By: Masroor Abbas Ansari
Why does everything change with time? Why do we lose what we had gained? Why do
we gain what we had never aspired for? Why our lives keep on changing while we
trod towards unseen destination? Why for a while everything lost its meaning?
And why next moment we cry for the moment we have lost? Why is it that the
time, which will never come back and has remained just a memory, now, haunts
us? Destinations, paths, companions, everything has changed with the stroke of
time. Time itself has changed. The companions of yesteryears have become
strangers. But the only thing which has not changed are the goals we had set
together. The approach to pursue these goals have probably changed but they
have not have lost their meaning. The dreams we had seen have not lost their
essence yet. It seems that life has come to a different station from where we
will have to trek different undreamt paths for reaching the same goals we had
set forth. The journey of life is analogous to the student life, full of
challenges and uncertainties but still hopeful of being victorious.
College and University life is the best part of every student, so was mine
especially as the talabe (student of Hauza Ilmia Qom). The journey of Hauza
Ilmia (religious Seminary) was full of experiences and memorable moments. It
was Madrasa Hindia from where my Talabe life started, then contuinued in
Madrasa Sadook, Hujatia, Khatam-un-Nabiyeen and after all in the Imam Khomeini
Seminary (Jamia Aalimiya Al Mustafa).
It is the loss of precious things that makes you sad. Infact life has changed a
lot. The transformation from the life of a real "Talabe" to the
present one is like the shift from one world to the other. Now I find myself
alone amid crowd. While I invite myself for the self-introspection, I wondered
what I gained and what I lost after my Qom life. I gained degrees and a lot of
experience that will help me throughout my life. I lost some precious moments,
which will never comeback. The moments I had spent in the classes attending
lectures. The occasions I went to the holy shrine of Blessed Lady Hazrat Fatema
Mæ'sumeh (AS) and the Jamkaran Mosque. Time of Dua Tawasul on Tuesday nights,
Dua Kumail of Thursday nights, Dua Nudba of Friday mornings. Now I really miss
the Prayers behind Late Ayatullah Behjat, Sermons on Ethics by Late Ayatullah
Mishkeeni, Philosophical lectures by Ayatullah Misbah Yezdi, the saga of
revolution by Agai Panahiyaan. I have lost the time I shared with my friends
and colleagues.
I miss time that I spent along with my classmates in organizing those debates,
presentations, events, etc. The every bit of moment I spent with my colleagues
in those events will remain with me forever.
Our faculty of “Philosophy & Kalam” is our role model which inspired us
with all the qualities necessary for being a successful preacher, orator and
above all the successful man in life.
Vacational tours to rest of Iran will be among other events which added to my
experience and exposure. I miss the most those days when we collectively
protested against the attrocities of Indian forces in Kashmir. Whether it be
the dusty Hill tops of Southern Khozistan or the blue coasts of Caspian sea in
the North, Kashmiris were bound to protest and show solidarity with their
brethern in homeland. In every vacational tour the authorities had the apprehensions
of some unique kind of protest from us. Especially I cannot forget the day long
function in honor of the Kashmiri delegates who had come from different
countries to participate in the OIC Summit in Tehran. It was the first Kashmiri
student function to be organized in the convocation hall of Islamic propogation
Centre of Qom. We had made special arrangements for function which were
appreciated well by the guests. Apart from other things, the protests had
resulted in the reviving and honouring of Kashmiri students unique identity by
the authorities in Houza after long years.
In our meetings we had dreamt of forming a Socio-political union. We had dreamt
of making it a platform for the intellectual debate and student activism in Qom
and the centre for propogation and preaching in Kashmir. But afterwards we lost
the dream and Union came to an end. But the protests, activism and all that
process of reviving the dead Union will always remain in my memories.
Apart from these reminiscences, the day to day life of Hauza also has many
unforgettable memories. The entire city of Qom with its centre – the holy
shrine of Sayyida Fatema Ma'suma – always remains before my eyes. From 72 Tan
square to Zambilabad, every area reminds me of the days when I was pursuing
studies. The streets of Safayia & the Salaria, the Bazar & the Guzar
Khan, the Motthari square, the Char Mardum, the Neerugah and all still share
memorable moments with me. Playing cricket at Zambilabad and Footbal in a park
at Al Hadi Square are among them. Infact the quiet and still environment of the
Mariashi library, Islamic propogation office library, Imam Khomeini library
will always obsess me in the noisy and raucous atmosphere of present day life.
Events come and go, leaving an impact on the minds of people. The memories keep
on adding new flavor and taste in our lives. But we should always be ready to
face the life head on without losing balance and confidence. With every passing
moment life is adding new alternatives, ways and means of survival. I think Qom
Seminary life has equipped us enough to make our own ways from now onwards. We
have set new goals, new dreams, and a new destination. But still we are looking
for the companions that will remain with us till next stage. At the same time I
hope we will not lose contact with the friends we earned in our Qom life.
I am thankful to my teachers, friends and classmates for sharing those
memorable and unforgettable moments with me. God Bless you all. I don’t know
whether it is an end or just a beginning but I will forever miss the Houza
Ilmia Qom.
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