Teaching memories of Mr. Karaati

Memoirs of teaching and preaching in conversation with Hojjat al-Islam wal-Muslimin Mohsen Qaraati (first part)

Hojjat-ul-Islam Mohsen Qaraiti, the well-known figure of the Qur’an whom everyone knows as “the good teacher of the Qur’an”, is one of the few personalities who has special popularity among different sections of the society, and even those who have little to do with religion and spirituality like him. They look at it with interest and respect.
The sincerity of reading his words has made him attractive so that his words sit in the heart and have a tremendous effect on the soul and soul of the listener.
Hazrat Haq’s grace and concern for this Jalil al-Qadr cleric has caused him to be the record holder of the longest and most attractive television educational program in the world, according to one of the cultural officials of radio and television.
Qaraati is not a fan of interviews with the media, but the history of his friendship with Hojjatul Islam Rahimian – the representative of the jurist at the Martyr’s Foundation – and the request to do an interview convinced him to do so. Therefore, in a detailed interview with the Pasdar Islam magazine, he shared his memories and interesting and readable material. He has stated a lot.
In terms of the personality of Hojjat al-Islam Qaraiti and the importance of his words, Kayhan newspaper has republished this interview, which was selected from numbers 351 and 352 of Pasdar Islam.
Thank you for giving us this opportunity. Tell me, when and where was the first time you stepped on the blackboard?
¤ It was the first Ramadan month in Kashan. There was a discolored and broken blackboard in a school in Mashhad, which was our first job. We didn’t have a blackboard, so we went and found a cardboard and wrote with charcoal and wiped it with our socks! Mullahs were sitting all around, I remember that house too. Now Imam Juma’s house is Sabzevar.
When did you start this method?
¤From the age of twenty, it has been about forty years. My happiness has not changed. If I go back 50 years ago, I will do the same thing that I have done until now. In my life, I have not regretted what I have done.
How did you think about my life? As if the smell of death is coming, everyone has remembered me.
– God forbid. When we decided to talk to you, we had no idea that they were going to take care of you. This is completely random.
Why do you always write with chalk on the board and not with the whiteboard, which is easier?
Newly found whiteboard. We used to have a blackboard. My intention is to tell people that it is possible to work with the simplest equipment for decades.
The blackboard is different from the whiteboard and can be found in all villages.
– Well, what memories do you have of Imam?
¤ One memory is that I went to study in Najaf, I stayed there for one year and two months. I wanted to come to Iran and I had no money. I told Mr. Halimi that I want to go to Iran and I have no money. Mr. Halimi said to go tell Imam that we have a fellow citizen, if you have money, give him. He said that when I told the Imam, the Imam paused for a moment and said: Whatever is in my pocket is yours. He searched all his pockets and found 57 Tomans and gave it to me. This was the first money I received from Imam. Another memory is that Imam was sitting in a small house in Qom. My father and I went to Imam. When we wanted to go out, my father kissed the imam’s hand. Then Imam looked at his face like this until we came out. I told my father it was a strange thing. Imam did not pay attention to all the people who were kissing his hand, but followed you with his eyes until you came out of the house. This was very important for us. The first monthly fee we received from the Imam was 15 to 1 Tumni, which Mr. [Sheikh Hassan] Sanei brought to the school. It was our first division.
When we were in Najaf, Haj Agha Mustafa called Agha Khoei’s son, that they brought us from Turkey to Baghdad; You get a house so we can come there. I didn’t have a relationship with Mr. Khoei, but I heard this call and asked, “Is Ayatollah Khomeini in Baghdad now?” We went and checked and they said yes. We became a few students and put together a sum of money and left. We were not revolutionaries, we were normal students. There were 17-18 of us and we saved money and rented a minibus and went to an inn in Kazemin.
I have not written this memory anywhere and I have not told anyone. I remembered now. In short, we went to the inn and asked: “Has Ayatollah Khomeini come here?” They said: “Yes, it was evening when a gentleman came and said that I am Khomeini.” Give me a room. We said that Khomeini made a revolution in Iran, went to Turkey, and said: I am the same. The plane brought me to Baghdad and left me and left.”
He used to say: “When we saw that it was Mr. Khomeini, I saw that the inn was not worthy of him and we took him home.”
