Marginal Notes on Shab-haye Balehroon – 2 / My Life Began in Shalamcheh

On the night of Balehroon at the Shalamcheh memorial, where hearts and minds are drawn toward God and the martyrs of the revolution and the Sacred Defense, Haj Hossein Yekta elevated the spiritual atmosphere of this place with his words. On this night, a group of pilgrims, filled with passion and enthusiasm, were deeply moved by his speech, and their hearts and souls underwent a profound transformation.

He spoke about the spiritual qualities of the martyrs, saying: “Pray, my friends, that we may become martyrs! The Imam’s prayer was answered, and he took the children to martyrdom. Martyrdom means becoming one with God, and as Haj Qasim said, ‘No one becomes a martyr unless they are already a martyr.’ This means that no one becomes one with God unless they are already one with Him.” With these words, Haj Hossein directed hearts toward the memory of the martyrs and the spirit of martyrdom. He explained that the martyrs not only sacrificed their lives for God and the revolution, but every action of theirs, even every moment of their lives, was for the sake of God’s satisfaction.

Referring to martyrs like Martyr Ali Chitsazian, who, on the night of the operation, lined up the children and told them that each of them must fire their magazine for God, Haj Hossein emphasized the truth that the martyrs of this land engaged in jihad in every aspect of their lives. “Martyr Abbasali Faiz, instead of resting during the nights of operations, would hold classes on Tawhid (monotheism). The martyrs were in a state of jihad in every moment of their lives.”

However, the story of Martyr Hamidreza Jafarzadeh, who searched for a magnifying glass to find signs of God, illustrates the depth of connection these great men had with God. “Martyr Hamidreza Jafarzadeh would recite Surah An-Naml with tears in his eyes and find joy in God.” This statement deeply resonated with the audience, guiding their hearts toward God and self-improvement.

Haj Hossein, by recalling the boundless love of the martyrs for God, urged the audience to feel the presence of God in their lives, just as the martyrs dedicated themselves to Him in the most challenging circumstances. “Have you ever fallen in love with God? Martyr Majid Pazooki used to say that people are of three kinds: raw, cooked, and burnt. The burnt ones are those who have reached a level of love for God where they see something in this love that others cannot comprehend.”

On this night of Balehroon, Haj Hossein, with heartfelt words, asked the audience to say “yes” to the martyrs. “You who are here, you are seated in the presence of God. The martyrs unveil themselves to you; every tear of yours is a pearl shed in the presence of the martyrs.” He said that every tear shed on this night is a reminder of the promises the martyrs made to God and how they sacrificed their lives for His cause and their ideals.

One of the special moments of this night was when Haj Hossein spoke about the martyrs and their ethical behavior. “The martyrs were careful in every detail of their lives. I remembered Martyr Abdolhossein Borounsi, who was cautious about his gaze, and even Martyr Ali Rahnemon, who would dye his hands with henna so that no stranger would look at them.”

On this night, when the sky of Shalamcheh was filled with prayers and tears, Haj Hossein urged the youth to take care of themselves and their lives, learning lessons of sacrifice and devotion from the martyrs of this land. “You must live like the martyrs; you must pay attention to everything that draws you toward God and the path of truth.”

This night of Balehroon in Shalamcheh, where hearts found themselves in an atmosphere filled with the memory of the martyrs, was an opportunity to start a new life with decisive choices. The luminous crescent of hearts shone brightly toward the noble martyrs on this night filled with prayers and tears. In truth, all those present here, in the depths of the night, said “yes” to the path the martyrs walked, to the love in which the martyrs burned, and to the truth that will never fade from history.

Reported by Selva Shirazi Moghaddam.