Draft:Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei
| Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei | |
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| File:Martyr Sayyid Ali Khamenei.jpg | |
| Name | Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei |
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| Death Date | 9 Esfand 1404 SH |
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| Religion | Islam |
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Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei, known as the **Martyred Leader** and Mr. Martyr of Iran, is one of the great scholars and jurists of unity-oriented and approximative Shia sect in the contemporary era, who after the death of Sayyid Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini became the second leader of the Islamic Republic and Vali-e Faqih and is also among the Sources of Emulation of Shia. Before his election to the leadership position in 1368 SH, he was president for two terms and also a member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly for a period. The position of Imam of Friday Prayer in Tehran from Imam Khomeini is also among his religious positions. Before the victory of the Islamic Revolution, he was counted among the influential clerics of Mashhad. Imam Khamenei's thoughts have been collected in a detailed collection named Hadith Wilayat. Numerous books have also been compiled and published thematically from his speeches and written messages. Several written works including authorship and translation have been published by him, of which Outline of Islamic Thought in the Quran is the most detailed book, and Peace of Imam Hasan is his most famous translation. Explicit opposition to Qameh-zani and some forms of Mourning, and prohibiting insult to the sanctities of Sunnis counts among his famous and influential fatwas in the Islamic World. The terms Cultural Invasion, Islamic Awakening, and Resistance Economy are concepts that entered Iranian political and social literature following his speeches and emphases. He is interested in literature and is familiar with literary styles. He has also composed poetry and chosen the pen name "Amin". Studying credible historical books is part of his permanent study program, to the extent that he has mastery over discussions and topics of contemporary history.
Biography
Martyr Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei was born in 1318 SH, the son of Sayyid Javad Hosseini Khamenei. He began his education at the age of four at a maktabkhaneh, starting with the memorization of the Quran.
Education in Mashhad
He completed his elementary education at the first Islamic school in Mashhad, Dar al-Talim Diyanti. During this time, he began learning Quran recitation and tajwid under some of Mashhad's Quran reciters. Concurrently with studying in the fifth grade of elementary school, he also began preliminary seminary education. His great enthusiasm for seminary studies and his parents' encouragement led him to enter the world of clerical studies after completing elementary school, continuing his religious education at Sulayman Khan School. He also completed part of the Muqaddamat studies under his father. He then went to Nawab School and completed the Sutuh level there. Concurrently with seminary studies, he continued high school education until the second year of secondary school. He studied Ma'alim al-Usul under Ayatollah Sayyid Jalil Hosseini Sistani and Sharh al-Lum'ah under his father and Mirza Ahmad Modarres Yazdi. He also learned Risalah, Makasib, and Kifayah under his father and Ayatollah Haj Sheikh Hashem Qazvini. In 1334 SH, he attended the Dars-e Kharij of Fiqh by Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammad Hadi Milani.
Najaf Seminary
In 1336 SH, during a short trip with his family, he visited Najaf and attended lectures by renowned teachers of the Najaf Seminary, including Ayatollahs Sayyid Muhsin Hakim, Sayyid Abul-Qasim Khoei, Sayyid Mahmud Shahroudi, Mirza Baqir Zanjani, and Mirza Hasan Bojnordi. However, due to his father's reluctance to reside in that city, he returned to Mashhad and attended Ayatollah Milani's lectures for another year. Then, in 1337 SH, eager to continue his studies, he departed for the Qom Seminary. In the same year, before departing for Qom, Ayatollah Mohammad Hadi Milani had granted him permission for narration (Ijazah).
Qom Seminary
Sayyid Ali Khamenei studied in Qom under great figures such as Ayatollah Haj Aqa Hossein Tabatabai Borujerdi, Imam Khomeini, Haj Sheikh Morteza Haeri Yazdi, Sayyid Mohammad Mohaqqeq Damad, and Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammad Hossein Tabatabai. During his stay in Qom, he spent most of his time on research, study, and teaching.
Return to Mashhad
Ayatollah Khamenei returned from Qom to Mashhad in 1343 SH, due to his father's eye condition and the necessity of assisting him, and once again attended Ayatollah Milani's lecture sessions, which continued until 1349 SH. From the beginning of his presence in Mashhad, he devoted himself to teaching advanced levels of Fiqh and Usul (Risalah, Makasib, and Kifayah) and holding Tafsir sessions for the public. A large number of young people, especially students, attended these sessions. In his Tafsir sessions, he extracted and expressed the most important intellectual foundations of Islam and Islamic thought through the verses of the Quran, and focused on deepening the foundations of the thought of struggle and overthrowing the Taghut regime, such that participants in his Tafsir lesson would reach the necessary and natural conclusion that a government based on Islam and religious teachings must be realized in the country. One of his main objectives in Tafsir was transferring the foundations of the Islamic Revolution to society. From 1347 SH, he also started specialized Tafsir lessons for seminary students, and these lessons and Tafsir sessions continued until 1356 SH, before his arrest and exile to Iranshahr. Tafsir sessions continued during some years of his presidency and thereafter.
