mosque. I followed him in. He sat next to a few other young people and opened his book. I realized that he was studying the lessons of the Islamic Seminary. I came out of the Mosque. I asked an old man who was passing by, “Excuse me! What is the name of this Mosque?” He responded, “The Clergyman Mojtahedi’s Islamic Seminary.” I looked around with surprise. I didn’t think Ibrahim had become a student of the religious studies. There was a tradition from the Prophet (s) written on the wall, “The skies, the earth and the angels ask for forgiveness for three groups night and day: the scholars, the people who are in pursuit of knowledge, and generous people.”[1] That night when I came out of the Zoorkhaneh I said, “Brother Ibram! You go to an Islamic Seminary, and you didn’t tell us anything?” He turned around suddenly in surprise and looked at me. He realized that I had followed him. He said very softly, “It is a pity for a human being to just spend his life eating and sleeping. I’m not an official student. I just go to learn. In the evenings I go to the bazaar. But for now don’t tell anyone anything.” This was Ibrahim’s routine up until the victory of the revolution. After the victory of the revolution Ibrahim had so many responsibilities that he could no longer do the things which he had been doing previously. 

It was the last years before the revolution. Ibrahim was doing something else besides going to the bazaar. Almost no one knew anything about it. He himself didn’t say anything either. But his behavior and manners had completely changed. Ibrahim was more spiritual. In the mornings he would take a black plastic bag in his hand and go towards the bazaar. There were a few books in it.One day I saw Ibrahim as I was passing by at the top of the street. I asked him, “Brother Ibram! Where are you going?” He said, “I am going to the bazaar.” I picked him up. On the way I asked, “It has been a while that I see this bag in your hand. What is it?!” He said, “Nothing, a book!” He got off on the way at Naeb Alsaltaneh Street. He said goodbye and left. I was surprised. Ibrahim’s workplace wasn’t here. So where was he going?! I followed him curiously until he went into a Mosque. I followed him in. He sat next to a few other young people and opened his book. I realized that he was studying the lessons of the Islamic Seminary. I came out of the Mosque. I asked an old man who was passing by, “Excuse me! What is the name of this Mosque?” He responded, “The Clergyman Mojtahedi’s Islamic Seminary.” I looked around with surprise. I didn’t think Ibrahim had become a student of the religious studies. There was a tradition from the Prophet (s) written on the wall, “The skies, the earth and the angels ask for forgiveness for three groups night and day: the scholars, the people who are in pursuit of knowledge, and generous people.”[2] That night when I came out of the Zoorkhaneh I said, “Brother Ibram! You go to an Islamic Seminary, and you didn’t tell us anything?” He turned around suddenly in surprise and looked at me. He realized that I had followed him. He said very softly, “It is a pity for a human being to just spend his life eating and sleeping. I’m not an official student. I just go to learn. In the evenings I go to the bazaar. But for now don’t tell anyone anything.” This was Ibrahim’s routine up until the victory of the revolution. After the victory of the revolution Ibrahim had so many responsibilities that he could no longer do the things which he had been doing previously.