Statements in Meeting with Members of the Organizing Committee for the Commemoration of Professor Mashfiq Kashani

Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in a message to the commemoration of Professor Abbas Kimanesh (Mashfiq Kashani), referred to some outstanding characteristics of this prominent poet of the country, stating that honoring great poets contributes to the advancement of Persian poetry and literature and encourages talented youth. He emphasized: an important characteristic of Mr. Mashfiq's poetry is its service to religious and revolutionary goals.

The text of the Supreme Leader's message, which is derived from his statements in the meeting with members of the organizing committee for the commemoration of Professor Mashfiq Kashani on 10th of Tir, 1392, was read today (Monday) by Mr. Hosseini, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, at this commemoration, as follows:

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

First of all, you have done a very appropriate and correct thing by holding a commemoration for Mr. Mashfiq - our dear poet. Certainly, honoring and highlighting the personality and characteristics of our distinguished figures helps our youth, those who have talent and capacity, to be able to move forward. When a poet is praised, it nurtures the essence of that poet. You see, in past eras, great poets who were encouraged and praised by the rulers of the time led to many poets and thinkers emerging from that same group; this is fundamental. Therefore, encouraging great poets and highlighting their personalities helps advance literature and poetry.

Mr. Mashfiq is also one of the good poets of our time. I have been familiar with some of his poems - in the press and such - for a long time, and I have repeatedly visited him along with Mr. Hamid and the late Shahrokhi since the early days of the Revolution; we listened to his poems and benefited from them. His ghazals are mature, meaningful, and well-crafted; that is, Mr. Mashfiq is one of the prominent ghazal poets of our time; his ghazals are mostly in the Iraqi style - and at the same time, they have meaning, with polished and mature words. Now, of course, he also composes in other forms of poetry, such as qasida and piece, but his ghazals have a special prominence. In the poetry sessions I have attended and been able to hear his poems, his poetry has always had a unique sweetness, prominence, and beauty. It is truly deserving of encouragement.

In addition to the purely poetic aspect, there are two other characteristics in Mr. Mashfiq that are noteworthy: one is that his poetry serves goals; it serves religious and revolutionary objectives. From the beginning of the Revolution - perhaps it was the same before the Revolution; however, what I know is from the time of the Revolution - his poetry, whether religious poetry and so-called ritual poetry that he composed in praise and topics related to the Imams (peace be upon them), or the poetry he wrote about revolutionary issues, all of these are useful and impactful poems. The first couplet of this ghazal that he just recited is worth more than many poems and writings; at a time when the enemy and some ignorant friends try to portray the atmosphere as dark and gloomy, they say if there is intelligence and perception, the windows are open here. These are very important points. In his ghazals, one always observes these throughout these times.

The second point is his own personality; he is a respected person adorned with good morals and good behavior, and over these thirty-some years that we have known him and been connected with him, and have heard from him and sometimes interacted with him, we have always observed this behavior from him.

We hope, God willing, that God grants him many long years of life; he, Mr. Hamid - these pioneers of contemporary poetry - should be esteemed and cherished; God willing, the future of Persian literature and poetry will also advance accordingly and to that extent.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.