Teaching Dars-e Kharij
He began teaching Dars-e Kharij of Fiqh from 1369 SH and, until before the Ramadan War, taught chapters of Jihad, the book of Qisas, Makasib Muharramah and Salat al-Musafir.
Political Activities
Pre-Revolutionary Struggle Period
The background of the political-religious activities of Ayatollah Khamenei's family had provided him with an educational foundation for political-religious struggle. The starting point of his entry into political activities was his meeting with Seyyed Mojtaba Navvab Safavi (Mirlohi) in Mashhad, which, in his own words, sparked the first revolutionary flashes within him. His first meeting with Imam Khomeini took place in 1336 SH, but Imam Khomeini's political persona was first revealed to him during the bill on Provincial and Local Councils. With the start of the Islamic Movement led by Imam Khomeini in 1341 SH, Ayatollah Khamenei entered various arenas of struggle against the tyrannical regime. He was among the first individuals who began coordination and struggle activities in the period before the 15 Khordad Uprising of 1342 SH. In Bahman 1341 SH, following the referendum on the Provincial and Local Councils bill, Ayatollah Khamenei and his brother Seyyed Mohammad were tasked with delivering Ayatollah Mohammad Hadi Milani's report to Imam Khomeini in the form of a letter regarding the reaction of the people of Mashhad to this referendum.
First Arrest
In 1342 SH, on the eve of the month of Muharram, Imam Khomeini tasked him with conveying messages to Ayatollah Milani and the scholars, clerics, and religious groups of Khorasan to continue the Movement and inform the people against the propaganda of the Pahlavi regime. In these messages, Imam Khomeini outlined the strategy of the struggle and had requested that scholars and clerics, in order to explain the crimes of the Pahlavi regime, mention the incident of Feyziyeh School from the seventh day of Muharram in their sermons. Ayatollah Khamenei himself, to achieve the goal and implement Imam Khomeini's strategy, went to Birjand—which was under the influence of the Alam family—and spoke in pulpits and gatherings of that city about the Feyziyeh School incident and the dominance of Israel over Islamic societies. Following these speeches, he was arrested on 12 Khordad 1342 SH, coinciding with the seventh day of Muharram 1383 AH, and imprisoned in Mashhad. After his release, Ayatollah Mohammad Hadi Milani visited him. Afterward, Ayatollah Khamenei continued his political activities by attending meetings held at Ayatollah Milani's house to continue the Islamic Movement in the absence of Imam Khomeini—who was under house arrest. Shortly thereafter, he returned to the Qom Seminary and, with the help and cooperation of some struggle-oriented clerics, engaged in reorganizing political activities through consultative sessions and propaganda. He was among the clerics who, on 11 Dey 1342 SH, sent a telegram to Ayatollah Seyyed Mahmoud Taleghani, Mehdi Bazargan, and Yadollah Sahabi, who had been imprisoned in support of Imam Khomeini. At the same time, Khorasani students of the Qom Seminary, under his guidance, wrote and published a letter to Hassanali Mansur, the then Prime Minister, protesting the continuation of Imam Khomeini's house arrest; among them were himself, Abolqasem Khazali, and Mohammad Abaee Khorasani.
Second Arrest (Revolutionary Travels)
In Bahman 1342 SH, coinciding with Ramadan 1383 AH, he traveled to Zahedan to propagate and explain the issues of the Islamic Movement. His speeches in Zahedan mosques and the public reception of them prompted the regime to arrest him and transfer him to Qezel Qaleh Prison—which at that time was the detention place for political and security prisoners. On 14 Esfand 1342 SH, Ayatollah Khamenei's arrest warrant was converted to a commitment not to leave the judicial jurisdiction of Tehran, and he was released from prison. From then on until the victory of the Islamic Revolution, his activities were constantly under the control of security agents.
