Secretary-general of the Assembly of Combatant Clerics and former parliament speaker, Mehdi Karroubi, recently made some interesting comments on domestic issues and the crucial need to forge closer understanding between rulers and the ruled.
Expressing concern over cracks in such relations, he warned that bonds between the clergy and people were being harmed. He called for more care and caution to help cement such ties, which have existed for over 1,000 years. The senior politician called on the ruling elite to live humble lives and identify with the masses and reminded them that they owe this to the people and their support through which they took office.
Karroubi's remarks are worthy of attention. At a time when the number of clergy active on the political landscape amounts to less than one percent of the total, why should the remaining 99 percent be subjected to criticism and challenges, he asked. Furthermore, there are various cultural, historic, managerial and economic factors responsible for the success or failure of affairs. Moreover, cross-section of the people, elite, domestic and foreign figures along with laymen also play an important role.
So it is not fair to condemn only those involved in decision and policymaking. There indeed is a chain of command and people should be held responsible for both individual and collective action or the lack of it.
Although the role of the clergy in the progress or failure of the nation and its affairs cannot and should not be denied, it must be said that every official is accountable for his/her range of duties. Nothing more or less.
If officialdom is preoccupied with personal gain at the expense of the masses, or strive for the comfort and prosperity of their kith and kin, and do nothing
to improve the quality of life of the masses, the gulf between the have and have not widens, as is apparent in our own society today. It is normal that those in high places not carry out their duties as expected and also err. For instance, if physicians would never make mistakes, why would special courts be set up to investigate their errors or failures?
The same is true of other professions and groups, of course including the clergy for whom we have the Special Clerical Court.
The question is that if our society has informed and devout Muslims, why should we wait for months and years before some top authority speaks out and lambastes the performance of some officials and power centers? Recently a senior preacher in the holy city of Qom asked why some key social targets of the establishment were not met in the past 25 years although the country was guided by lofty Islamic teachings and focused on removing poverty.
We must accept that laziness has made inroads into our society at large and routine economic pains have compelled both the rulers and the ruled to forget about the problems of other people. The norm in many if not all societies is that whenever the people climb the prosperity ladder they tend to forget the needy and disadvantaged.
This is while the Islamic system is based on the guidelines of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) who taught all believers that they must always be concerned about each other's well being.
It is not only up to distinguished and respected personalities to talk about the society's shortfalls and what needs to be done in a functioning and responsible society. Rather it is the duty of every practicing Muslim to contribute to the welfare of his brothers and sisters in faith and do his fair share to reduce their misery and misfortune. It is for all Iranians, irrespective of political, social or economic orientation to see reason, join hands to overcome problems, and move forward.