Memoirs of Marzieh Hadidchi (Dabbagh) (Part 37)

2018-4-17

Memoirs of Marzieh Hadidchi (Dabbagh) (Part 37)

Edited by: Mohsen Kazemi

Tehran, Sooreh Mehr Publications Company

‎2002 (Persian Version)‎

Translated by: Zahra Hosseinian

One day after performing my prayer, while I had sat beside prayer rug and thought about past and what was happening, suddenly I heard the clink of tea glass and its saucer from kitchen. I rushed to the kitchen. I saw Imam himself poured out tea and put the glass in a tray to take into room. "Sir, why you, I said. He replied, "I wanted to help my wife." And I got the tray and took it into the room.

When Imam was walking from 9:00 to 9:20am on the balcony, although the local police building located on the opposite side, but I was not at my ease and worried about him. Therefore, I tried to stay under the balcony and keep a watchful eye on him, in a way that he did not discover. It seems that Imam once saw my shadow and realized my purpose and its reason. So he called me and said, "Sister Tahereh! I'm not pleased you bother yourself, the police are there and that’s enough. And it’ll happen whatever God wants." I said, "But I’m worried and I don’t trust in police. I should myself watch out for you here to be at ease."

A Glance to Imam’s Life

The whole lifestyle of Imam was (and is) a good model of life for us. He had a holistic view and paid so attention to everything that you couldn't believe.

As I said earlier, shopping for house was my duty; every day I provided a list of provisions and what Imam needed and went for shopping. I took a sum of petty cash from Imam in this order and I settled the previous sums.

Once I went to see Imam to clear and settle the account. When I added up the numbers and told Imam the total sum, he asked, "Didn’t you make a mistake?" Again I began to add up and subtract, and then I replied, "No, it's correct." Imam kept silent and did not say anything. When finished my shopping, I found out that I have extra money. I recalculated and discovered that I have made a mistake and have 81 francs more. In fact I calculated 9 francs for 90 francs. I went to Imam’s room and acknowledged, "Sir! I’ve made a mistake and I have some extra francs!" Imam said, "I found out then, but I wanted that you yourself figured it out."[1]

A delicate big moral lesson had been hidden in this Imam Khomeini’s behaviours. If he would insist on my wrong at the outset, I would feel that no one trusted in me at this house, and as a result I was discouraged. But when Imam had such a confrontation while he was sure I have made a mistake, I found that Imam Khomeini trusted a great deal in me, and how this trust and relationship is sincerely. Due to these behaviors and on the claim of many friends, I enjoyed self-confidence that was known for them

In the first days of my arrival in Imam's house, one of my tasks was opening letters which were sent for Imam from all over the world. Imam spent some time to read them and even responded to some. Due to the large volume of letters and mails, any kind of danger would be probable, and I went in fear of Imam’s life. Therefore, I first opened the letters in the kitchen skillfully and then gave them to Imam, so that he was not injured in the event of a possible risk.

One day, Imam entered the kitchen and saw me while I was opening the letters. "Sister Tahereh! I'm not willing you to do this!" he said. I did not understand him at first. I thought that he was inconvenienced and did not want me to see the letters. So, I said: "Sir! By God I don’t look at their content. I only open envelops for security reasons and then bring the letters for you." He said, "Not for this reason, I say if it’s risky for me, it’s also risky for you. So, why you will be at risk." I said that a nation is waiting for you. He said: "You also have eight children who are waiting for you in Iran." I explained that I had trained and had skills, so I was less at risk. "Spend an hour and train me too", Imam said.

This behavior of Imam was a kind of sympathy. It showed that he did not differentiate between himself and others, and he saw himself as them not higher and superior. He appreciated other's life as much his.

Regarding the press or even television interviews, Imam allowed visiting without asking whether the reporter is man or woman. And according to his fatwa, there was no need for other women to wear Hijab. One day a black woman came to Neauphle-le-Château and insisted on seeing Imam the same day. She strongly insisted on his will and finally she was able to visit Imam. Imam Khomeini asked the interpreter to ask her that who was she, where she had come from, and why she insisted on seeing him the same day. The black lady had replied, ‘I’ve come from Africa. After studying your story, I sold everything I had, such as my bangles, silver earrings, and clothes, to provide some money to be able to buy a round-trip ticket and come to visit you. If I wanted to allow me to see you today, it wasn’t that you think I'm a beggar; I have family and husband, but I‘ve just bought a round-trip ticket and have no money to spent even one night here. So, I have to go back to the Paris as soon as possible to return to my country by flight [tonight]. My only purpose of this trip was visiting you; I thought that seeing you is like seeing Jesus Christ. I always pondered that what would I do if I lived during the time of Jesus Christ and saw him? I realized now that you are working for religion. I am glad that I could see you closely.’

Imam Khomeini also told her a few words of Jesus Christ and several words of Islam. Then he told his son, Ahmad, to give her some dollars, so that if she missed her flight, she had some money for returning.

When the black woman came out of the room, she was tearful. I asked the interpreter why she was crying. After inquiry, the interpreter said that the woman said, "I feel that I’ve made a great mistake, because in addition to not knowing the Christ, I’ve not also known the Prophet after him. Now ayatollah Khomeini offered me to study the Prophet Mohammad’s life. I feel that I’ve been very interested in Prophet Muhammad and he will guide me to good ways."[2]

To be continued…