The Strong and Trustworthy: The Quranic Equation for Building the Individual Who Changes Reality
In the context of the story of the Prophet Moses (peace be upon him), Sayyid Abdul-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi (may God protect him), in his eighteenth Ramadan lecture, presented a profound educational and faith-based reading. From this story, he extracted a comprehensive system of moral and human values that form the foundation for building the individual and society. Foremost among these values are the spirit of benevolence, the virtue of modesty, the value of trustworthiness, and the importance of strength in fulfilling responsibilities. Sayyid al-Houthi emphasized that this serves as a practical model for how to cultivate a righteous individual who is surrounded by God’s care and guidance when they adhere to faith-based and moral values in their life.
The Spirit of Kindness: The Key to Divine Providence
The Leader explained that the most prominent characteristic of the Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) was his spirit of kindness. This spirituality made him worthy of God’s special care and complete protection throughout his life. Kindness is not merely a fleeting act, but a profound state of faith that is reflected in a person’s behavior and interactions with others. It makes one eager to do good and offer kindness without expecting anything in return. By examining the story of Moses (peace be upon him) when he watered the flocks for the two young women in Midian, it becomes clear that his act of kindness was a direct cause of the doors of goodness being opened for him. This simple act became a significant turning point in his life, leading him to family stability, work, and a dignified life. Herein lies an important divine principle affirmed by the Holy Quran: that kindness opens doors of divine care and success for a person, and places him under God’s protection and guidance.
Modesty is the Characteristic of Prophets and the Shield of a Moral Society
Among the values emphasized by the Leader in this lecture was the virtue of modesty. He stressed that it is one of the greatest virtues a believer can possess. Modesty is not merely a fleeting feeling, but a deeply rooted state of faith that makes a person feel shame before God, thus avoiding sins and transgressions and refraining from anything that contradicts divine values. The Leader pointed out that modesty is an integral part of faith and a prominent characteristic of the prophets and messengers, who reached the highest levels of moral and behavioral purity. He also emphasized that modesty is one of the most important qualities of women and one of the greatest virtues, as it acts as a safeguard that preserves their dignity and protects society from moral deviations. This virtue is clearly demonstrated in the story of the two young women in Madyan, where the Quran presents a refined example of chastity and modesty, reflecting the high moral standards that a believing society should uphold.
Strength and Trustworthiness: The Formula for Success in Responsibilities
The Leader paused to reflect on the suggestion made by one of the two daughters to her righteous father to hire Moses (peace be upon him), as she said in the Holy Quran: “O my father, hire him. Indeed, the best of those you can hire is the strong and trustworthy one.”
He explained that this Quranic expression provides a fundamental principle in selecting competent individuals and entrusting them with responsibilities. It combines the two most important qualities needed for any task or mission: strength, which encompasses ability in all its mental, psychological, and physical dimensions, and trustworthiness, which means upholding rights, fulfilling responsibilities, and refraining from betrayal. The Leader clarified that the combination of ability and trustworthiness is the secret to success in all endeavors, while the absence of trustworthiness leads to failure and corruption, even if the necessary abilities are present. He also emphasized that trustworthiness is not a limited concept, but rather a comprehensive one that encompasses everything God has entrusted to humankind in this life.
Honesty in Human Life is a Comprehensive Responsibility
The Leader pointed out that humankind lives in this world within a vast system of trusts entrusted to them by God. These include the trust of the soul, the trust of the limbs, the trust of hearing and sight, and the trust of mental, psychological, and physical energies and capabilities.
All these blessings must be used in obedience to God and in service of good, not for corruption or harming others. Honesty also extends to social relationships and interactions between people, representing the foundation of trust and stability in society, especially in positions of public responsibility, where the alternative to honesty is betrayal and its resulting corruption and collapse of values.
Work is a fundamental human value that should not be reduced to mere words.
In discussing Moses’s work for the righteous man, the Supreme Leader emphasized that work represents a great human value in Islam, and that the narrow view that reduces work to office jobs alone is a serious mistake.
He explained that most work in life depends on physical effort and fieldwork, and that these are honorable and essential jobs in building societies. He criticized the narrow understanding held by some graduates of the education system that equates success solely with office jobs, while Islam honors work in all its forms as long as it is within the bounds of what is permissible and serves the people.
Marriage and Work: A Divine Providence in Moses’ Life
Among the points emphasized by the Supreme Leader was that the righteous man’s offer to Moses (peace be upon him) to marry one of his daughters and work for him for eight years was an offer based on justice, mercy, and righteousness. This offer provided Moses (peace be upon him) with several essential elements for a stable life, including family and marriage, a home and shelter, honorable work, and a wholesome environment. Moses (peace be upon him) assured the righteous man that he would find him to be righteous in his dealings with him, indicating that righteousness is the foundation of sound human relationships and the true guarantee for avoiding conflicts and problems among people.
An Important Lesson: Clear Agreements in Societal Life
Another important lesson highlighted by the Supreme Leader in this story is the importance of clear agreements between people. The agreement between Moses (peace be upon him) and the righteous man was based on complete mutual consent, clear terms, the absence of ambiguity, and awareness of God’s oversight. These principles represent a crucial foundation for regulating economic and social relations and prevent many conflicts that arise from ambiguity or lack of clarity in agreements.