– Do you remember which inn it was, what was its name?
¤ No, but I said let’s go home and see Mr. We asked and he said yes and took us home. He went into the room and came back and said: “Sid, it’s sleep.” I said: “Sir who does not sleep with a turban. You go on top of his head, take his turban off!” He could not buy cloth and wrap a turban in one moment. He went and brought the man’s turban. I remembered that Mr. is there. We were glad that he was there and we didn’t sleep that night until the morning. A Hosseini Haji was with Ali, we went there and at dawn we went to the shrine, we saw yes, the imam had come to the shrine. There were cars coming from Iran around the shrine. We ran to the cars and told them to go to Iran and say that the Imam has come, Kazemin. Finally, he fell in Najaf and delegations came to see the Imam in Kazmin. Haj Agha Mustafa also spoke for men.
– How many days did Imam stay in Kazmin?
¤ In my opinion, one day we were serving the Imam and went to Samarra with him. Outside of Samaria, they came to the desert. May God have mercy on Hajj Sheikh Mojtabi Lankarani and some of the sheikhs of Samara. We went to see him, Hosseinieh Mr. Boroujerdi. I think we were in Samara for one night, then we came back. Haj Agha Mohammad Shirazi laid the foundation stone in Karbala and sent several thousand people four farsakhs outside Karbala to welcome the Imam.
– What year is it?
¤ In 1944, we were among the students of Najaf and we also went to Imam’s service. He was in Karbala for a week and Najaf was also prepared in this one week. I used to study there with someone whose name I won’t mention now. When I said Ayatollah Khomeini, he said: “Look! Don’t talk about Ayatollah Khomeini. This Sayyid is like the Safavid Nawab Sayyid Daghi. Later, when the imam was giving a lesson on merits and sufficiency, and it was a famous lesson, our teacher said: “I have never known him like this before.” Everyone goes to everyone’s lessons, but they should also learn one lesson.” That is, his opinion was 180 degrees different.
– The following case is very interesting and therefore it is important to say the name of that person.
¤ Ayatollah Rati. I was Mr. Rati’s student and I used to read messages. That is, his view was not that Imam’s lesson was like that of Najaf scholars and he was a reference, but when Imam came and started the lesson in Najaf, Mr. Rati himself attended Imam’s lesson and said that whoever goes to any lesson should go, but A lesson should be their lesson. Many people looked at him. Of course, many people were angry that why did he do this, because the atmosphere of Najaf was not like this. Then the Imam met with people. We did not know about all the meetings, but we have memories of the meeting he had with Mr. Hakim. He said to Mr. Hakim, you move, I will follow you.
– Were you there?
¤ No, they came and said, Mr. Hakim did not visit the Imam the first night and he went the next night, but the Imam visited Mr. Hakim first. In other words, Mr. Hakim was the second in the visit, in the visit, the first imam went to see him and said, you move, I am following you. Mr. Hakim said, sir! People are so and so. We issued a fatwa and Iraq did this to me and I do not trust the Iraqi people. Imam said, I support you with the people of Iran. There was only one person who ignored him and then disappeared. He was also upset with the Imam, but Mr. Khoei, Mr. Shahroudi, etc. all went to see the Imam.
One of the sweets of our life is that we revived one month of Ramadan in the Askarin shrine, because Mr. Boroujerdi said that you want to go and settle Medina, Samarra is like Medina.
At least 100 students of Ramadan should go to Samarra, sleep during the day and revive at night until morning, so that the military shrine is open on the 30th night of Ramadan. I was an imitator of Mr. Khansari. He said that I will carry out Mr. Boroujerdi’s work. They announced that Mr. Khansari wants 100 students to go and get rehabilitation. I registered because I was their copycat. It was winter and there were 14 hours at night. We slept during the day and left in the evening and were in the shrine until morning. Once I saw that I was alone in the shrine until the others gathered one by one. That Ramadan was a good month for us. The peak of my life is Samara.
– Do you have a memory with Imam in Iran?
¤ Now, for example, do these words of ours help the people?
– Yes, these are part of the history of the revolution.