Formation of the Eleven-Member Meeting of the Qom Seminary
In Autumn 1343 SH, Ayatollah Khamenei returned from Qom to Mashhad and, alongside caring for his father, engaged in scientific and political activities. He was among the clerics who, shortly after the exile of Imam Khomeini to Turkey, wrote a letter to the then government—the Amir-Abbas Hoveida government—on 29 Bahman 1343 SH, protesting the country's dire situation and Imam Khomeini's exile. Seyyed Ali Khamenei, along with Abdolrahim Rabani Shirazi, Ali Fayz Meshkini, Ebrahim Amini, Mehdi Haeri Tehrani, Hossein-Ali Montazeri, Ahmad Azari Qomi, Ali Qoddusi, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Seyyed Mohammad Khamenei, and Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah Yazdi, were the eleven members of the group formed with the aim of strengthening and reforming the Qom Seminary for struggle against the Pahlavi regime. The struggle was based on thought and belief, and this was the reason for its progress, and the clerics served as the body and think tank of the struggle. At this stage of the struggle, they had concluded that without an organization, they would have less success, and its existence would prevent the collapse of the struggle by the regime. This group took on the planning of the struggle flow and its continuation during Imam Khomeini's exile. This group is referred to as the first secret organization of the Qom Seminary; the group's activities were discovered by SAVAK in late 1345 SH, and following that, some members were arrested and others, including Ayatollah Khamenei, were pursued.
Founding of the Society of Teachers of the Qom Seminary
Alongside this, another session was established which forms the foundation of today's Society of Teachers. "We are among those who were members and participated in the first meetings of the Society of Teachers. Both I was there, and I think Mr. Hashemi was... Messrs. Ali Meshkini, Rabbani-Shirazi, Naser Makarem, and... a group of older individuals also participated." These sessions and the decisions made therein changed the atmosphere of the Qom Seminary. The associates and organizers of these decisions were people other than the session members; young and interested seminary students. These activities opened up the closed and gloomy atmosphere of Qom. Ayatollah Khamenei, during these same days, secretly undertook the translation and publication of the book The Future in the Realm of Islam. In this book, two important issues are mentioned: Western pressure and communist propaganda, and an outlook of the future moving towards Islam is presented. SAVAK confiscated the book and arrested individuals associated with its publication, but failed to arrest and detain Ayatollah Khamenei (the book's translator). Ayatollah Khamenei was active for a period in Tehran and Karaj during those days. However, due to his refusal to commit to not expressing anti-regime statements, his activity in Karaj was prevented. He also led congregational prayers for a period at the Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) Mosque in Tehran.
Third Arrest
Following the arrest and exile of Ayatollah Sayyid Hassan Qomi in Farvardin 1346, which occurred after his anti-regime speech at Goharshad Mosque, Ayatollah Khamenei asked Ayatollah Milani to protest this action. This action caused SAVAK agents to become aware of his presence in Mashhad and arrest him on 14 Farvardin of the same year, during the funeral ceremony of Ayatollah Sheikh Mojtaba Qazvini. He was released on 26 Tir of the same year. Shortly after his release, he went to Tehran to visit political prisoners. Ayatollah Khamenei, through communication with fighters in various points, sought to organize fighters and struggle, train new generations of fighters and revolutionaries based on Islamic thought, particularly among seminary students and university students, sought to derive the principles of struggle from the Quran and Hadith, counter materialistic Marxist and Liberalist thoughts and the like, deepen Islamic thought and struggle within the framework of Imam Khomeini's movement, and despite the Pahlavi regime's opposition, achieved many successes. A multidimensional view of struggle, utilization of the vast information network of Imam Khomeini's movement and the widespread medium of the pulpit, and his pragmatism, were among some of the reasons for his success. Following the devastating earthquake in southern Khorasan on 9 Shahrivar 1347, a group of Khorasan clerics, led by Ayatollah Khamenei, departed for Ferdows with the aim of aiding and organizing public assistance for the earthquake victims. This action faced opposition from local security officials, but the aid group carried out effective measures in assisting the earthquake victims. Ayatollah Khamenei's two-month presence and aid delivery in Ferdows created an opportunity to become closely acquainted with the problems of the earthquake-stricken people and familiarize himself with them, and to explain the message of the Islamic Movement to the people of that region in gatherings, pulpits, and religious groups. These activities aroused the sensitivity of the Khorasan Police and SAVAK, and his stay in Ferdows was terminated. In late Dey of the same year, he intended to perform pilgrimage to the Holy Shrines and meet Imam Khomeini, but faced opposition and prevention by SAVAK. This restriction continued until the victory of the Islamic Revolution, and he was subject to a travel ban.
