Reviewed by: Mohd Ajaz and Ali Asgar Balti

Author: Compiled from the speeches and writings of Imam Khamenei (R.A)
Publisher: Welayat Publication
Medium: Urdu Edition
Year of Publication: 2012

Introduction

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At an era where shallow online, and social media writing has hijacked deep, intellectual inquiry, Be Zubaan Dost Kitaab is a towering tribute to the cause of action and also Imam Khamenei (R.A) who, by their own thoughts, have decried the fading culture of reading and have called attention to its fatal fallout, among them intellectual sloth and cultural passivity. The book also writes that books are not just producers of knowledge; books percent itself upon one line or another, by doing so it assisted in such a process of resistance, empowerment. Literature’s historical role in the formation of society’ was being called on and elaborated advocating for bringing back books to family practices, socialization, and national culture.

Key Themes and Analytical Perspectives

1. Power of Transformation in Books

 Be Zubaan Dost Kitaab portrays the concept that books actually transform not only the mental framework of an individual but the prism through which a society perceives the world. Imam Khamenei further added that societies that value books tend to prosper while those societies that squander the value of books continue in ruin.

Quoting Imam Khamenei;
“مطالعہ کے بغیر زندگی بیکار ہے۔”
(Life without reading is meaningless.)

It aligns with historical patterns, one of which is that intellectual progress has to go before cultural and scientific advancements. The book dares the readers to reflect on how their reading styles have contributed to their personal and social development.

2. Books as a Weapon Against Cultural and Ideological Invasion

A central argument in Be Zubaan Dost Kitaab is that books are used as a shield against ideological manipulations. Imam Khamenei claims that societies without intellectual independence become a prey to cultural domination.

Quoting Imam Khamenei;
“ثقافتی حملے کا جوا ب ثقافتی حملے سے ہی دیا جا سکتا ہے۔”
(Cultural attacks can only be countered by cultural resistance.)

By encouraging knowledge-based resistance, this book points to a shift away from reacting to proactively engaging intellectually. It asserts that cultural wars are not fought by weapons, but rather in words, with ideas, stories, and knowledge.  

3. The Crisis of Declining Reading Culture

Imam Khamenei’s strongest criticism within the book refers to the modern disinterest in books themselves. Instead, lifestyles driven by entertainment have taken over in light of the distraction from the intellectual depth within. He bemoans that bookshelves have vanished, replaced by screens that only offer rapid, superficial engagement instead of an appropriate focus for deep reflection.

Quoting Imam Khamenei:
“کتابوں کی الماری، گھر کی سب سے اہم چیز ہے۔”
(A bookshelf is the most important thing in a home.)

The book urges society to restore the centrality of books in daily life, arguing that a home without books is like a body without a soul.

4. Family as the First Institution of Reading

The book emphasizes that reading should not be an individualistic activity but a collective cultural practice. It encourages families to cultivate shared reading habits, making books a part of everyday conversations and traditions.

Quoting Imam Khamenei:
“مل کر کتاب پڑھنا ایک بہترین روایت ہے جو آج ہمیں زندہ کرنی چاہیے۔”
(Reading together is a wonderful tradition that we must revive today.)

This perspective aligns with research on childhood literacy, which suggests that early exposure to books within a familial setting enhances cognitive, linguistic, and emotional development.

5. Books as a Lifelong Companion

The book makes a strong case for lifelong learning, emphasizing that books should not be abandoned after formal education.

Quoting Imam Khamenei:
“اچھے لوگ، اچھے دوست اور اچھی کتابیں زندگی کے بہترین ساتھی ہیں۔”
(Good people, good friends, and good books are the best companions in life.)

6. The Relationship Between Knowledge and Progress

Imam Khamenei asserts that scientific and industrial progress is directly linked to a society’s commitment to reading and knowledge acquisition.

Quoting Imam Khamenei;:
“مطالعہ عوام میں کتاب کے شوق اور سائنسی ترقی کے درمیان گہرا تعلق ہے۔”
(There is a deep connection between public interest in books and scientific progress.)

7. The Role of Writers in Society

The book also highlights the responsibility of writers in shaping public thought. It encourages them to write with truth, integrity, and cultural consciousness.

Quoting Imam Khamenei;:
“قلم ہمارا ہتھیار ہے، اور کتابیں ہماری سب سے بڑی فوج۔”
(Our pen is our weapon, and books are our greatest army.)

Imam Khamenei does not merely advocate for reading; he provides a roadmap for intellectual enrichment by mentioning significant books.

Mentioned  Books in Be Zubaan Dost Kitaab.

1. Mahatma Gandhi by Romain Rolland

The book recommends Mahatma Gandhi by Romain Rolland, a biography that provides a global and philosophical perspective on Gandhi’s ideology of non-violence and moral leadership​. Rolland, a Nobel Prize-winning French writer, presents Gandhi as a universal symbol of resistance, ethical leadership, and humanitarian values.

2. Other Notable Mentions

🔹(Quiet Flows the Don by Mikhail Sholokhov)  د ں – A historical novel on revolutions and ideological struggles.
🔹(A Dog’s Heart by Mikhail Bulgakov) کتے کا دل– A philosophical novel exploring human nature and transformation.
🔹(Hayat-ul-Qaloob by Allama Majlisi)  حیاة القلوب– A theological masterpiece on faith and spirituality.

By mentioning these books, Be Zubaan Dost encourages readers to engage with diverse intellectual traditions and expand their understanding of philosophy, history, and cultural identity.

While reading Be Zubaan Dost Kitaab, we also came across a recommended reading list on the internet, attributed to Imam Khamenei’s literary preferences. The list includes:

• Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
• The Bicentennial Man (short story) by Isaac Asimov
• The Thibaults by Roger du Gard
• Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Stowe
• And Quiet Flows the Don by Mikhail Sholokhov
• The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
• Germinal by Emile Zola
• Thérèse Raquin by Emile Zola
• Père Goriot by Honoré de Balzac
• Eugénie Grandet by Honoré de Balzac

Be Zubaan Dost Kitaab is not just a book on books—it is a call for an intellectual and cultural revolution.