In 1980 a deputation comprising of forty members of the ISO visited Imam Khomeini in Qum. On this occasion Imam Khomeini addressed the students saying,
It was not expected that you people would bear the difficulty to come here and, furthermore, the doctors have practiced caution in this matter and have not given me permission to speak much. However, today respected students and other various individuals from Pakistan and teachers from Iran have come. Furthermore, this gathering is the gathering of teachers and students.
These are two such groups that if they attain rectification (correction) then an entire country can be reformed. However, if the matter becomes opposite then the country will be on the way to ruin. The status of a teacher and student is that these two together change the way of thinking of the nation. Their affair is such an affair which needs special attention. The pensions of teacher and student should be fixed so that, Allah willing, these people are mankind’s judges the way Islam desires, act that way, and pass through stages to reach that which is the destination of man.
All those hardships which the Prophets bore (beared), all the troubles that the Friends of Allah (awliya) endured (tolerated) from the beginning of creation until now, and even after that will keep enduring, were the preface (introduction) of this matter that this being, which is called man, should in reality become human. The purpose of all the books that were revealed to the Divine Prophets was also this that if this being remains headstrong (stubborn), then it will become the world’s most dangerous being. If he comes under the effect of Divine teaching and training he will be called the best of existence and creation. The purpose of all the Islamic and Tawhidi (Oneness of Allah) organisations has been this. All of Islam’s affairs and commands are a preface for (sazi?) man. If this creature is given an empty freedom then he will make the entire world embrace (holds) ruin. The Divine Prophets were sent to various countries to stop the people who create destruction, desolate (uninhabited) lands, and these slogans and affairs from coming into existence. They came so that they could guide man and everyone would unite to walk upon a single path and achieve rectification (improvement). If this creature who walks on two feet receives training, then all of mankind’s desires in the world and the Hereafter will create inquiry (?). If this creature who walks upon two feet becomes obstinate (stubborn) or acts
against his nature, then he will cause chaos (confusion) in the whole world. That is why all the Prophets are teachers and all of mankind are students.
There is a school of the Prophets in which they want to guide this dangerous creature with two feet toward the Right Path. The security of their reward and affairs is also their responsibility, because of this they are teachers. They are not besieged (surrounded) in the confines (boundaries) of learned wise men, places of knowledge, school, colleges, and other institutions. Similarly, students are also not limited to those persons who go to places of learning; rather, the world is a university (place of training) in which Prophets and Saints (awliya – holy men) are teachers. All the rest of the human beings are students and they should be students. The whole universe and the whole world should comprise (include) of two parts—one is the teacher and the second is the student.
The duty of a teacher from Allah is guiding the nation and the duty of a student is acquiring knowledge. Thus such a society can achieve change (tashkil) in which all the people are attentive toward Allah and everyone becomes His (servant). When everyone will become His (servant), then salvation (rescue) and (iqtisad?) will also be from Allah. The guards of the army and soldiers and the guards at the border will also be for Allah, and students and teachers will also be considered for Allah. Either it is Allah or Satan (taghut); there is nothing besides these two.
Either it is the path of Allah or the path of Satan (taghut). The path of Allah is that path where man, in all his striving (determining) of intelligence, average strivings, ideal strivings, strivings of place, practical strivings achieves guidance. If people remain on this Right Path then they are for Allah, that path is the path of Allah. Whoever will be on this path will be for Allah, even so that every part of man, all of his actions, all of his movements, all of his thoughts, and all of his connections (links) will be for Allah. Or, these are all deviations which go towards Satan (taghut).
“Allah is the guardian of those who believe. He brings them out of darkness into the light” (Al-Baqarah: 257).
Darkness is that entire world which is not attentive toward Allah, while the Light of the Truth, Most High is the Absolute Light, towards whom the entire universe should be attentive.
“And (as to) those who disbelieve, their guardians are Shaitans” (Al-Baqarah: 257).
These are the two paths. Either it is the path of faith and Islam (submission) where attention is given toward Divine teachings and man’s relation is with Allah. Allah surely guides the believers and makes all their strivings for Him on condition that they come upon this path.
Or then there is the path of unbelief which is contrary (opposite to) to the path of Oneness of Allah. On both sides, right and left, are Satans (taghut), which end up in Hell.
The fountainhead of all the mischief and all the wars which occur in this world is in the hands of these superpowers and satanic powers. Among wars there are two types of wars. One is Satanic (taghuti) and the other is Tawheedi (Oneness of Allah). Tawheedi battles are the battles of Prophets, Saints (awliya) and believers; their purpose is to eliminate rebellion and that the people guilty of rebellion be punished. These battles are divine battles and the battles that are fought for status and rank, power or government or for those who are mercenaries (one who serves for sake of money) and embezzlers (steal by fraud) are Iblisi and Satanic battles. The world is not empty of two states. Whatever action man does, its relation goes from the heart to the soul or then the movements of the body parts and organs. He is not voiding (invalid) of these two states. Both its direction is toward the Right Path and toward Allah or toward Satan, who is against Allah and the Right Path. (“Keep us on the Right Path” (Al-Hamd:6)).
(“The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favours” (Al-Hamd: 7)).
By sending Prophets Allah has favoured us with the blessings of His teachings so that we may be guided toward that path which is Allah’s Right Path, the whole world be upon the path of fortune and salvation and people pass the life of this world with correct training and peace and turn all the existing attentions in this world toward attention of Oneness of Allah. All movements (actions), whether of the heart or of thoughts or body parts, if they are against this appointed path of Allah then they will be Satanic.
Thus, there is no third path besides these two paths. Either the path of the tyrant (oppressors) or the path of Allah; you people O teachers and students adopt this path which the Prophets and Saints (awliya) established before you. We should travel upon this path and move forward. Those people who move away from this Divine path and invite toward other paths (i.e. Satanic) are Satans, against their nature and against that path toward which their nature is attentive (thoughtful). Attaining such guidance is destruction and I have hope that my brothers and sisters who are seekers of knowledge, wherever in the world they may be, should consider themselves seekers of knowledge and the teachers should guide them toward this path which is the path of the Prophets. They should all continue their journey on the Right Path of the guidance of the Prophets.
And Peace be upon you and the Mercy of Allah and His blessings.
source : seeker of solace/ syed jan ali kazmi
