Grand Ayatullah Muhammad Taqi Behjat was born into a pious
family in 1915 A.D. in Fuman, Iran and died in 2009 in Qum, Iran. When his
father was about 17 years old, he fell sick and was in a critical condition,
when the people around him heard a voice saying: “Do not worry; he will be fine because he will be the father of
Muhammad Taqi!” He survived the sickness, got married and the Ayatullah was
born. His father was a reciter of “Marsiyas” and would take the young Taqi with
him to the recitals thus inculcating a deep love for Imam Hussayn (a.s.)
After completing his primary education, he moved to
Karbala, Iraq. After 4 years, he move to the world renown Seminary at Najaf al-Ashraf, Iraq where he received religious
education from renowned scholars like Ayatullah Isphani, Ayatullah Na’ini,
Ayatullah Taqi Shirazi, Ayatullah Hasan Badkubeyi, and Ayatullah Ali Qazi
Tabatabai. After 15 years, he returned to Qum where he was in the company of
Ayatullah Khomeini and Ayatullah Gulpaegani and others. He was a student of Ayatullah
Burujerdi.
Piety and Self-building:
From his youth, Agha Behjat was constantly engaged in self-purification and
self-building. He thought that ethical purity (Akhlaq) and knowledge (Ilm)
always go hand in hand. He advised the students to read and practice at least
one hadees on “Jihad fil Nafs” in Wasail-alShia by Shaykh Hur al-Amili. A great
Mujtahid has said that Agha Bejat was a true essence and manifestation of
Taqwa! As per his students, Agha Behjat
never wasted a moment of his time
and would not attend a vain gathering. He was extremely reserved and would
not reveal anything about himself especially about the special favors and
extraordinary spiritual powers that Allah has granted him.
Asceticism and
Simple Life Style: The close servants of Allah look at the reality of this
world. By foregoing material comforts, they attain spiritual strength and soar
in the illuminated heights of proximity to Allah. Agha Behjat was one of such
“Aulias” and lived a simple life. He lived in a rented two room apartment, one
of which was used to teach students.
Worship: He
led prayers in the Fatimiya Mosque and the people who had prayed behind him
said that it was a unique and spiritually uplifting experience. High ranking scholars including Ayatullah
Tabatabai’ used to attend his congregations.
As soon as he starts the prayer, tears would trickle from his eyes and
frequently he had to pause because his voice would choke with emotions. He
never missed his late night prayers (Namz-e-Shab), especially the night
preceding Fridays.
Ziarat and
Tawassul: Despite his advance years, Agha Behjat’s routine remained
unchanged. Every morning at 7 A.M., he would present himself at the Holy Shrine
of Lady Fatima Masouma (S.A.) to pay his respects and recite Ziarat-e-Asoorah
of Imam Hussayn (a.s.). While in
Najaf al-Ashraf, he would visit Masjid-e-Sahlah and spent the whole nights
all alone worshiping and contemplating.
Humbleness:
One of his noticeable traits was his humbleness and simplicity, despite his
fame and status as the leading contemporary scholar and jurist. For many years
he refused to print his religious edicts (Tauzih al Masa’il) and he only agreed
after much pressure. When he was scheduled to lecture, he requested that his
name may not be mentioned as a speaker.
Mystical wayfaring
and Spiritual Station: Agha Behjat had many decades of experience in
mystical wayfaring, the special journey through established stations that the
soul undertakes to attain proximity with Allah. He was an outstanding pupil
of the Great Master Ayatullah Sayyid Ali Qazi Tabatabai’. Even as a youth
he had passed many stations of spiritual path. Immediately after the Revolution, Ayatullah Khomeini visited Agha
Behjat. Similarly, when Ayatullah Khamene’i assumed the position of “Rahbar”,
he first came to see Agha Behjat.
Awareness of
Unseen (Ghayb) and Wondrous Acts (Kamalat): Agha Behjat had reached that
station where he frequently witnessed the events that occur in the “Unseen
World”. He used to recite “al-Sattaar” meaning The Concealer. He would recite
this name of Allah constantly. Ayatullah
Misbah Yazdi said: “It seems that he was at the level where he witnessed many
things from Ghayb. Often he was aware of the real nature and inner secrets of
those who sit around him, and he invoked Allah who is the Concealer of the
defects-al-Sattaar al-Uyoob, so that the secrets of the people sitting around
him may be concealed from him.”
Servants of Allah who are close to Him, in their
humbleness they do not display or do anything so as to avoid the slightest
trace of pride in their personalities and in return Allah grants even more
insights and status. For example, when Ayatullah Khomeini was in exile in
Turkey some of his supporters were arrested by the Shah’s government. One of
such detainees was Agha Jannati, when it was brought to Agha Behjat’s
attention, he said: “Insha Allah, soon you will inform me of his release!”
Similarly, one of his student’s wife was expecting a baby; and Agha Behjat
said: “In this month you will be blessed with a baby boy, name him Muhammad
Hassan”
Words of Wisdom of
Agha Behjat: In reply to a question about “Riya” or “show off”, Agha Behjat
said: “Riya is relevant only in acts of worship (Ibada) and it is a sin which
makes the Ibada void.
In reply to a question about lack of pleasure and
satisfaction in prayers, Agha Behjat said: “One
should completely abstain from sins,
and do not blacken your heart with the disobedience of Allah. He should prepare
a barrier around his heart so that no other thought other than Allah may enter
the heart. In order to achieve that one should control his five senses during
the day and be careful about what he allows himself to see, hear, and eat etc.”
In reply to another question, Agha Behjat said: “Make a firm resolve that your knowledge
and actions are harmonious.” Regarding the people who preach but do not
practice, Agha Behjat said: “An Alim who
does not act on his knowledge is like a candle that illuminates the path for
others but itself burs away.”
Other sayings of
Agha Behjat: Namaaz (prayer) symbolizes the Ka’aba, the “takbir-atul-Ihram”
stands for casting everything other than Allah and entering his sanctuary. The
Qiyam represents a conversation between two friends. The Ruku’ symbolizes the
bowing of a slave in front of his Master and Sajdah is the ultimate display of
lowness, humility and helplessness in front of the Master. And when the slave
returns from such a namaz, the souvenir he brings back is the greetings of
peace (Salaam) from his Lord.
Control your
tongue and maintain silence, we must spend 23 hours of the day in contemplating
and thought.
Constantly
remember Allah and recite “Zikr” so that one perceives himself in the presence
of Allah.
To combat “Waswasah”
perform “Tahlil” which is the Zikr – “La Ilaha Illalah”?
Consider one’s own
virtues as insignificant while regarding highly the good deeds of others.
Continually ask yourself if my attitude, conduct, speech
and action would please The
Imam-e-Zamanah.
Dua’a governs the outcome of every stage of our life.
Your ultimate goal should be The Proximity of Allah.
Sources used:
Shaikh Abbas Jaffer Islamic-Laws.com
WIKIPEDIA
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