Allama Seyed Abul-Hassan Hafezian

Allama Seyed Abul-Hassan Hafezian

Seyed Kazim Hafezian Razavi

The University Master

The membership of Agriculture Research and Education Organization

I am Seyed Kazim Razavi, nephew of Seyed Abul-Hassan Hafezian (RA) and the Esmaeil Hafezian’s son. It has been wanted me to talk about some memories of Seyed Abul-Hassan Hafezian (RA). At first, it should be mentioned that, I loved my dear uncle, so much and when I was young, I understood that he had some special properties and I have been engrossed by everything which have been proposed by my dear uncle. In one year of his residency in Mashhad, I was a high school student and I permitted him to help dear uncle, every evening after school. He understood about my aim to profit in presence of him. However, throughout a period of time I was in presence of my uncle and as a result I can divide this time’s memories into four groups. First, discipline; wearing cloths, the style of using devices, desk and importantly, documentary of files, letters, photographs and newspapers, all of them have been done disciplinarily and accurately. He talked with me about dates and said that, who will come to visit him today and even remarked me the appearance of his visitors and then nominated my behavior with them. He sometime let me attend in some sessions, but in some others he said me that for instance if someone came, you should go and I knew my plan before and always this discipline was educational for me and I always have tried to use this discipline. Some of his hand writings since 70 years before, still have been preserved with me and all of them have been mentioned by day, month and year. If he gave someone a photo, he signed it with mentioned exact day. This discipline belongs to someone who lived approximately, 60 or 70 year ago, while perhaps this type of discipline has not been important. I entre in to another parts of my memories. When he wanted to explain a subject, he did that so exactly and within this time he looked at audience face and remarked the events have been occurred throughout this time. I was in presence him several times when he has explained and described “Lohe Mahfouz” for the masters of universities, priests and so on. I saw several times that, they have been wondered and dear uncle smiled them finely and continued his explanations. Sometimes he asked about audience’s understanding and said “If you know this subject?” and he continued after understanding. One of his particular properties was that, he allowed audiences ask questions. The other property from dear uncle I remember is his relationship with child in family. Personally, I have a lot of number memories about my dear uncle when he come Iran from Pakistan. We went his home and he came near children and tried to behave with us, puerility and played with us. He liked everyone attend around table during eating meal. These were very important. These attentions and relationships were so interesting and I have some images from all of these behaviors in my mind. He tried so much in order to happy us round table and these relationships were so strange. Maybe the others know less about these behaviors of Hafezian (RA), but I saw myself them. I remember an interesting memory from those days. People came to him in special days and talked about their problems. It should be emphasized that, he did not accept either money or gifts in order to write prayer. One day, when I was at his home as a servant, a woman came and she persevered to see Hafezian (RA). I said her, “you can tell me everything you want”. That woman gave me her prayer-mat and wanted me gave it to Hafezian (RA) to pray on it. You imagine one afternoon full of dates and there were a lot of works to do; I gave prayer-mat to him and he said me “go and say, Hafezian do not pray!” That was a joke and then master took it and prayed on it and after that I gave it to her. However, visitors had a lot of requests which they were interesting. I heard one person asked dear uncle that, “master, by this prayer which you write if will be this patient become well?” and I heard he responded that, “dear father, prayer is from us and cure is from God. Cure is nor our job.” It should be mentioned that, he paid attention to his family and friends. When the holly enshrines of Imam Reza has been installed and it has been completed after spending money and time, it has been inaugurated in 22th Bahman, in the year 1338 AH. At that time, his small daughter, Fatemeh, sank and died. He believed that, this was a God exam but when he came to our home and found that there is not fence around the pool. Then, he started to build fence around the pool because all of us were child and it was possible that, this event occurred for us. Another thing that I want to say is the first visit with Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khameni (the great leader), Ayatollah Vaez-Tabasi, the head of the Astan Quds Razavi Foundation, and Shahid Hashemi Nejad in his house, in the year 1348AH. It was evening that I saw these great men came to visit dear uncle and at that meeting, I remember that, Hafezian (RA) explained “Lohe Mahfouz” for them. It should be emphasized that, all meetings and dates were planed and everyone came with prior agreement. Another memory of dear uncle is about his journey to London in order to cure. When he and his wife came back from UK, gave me an album with beautiful photos from UK, particularly London. Sometimes when I did not anything to do, he recalled me and showed me some books from his personal librarianship and said “Take this book and look at it”. First time he showed me an encyclopedia with beautiful images from animals, buildings and so on. In the year 1992, I travel to India in order to participate in symposium which was hold at Delhi. One night we were invited by ambassador of Iran in India and there, some Iranian masters in Persian Language field have been invited. When I introduced myself, I saw them talking with each other and one of them asked me “what is your relationship with Hafezian Mashhadi (RA)?” and I replied him that he is my uncle. I remember that, one of them said to me “in the last history of India and Pakistan, the personality like Hafezian (RA) is scarce. He was one of the greatest men in this land”. He started to compliment of Hafezian (AR) and this was so interesting for me. However, India is a country of great men like Gandhi, Iqbal, Nahro and Muhammad Ali Jenah. I wrote in different diaries from others that they emphasized that Hafezian was a great man who has been respected by different people. Here, I want to start another important topic, Lohe Mahfouz. He said about his intention to work on Lohe Mahfouz that, “I went to India and I understood that there are different debates amond Muslims, Shia and Sunni, and Shia tried so much to talk about Imam Ali (AS) while they forgot that the Universe’s Candle is no one but great Islam Prophet, Muhammad (PBUH) and all Muslims should be gathered around him”. As a direct result of that and because of the importance of science of numbers, numerology, across the Indian subcontinent, he tried to make Lohe Mahfouz and was about Muhammad (PBUH) and was consisted of sobriquet, names and descriptions about Muhammad (PBUH) which have been described throughout narratives and verses. Hafezian (RA) not only thought about prevention from classification and sectioning of Muslims, different religions in Islam and other religions and but also, he tried to unite them. He as an aware human and true Muslim followed to unite different Islamic sects and because of that, he chose Muhammad (PBUH) at the center of Lohe Mahfouz as an Universe’s Candle. If you look at Lohe Mahfouz, you can see that, Muhammad (PBUH) has been mentioned as a last prophet of God and this book describes this subject and other his properties. He worked on it in order to unite Muslims, and truly this was an important issue for him and should be explained. Other memories about dear uncle are about his study. I remember that, when Dr. Ali Shariati was popular in society, Hafezian (RA) asked me about his books. He said that, do you either saw his books or have any books of him? I replied, yes. Then, he wanted me bring some of them, particularly Understanding of Islam, to him. All of those books have been studied by Hafezian (RA) and he perceived them, completely. There was a big theater group in Mashhad entitled “Part” which our group played worthy dramas such as Rain’s Vote of Ayataollah Seyed Muhammad Taqi Khansari. Many good and high level dramas have been played in that theater. I remember that, my theater friends interested in Hafezian (RA) visit and when I said this to dear uncle, he allowed me. Then, we chose a date to visit the master. Two of current actors, David kianian and Reza Kianian, followed me and also the famous poet, Mousavi Garmaroudi, was there. Its date goes back to years 1350 or 1351. At that time, Hafezian (RA) didn’t say, what work do we have with theater? He accepted us delightfully and my friends have been influenced by the master. The other memory refers to those days I have been arrested by SAVAK. My father reported this event to Hafezian (RA) and tried his best in order to free me. The other point referred to some of books which have been hidden in house and my father told it to dear uncle. He said my father, “collect all books of Kazim and bring them to my house” and father do this until I have been freed from prison. During those days, he gave my mother a prayer and wanted her to read every morning after pray until I will be free. These behaviors expressed that, he tried to calm down my family. He remarked on cultural Iranian’s behaviors that lived abroad. Hafezian (RA) remarked everything. I remembered that, Allamah Muhammad Reza Hakimi came to visit master and they had meetings with each other and I visited him for the first time at my uncle’s house. Iranians knew him about his effective prayers and they liked to get prayers from him and solve their problems, whenever he came to Iran. I witnessed their scientific meetings. For instance, I saw that, some of astronomy students of Mashhad University