¤ I did not participate in the revolution and I was normal and for example I participated in marches. Before that, I was constantly doubting until Imam said, I wish I was among the martyrs of Jale Street. When he said “I wish”, I understood that we have to go and if we are shot and killed, we are martyrs. No one told us before that if you feel in danger, go on a march. This word “I wish” had the ruling of a fatwa and therefore we participated in the marches very officially. The link between us and the revolution was almost Mr. Motahari. I saw him for the first time in Ahvaz.
– What year?
¤ I don’t know very precisely.
– Was it after 41?
¤ Yes, it was years before the victory of the revolution. When he wanted to leave, I heard this word from him that if I go to Tehran and they tell us Ahvaz, what will happen? I say that my discovery is your reading! Then he gave his phone and said come to our house. He used to study in Qom on Thursdays and came to our house regularly. He was very kind to me. One day he called me saying that I have a lot of interpretation tapes, come and write. I said: “I am in the service of Mr. Makarem to interpret the sample. Do you want me to turn it off and come?” He said: “No, don’t stop it.” I said: “I can’t do two.” He said: “Then nothing.”
When the revolution happened, Mr. Motahari called me and said, “Go to the TV as soon as possible.” I went and a tall young man came to welcome me. The same young man who had the Quran on the stage with Mr. Taleghani.
– Dr. Jalali…
¤ Yes, the one that was later in UNESCO. He came to the chain of the television building and asked, “Are you reading?” I said yes. He took us and took us there. My entry on TV was like this: I said: “I can make you laugh with logical words for two hours, so that you can’t keep your mouth shut.” they said: “You have to try.” I said: “Be”. They came and sat and looked at the clock and we started talking. They said that we wanted two more mullahs not to be on TV, one imam, one Mr. Taleghani, and now you have to remove your turban so that we can use you on TV and not interfere with our appointment. I said: “No, I will not take off my turban.”
In short, they filmed and I have stayed there for more than 30 years now. It is by the grace of God Almighty that in these 30 years, not even one Friday night has been closed by me. It happened that sometime on Friday night it was handed over to the year and the message of Imam or Agha was broadcasted, that is, there was a program that my program was deleted, but maybe not more than once a year.
– Apparently, you are the oldest TV personality. Someone mentioned that it is rare in the world for a person to have a program on a television network for more than 30 years and still maintain that attractive program.
¤ I don’t know. The world should be checked. But yes, it has viewers, good viewers too, Alhamdulillah.
– Do you have any other memories of Shahid Motahri?
¤ For several weeks, he came to our house almost regularly on Thursdays. He had lunch and then rested. In order for the children not to make noise, I used to hug my two little girls and walk in the streets of Qom. He would sleep for an hour and drink tea and I would sit in his car. He had an old black Benz.
– Was he driving himself?
¤ No, he had a driver. I used to sit in his car and ask him until Hazrat Abdulazim. Then I would walk and come back, that is, I would ask them many questions for two private hours.
– You never studied with him?
¤ No, I have read his books. Mr. Motahri said about going to the television, I have told the imam, and I am saying this from the imam’s words that you should go there, because the television was only empowering the imam. When we went on TV, Imam saw our discussions and was happy. A year passed and Haj Ahmed Agha said that Imam likes your program. On my way back from the front, I was near Khorramabad when I turned on the radio and saw Imam saying that you are my representative in the literacy movement.
Once again, Imam sent me money. Imam sent me money twice. 100 tomans once, 50 tomans once, 100 tomans was good money at that time and with that I bought two carpets for my two daughters, and now those two carpets are worth one million more. I once sent a message that I am not poor according to Sharia. He said that this money is not for the poor, this is a gift.
Once I went to the Imam and said: “Isn’t there something wrong with you?” He said: “No.” I said: “I have two problems with you. I am ashamed to throw a flashlight at the sun, but it is in my mind. He asked: “What is it?” I said: “You are putting representatives in places that are not necessary. For example, what was the danger to the literacy movement when you appointed a representative, or the Red Crescent, which should provide blankets to the flood victims, what was the danger when you appointed Mr. Ghiori? Then you don’t have representatives in two or three places that are very important.” They said: “Where?” I said: “TV room.” What programs are broadcast is very important. One is education textbooks. Millions of books are printed and children read line by line. What is in these books? You do not have a representative in the intellectual gates of the new generation, and then you have a representative in the literacy movement for the father of old women.
