Memories of Ayatollah Jami from Destruction of Abadan

Adjusted by Faezeh Sasanikhah
Translated by Ruhollah Golmoradi

2022-9-13

09/11/1981

It is Friday. In the last day, they bombarded the city heavily by Katyusha. Especially the hospital was under fire and the pharmacy of the hospital was set on fire, the drugs were all around and behind the hospital. It’s clear that there is some worry for holding prayer; But what should you do when there is no safe place in all of Abadan that is safe from cannon balls and mortars. Either one should leave the prayer altogether or trust in Allah and continue performing this divine tradition as much as possible while observing the security issues. All the brothers and I have preferred the second pattern, and in the same way, we have observed this religious and political important task until now. In short, we prayed again in the aforementioned mosque of Musa ibn Ja’far (former Behbahaniha). This Friday, we had again a new and interesting guest who we all enjoyed his warm and exciting words between the two prayers, especially because he spiced his words with many verses from Surah Al-Imran of the Holy Quran. Regarding the war with infidels and polytheists, it was all hopeful and encouraging. Yes, the African brother who had come from Zaire, innocent with black skin and color, has a pure and bright heart. Because his face was very attractive and exciting not only for me the humble but also for all the brothers who participated in the prayer. I did cheek kiss with him and thanked him a lot. In the evening, I was invited to a meeting on behalf of the Education Administration, which lasted until the evening; from there I went to the mosque for Maghrib and Isha prayers.[1]

***

[1] Source: Kazemi, Mohsen, (2007) I wrote to Be Recorded. Tehran: Sooreh Mehr Publication, p. 438.