Sentenced to Six Months Imprisonment
Ayatollah Khamenei was sentenced to six months in prison on charges of membership in an eleven-member group. Following the publication of this news in Kayhan newspaper and the summoning of Ayatollah Khamenei to the appellate court, he refrained from appearing in court after consulting with a number of Mashhad scholars. Although he was under pursuit, he maintained contact with some combatant clerics including Sayyid Mahmoud Taleghani, Sayyid Mohammad-Reza Saeedi, Mohammad-Javad Bahonar, Mohammad-Reza Mahdavi-Kani, Morteza Motahhari, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, and Fadlallah Mahallati in Mashhad and Tehran, and despite residing in Mashhad, he attended many gatherings of scholars and combatant clerics in Tehran. He would make decisions and take action by holding sessions with the presence of a number of clerics regarding the dispatch of clerics and seminary students to villages around Mashhad. Ayatollah Khamenei continued his struggles with an ideological view of the Islamic Movement and the intellectual cultivation of the people based on that foundation. He strove to strengthen their religious-belief foundations by holding interpretation sessions for seminary students and university students and delivering speeches for various segments of the people. He believed that the realization of Islamic ideals was possible within a context of cultural efforts, and popular uprisings would not be realized except through the expansion of awareness and knowledge. The intellectual movement was considered an active and combatant flow in universities. He considered this approach necessary in response to the activities of political flows adhering to Marxist thought. In this regard, he held scientific activities and sessions with the participation of fighters and Islamic thinkers in the year 1348.
Speeches at Hosseiniye Ershad and Al-Javad Mosque, Tehran
Ayatollah Khamenei had connections and collaborations with many intellectuals and famous intellectual centers active in the field of struggle. He was invited in 1348 to deliver speeches at some active political-Islamic centers in Tehran, including Hosseiniye Ershad and Al-Javad Mosque in Tehran, in order to explain influential topics in the process of the struggle. His speeches at Hosseiniye Ershad, which took place in late 1348 following an invitation by Ayatollah Morteza Motahhari, as well as his speech at Al-Javad Mosque in Tehran, at the invitation of the Islamic Association of Engineers, had a significant impact on enlightening the young generation, especially students and schoolchildren. In Spring 1349, Ayatollah Khamenei, aiming to deepen the process of the Islamic movement and strengthen the ideological foundations of the struggle against the Pahlavi regime, established a series of sessions where he discussed and examined his struggle idea based on formulating a worldview and Islamic Ideology by inviting individuals such as Morteza Motahhari, Seyyed Mahmoud Taleghani, Seyyed Abolfazl Zanjani, Mehdi Bazargan, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Yadollah Sahabi, Abbas Shibanii, and Kazem Sami. This series of sessions led to the formulation of a worldview and Islamic ideology.
Fourth Arrest
With the death of Ayatollah Seyyed Mohsen Hakim in Khordad 1349, the discussion of Marja'iyyah, which had been raised in the past after the demise of Ayatollah Borujerdi, was seriously raised in society again. Meanwhile, Ayatollah Khamenei, while honoring the jurisprudential and scientific status of Ayatollah Hakim and sending condolence messages to some scholars, made doubled efforts to consolidate the Marja'iyyah of Imam Khomeini as the most learned source of emulation. During the same period and following the martyrdom of Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Reza Saeedi on 20 Khordad 1349 by SAVAK, who was one of the most important promoters of Imam Khomeini at that time, he tried, along with a number of other strugglers, to benefit from the emerging situation in favor of the struggle while guiding public reactions in protest of his martyrdom. It was due to his maneuvering during this period that a number of seminary students proceeded to prepare and distribute statements in support of Imam Khomeini and criticizing the regime and SAVAK. Consequently, with the expansion of the scope of protests and struggles, SAVAK Mashhad arrested him on 2 Mehr 1349 and detained him for a while in the Khorasan Division Prison—the only security prison in Mashhad. In Muharram 1391/ Esfand 1349, although Ayatollah Khamenei's name had been placed on SAVAK's list of prohibited preachers, he delivered speeches at the Ansar al-Hussein Group in Tehran. In 1350, Ayatollah Khamenei, at the invitation of Ayatollah Taleghani, delivered speeches at the Hedayat Mosque in Tehran, which was a center of attention for students and struggling youth.
Three Arrests in the Year 1350
Following the boycott of the 2500th Anniversary Celebrations by Imam Khomeini, SAVAK took strict measures regarding the activities of struggling clerics. Accordingly, he was summoned to SAVAK Mashhad in Mordad 1350 and detained for a while in the Khorasan Division Prison. After his release, he continued his activities and was arrested two more times in the same year; one in Aban 1350, which led to his short-term detention in the prison of the Khorasan Division. The other on 21 Azar of the same year, when he was sentenced to three months imprisonment on charges of acting against internal security.
