The eminent figure we are now contemplating is remembered as a man of deep thought, disciplined in everyday activities, having high confidence in his ability to learn and educate himself, self confident in behavior and logical in manner.

He was a scholar whose multi-dimensional attributes made him a truly great man. However extensive knowledge is required to form a comprehensive appraisal of his personality, his goals, and his intentions.

Martyr Ayatollah Mohammad Hosseini Beheshti is the individual whose lifetime accomplishments require time and patience to appreciate. We are indebted to him for the hardships he suffered in order that we should benefit and the great achievements he bestowed on the people of this land and on the world.

Once again, on the martyrdom anniversary of Martyr Beheshti who was martyred at the terrorist bomb blast in the Islamic Republic Party headquarters in 1981, there is a chance to talk a little about the life of this most accomplished man.

We will focus on the scientific and cultural dimensions of his life, beginning with his studies at school in Isfahan, his academic studies at Tehran University, and later abroad.

Ayatollah Beheshti was born on October 24, 1928 in Isfahan and his studies commenced at the age of four. During his high school years, he began the study of seminary lessons in Arab literature, fiqh, and philosophy.

He continued his studies in Qom under the guidance of Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah Borujerdi. He was a serious and self-disciplined student. As a cleric studying at the seminary, he never liked to make use of “Bait ul-Mal” (the public treasury), and this was an attribute that endured until the end of his life. He believed strongly in financial independence and during his studies he managed to live on the small allowance his father sent him from Isfahan and later on he earned his living by teaching.

He believed that a cleric’s knowledge of religious science must never be the source of his income, except when there is no other choice. He deemed that a cleric must be financially independent or else his dependency on using his clerical knowledge might come into conflict with his life’s events and become an obstacle in choosing the correct path.
In 1948, he passed the entrance exam for Tehran University and continued his religious studies.

It was when he came to Tehran that he began studying English language seriously and later he commenced teaching English in schools.

In 1951, he had the opportunity to continue his studies overseas in philosophy and to become familiar with the philosophy of the west, but he postponed his travels until five years later because of his meeting with the late Ayatollah Tabatabaii with the recommendation of Ayatollah Morteza Motahhari that he take part in Tabatabaii’s philosophy lessons.

Martyr Beheshti is survived by four children: two boys and two girls. The elder daughter is teaching English at university, the first son has studied philosophy and is teaching at Tehran University, his second son has studied political science and is teaching at Tarbiat-e Modarres University, and his second daughter is still a student.