Kamangir (Archer)

Phony Prayers

Kamangir | March 24, 2006 | Category Iran

It is nothing strange that politicians would have bodyguards around them when they appear in the public. It is also obvious that there are plenty more people guarding them than those whom we recognize with earphones. The strange thing is when bodyguards pretend to be do something else.
Look at this photo. The tall man besides Ahmadinejad is obviously a bodyguard. However, he is now doing the part of saying his prayers in which people demand things from God, like mercy to all people and so on. This may not be very clear for those who are not familiar with Islamic rituals. In Islam, while saying your prayers (maybe it suits more to say, when “practicing” your prayers), you are assumed to be focusing on your connection with God. There is a famous story that Ali, the first Imam of Shias, got shot with an arrow in his foot and that it was very painful to pull it out. Somebody found a genius idea; “pull it out while he is praying”, and it was a fantastic idea. After finishing his prayers, Ali mentioned that he has not felt anything. So, I assume that the bodyguard will not be able to protect Ahmadinejad while he is saying his own prayers. There is another story about Ali that a poor man was saying his prayers besides him, asking God for some money. The story continues that, while saying his own prayers, Ali gave him a ring from his hand. When my religious teacher wanted to prove that these two stories are not contradicting he told us, assume that you are listening to a radio channel and do not care for your surroundings. Then, he continued, if a noise comes to your exact frequency channel you will instantaneously recognize. With his theory, the bodyguard is saying his prayers. But as Ahmadinejad is also connected to the same source, the bodygaurd would instantly recognize if there is any danger for him. There is yet another explanation for the praying bodyguard; at the same time that Ahmadinejad and his bodyguard are praying, there is also another man praying, the last Imam. As he is very friends with Ahmadinejad, he would send a message to the bodyguard saying “hey! you! somebody is coming for the God’s president”.
I have to read a paper and yet I can’t. Why? Because, Ahmadinejad can not afford asking his bodyguard to just say his prayers and pull that thing out of his ears. Or, to guard him and ignore the phony prayers.