Continuation of Lesson Sessions in Tehran, Mashhad, and Neyshabur
After his release, he expanded his political-social activities and frequently attended sessions of the Ansar al-Hussein Group and Narimak Mosque in Tehran, delivering speeches on religious and political topics. His lesson and interpretation sessions continued at Mirza Jafar School, Imam Hassan (peace be upon him) Mosque, and Qebleh Mosque, as well as at his home in Mashhad. His audience in these sessions included schoolchildren, university students, young seminary students, and groups from various strata of society, whom he acquainted with revolutionary and political Islamic thought. Many of his session attendees and students later engaged in raising awareness at the peak of struggles in various parts of the country. Reports of his speech and lesson sessions were reflected by security agents multiple times. From SAVAK's perspective, individuals like Ayatollah Khamenei were considered intellectual and revolutionary instructors of the seminary schools who, while having connections with students and youth, promoted Imam Khomeini's struggle thoughts and sought to inform seminary students of political and social issues.
Ayatollah Khamenei traveled to Neyshabur for propagation in Farvardin 1352 and established a series of lessons on the Principles of Belief in the mosques of that city, which were held once a week on Tuesdays. In Khordad 1352, SAVAK closed his interpretation sessions at Imam Hassan (peace be upon him) Mosque and his home. In Azar 1352, Ayatollah Khamenei, at the invitation of the founder and endower of Keramat Mosque, transferred his location for leading congregational prayers and his interpretation sessions to that mosque and turned the aforementioned mosque into a hub for the activity of students and young seminary students. In reaction to his extensive political activities, SAVAK Mashhad prevented him from leading congregational prayers in that mosque.
Sixth Imprisonment; The Hardest Period of Incarceration
In Aban 1353, at the invitation of Ayatollah Mohammad Mofatteh, the prayer leader of Javid Mosque in Tehran, who had been banned from preaching at the time, he delivered a sermon at that mosque. Following this, SAVAK proceeded to arrest Ayatollah Mofatteh and close down Javid Mosque as one of the important centers of struggle. Subsequently, Ayatollah Khamenei's residence was also searched by SAVAK in Azar of the same year. SAVAK announced the reason for the search was his statements in a private session regarding the necessity of forming a group to organize the struggle and using opportunities to advance the goals of the Islamic movement in Mashhad. Ultimately, Ayatollah Khamenei was arrested for the sixth time in Dey 1353 and this time was transferred to the Joint Committee Against Sabotage Prison in Tehran, and according to his own account, he experienced the most difficult and hardest imprisonment conditions of his life. During his imprisonment, he was not allowed visits, and no information about his condition and location of imprisonment was given to his family either.
Activities Leading to Exile
He was released from prison on 2 Shahrivar 1354, but was under surveillance by security agents, and leading prayers, preaching, teaching, and his interpretation sessions were banned even in his own home. However, despite all political and security restrictions, he secretly continued his interpretation sessions and his enlightening revolutionary activities and measures, and also continued paying stipends to seminary students on behalf of Imam Khomeini. In late 1354, he secretly published the book Outline of Islamic Thought in the Quran under the pseudonym Sayyid Ali Hosseini. In Khordad 1355, following the occurrence of floods in Quchan, he formed a group that was dispatched from Mashhad to that city to aid the flood victims, and by settling in the Awadiyeh School of that city, they engaged in relief work.
In SAVAK documents, there are reports about the political activities of Ayatollah Khamenei and his father in late 1355 in Mashhad, where they engaged in supporting Imam Khomeini and propagating the Islamic movement. Ayatollah Khamenei delivered speeches against the regime in Muharram 1396/Dey 1355 and while holding a series of discussion sessions to explain the intellectual-cultural atmosphere, especially for students and youth, as well as attending sessions of scholars and clerics in Tehran, he intensified the struggle process. On the other hand, SAVAK also tried to infiltrate those sessions to obtain documents against him and other fighters. Following the death of Ali Shariati in London on 29 Khordad 1356, Ayatollah Khamenei attended his commemoration and mourning ceremony. His attendance was due to his long-standing acquaintance and connection with Shariati and his father.
Exile to Iranshahr
Following the death of Ayatollah Sayyid Mustafa Khamenei on 1 Aban 1356 in Najaf Ashraf, Ayatollah Khamenei, along with some fighters, held a memorial ceremony on 6 Aban at Mollah Hashem Mosque. During those days, along with a number of scholars from Mashhad, they sent a telegram of condolence to Imam Khomeini in Najaf. With the death of Ayatollah Sayyid Mustafa Khamenei and the developments that followed, the Islamic movement entered its final stage and serious movements for the victory of the revolution began.
