In His Name, the Most High
What follows is an interview by Ettela'at International with Hojjat al-Islam wal Muslimin Mohammadi Golpayegani, the head of the Office of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatullah al-Udhma Sayyed Ali Khamenei. In this interview, Aghae Golpayegani talks about the health of our dear Leader and the activities of his daily life.

Q: MR. MOHAMMADI GOLPAYEGANI, YOU ARE ONE OF THE CLOSEST PEOPLE TO THE EXALTED LEADER OF THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION. WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HIM. FIRST OF ALL, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT HIS EMINENCE'S HEALTH. YOU ARE AWARE THAT EVERY NOW AND THEN RUMORS ARE CIRCULATED BY FOREIGN MEDIA ABOUT THE STATE OF THE HEALTH OF THE LEADER OF REVOLUTION. THESE RUMORS HAVE BEEN INTENSIFIED IN RECENT MONTHS. THEREFORE, I REQUEST YOU TO TELL US THE EXACT STATE OF AFFAIRS FOR THE INFORMATION OF OUR READERS.

A: In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. While expressing gratitude to you, in answer to your question, I would like to say that one of the tricks of the enemy is to wage a psychological war in order to overcome its opponent. In view of the fact that today the pillar of the camp of the Revolution is the Exalted Leader, and, as you are aware, in his statements he has taken exactly the same position as was taken by the late Imam (RA) and, in fact, he protects the Imam's ideals, the enemy has tried, in one way or the other, to pretend otherwise, but has not succeeded in doing so. That is why, the enemy has now resorted to circulating these rumors in order to disturb people's minds and dishearten his devotees.
Of course, human beings are naturally exposed to various diseases, but I can tell you that he enjoys very good health. It may be interesting for you to know that he goes mountain climbing more than once every week. Each time this activity lasts several hours. Perhaps few young men can keep up with him. In fact, the Exalted Leader encourages exercising and sports. He has beautiful words in connection with exercising saying that "doing exercise is necessary for the young and imperative [wajib] for the old".

Q: WE HAVE HEARD THAT HE SOMETIMES PERFORMS MORNING PRAYERS IN ONE OF THE MOUNTAIN PEAKS AROUND TEHRAN.

A: Yes, it sometimes happens that he performs morning prayers on mountains, and sometimes he climbs as high as Toochal.

Q: DO YOU ACCOMPANY HIM?

A: Yes, sometimes. But, of course, I am an old man and cannot go with him very much. However, I am familiar with his programs. I would like to say that if he were not healthy he could not do such exercises, particularly, mountain climbing which, as you know, is a heavy sport. Bihamdil Allah, he is healthy and agile and is in a perfect state of health.

Q: WHEN HE GOES TO THE MOUNTAINS, NATURALLY OTHER PEOPLE OR MOUNTAINEERS SEE HIM. ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THESE UNPLANNED AND NATURAL ENCOUNTERS?

A: I was not a witness, but I am aware of it. Along his route, and while climbing up or down, people see him, and come forward and greet and pay respect to him, and he kindly reciprocates.

Q: CAN YOU PRESENT A GENERAL PICTURE OF HIS DAILY OR WEEKLY PROGRAMS? THAT IS BECAUSE, PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED TO KNOW THE DETAILS OF HIS LIFE, YOU ARE IN THE BEST POSITION TO INFORM US OF THAT.

A: Yes, one of the programs that he follows regularly is to get up at least one hour before the call to morning prayers (azan) is announced. He spends this hour in worshipping and tahajjod. Then he performs morning prayer, and goes mountain climbing some days, otherwise he rests. He begins his daily work routine at 8 o'clock.
His work consists of several kinds; one is official visits with civilian or military authorities, who ask for appointments and for whom a certain hour is fixed. The gentlemen pay visit, submit their reports, and the Exalted Leader gives necessary guidance. These programs generally last till the time of noon prayers. One of his accomplishments is the fact that he always performs congregational prayers, even the morning prayer which he performs at home. The noon prayer is performed with a number of visitors and the personnel of the Office. Sometimes, some individuals, personalities and ulama who are fond of him, and who wish to pray with him come at noon or evening and perform congregational prayers with him.
After noon prayer is performed, he goes to lunch and a rest and resumes his work at 4 p.m. (sometimes he attends meetings). This program continues until maghreb prayers, which he performs in congregation also. He spends evenings reading, or watching the news or in the company of his family.

