Book review:
A Pious Fighter
Mahya Hafezi
Translated by M. B. Khoshnevisan
2023-4-11
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the re-establishment of Qom Seminary, the Islamic Revolution Document Center has published a collection of books. One of them under the title "A Pious Fighter" is dedicated to the oral history of the life and struggles of Ayatollah Seyyed Hassan Mousavi Shali.
This work, authored by Mohammad Kazem Ameli, describes the narrator's life, education, religious, cultural and political activities in four chapters. Ayatollah Shali is one of the fighters of the Islamic Revolution in Qazvin. His first revolutionary move was a speech on the occasion of the 15 Khordad (June 6) uprising, which led to his arrest and ban on delivering speeches. Among his other actions, we can mention the establishment of the Martyr Mustafa Khomeini Seminary in the town of Takestan, his presence in war zones during the Iraqi imposed war against Iran, the Friday prayer leader of Takestan and a representative in the Assembly of Experts for Leadership.
This research has been produced using the interviews conducted with the narrator and people who were in contact with him.
The first chapter deals with the family background and education of Ayatollah Shali in the years 1293 to 1312 (1914-1933). This chapter has started with a look at the city of Shall and Qazvin region; in continuation, it describes the narrator's family and his education in the holy cities of Najaf, Karbala and Samarra.
The book’s second chapter covers the mid-1330s (1950s) when the narrator returned to his homeland after 23 years; He has been engaged in promoting religion and strengthening seminaries in Qazvin province.
The narrator's political activities have been mentioned in the third chapter of the book. In this section, while explaining some events before the Islamic revolution, his positions and actions have also been stated. Taking a position regarding the production of a film about the biography of the Prophet (PBUH), the bill of state and provincial associations, the referendum on the six-step bills, the incident of the Faiziyeh School, the incident of 15th of Khordad (June 6) and the exile of Imam Khomeini, opposition to Jewish settlements, a statement against the Pahlavi regime, the uprising of 19th of Dey (January 10) in Qom, the uprising of 29th of Bahman (February 19)in Tabriz, the rally of 17th of Shahrivar (September 9) and the rallies of Tasua and Ashura are some of the topics that are detailed in the third chapter of the book.
The fourth chapter is dedicated to the activities of Ayatollah Shali after the victory of the Islamic Revolution. Among his other actions are the formation of the Qazvin Islamic Revolution Committee, the representative of Imam Khomeini in Takestan and the Friday prayer leader of the city, mobilization of the people for constructive jihad in deprived areas, the establishment of the branch of the Islamic Republic Party in Shall, participation in the Holy Defense, the establishment of Martyr Mustafa Khomeini Seminary in Takestan and a representative in the Assembly of Experts for Leadership.
A significant volume of the book is filled with appendices, including documents and images, which have been published after the fourth chapter. The final part of the book is bibliography (list of sources) and index (people and places).
The first edition of “A Pious Fighter” has been published in the summer of 1401(2022) in 377 pages.
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The Arab People Committee
Another event that happened in Khuzestan Province and I followed up was the Arab People Committee. One day, we were informed that the Arabs had set up a committee special for themselves. At that time, I had less information about the Arab People , but knew well that dividing the people into Arab and non-Arab was a harmful measure.Kak-e Khak
The book “Kak-e Khak” is the narration of Mohammad Reza Ahmadi (Haj Habib), a commander in Kurdistan fronts. It has been published by Sarv-e Sorkh Publications in 500 copies in spring of 1400 (2022) and in 574 pages. Fatemeh Ghanbari has edited the book and the interview was conducted with the cooperation of Hossein Zahmatkesh.Is oral history the words of people who have not been seen?
Some are of the view that oral history is useful because it is the words of people who have not been seen. It is meant by people who have not been seen, those who have not had any title or position. If we look at oral history from this point of view, it will be objected why the oral memories of famous people such as revolutionary leaders or war commanders are compiled.Daily Notes of a Mother
Memories of Ashraf-al Sadat SistaniThey bring Javad's body in front of the house. His mother comes forward and says to lay him down and recite Ziarat Warith. His uncle recites Ziarat and then tells take him to the mosque which is in the middle of the street and pray the funeral prayer (Ṣalāt al-Janāzah) so that those who do not know what the funeral prayer is to learn it.