The Pahlavi regime, in reaction to these activities, despite announcing a policy of political open space, restricted the activities of fighters more with suppression and repression. Following the implementation of this policy, some prominent fighters were sentenced to exile, among whom was Ayatollah Khamenei. He was sentenced by the Khorasan Social Security Commission to three years of exile in Iranshahr, and SAVAK agents raided his home on 23 Azar 1356, arrested him, and transferred him to Iranshahr. The regime's goal from this action was to cut off his connection with the people and fighters and, consequently, his failure in the matter of struggle and exposure against the government. However, due to his interaction with Sunni, he gained fame and popularity among the people of Iranshahr, and by utilizing these opportunities, he conveyed the message of the revolution to the people of the furthest points of the country. His speeches at Al-Rasul Mosque in Iranshahr and the coming and going of scholars and fighting clerics, revolutionary forces, and various strata of people to his home, caused security forces to restrict his activities and prevent people from coming and going.
On 19 Farvardin 1357, following the massacre of people in Yazd, he condemned this brutal action of the Pahlavi regime in a letter to Ayatollah Mohammad Sadooghi and, while encouraging the people to continue the struggle, honored the memory of the martyrs of that incident. This letter was distributed as a proclamation throughout the country. The occurrence of flooding in Iranshahr on 11 Tir 1357 provided an opportunity for Ayatollah Khamenei, given his previous experiences, to undertake the management of the only relief group. Through coordinations with clerics of various cities including Yazd and Mashhad, he managed to gather public aid from all corners of Iran and distribute it among the flood victims. During his exile, Ayatollah Khamenei maintained contact with fighters and leading clerics of the struggle in Iranian cities and continuously corresponded with them regarding the Islamic Movement; through this means, he became aware of many events and occurrences and participated in many collective decisions of the clerics through various correspondences.
Exile to Jiroft
With the intensification of the Islamic Revolution on the eve of Ramadan, 28 Shaban 1398/ 28 Tir 1357, a number of seminary students of Mashhad protested against the continuation of Ayatollah Khamenei's exile and demanded his return to Mashhad, which led to the intervention of law enforcement officers. The expansion of Ayatollah Khamenei's revolutionary and public activities in line with directing and organizing the struggle in Iranshahr and surrounding regions and cities on one hand, and his increasing popularity and influence among various strata of the people of that region on the other hand, prompted security officials to change his place of exile to Jiroft, which was more remote and had more restrictions compared to Iranshahr. Therefore, he was transferred to Jiroft on 22 Mordad.
Ayatollah Khamenei's political struggles in Jiroft did not cease either, and from the very beginning of his arrival in that city, he engaged in denunciations against the Pahlavi government through a speech at the Jameh Mosque. One of the speeches, which took place on 15 Shahrivar 1357, led to the holding of demonstrations and chanting of revolutionary slogans by the people. This happened when demonstrations and marches were not yet common in small cities. He was among the exiled clerics who, in a letter to Ayatollah Seyyed Abdolhossein Dastgheib, while describing the country's events and mentioning the crimes of the Pahlavi regime in Shiraz, Mashhad, Isfahan, and Jahrom, presented solutions for the continuation of the Islamic Movement until the overthrow of the Pahlavi government. During this period, he secretly traveled to Kahnooj and delivered denouncing speeches.
Return to Mashhad
With the expansion of public struggles and the disintegration of the regime's pillars and its inability to control the revolution's process, Ayatollah Khamenei returned from Jiroft to Mashhad on 1 Mehr 1357 and continued his activities there in organizing revolutionary affairs, intensifying the struggle process, and pursuing various issues of the Movement. During Imam Khomeini's stay in France, via a telegram along with some of the fighting clerics of Mashhad, he stated that the Imam's temporary residence in France was a factor for the emergence of a wave of hope, decision, and determination in the hearts of the people and a sign of the Imam's firm resolve in the way of saving the Muslim nation of Iran, and requested him to issue the necessary orders for continuing the struggle. In the end, they requested Imam Khomeini's return to Iran.
Ayatollah Khamenei's struggle activities in Mashhad accelerated within a short period, and while organizing movements and public demonstrations, he delivered denouncing speeches at gatherings of the people of Mashhad. At the same time, he was in constant contact and consultation with the Imam's office and other fighters. Following this connection, Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini contacted Ayatollah Sadooghi from Paris on 10 Aban 1357 and announced Imam Khomeini's desire to meet him and Ayatollah Khamenei. Ayatollah Khamenei was among the clerics who, by speaking at Saadabad Stadium in Mashhad at a large gathering of that city's educators, demanded the return of Imam Khomeini and the formation of an Islamic government. In the last days of Aban, along with Seyyed Abdolkarim Hasheminejad, by going to Quchan, Shirvan, and Bojnord counties and holding speech sessions, he endeavored to strengthen the revolution's flow in those cities. The increasing and influential activities of Ayatollah Khamenei in Mashhad prompted the security officials of the Pahlavi regime to arrest him. In SAVAK reports, Ayatollah Khamenei is mentioned as one of the prominent standard-bearers of the revolution in Khorasan.