Q: YOU MENTIONED READING, IN WHAT FIELDS DOES HE STUDY AND READ BESIDES SPECIAL NEWS AND REPORTS? DOES HE STUDY A SPECIAL FIELD REGULARLY?

A: Yes, he studies scholarly books on Islamic jurisprudence and holds sessions with prominent ulama. Once a week eminent personalities and mujtahids (religious scholars) gather there. Various topics are discussed and examined in these sessions, which are very useful. Besides these, he studies other subjects as well.

Q: ARE THESE SESSIONS HELD REGULARLY?

A: Yes, they are regular and continuous that is to say, they have been going on for years, except when he is out of Tehran.

Q: WHAT ABOUT OTHER FIELDS, SUCH AS LITERATURE?

A: Yes, in fact his position as the Leader has overshadowed his other distinctions and talents. He is a literary figure and also a poet. His poems are profound and very meaningful. He attends sessions with poets several times a year, usually great poets attend, and recite their verses to which the Leader listens and expresses his opinions. He is an authority in the field of literature and brings up very delicate points (you probably have heard his speech on the occasion of commemoration of the poet Hafiz, no one has spoken so distinctively about Hafiz till now).

One of his regular activities is visiting the families of martyrs. These visits are carried out without prior notice or information. That is to say that until the moment that he arrives at the residence of martyrs' families, the latter does not know who is coming to pay a visit. Contact is made only to make sure that somebody is at home. The members of the family are told that an official or a commander is going to pay a visit, and they are requested to stay at home. I sometimes accompany him on these occasions. He usually pays visits to four or five families of martyrs on the same night.

Q: HOW ARE THESE FAMILIES SELECTED?

A: It is interesting that most often the families who live in the relatively poor areas of town are selected, many of whom live in narrow alleys in remote districts. He rarely goes to the rich parts of the city. Often he goes to visit families who have given two, three or even four
martyrs.
The visits paid to these families are really interesting. He stays at least for half an hour. When he sits down he first asks for a photo of the martyr. He looks at it, then asks the bereaved family about the circumstances under which the person concerned was martyred. He speaks kindly to the martyrs' father and mother. If the martyr has a small child the Leader puts him on his lap and comforts him.
Sometimes the martyrs' parents become speechless due to their delight of seeing him. They cannot believe the Leader of Islamic Revolution has come to their house. After the visit, I have heard repeatedly that the parents say they had dreamt of a visit by one of aolia Allah [purist friends of Allah] to their house the night before. This very warm and moving program is one of the regular activities of the Exalted Leader that is never abandoned.
One of his other programs is his trips to various parts of the country, in which case usually deprived and remote areas are selected. These trips and general public's welcome of him are very interesting. I have sometimes seen that the queue of the people wishing to see him stretches for several kilometers. He stands on a platform and ladies and gentlemen come at a appointed time. These intimate meetings are very interesting for the people. As long as the time permits, he inquires about people's well-being and difficulties.
If they have problems, they write a letter and submit it to him. These letters are investigated on the spot by a team of Office personnel. The team sometimes continues to stay in the region for two weeks after the Exalted Leader's departure to deal with people's cases and problems.

Q: PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ECONOMIC SITUATION OF THEIR LEADER. WHAT IS HIS LIFE STYLE? WHAT ARE HIS SOURCES OF INCOME? PLEASE EXPLAIN.

A: I am going to explain as much as I can. Although it is possible for him to benefit financially from many sources, his living standard is at a lower level than that of an ordinary citizen. He observes this point himself and advises others not to be extravagant. He urges them to be economical in their lives and avoid doing israf and tabzir. As an example, I would like to refer to one item of his programs, namely marriage solemnization ceremonies, that he performs on special occasions. Usually 10 or 12 brides and grooms, from martyrs' families or the believing and committed families, gather on special occasions (such as Eid of Mabath). When solemnizing the ceremony, the Leader does not usually accept more than 14 gold coins as marriage portion (dowry). It is not that he does not allow it but believes that people must get used to simplicity. If the couple wish to fix more than 14 gold coins as marriage portion, he advises them to go elsewhere to solemnize the marriage. He has observed this as a rule. He sometimes accepts Hajj trips, in addition to 14 gold coins, because after all it is a spiritual trip. However, from financial point of view he does not accept more than 14 coins.
An important point is that for fifteen minutes before the ceremony he advises the bride and groom and the families about the virtues of simple life and economy. He tells them to abandon extravagance and luxury. He himself observes these points scrupulously. It may be interesting for you to know that he neither receives any salary from any source, nor does he
spend, for his personal use, the wujuhat (Islamic payments such as khums) he receives from various places. His life is based on gifts he receives from his devotees and admirers and even nazr (vow, solemn promise to God). That is to say that people sometimes come to him and say "Sir, we had vowed that if our wishes were fulfilled, we would offer so much money or gift to you, now that our wish is fulfilled we would like to offer it"
[Imam Khomeini (RA) used to do the same].