– What did the imam say?
Imam said: “I will reflect on your words.” I said one more thing, he said that I will think about this too. It was with Hajj Sheikh Hasan Sanei that we reached Imam’s service once. said: “I see your programs, enjoy, use and pray to you.” Whenever he saw me in the crowd, he would laugh.
Once I was in the crowd and I was about to leave, Imam said tell him to come inside. Imam himself said and we went to serve them. Then I said to the Imam: “Allow me to be silent for a minute.” Imam encouraged and said: “Very well! Abstain for a minute.” And I told Sorush that he was the Imam’s representative in the Cultural Revolution Council and that his work was not right. I said to the Imam: “Sometimes it is possible for animals to understand an earthquake earlier than people!”
– Did you say that?
¤ Yes, because it was an insult to the Imam for a student to go there and say this about his representative. I only know that the Imam liked him so much that when I came out of the house, Haj Ahmad Agha came in the alley and followed me and said: “Mr. Qaraati! Do you have a house? I said, “Yes,” and he said, “Is it yours?” I said: “Yes.” I feel that the Imam liked this sentence that Haj Ahmed Agha asked me in the middle of the street so much that he said go see if he doesn’t have a house, buy him a house.
Imam, he liked both the essence of the story and the illustration you used.
Anyway, I said that I have a house and my house is a property.
We went to get permission once. We said that we became your representative, now people’s expectations from us have increased. They come and say call to prayer in the child’s ear! Finally, a money should be put down. They say, come and play the opening ceremony. After all, your representative has expenses. Should we pay for the representation from the movement’s money? said: No, don’t be motivated by money. You are allowed to spend the money according to your dignity. He gave us this permission, but we have no control over the funds.
We went to the Imam once and said, Sir! We go to the front during the war. Our car belongs to Bait Al-Mal. We fill up with gas somewhere. We eat lunch in the same place, we call in the same place. They don’t take money from us. We, our cars, and our guards use the available facilities at every battalion and army we reach. Well, now the army pours gasoline, we go to the IRGC, the IRGC pours gasoline, we go to construction jihad. These are all mixed up. But he said, check everything, see how much gasoline you use in which direction. I said that if I want to do this, I must always look at the fuel gauge. It is very difficult for me. So now that this is the case, let us be exempted from going to the front and only use the money of the movement and work for the movement. He encouraged and said that you should be my guest, since you don’t take money, use all the facilities and go the way you are going. In those days, Parvesh was also our deputy and he came from education in the movement. For a while, I was the deputy of Mr. Parvesh, then he became my deputy!
– You were talking about Mr. Parvesh.
¤ I told the imam that Mr. Parvaresh, who was a minister, has now joined the movement. There are five of us in the central council of the movement.
The permission you have given me to use the facilities of the system, give it to those four people as well. said: No, I don’t give them. I give it to you because of the job you have and want to swing in the country.
I said once, sir! I’m very successful on TV, I go to the cities, it gets crowded, I go to the university, the young students take me far away, I’m very welcome in the university, I spoil everyone because I can’t do a few things with He did it perfectly. You are the imam. Tell me about broadcasting, about speaking in cities, about universities or fields, tell me one of these, because I will concentrate on it and it is easier. This is how it happens. Imam Baz pondered for a moment and said that I cannot make a diagnosis. The choice is yours.
After the Imam, I said to Ayatollah Khamenei, sir! I work in five or six places and I can’t reach everyone. At that time, there was no prayer headquarters, zakat headquarters, or Tafsir headquarters. Now it’s even more. When I woke up today, I was on TV, then I went to the IRGC and spoke to the Koran activists of the IRGC throughout the country, then I went to the University of Tehran, where on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, I lead the congregational prayers there with me, and we say tafsir for a few minutes, then I went to the movement and prayer headquarters, from here I have to go to study at night for tomorrow’s television.
I told the Imam once, sir! Some illiterate people do not come to class. We are obliged in some way, for example, to close mustahabat for these. Let’s say that anyone who wants to go for Umrah, we will register them on the condition that they are literate or the same in Syria. According to the law, let us prevent the mustahabat that illiterate people are forced to come and learn literacy. But he said no, why should a person who is not literate not go for Umrah?