The Effect of Words

A few months had passed since the victory of the revolution. One of our friends told me, “Go with Ibrahim to the Physical Education Organization tomorrow. Mr. Davudi (the head of the organization) wants to see you!” Tomorrow morning we got the address and went to the organization. Mr. Davudi who was Ibrahim’s teacher in high school greeted us warmly. Then with a few other people we went into a hall. He spoke for us and said, “You are both athletic and revolutionary. Come and take a responsibility in the organization…” He told Ibrahim and me, “We have put the responsibility of inspecting the organization for you.” After a short discussion, we accepted. Our job started from the next day. Whenever we had a problem we corresponded with Mr. Davudi. I won’t forget how one morning Ibrahim entered the Inspection Office and asked me, “What are you doing?” I said, “Nothing, I am writing an order of dismissal from a position.” He asked, “For who?!” I explained, “There is a report that the head of one of the federations comes to work with a very repulsive appearance. He has a very inappropriate behavior with employees; especially with women. They have even said that he has made comments in opposition to the revolutionary movement. His wife doesn’t even wear a scarf!” I was writing the report. I said, “We should definitely send one transcript to the Revolutionary Council.” Ibrahim asked, “May I see the report?” I said, “Here, this is the report, and this is the order of dismissal from his job!” He looked at the report carefully. Then he asked, “Have you talked with this man yourself?” I responded, “No, there is no need. Everyone knows how he is!” Ibrahim said, “That is not right. Haven’t you heard that only a liar approves of whatever he hears?” I said, “But the employees of that federation have reported…” He jumped in the middle of my words and said, “Do you have the address of this man?” I said, “Yes, it is here.” He continued, “This evening come and let’s go to his house. Let’s see who this guy is. What does he have to say?” After a few seconds of silence I said, “Ok.” I took the address after work in the evening and we went by motorcycle. His address was above the Sayyed Khandan Bridge. We were looking for his house in the alley when the man arrived. I recognized him from the picture which was in the report. He stopped his Benz in front of a house. A woman got out of the car and opened the door. She was practically without any scarf. Then, that man entered with the car. I said, “Did you see Mr. Ibram?! I told you that this man has a problem.” He said, “We have to talk with him. Then you can judge.” I drove the motorcycle to the front of the house and parked it. Ibrahim rang the bell. The man was still in the yard, and he came and opened the door. He was a husky man with a shaved beard and mustache. He was very surprised when he saw us in that neighborhood! He looked at us and said, “May I help you?!” I said to myself, “If I were in place of Ibrahim, I would really ruin his mood.” But Ibrahim with his enduring calmness said hello with a smile on his face, and then he said, “I am Ibrahim Hadi, and I have a few questions. That is why I have come here.” The man said, “Your name is very familiar. I’ve heard your name the last few days. I think it was in the Organization, in the inspection part; is that correct?!” Ibrahim laughed and said, “Yes!” The poor man became very nervous. He kept insisting for us to come in. Ibrahim said, “Thank you very much. We just wanted to speak with you for a few minutes and then we will leave.” Ibrahim started talking. He talked for about an hour, but neither of us felt the time go by. Ibrahim talked about everything and he brought an example for each item. He said, “Look my friend! Your wife is for yourself and not for showing off to other people! Do you know how many young people fall into sin when they see your wife without a scarf?! In addition, you shouldn’t use bad words or bad jokes, especially with women employees, when you are responsible for the employees! You were a champion in your own sports field. But the real champion is a person who prevents himself from doing bad deeds.” Then he talked about the revolution, about the blood of the martyrs, about the Imam, about the enemies of the nation. The man confirmed whatever he said. At the end of his words he said, “Look my dear sir! This is your order for dismissal from your job.” The manager was shocked. He swallowed and looked at us with surprise. Ibrahim smiled and tore the letter! Then he said, “Dear friend, think about my words!” After that, we said goodbye, got on the motorcycle and left. When we got to the top of the street, I looked back. The man hadn’t yet gone into his house, and he was still looking at us. I said, “Mr. Ibram! You talked very nicely. It affected me too.” He laughed and said, “No! We’re not effective, only God is. God put these words in my mouth. If God wants they will be effective.” Then he continued, “Be sure that nothing will affect people like good behavior. Haven’t you read that God tells his Prophet (s) in the Quran, ‘Had you been rough, hard hearted, they would certainly have dispersed from around you.’[1] So, we need to learn at least this behavior of the Prophet (s).” After one or two months, there was a new report from the same federation. The manager had changed a lot! His ethics and behavior had changed greatly in the workplace. His wife even came to his workplace wearing a scarf! I saw Ibrahim and gave him the report. I was waiting for his reaction. After reading the report he said, “Thank God.” Then he changed the subject. But I had no doubt that Ibrahim’s sincerity had been effective. His sincere words had changed the head of the federation.

[1] Quran, 3: 159.