visited master and asked him some questions. The students of Shiraz University came to visit Hafezian (RA) with their masters and he talked for them about what everything they want, responded to their questions, delicately and even made them happy. He didn’t sit in judgment on people’s appearance and it has not been important for him either tiding or being breadless. This was so important for me. Since I went cinema, frequently, I suggest my father or someone else wanted him to mention me that, I should not go cinema. He asked me “do you go cinema, frequently?” and I replied him, yes dear uncle. Then he said “dear nephew, it should be better for you that spend more time to study”. This way of notification without irritation and punishment was so interesting for me. Someday, one of our relationships went to him and has talked about his bad life situation. While master knew that he didn’t pray, Hafezian (RA) asked him “do you pray”. He said him, you should say “Ya Vahhab”14times between Maghrib and Esha prayers and this will change your life. This person said me later, after this event he started to pray and until this time that he is 70 years old, he continues. When the master was in Mashhad, he went to National Park for walking every morning whenever it was a good weather. I usually went earlier and I studied around his way because if he saw me in this situation, he would persuade me, he gave me some chocolate and money and I was happy. He never said us for instance, Kazim you should go pray, first and then do your other works. By this example, not only I don’t want to say that, he didn’t emphasize on “To the famous and denying sins” but also, he emphasized on hygiene, cleanliness and doing duties and assignments. This was his way and style. He always emphasized on discipline and cleanliness and he persuaded us to good wearing. One day, he wanted me to guide someone who came to visit him. They came and I found them young, with long hairs like hippies, they wore jean and spoke English and Urdu. We found that, they came to pilgrimage of holly shrine and the authorities didn’t let them enter there. Hafezian (RA) called holly shrine and since they were Muslims and Shia, he requested to let them to pilgrimage. They were from London and they prayed in group. Some of friends and relationship mentioned and believed that Hafezian (RA) reached degree of “Tyalarz”. I have a memory from my father about this subject. My father said, people often requested him to inform them, whenever Hafezian (RA) come to Mashhad. My father accepted this request but they said that, we saw master last night. My father said that the master is in Pakistan and where did you see him? They replied that, they saw him in holly shrine and since he was prayed and was reading Quran, we didn’t disturb him. The other memory is about my acceptance in librarianship field at the University of Tehran. This field has been established at the year 1353 and I was of first entrances. I had to explain so much whenever I have been asked about my field, in Mashhad. Since this field had MA and PhD levels, I have not been persuaded. It was so interesting when my dear uncle found my educational field and not only he persuaded me but also, he offered me to continue that and advised me about its prominence position across the India and Pakistan. By researching and studying in my major I found that Indians did so many important works in this field. Librarianship is one of the most important educational fields across the Indian universities which it has been supported perfectly. It should be mentioned that, one of the most popular librarians around the world was from India who have owned special classification entitled “Shyly Ranganathan”. The master, Hafezian (RA), dominated on this educational field, exactly. He was welcomed by universities when he has been invited to explain Lohe Mahfouz. He had a good relationship with masters and students of universities. One day he visited two persons from Shiraz. They talked with each other, they asked him some questions and he replied them. They also wanted Hafezian (RA) speak about peculiar munificence of people, in India but he didn’t recognize its necessity. Then, he gave them a paper and wanted them to find something has been written on it. These two people got paper, looked at it but they didn’t find anything. Then, dear uncle said I wrote Ayatul kursi on the edge of paper. By using lens they look at it and found it. I thought he wanted to emphasize us that we shouldn’t look for metaphysical issues. There is something in this simple level that we must regard them. However, Hafezian (RA) had a good relationship with students and masters of universities and spoke for them about interesting subjects. I enter in to another my subject with the intention of my uncle’s family remarks it that, he had powerful poetry impression. He composed a lot of strong poems and many of them have been written by his hand writing. I have some of his poems in his hand writing. Two first lyrics of his poems about Lohe Mahfouz and numbers science are as follow:

I say you whose eye and heart are perspicacious;

If you look at my words you can see the words of God

What clamor is obvious in words land,

What clamor is in letters world

In other part, he also refers to this lyric that,

Come out from the nature’s well and go to love land

Look, there are thousands convoys to true way

Everywhere you are tired, it is the exact home

And where you sit, it is habitat

This poem is masterpiece. He has a poem about Lohe Mahfouz and I believe that, he was a great poet and I hope we can provide his poems as collection. I was studied at the presence of this master and my leanings have not been limited to his words. His behaviors, acts and attention to my problems, always appealed me as a young person and I was so eager how he responds me. For instance, one person gave him a beautiful painting. He looked at it carefully, persuade him and then if there is something to say, he criticized it delicately. Maybe this was peculiar because he was a religious man. Its date goes back to around 30 or 40 years before. If he wants to state something about effect, he must first look at it and didn’t remark any one’s idea. He respected his masters and this was so interesting for me. He has his master’s photo, Sheikh Hassan-Ali Nokhodaki (RA). The other photos belongs to Allama Seyed Mousa Zar Abadi and Imam Khomeini which has been painted on plate and even during asphyxia in the years 1340-1350, it was there and any one could not ask him any question about that photo . I have many memories from his showcase. I looked at those things within this showcase, carefully. Everything from medals to mementoes was there. There was also another photo which appealed me and belonged to Seyed Mousa Zar Abadi. Dear uncle respected him so much. I later red in his biography written by Muhammad Reza Hakimi that, master had a special view to Zar Abadi and his influences on future viewpoint of Hafezian (RA) have been mentioned at this book. Hafezian (RA) achieved his perception by Sheykh Mojtaba Qazvini and made a beautiful relationship and communication. Here, I want to talk about respect to teacher and master. In this field, my mother always made an example of his behavior with his mother (dear Bi Bi). I don’t forget when he came back to Mashhad, he first went to pilgrimage Imam Reza (AS) and then went to visit his mother. While she was alive, he went to her room and kissed her eyes and hands and influenced every one. I have been learned him to respect my mother. In the my last journey to Mashhad I had a meeting with encyclopedia foundation of Astan Quds Razavi and I saw Elahi Khorasani who explained a beautiful memory of my uncle. Here, I will narrate this memory for you in order to express this issue that, everyone who visited Hafzian (RA) had some immanent memories of him. He said “Hafezian (RA) permitted me to visit him without previous coordination. One day, a man came to him to get a prayer. Master wrote him prayer and said him give it to patient to eat. This man said master it is short. Could you please give me one Clone ? Hafezian (RA) responded him that, its size is not important. The man persisted on getting longer prayer and he said that his cow’s prayer is so longer. However, master wrapped some papers around that and gave it to him. When he went, master said to Elahi Khoasini that we have also such visitors but we have not any solution, we must bear and help them.” Khorasani said about my uncle that he was in a high position and people came to visit him and he accepted them delightful and solved their problems and helped them. I also witnessed his works during those times and it should be mentioned that, he did not get any fund or money and he covered his life expenses by merchandise. Another memory which it is necessary to say is that, one person in appearance like a religious man took one “Janat Alasma” and since he could not divide it to 19 parts, he divided it twenty pieces. This was easy to divide a circle in to 20 parts and then he divided “Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim” which has been consisted of 19 letters, in to 20 letters and arranged in this circle. I found one of its versions and showed to master. He studied it carefully and said do you know where he is? I said, yes I know. Then, he wanted me to bring him to master. He was like a religious man in appearance but I don’t know if he was or not. However, I visited this man and asked him about Hafezian (RA). He has been interested when he knew Hafezian (RA) is my uncle. However, I familiarized him with my uncle and Hafezian (RA) explained some issues for him, politely. When he saw this type of behavior of master, he have been ashamed of his work and left his house. I don’t know that, after this visit if he sold “Janat Alasma” or not but master always treated everyone did such works, by this style and guided them. He emphasized on this subject that drawing Loh is not every one’s work and introduced it as prayer to people. He believed that such a works needs sacrosanct heart and not only basically, prayer is necessary for it and every one cannot do that but also, it needs maters and religious men’s permission. However, human should be prayer always. Criticize and notify him and acceptance from this master are the other points of his life style