Finding My Voice: A Personal Journey on Eid e Ghadir

I want to share a personal experience that profoundly impacted me. I was invited to speak at a large event in Isfahan for the Anniversary of Eid e Ghadir. The audience was vast, with people traveling from far and wide to attend. Some of you may know me as Sister Spade from my short clips on Islamic Pulse or my work in radio, narrations or live hosting for TV. However, speaking to a live audience in person is an entirely different experience—one that I never feel adequately prepared for, especially for such a significant occasion.

When asked to speak for just five minutes, my initial reaction was to reject the offer outright. After ending the call, I was left pondering, Why can I not speak? Despite regularly reciting the Ziarats for our First Imam (as) and reading Nahjul Balagha weekly, I felt unprepared.

It dawned on me that I had neglected my weekly recitation and reflection. Determined, I immediately set about completing my spiritual practices. As soon as I did, something shifted—I found my voice. Words began to flow effortlessly, and I felt compelled to call back and accept the honor of speaking.

When the day arrived, I sat before the audience, with the host - and a Russian Brother who had translated Nahjul Balagha into the Russian language to the left of me. As could be expected for such an incredible and notable event, it was a full house, but I didn't need my notes, I took the mic and the words flowed naturally, and remarkably, I felt no nervousness. Though my brief talk was but a drop compared to the profound speech delivered by the Sayyid speaker, I had fulfilled my role.

The essence of my speech was simple yet powerful: Imam Ali (as) is the voice of human justice. He empowers us with our voice when we immerse ourselves in his enlightened and eloquent words. By aligning our minds, hearts, and spirits with his teachings, he speaks through us.

This experience taught me a profound lesson: aligning ourselves with the 12 Imams (as) aligns us with their mission—be it leadership, justice, patience, or science. They flow through our being, guiding us to become their living expressions.