Ashura 1978 Speech at Imam Reza Shrine
On 19 and 20 Azar 1357, coinciding with تاسوعا and the Ashura of Hossein, he delivered an impassioned speech at a large gathering of marchers in Mashhad and recited the sermon of the night of عاشورا in the holy shrine of Imam Reza (peace be upon him) in the name of Imam Khomeini, and with this revolutionary action, shattered the traditional taboo of the Pahlavi government, which until then had performed the aforementioned ceremony formally and with prayers for Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Also, on the day of Ashura, he organized the massive demonstrations of the people of Mashhad and spoke at their large gathering. He was among the clerics who, on 24 Azar, in protest against the attack by Pahlavi regime agents on Shah Reza Hospital of Mashhad (current Imam Reza (peace be upon him)), proposed a sit-in plan at said hospital. On their way to the sit-in, many people joined them and became among the sit-in protesters. The protesters, by issuing a statement while detailing the crimes of the Pahlavi government agents, demanded their punishment and emphasized the overthrow of the Pahlavi government and the return of Imam Khomeini. This action of theirs found wide repercussion, and numerous statements were published in solidarity and support of them across Iran.
9 Dey 1978 Mashhad Demonstrations
Ayatollah Khamenei, on 9 Dey 1357, along with a number of combatant clerics of Mashhad, moved ahead of a huge crowd of people towards the Governorate building in order to align the staff of the Khorasan Governorate with the revolution flow. However, despite their peaceful efforts, the security forces stationed at the Governorate opened fire on the people. Following that, the demonstrating crowd poured into the streets and set fire to some buildings and government centers. On the night of the incident, the clerics of Mashhad, including Ayatollah Khamenei, by holding a meeting, tried to prevent further conflict and killing of people the next day, but agents of the Pahlavi regime brought about the tragedy of Bloody Sunday 10 Dey 1357 by massacring the demonstrating people. Following the occurrence of these events, Ayatollah Khamenei, along with a number of combatant clerics of Mashhad, issued a statement condemning this incident and the continuation of the movement.
Membership in the Revolutionary Council
With the acceleration of the collapse process of the Pahlavi government and the appearance of signs of the final victory of the Islamic movement, Imam Khomeini issued the decree for the formation of the Islamic Revolutionary Council on 22 Dey 1357. Ayatollah Khamenei, who had been selected by the Imam for membership in that council, with the pivotal role he had in the developments of the Islamic Revolution in Mashhad, left this city and came to Tehran in late Dey 1357 and settled in Refah School, and along with other combatants, especially Ayatollahs Beheshti, Motahhari, and Mofatteh, took an active role in preparing for the final stage of the Islamic Revolution's victory and planning for the future. After the formation of the Welcome Committee for Imam Khomeini by the Islamic Revolutionary Council, he undertook the responsibility of its Propaganda Committee.
Sit-in at Tehran University Mosque
Following the closing of the country's airports by Bakhtiar's order and the prevention of Imam Khomeini's return to Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, along with Ayatollah Beheshti and several prominent combatant clerics, in protest against this government action, organized a massive sit-in at Tehran University Mosque, which took on vast dimensions with the joining of other clerics, academics, and people. The night before the start of the sit-in, Ayatollah Beheshti spoke at Behesht-e Zahra, and Ayatollah Khamenei read a resolution he had prepared for the people, and with this program, the sit-in the next day at Tehran University Mosque was finalized. Ayatollah Khamenei during the sit-in, by forming a headquarters and with the participation of some of the sit-in combatants, undertook actions, the most important of which were delivering speeches, publishing statements, and publishing a newsletter named Tahasun. The protesters on the 8th of Bahman, by issuing a statement, emphasized that they would continue their sit-in until the airports were opened to Imam Khomeini. This sit-in, which continued until the morning of the 12th of Bahman, turned Tehran University Mosque into an influential hub in the struggle process. At the historic moment of Imam Khomeini's entry into the homeland on 12 Bahman 1357, Ayatollah Khamenei, along with clerics, clergymen, and Islamic combatants, was present at Mehrabad Airport to welcome Imam Khomeini. During the Fajr Decade of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei was always by Imam Khomeini's side and advised him on many matters, and also undertook the responsibility of the Propaganda Committee of the Imam's Office with the aim of countering news and propaganda conspiracies of internal and external opponents of the Islamic government, countering opportunisms of various political parties and groups, organizing and publishing news, and publishing a newsletter named Imam. He himself also wrote several articles and published them in that newsletter.