should be explained. Hafezian (RA) spent a long period of his life time at India and Pakistan and there were some things which during those times did not come to Iran so he did not know their meanings. For instance, sometimes he wanted me go to post office and when I asked him how should I go he replied me if you have “bicycle”, you can go with it otherwise, go by “bus”. He used these foreign words while he did not know their Persian words. Using Urdu or English words during speaking did not mean that he wanted to show us off but just because of staying a long time abroad, India. It was so interesting for me. I asked him the meaning of these words such as bus and he explained me what it does mean and I also said him its meaning in Farsi. I mean that, not only he never became angry but also, he accepted our mentions. He listened his addressee’s talk and thanks them. When he prescribed someone or gave them prayer, he stated him/her accurately and then asked them “are you understood what you should do?” All of these styles were informative and instructor for me. He emphasized me that, each language you learn is of great importance; He said this sentence when I talked him about learning French. I thank God when I think about the great deal of things I have learned of this master. I hope be a worthy student and perform these behaviors throughout my life. One day, a person referred to him wanted to write something about himself that would be published as an encyclopedia. Hafezian (RA) said him, “if I write badly about myself, people will say he was crazy and if I write well it will be selfishness so, I cannot write about myself”. This man said master “if you do not do this work, I will write the sentence belongs to Allama Amini in front of your name, in that encyclopedia which is being essayed”. The master asked about sentence, pleasantly. The man responded his question and narrated that sentence belongs to Allama Amini, if you go to India and Pakistan you should go through the science’s gate. I said where is science’s gate? He said the house of Hafezian. There are such points about this master, Hafezian (RA), that have been narrated. I have a memory of my captivity by SAVAK because of Imam Khomeini’s manifesto spread. After being free, I went to my uncle’s house and he asked me about its cause. I responded him and talked about its causes. It was interesting that, he did not inhibit me but also, he said me take care yourself. The other important point is that, Hafezian (RA) never pretended in his behaviors and words. Every point that I remember are so clear. Undoubtedly, his religiousness was of greater religiousness. Religion practices were of great importance for him and he practiced his religion, carefully and never pretended. When there was something interesting for him, he smiled finely. Sometimes he talked for us about his peculiar memories of India and Pakistan. I know his family has recorded something, particularly Ziarat Ashura which is masterpiece. He also read some of his poems. He was so careful about prayers reading and I could sense this relation with all of my body when he read prayer. But unfortunately our religious society has not been advantaged of him because, not only he was not in Iran for a period of time but also, he did not accept every one. He should see much qualifications in someone to study him/her some important points. A point which has been asked me frequently is that, who is his student have been learned strange sciences. I don’t know. There was a tall, young Talabeh, religious student, who came to dear uncle and learned some lessons, for a period. I have not been allowed present there and it was a private class. I never found who was he but he had a special and frequent sessions. Another point about his aesthetic is that, I saw first beautiful photo albums at my uncle’s home. He gave me a beautiful album once, like contemporary albums, to look at it. It was full of Muslim’s mosques around the world. There were photos of mosques, nezamieh, Islamic schools and historical hosseinieh which more of them belonged to Middle East. I sat and saw them. Sometimes he companied me and saw them. Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized on Hafezian’s art impression, in his speech for artists and it exist in his web site. He, Ayatollah Khamenei, also mentioned to turquoise stones which have been designed and ordered by Hafezian (RA) and also installed by himself on all four sides of holly shrine of Imam Reza (SA). His artistic penchant was remarkable. There is a photo from dear uncle which it is so interesting because he as a religious man, who lived around 80 years before, wore sun glasses, shoes not “Nalein” and took a camera and visited different places and people and collected these photos. He liked photo so much. Mr. Sayyah, photographer from Mashhad, took beautiful photographs from different events and issues and brought them to Hafezian (RA). For instance, he had a full album from installation and construction of holly shrine, mourning ceremony of Muslims in India and Pakistan. When he came to Iran, he brought a lot of beautiful photos and gave people look at them. Some of them have been taken by him and the others have been provided by others. Here, I will end my memories of dear uncle, Hafezian (RA).