The Virtue of Assemblies of Remembrance

Extracted from the book Bab-e-Velayat va Rah-e-Hedayat
Written by Haj Sayyed Hebatollah Jazbi Esfahani (Sabit Ali)

The gatherings of remembrance and Sufi assemblies are like a garden from the gardens of paradise, illuminating the heavens, bringing blessings, expansion, and mercy to the earth, delighting the elders, and beloved by the faithful. If we are fortunate enough to attend these gatherings, we must be grateful, fully attentive to the Truth, and mindful, removing worldly thoughts from ourselves and dedicating the house of the heart exclusively to the Truth, so that we may be graced by divine favor and attain insight and vision.

And let us strive not to be heedless, but to engage in remembrance, contemplation, and the recollection of the Truth. Because satan and his troops, equipped with all means, seek to mislead humanity and act as robbers of the path. He declared: فَبِعِزَّتِكَ لَأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ إِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُخْلَصِينَ ("By Your might, I will surely mislead them all, except Your chosen servants among them.") (Quran, 38:82 and 38:83). They exert their utmost effort through every means to divert people from the remembrance of God. This is the field of struggle and striving, and if the grace and favor of the Truth are not bestowed upon us, we will not overcome Satan and his troops, nor will we benefit from the blessings of such gatherings. In our hearts, we must desire nothing from God except God Himself, and remove worldly desires, which are of no significance, from ourselves.

And let us occupy the heart, and indeed all the limbs, with the remembrance of God, as Sheikh Saadi says:

The greatest veil is self-conceit and egoism; until this veil is torn, insight and vision will not be attained. And the Master of Masters, Imam Ali (peace be upon him), says in the supplication of Kumayl: لا يُنالُ ذلِكَ اِلاّ بِفَضْلِكَ وَ كَرَمِكَ ("This cannot be attained except through Your grace and generosity."). We hope, through the grace of the Truth and the attention of the saints of the Truth, to benefit from the blessings of such gatherings, as the happiness of this world and the hereafter and the rectification of all external and internal matters come from the blessings of these assemblies. As it has been said: تَفَکُّرُ ساعَةٍ خَیرٌ مِنْ عِبادَةِ سَبْعَیْنَ سَنَةً ("Contemplation for an hour is better than seventy years of worship."), where the meaning of contemplation is to be in remembrance of the Truth and to forget oneself.

The sacred assembly of remembrance is favored by the Almighty and cherished by the prophets, saints, and angels. Angels surround the gathering of remembrance and pray for and seek forgiveness for its participants. The souls of the faithful, who are connected to this realm of nature, envy the presence in such gatherings—especially when the assembly is convened in the honored name of one of the greatest saints. We beseech the Truth to bless us with support and success so that we may recognize the value of these gatherings, not be distracted by heedlessness or worldly thoughts, and always remain mindful and attentive to the Truth, thereby not being deprived of the blessings of the assembly of remembrance. As it has been said: الذِّكرُ طاعةٌ والغفلةُ مَعصية ("Remembrance is obedience, and heedlessness is disobedience."). Every moment spent in remembrance of the Truth is worship, and every moment spent in heedlessness is sin.

Religious gatherings should solely be for the remembrance of God, reflection, and seeking intercession through the great figures of religion and the pure souls of those noble beings. Worldly aims and material matters must not be involved; indeed, our elders have forbidden discussing worldly affairs in religious gatherings, which should be exclusively for the remembrance of God. They have even prohibited buying and selling in mosques. Of course, engaging in worldly work and participating in worldly gatherings has not been discouraged; rather, it is praised—even deemed obligatory—when done in obedience to God's commands and in His remembrance. However, gatherings specifically dedicated to the remembrance of God and intercession, known as circles of remembrance, are considered gardens from the gardens of paradise, where the purified souls of prophets and saints, peace be upon them, are present. Moreover, the master of guardianship, the guide of the time, and the guardian of affairs are present and observing in such gatherings. Therefore, one must refrain from contaminating oneself with worldly matters, which are insignificant and unworthy of attention. Since God is free from any need for partners, He rejects any worship tainted with material motives. Similarly, gatherings mixed with worldly aims will lack blessings and rewards.

Our elders and leaders, the immaculate Imams (peace and blessings be upon them), after the tragedy of Karbala, sought to ensure the presence of religious gatherings that remained free from worldly discussions. To achieve this, they emphasized the remembrance of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), which stands as the most heart-wrenching event in history. They instructed their followers and the faithful never to neglect recalling the tribulations of Hussein (peace be upon him), to gather together, and to reflect upon the injustice inflicted upon that noble figure. This directive encompassed political, social, and religious purposes, aiming to encourage believers to emulate their actions, sacrifices, and willingness to give up wealth and life for higher ideals. Additionally, these gatherings were meant to divert attention from worldly matters, connect the soul to the celestial realm, and reestablish the soul’s connection to its true, spiritual origin. This guidance, stemming from such profound intentions, fostered the prevalence of religious fervor and deep love for the great figures of faith among the Shi’a community. It became customary to gather and celebrate the births and observe the mourning of the deaths of these spiritual leaders, engaging in remembrance of God through recounting their virtues and tribulations. On days of birth, festivities were held, while on days of passing, mourning rituals were observed. Prominent mystics ('Urafa') throughout history followed this noble tradition, diligently hosting commemorations and sometimes celebrating the births of the guiding Imams (peace be upon them). Among them was the late Sultan al-Awliya, Hazrat Shaheed (may his resting place be sanctified), who exerted extraordinary effort in this regard. Throughout the year, he held assemblies to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him). Those blessed to have witnessed his gatherings attest to his profound grief and frequent weeping during such occasions. In particular, on days like Ashura and the twenty-first of Ramadan, he would experience spiritual upheaval and transformation. As mentioned earlier, we must understand the intent behind these gatherings and grasp their essential purpose. We should deepen our state of intercession and remembrance, seek blessings from the source of all grace, and appreciate the blessings bestowed upon us. Furthermore, we should ask God to preserve our ability to express gratitude and to continue the blessing of the existence of the Guardian of the Age and the guide of our time (may our souls be sacrificed for him). Let us beseech the Almighty for the continuation of this divine blessing.

When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, departed from this world, his physical presence was lost to humanity. However, his spirituality and essence remained, manifesting in the blessed being of the Master of Masters, Imam Ali (peace be upon him). This divine grace is eternal and cannot be severed; it continues to manifest in every era. Today, it shines forth in the sacred existence of the Imam of the Age, Hazrat Hujjat ibn al-Hasan (may Allah hasten his reappearance), and the rays of his light are evident in the presence of the saints of the Truth. We beseech God to illuminate both our physical and spiritual sight with the vision of his blessed countenance. Mawlavi (Rumi), may mercy be upon him, has said: