I entered and said that a number of the families of martyrs...

I entered and said that a number of the families of martyrs want to come and kiss your hand. Imam came and sat. The people who were there lined up so that they could kiss the Imam’s hand. In this state, they were crying and would not pass after seeing the Imam. We were really ashamed that this inconvenience had been created for him, and that there was an interruption between his prayers. Upset, we finally decided to tell them to pass through.

At one point, Imam turned to me cheerfully and said: “How are you? No, allow them to be.”[^4] Hujjatul Islam Karubi His special attention to Ayatullah Khamenei * * As per his extreme order and discipline in his work, after the summary of the news, Imam appointed 8 o’clock in the morning for office work and stamping bills. He never changed this timetable.

Even on those days that occasionally, because of slight illness or intense cold weather and frost, that he didn’t come to his work room, we were authorised to go to his room, so that no matter what, the work of the office and businesses did not get delayed or suspended. So that order and timing did not clash, if he foresaw a certain issue that would prevent him being on time, he would inform us the day before.

After the completion of this portion of his work, he carried out the programme of reciting aqd (marriage contracts for couples) and then hand-kissing, and after that, if a private meeting for heads or various persons had been arranged beforehand, they were carried out. Despite all these scheduled programmes, exceptions also occurred whereby Imam ordered the schedule to be suspended. One of these exceptions related to Ayatullah Khamenei.

When Imam became aware that he was present in the office at the start, i.e. at 8 o’clock in the morning, he instructed us: “All of you leave your work until later.” In this manner, against the norm, first the meeting with Ayatullah Khamanei was carried out and then we got busy in our work.

At that time, we did not understand the distinction and special attention given by Imam to Ayatullah Khamenei, but it wasn’t long, that with the passing of time, another example of the foresight and deep thinking of the Imam became apparent.[^5] Hujjatul Islam Rahimian [^1]: The 22nd of Bahman was the Day of the Victory of the Revolution [^2]: Paa be Paaye Aaftaab, Vol 1, Pg. 114 [^3]: Paa be Paaye Aaftaab, Vol 1, Pg. 117 [^4]: Paa be Paaye Aaftaab, Bol 4, Pg.