In the name of Allah, the Compassionate the Merciful

Vigilance of the Shia's Religious Authority
(Late Grand Ayatollah Fazel Lankarani)

On August 12 2007, we came to know through the media an individual named "Irfaniyan" who had claimed that he was in contact with Imam Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance). He had spread many lies and accusations causing many people to be misled. The news reminded me of 5 individuals whom he had been sent from Tehran to Qom five years ago. Unfortunately, one of those people was an old clergyman while the others were ordinary businessmen and market people. One day evening, they came over to our office saying that they wanted to meet the grand Ayatollah. They said that they wanted to talk to him about an important and very serious issue. I told them that he was not coming to the office in the evening (he used to come to the office regularly in morning times for two hours even in summer seasons). Finally, I asked these people as to what the matter was.

They refused to say anything in the beginning because they told me that the matter was very urgent and highly confidential. Thereupon, I firmly told them that if you have anything to say, say it here otherwise you can leave the office.

After a short consultation they said: We have come here to convey the message of a person named Irfaniyan who is living in Tehran and who offers his prayers behind the Imam of Time (Imam Mahdi) in all the three times. The Imam has ordered him to deliver a message to Fazel Lankarani. They said that the Imam had also sent a message to another Marja who, as they claimed, had received the message and listened to them with full attention.

I asked them if they could tell me the message. Then they showed me a Farsi letter written in very bad handwriting. The letter bore: "Mr. …, why do you oppose my mother? You should desist from the fatwa that forbids reciting the testimony of Hazrat Zahra in prayer."

Before hearing anything from them, I asked them: "Why has the Imam written his message in Farsi? And why is the handwriting so bad?"

Apparently, there were some grammatical errors in those few short passages. However, having gone through the letter, I looked at the old clergyman and asked him: "One who has studied in the Islamic seminary must not believe in such false statements; why do you believe in them?"

He said: "This person is different from other claimers of seeing the Imam. Actually, he is not seeking reputation or any worldly status and …"

I told him: "Haven't you read that Imam Mahdi (a.s.) told his fourth deputy that no one will see me after you and whoever claims that he has seen me, he is a liar and reject him outright. Do I have to accept the Imam's saying or what this man says?"

The old man could not say anything in answer. He said: "You are unaware of many facts. If you deliver this message to your father, great facts will be revealed to you. You have no information about your father's special relation with the Imam of Time!!!"

Facing me, one of those people said: "Sorry sir, but do you remember me?"

I said: "No."

He said: "I used to read Ma'alim with you in 1361 (of the Islamic solar year). I was a student of religion then and you had sound beliefs at that time, why do you speak like this now?"

I was surprised to hear him say that, but I told him that if then he had not gone out of the Islamic seminary and studied well, he would not fall in that trap. However, after exchanging a few words with them, they said: "Do not tell this to anyone other than your father and let us know what he says about it."

They said that the message is that that Imam of Time (a.s.) had said to Mr. Irfaniyan to send his greetings to Fazel Lankarani and tell him keep remembering the stormy night!!!

I told them that I would deliver him the message and get them the answer by the noon of the next day.

When I visited my late father (may Allah be pleased with him) the next day and told him about the matter, he became very sad and said, "Why are some people trying to play with the belief in Imam of Time (Imam al-Zaman)? Why do they want to misuse people's belief in him?"

Basically he was opposed to the pseudo and vulgar claims which have been on the increase recently; he believed that such actions would destroy the very base of Islam.

In response, my father said: "First of all, advise them and tell that Irfaniyan, whom I have not seen yet, is a liar and a slanderer. Get out of his trap and do not be deceived by him." He further added: "Tell them that I have had many stormy nights in my life and I have no particular memory about them."

When I conveyed them the answer, unfortunately, they told me in response: "We were of the belief that he is in precise divine communion but now it seems to us that he is weak in this regard."

It is a matter of pity to see how these people have been brainwashed and made to behave in such a rude manner with a religious authority whom we believe to be the successor of the Imam of Time.

Time passed until one day the former intelligence minister, Hojjatul Islam Yonusi visited my father.

My father said to him: "Why is no action taken against the individual who play with the beliefs and good faith of the people? Why don't you take social security seriously? Security is not considered to be in external issues only." Then his eminence talked to the minister about the said people and the minister promised that he would follow up the case.

After sometime, the intelligence minister met my father again. He informed his eminence about the depth of the problem, the realities that had been unveiled, the individuals who were misled, the lies that had been told and the false attributes that had been ascribed to the Imam of Time. There were also some old clerics with them who were visible in the pictures which I saw from them later. They had worn Ihram garments and made a Ka'abah on the desert between Tehran and Karaj. Irfaniyan told them that Imam Zaman had ordered them not to go to Saudi Arabia for Hajj. They were ordered to go to Karaj and perform circumambulation there.

Thanks to God that in the offices of the dignified religious authorities, such matters are discovered and aborted. Certainly, we have observed closely how this great and vigilant Marja fought superstitions and deviations. I remember many other instances of his vigilance which I will write in a suitable opportunity.

Muhammad Jawad Fazel Lankarani
15/Aug/2005