The Impact of Islamic Revolution on my life

The Impact of Islamic Revolution on my life

(Shaban 1437H - Haul of Imam Khomeini (ra )

Bismilillahirahmanirrahim

Allahumma shali ala Muhammmad wa Aali Muhammad wa ajil farajahum

..“ Allah is praised for the guiding us to this, had it not been for Allah’s guidance, never would we have found the path “. (QS 7:43 )

First of all I have to thank Allah SWT who guide me through this path so am able to be here with all of you, my great and warm salutation also to our living Imam of the Time atfs and to the late of the great soul our beloved Imam Khomeini ra who inspire my spiritual journey & enlighten my life through the right path ( for me he is also alive ) and last but not least to my teacher at tebyan.net & Imam Ali Knowledge Foundation Mr. Saeid Bassam who give me a ‘vitamin’ & healthy food to shape my world point of view and also the one invited me here .

As we say that there is no coincidence in life. Allah SWT the most Merciful always respond to those who ask for His assistance in sincerity. When our vibes are somehow in tune with His, anything could happen. The things are we have to make sure that it is according to His will and we must maintain it to be always on the right track. Insha Allah, we all could be maintain our faith firmly and strongly in order to be closer to Him.

 Just remember what is said by Mula Sadra in Hikmah Mutaailyah that “ all creations are moving towards their perfection”. The Takamul process of human beings to enable him to become a human (an insan ). Of course in this great opportunity, I am not able to explain it but only telling the process how I was awakened from the ignorance I had.

Being a free man is not just like you live in a free country without any war. In fact, almost all people are heavily addicted to their worldly life and it’s pleasure. Just like a robot, they do what majority do and they feel happy with worldly pleasures. This kind of mundane life has no meaning. This pathetic worldview which leads to the material life is the most dangerous things that prevent the potential human being from becoming a human ( an insan ). Although we are called Human, it only means we have the potentiality to become the human being.

The real scenario behind all these worldly lives cannot be discovered as long as people agree and enjoy those pleasure without having any deep understanding of ‘self’ ( who we really are ). 

These kinds of carried away process blind people to realize what is happening to themselves. Most just follow their faith that has been taught by the old generation without any critique, the worst things are that they think they are just doing fine. This kind of silence and not realizing that there is a corrupt system they live in,  injustice become a routine in daily life. The weak will be easily oppressed and the strong has become an oppressor.

In these kinds of chaos world, that humanity has been threatened, we hear that in another part of the world, the Islamic Revolutions restive and lead by the old scholar man. He was leading the revolution from outside the country and has successfully expelled the King of the country. That has been a headline in many social media around the globe, even the prominent magazine in New York ‘Times magazine’ has a front cover of his face. He really shakes the world, his sharp words with full faith are fascinating many people especially the Muslims youth around the globe.

The awakening begins.. those who have no strength in faith, who do not believe that only with submission to Allah the Lord Almighty they could win against the strong oppressor start to think and listen to his calling. He was saying that : 
“ you should not just to be silent against the oppressor, you should be awakened and get your rights back “, so is more or less his calling to those nations who still under the hegemony and occupations and to those who rights have been taken away ( the mustadafin ) by the oppressor.

The result of his call was wakefulness of the youth. Especially the Muslim youth…they are driven to rise …they started to think and form a thirst to finding out of how they could fight to have their right back …to become free. To fulfill the thirst, the books from Shaheed Murthada Muthahari, Dr. Ali Shariati were the most popular books to be read at that time.

The university students started lots of discussions and reshaping their thought about Islam. From then on (around 1980) many students were trying to get the scholarship in Iran. Not all but many started to learn and convert to Shia Islam. Many of books have been translated also to Bahasa Indonesia, so the huge influence of the Revolutions was quite significant. Islamic Revolution led by Imam Khomeini ra is not just a normal Revolution, it makes an awakening spirit that made one feel free and eager to search the path of the real Islam.

The awareness to have their right back is scaring the hegemonic powers, so the movement started to be watched and more students who tried to study in Iran were watched and controlled. 

The huge impact of Islamic Revolution in my country is still carrying on till now. Books about the teaching of Ahlulbait as and thought of Shia scholars are abundant, plus in the era of digital and social media people can freely and easily connect with each other. Of course, they are also disadvantaged of these eras of open digital & online media, it depends on intentions and purpose of use.

The attachment of my spiritual journey with Islamic Revolution of Iran started with the great attraction to the grand personality of Imam Khomeini (ra ). 

It was like love at the first sight…the falling in love with Imam’s personality awakened me, started by reading a book about him ( Wasiat Sufi Ayatullah Khomeini, by an Indonesian author ) which was about his daily life and his pieces of advice which changed my worldly view somehow….

As it shows how simple and modest his life was and how kind he was with his wife, his family, and his nations, firm but kind, he attains the character which it put at the right place at the right time, he knows when he must be firm and knows when he must be loosened up and kind…

The most surprising for me was that he as the leader of such a rich country lived in the very modest home and his wife with whom he had married for more than 60 years had not even remembered whether Imam has ever become angry with her.

She said when he was at home he never let her work even on domestic daily work, and he would freely do that by himself not even asked her to do any work.

Those attitude towards his family and wife were quite surprised for me in the Muslim society who normally just the opposite. Then I thought my self this is the real Islam, confirm all the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad pbuh. Sure, there are many surprising things from him, but that was the beginning for me to know more about him.

Reading more about his thought especially in the books of ‘ Secret of Salat’ ( praying) and 40 hadits and some more enlightened me more and more. Not so long from that, it happened that I started to learn about Shia Muslim but still not convert yet, I was only convinced that the teachings are very logical and make lots of sense. ( to be honest, I do not know Islam yet till I learned the teaching of Ahulbait pbuth) .

I was just born as a Muslim and just doing the ritual according to the majority of Muslims but I do not have any joy or even proud to be a Muslim.

Somehow, my love to Imam Khomeini (ra )created an urge in me to pay a visit to Iran first time at the end of 2005. At that time I just loved to travel and my love to Imam Khomeini (ra)was haunting my eagerness to travel to visit his grave. When the chance is there I just rush to grab it. I went to the shrine of Imam Ali ar Ridha as also but at that time I only ‘know’ Imam Khomeini (ra), so after that first trip ( January 2006) I decided to practice Sharia ( Ahkam ) according to the teaching of Ahlulbait ( as ).

Now, my worldview was totally different from before, mashaAllah my focus was shifted from material to spiritual world, the material world v.s the Divine worldview. Thank Allah to guide His creation to return to the path they should be.

Amazingly when you try to near your self to close to HIS path, you will encounter in your life and become very selective about your companion, as the world of view you believe in is not everyone cups of tea. 

But somehow, when you try to learn to know the great figures of Ahlulbait as and their follower you feel better than before and enjoy even proud to be held to their principle & teaching. 

The spirit I gained from the school of Karbala could not be defeated by any disaster in these ages and calamity of life. I feel a kind of divine power is injected in my blood which has prepared my soul to welcome the upcoming the promised of Allah His last Luminary as our hope to be able to join His caravan, insha Allah.

From the spirit of Karbala also we could embrace the Palestinian cause as our spirit to help the oppressed and be the enemy of the oppressor.

Wassalamu alyakum warrahmatullahi wabarakatuhu

Ema Rachman

* Foto : Giving a speech during the commemoration of the demise anniversary of Imam Khomeini ra at Mesjid Jam'i Imam, Isfahan, with the audience from Basij, scholars, prominent scholars from Isfahan as well as people from Isfahan. ( Me & the translator Ms. Elhami Tavakoli, PhD )