“A teacher is not just someone who transfers information. A real teacher builds, challenges, awakens.” (To Kindle FIRE: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1259302265415397)

Today, May 2, is not just another date on the calendar. It’s Teacher’s Day in the Islamic Republic of Iran—and it’s no accident that this day is tied to the memory of a martyr (shahid).

Forty-five years ago, on a quiet evening in Tehran, a bullet silenced the voice of Ustad Murtada Mutahhari—or so the killers thought. Little did they know that what they attempted to bury would echo louder with every generation. Mutahhari didn’t just teach the Islamic Revolution; he helped shape its soul. And on that fateful night of May 1, 1979, he offered the final lesson of his life: to be a teacher is to be willing to die for truth.

I didn’t meet Mutahhari. But like many of you reading this, I met him through his books—those dense, passionate, unapologetically deep books that dared to ask difficult questions and respond with clarity and courage. Over the years, I’ve had the humbling honor of translating several of his works into English—not just to make them accessible but to make them alive for our contemporary discourse.

Here are some titles I’ve worked on:

* “The Revival of Islamic Thought” (https://amzn.to/43e1ugM) – a manifesto of awakening for a community stuck in slumber.

* “The Theory of Knowledge” – Mutahhari the philosopher at work, asking what it really means to “know.”

* “Training and Education in Islam” – a must-read for educators and reformers alike.

* “Fitrah: Man’s Natural Disposition” (https://amzn.to/44OVV9W) – a profound reflection on the innate nature of the human being and its implications in understanding faith and morality.

* “Philosophy of Ethics” (https://amzn.to/4iP8wxf) – a rigorous exploration of moral foundations through the lens of Islamic philosophy.

* “The Issue of Hijab” (https://amzn.to/3EBEwad) and “Replies to Critiques of ‘The Issue of Hijab’” (https://amzn.to/3EPXD07) – perhaps his most debated texts, defending Islamic modesty with reasoned depth.

* “The Mysticism of Hafiz” (https://www.elzistyle.com/product/the-mysticism-of-hafiz) – where Mutahhari meets poetry, unveiling the spirituality beneath the verses and refuting some misinterpretations.

* “Banking and Insurance in Islam” (https://amzn.to/4iP8HbT) – an attempt to reimagine modern economics in light of Islamic principles.

Right now, I’m knee-deep in translating a major two-volume work, “Islam and the Exigencies of Time,” where Mutahhari wrestles with the challenge of harmonizing timeless truths with ever-changing realities.

But there came a point when just translating wasn’t enough. I wanted to go beyond the texts—to explore the man behind the mind. That’s why I wrote “Mutahhari is Mutahhari: The Making of a Thinker” (https://amzn.to/3GzP3TT), my own reflection on how this humble seminary student from Fariman became one of the Revolution’s most powerful voices.

So, why does this matter today?

Because Mutahhari’s life reminds us of what it truly means to be a “mu‘allim” (teacher). Not a dispenser of facts, but a cultivator of vision. Not someone who echoes, but someone who creates echoes.

To my fellow teachers, today is our day, too. May we draw strength from Mutahhari’s legacy. May we teach with the fire of belief and the patience of prophets. And if the time comes, may we not fear to bleed for the truths we teach.

After all, Mutahhari didn’t just write about the truth. He witnessed (shahida) it. He became it.

Which of Mutahhari’s books has challenged or inspired you the most? Or is this your sign to pick one up today? Let’s talk.

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