The Pigeon of Haram

Kabutar-e-Haram- Ahmad Abdollahzadeh- wrote to me through the Lisan Scratch Pad Blog, and suggested that I should have a look at his weblog [http://www.pigeonofharam.blogspot.com/], which I enthusiastically did and benefited as well. What pierced the depths of my heart is his brilliant epithet of being a pigeon of the Haram. By Haram (sanctuary) here he meant the Haram of Imam al-Ridha (‘a) in the holy precincts of Mashhad-Iran, whose brilliance can only be appreciated by those with receptivity. What was remarkable of him was that in his Persian weblog he said that he called himself a pigeon of haram if the Imam (‘a) did accept this title. These, I sincerely feel, must be the pure sentiments of a true lover who relatively understands the exalted character of Imam al-Ridha (‘a), and the privilege of being able to be called a kabutar-e-haram. I am transported here to my days in Qum when my family and I were pigeons of the haram as well. We had rented a small house near the haram of Hadhrat Ma’suma (‘a) in Qum, which once upon a time belonged to the author of Mafaatih al-Jinan, Shaykh ‘Abbas Qummi. So brilliant and serene was our stay in that house, that I feel that we have had no similar experience in our lifetime. It is in that house that I began the first volume of the book Manifestations of the All-Merciful. It took a very small period of time to complete the entire book, which in the beginning was in the form of an ezine called Horizons of Thoughts. Being a kabutar-e-haram is indeed recommended and highly advantageous, but being the haram itself has greater excellence. Living in the proximity of the harams and beholding the magnificent structures of monotheism must constantly inculcate in our beings the lesson of being a haram itself. The Holy Qur’an introduces a group of people whom the angels are attracted to. The angels are privileged to be the kabutars of their harams, which is their hearts. The Holy Qur’an says: Indeed those who say, “Our Lord is Allah!" and then remain steadfast, the angels always descend upon them, [saying,] "Do not fear, nor be grieved! Receive the good news of the paradise which you have been promised.”(41:30)