Rafsanjani’s Sermon, Split in the Leadership
Tehran Bureau / Dr Sahimi
17-Jul-2009 (one comment)

Although Rafsanjani delivered his two sermons seemingly in the framework of unifying the nation, it was unmistakeably highly critical of the hard-liners. Even when he was talking about unity among people, he was implicitly critical of the hard-liners. Practically everything that he said was contrary to the official propaganda; he even peppered his sermons with examples of how Prophet Muhammad and Imam Ali [Shiites’ first Imam and a highly revered figure] acted in times of crisis, to contrast them with how the hard-liners are handling things now.
He reminded the hard-liners of what the holy Quran said about Prophet Muhammad:
He [the Prophet] is one of you [the people]. He is so kind that if you feel any hardship, he suffers as well, and shares in your sadness and happiness. Another of his characteristics is that he is after protecting your interests and happiness, and has a heart full of kindness for the Muslim people.
This was seemingly a response to what the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in his June 19 Friday prayer sermon, when he warned, “If you [the people] demonstrate and get killed, you are responsible for your blood being spilled.” In another part of his first sermon, Rafsanjani said,
The Prophet dealt with injustice and oppression against people, [he did] not [use] power against them. It was due to this [behavior] that people were loyal to him and helped him run society and stood against the enemies [with him]. The import... >>>

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Fred

Let go of this nightmare

by Fred on Fri Jul 17, 2009 05:52 PM PDT

 A copy of this almost line by line extrapolation of Rafsanjani speech should be sent to Rafsanjani. There are many examples but in this passage the essay writer does a twofer.  First the history is rewritten in regards to the fourth Caliph. Then the essayist has Rafsanjani “implicitly” comparing the made up story of the essayist to Khamenei who is holding all the levers of powers.  Even the made up history does not make sense in this situation.

The one who “people did not want” left the people alone when he had NO power to do otherwise. Whereas the one who is holding all the power, Khamenei, should follow the example of the one who did not have any power to give up?

What if a Khamenei crony cites historical incident after incident of how the fourth Caliph responded to his detractors once in power? Detractors like the Prophet’s favorite wife and many other ones.  Then wouldn’t Mr. Khamenei who is being advised to follow the fourth Khalif’s lead be in the clear?

Isn’t it time to stop analyzing and spinning everything through the religious angel, a made up one at that? For the sake of earthly power hasn’t enough damage been caused to people’s belief?

This Islamist cutthroats republic is a goner, it is time for Islamists to let go of this nightmare.

 

Here is the essayist’s passage:

“Also, by reminding the hard-liners that when people did not want Imam Ali to govern them after the Prophet, he stayed home for 19 years and did not intervene in politics, he implicitly told Ayatollah Khamenei (without naming him) that, “If people do not want you, leave them alone.” This is particularly important in the view of the fact that the hard-liners refer to Ayatollah Khamenei as “the era’s Ali,” meaning that he acts according to Imam Ali’s teachings and life.”


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