Q: DOES HE ACCEPT ANY KIND OF GIFT OR NAZR?

A: Only if it is related to him in person. I would like to add that his children follow the same life style, and live very simple lives.

Q: WHAT DO HIS CHILDREN DO? DO THEY HAVE POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITIES?

A: No, not at all, they are all clerics and are engaged in religious work and study.

Q: HOW IS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRESIDENT? THE FOREIGN MEDIA USUALLY TRY TO PORTRAY IT AS UNDESIRABLE, AND SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS SITUATION. YOU ARE THE BEST PERSON TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION.

A: This is not true at all. Since the time of the President's investiture, and the day that he formally started his work, he and the Exalted Leader have had regular meetings; and sincerity and respect are shown by both sides. The adab and admiration the President has for the Exalted Leader is exemplary. The same kind of relationship prevails between the Leader and heads of other branches of the government. There is a high degree of solidarity at the this level.

Q: HAS IT EVER HAPPENED THAT HIS EMINENCE WOULD PRAISE OR PERHAPS REPRIMAND MEMBERS OF THE OFFICE FOR A PARTICULAR ACTION?

A: We have never had any reprimands. Whenever some one in the Office has performed especially well and has attracted the attention of His Eminence, that person has heard him say "may Allah give you strength" or "bareka Allah". I must tell you that I personally, and also my colleagues can never keep up with the Leader's pace. He is at the pinnacle and, because of his kindness, he takes our hands and allows us to follow him. Overall, we do our best, now how much of that is accepted, only Allah knows.

Q: DOES HE RECEIVE ALL THE LETTERS PEOPLE SEND TO HIM?

A: Yes, there is a unit in the Office, which deals with these letters. There is in the Office one of my assistants who is in charge of public relations. If the letters are personal in nature, they are sent to this unit. There are some official letters which have nothing to do with this unit. But sometimes people write letters saying that they have problems in such and such office or that their legitimate demands are not met. In such cases, action is taken and if the demand cannot be met, an appropriate letter is written to the person concerned and reasons are explained.

Q: THE LEADER IS THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES. PLEASE SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT HIS RELATIONS WITH THE FORCES.

A: Yes. Alhamdulillah our armed forces are in the best condition. As a result of the post-revolution restrictions, and by virtue of the old saying that "necessity is the mother of invention", the armed forces, the Ministry of Defense and University Jihad as well as other centers have solved many of the complicated military problems. They repaired, reconstructed and even produced many weapons. I can say that in the matter of the initiatives and inventions of the armed forces, the Exalted Leader played a predominant role and was always the source of encouragement and inspiration for the forces.

Q: HOW ARE IMPORTANT NEWS AND INFORMATION TRANSMITTED TO HIM? ARE THE NEWS AND REPORTS TRANSMITTED BY ONE SOURCE OR SEVERAL SOURCES? HOW ABOUT NEWSPAPERS, RADIO AND TV? I WANT TO KNOW WHETHER HE READS ALL NEWSPAPERS, AND WHETHER THE NEWS FROM AUDIO-VISUAL MASS MEDIA ARE TRANSMITTED TO HIM REGULARLY.

A: His news sources are not restricted to the above. He is well informed about everything, and, perhaps, is the first person to get information by virtue of his position. He reads newspapers regularly. A summary of the press is also sent to him. But he is not solely contented with that, and reads all morning and afternoon newspapers. These are regularly put on his desk on time.
He particularly reads the editorials. In addition to newspapers, he reads weeklies, monthlies and quarterlies. He is very active and sometimes says to me that 24 hours are not enough for him.

Q: HE PROBABLY SLEEPS VERY LATE AT NIGHT?

A: Yes, he does, other friends and ourselves have advised him to sleep earlier. Sometimes he does so, but normally he sleeps late. Overall, he must think about his health too...

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

You are very welcome.

Ettela'at International (Daily) , Jan. 6. 1999, Page: 6, Word Count: 2221