Taking Care of People’s Needs

“The servants (of God) are my family. So, the most beloved people to me are the ones who are kinder to them and struggle to take care of their needs.”[1]

It was strange. There was a large crowd in front of Shahid Saiedi Street. Ibrahim and I went forward. I asked, “What has happened?!” A man said, “This boy is retarded. He is here every day. He fills a bucket from the dirty water from the ditch, and pours it on well-dressed, attractive people!” People dispersed slowly. A man wearing a handsome suit had been soaked by that boy. The man said, “I don’t know what to do with this retarded boy.” Then he left. We were left with the boy. Ibrahim asked the boy, “Why do you make people wet?” The boy laughed and said, “I like it.” Ibrahim thought a little bit, and then he said, “Has anyone told you to pour this water?” The boy said, “They give me 5 rials, and they tell me who I should pour water on.” Then he pointed to the other side of the street. Three young profligate, unemployed men were laughing. Ibrahim wanted to go towards them, but he stopped. He thought a little, and then he said, “Boy! Where is your house?” The boy showed us the way to his house. Ibrahim said, “If you don’t bother people anymore, I’ll pay you 10 rials each day. Ok?” The boy accepted. When we got to their house, Ibrahim talked with the mother of that boy. In this way, he resolved a problem for the people. We were working in the Inspection Department of the Physical Education Organization. After we received our salary and our working hours had finished, Ibrahim asked, “Have you brought your motorcycle?” I said, “Yes. Why is that?!” He said, “If you’re free, let’s go shopping.” He spent most of his income. He bought rice, meat, even soap and... He bought everything. It was as if they had given him a shopping list! Then we went to the Majidieh part of town together. We went into an alley. Ibrahim knocked at the door of a house. An old woman who didn’t have an appropriate scarf on came to the door. Ibrahim gave her all of the purchases. There was a cross hanging from her neck. I was very surprised! On the way back I said, “Brother Ibrahim was this woman Armenian?!” He said, “Yes. Why is that?!” I went to the side of the street, stopped the motorcycle, and said angrily, “There are many poor Muslim people, and you are helping Christians!” He was sitting behind me as he said, “There are people to help Muslims. Plus, the Imdad Committee (Aid Committee) has started its work too. It will help them. But these poor people don’t have anyone. This helps to reduce their problems, and their hearts will be warm to the Imam and the revolution.” 26 years had passed since his martyrdom. The information for the book was collected and ready to be published. One of the people who prayed in the Mosque spoke to me and said, “If you need any help for Ibrahim’s memorial ceremony, I can help.” I asked in surprise, “Do you know the Martyr Hadi?! Had you seen him?!” He said, “No. I didn’t know anything about the Martyr Hadi until last year when the memorial ceremony was held. But, I am very much beholden to Mr. Ibram.” I was in a hurry to go, but I went closer to him. I asked with surprise, “What right does he have on you?!” He said, “During last year’s memorial ceremony, you handed out a key chain with Ibrahim’s photo. I took it, and put my car key on it. A few days ago we were coming back from a trip with my family. On the way we stopped at a motel. When we wanted to get in the car, I saw with surprise that I had left the key in the car! The doors were locked. I asked my wife, ‘Do you have the spare key?’ She said, ‘No. my bag is in the car!’ I was very upset. Whatever I did, the door wouldn’t open. The weather was very cold. I told myself that I can break the car window. But the weather was cold, and the way was long. Suddenly I saw Ibrahim’s picture. It was as if he was looking at me from the key chain. I looked at him for a while and said, ‘Mr. Ibram! I have heard that you solved people’s problems when you were alive. A martyr is always alive.’ Then I said, ‘God! Because of the dignity of the Martyr Hadi, solve my problem.’ At the same time, my hand went into my pocket. I took the house keys out of my pocket. I put one of these keys in the car door lock without thinking. With a shake the door opened. We got in the car happily. I thanked God. Then I looked at Mr. Ibrahim’s picture and said, ‘Thank you! I hope that I can compensate.’ I hadn’t started the car yet when my wife asked, ‘Which key opened the car door?’ I said, ‘You are right. Which key was it?!’ I got out of the car and tried all the keys. I tried them a few times. But none of the keys would go in the lock!! While I was standing there, I breathed deeply. I said, ‘Mr. Ibram, thank you! You are solving people’s problems even after your death.’”

 [1] This is a ‘Tradition from God’ related by Imam Sadiq (a).