Political activities during the first decade of the Islamic Revolution
Revolutionary Council
One of the earliest arenas of Ayatollah Khamenei's role in the formation of the Islamic Republic system was membership and activity in the Revolutionary Council. This council was formed in early Aban 1357 following Imam Khomeini's migration to France in Mehr 1357 and the emergence of signs of the Islamic Revolution's victory and the entry of the Islamic movement into the revolutionary stage, by Imam Khomeini's opinion, but due to various considerations, it was officially announced on the eve of the Revolution's victory on 22 Dey 1357. Members were gradually selected by Imam Khomeini. The initial members of the Council were Messrs. Morteza Motahhari, Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini Beheshti, Seyyed Abdolkarim Mousavi Ardabili, Mohammad-Reza Mahdavi Kani, Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Mohammad-Javad Bahonar, and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Later, other individuals joined the Council. Ayatollah Khamenei attended these sessions in late Dey. At this juncture, the Council was responsible for important decisions regarding the struggle. Among these were negotiations with officials of the Pahlavi government and officials of foreign countries, including the United States, as well as forming the Welcome Committee for Imam Khomeini. Another important action of the Revolutionary Council in the period before the victory was introducing Mehdi Bazargan as the head of the Interim Government to Imam Khomeini.
After the victory of the Revolution, the responsibilities entrusted to the Revolutionary Council included: legislation in the absence of a legislative body, performing part of the executive branch's duties after the merger of the Interim Government and the Revolutionary Council in Tir 1358, and performing all of them after the resignation of the Interim Government on 14 Aban 1358 onwards. Alongside these main duties, it was a reference for resolving problems and crises facing the nascent Islamic Republic system and advising the Imam. Despite several changes in the composition of the Revolutionary Council members in its four periods until the end of its activity on 29 Tir 1359, Ayatollah Khamenei remained a permanent member. Standing against the opinions and biased positions of the so-called «liberal» members of the Council, repeated warnings regarding the necessity of preventing the infiltration of members and supporters of the Tudeh Party of Iran and other parties and groups opposing the Islamic Revolution into the army and the country's cultural sphere were among his important positions in the Council's sessions and decisions.
He believed that representatives from various strata of society should be present in the Revolutionary Council. The issues of Kurdistan, Sistan and Baluchestan, and other regions of the country, and the necessity of preserving unity were among other important topics of his attention in the Revolutionary Council. He believed that the Interim Government had shown weakness in the Kurdistan issue and it should be resolved through various means, preventing its spread to other ethnic regions of the country. Regarding the Sistan and Baluchestan region, based on the experience of his presence during exile and knowledge of the political and social conditions of that region, he emphasized improving the economic and livelihood conditions of the people of that land. In this regard, on 9 Farvardin 1358, he was commissioned by Imam Khomeini to head a delegation to that region to address the demands and problems of the people and prepare a report on the situation of that region. On this trip, in addition to the aforementioned mission, he met with some local leaders and influentials of the region and explained and elaborated the policies of the Islamic Republic system for them.
Supporting the establishment and strengthening of revolutionary and popular institutions such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Jahad-e Sazandegi was among his other principled positions in the Revolutionary Council.
Deputyship of Martyr Chamran
With the merger of the Interim Government and the Revolutionary Council at the end of Tir 1358, some members of the Revolutionary Council entered some sensitive ministries from that Council, among whom Ayatollah Khamenei was selected as the Deputy for Revolutionary Affairs at the Ministry of Defense. At this time, Dr. Mostafa Chamran was the Minister of Defense. Also, during the merger of the Revolutionary Council and the Interim Government, which was done with the aim of greater concentration in the executive branch, he was selected as a member of the Security Ministers Commission, which was responsible for the supervision and overall responsibility of all disciplinary, military, and security affairs, including the crises of Gonbad, Kurdistan, and Khuzestan and confronting the actions of counter-revolutionary parties and groups.
Headship of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Among his other missions from the Revolutionary Council was responsibility for the Documentation Center and also the headship of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on 3 Azar 1358. Before this, he also attended some sessions of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a representative of the Revolutionary Council. The reason for his selection as the head of the Corps was the remaining some differences within the body and organization of the Corps that had formed in the months after the victory of the Islamic Revolution and had not resulted from mediatory efforts. He, who was among the supporters of popular military forces, especially the Corps, during his presence at the head of that force, tried to give it an appropriate organization in addition to resolving existing differences. He resigned from the responsibility of the Corps' headship on 5 Esfand 1358 due to candidacy in the first term elections of the Islamic Consultative Assembly.
Establishment of the Islamic Republic Party
Ayatollah Khamenei, in the days leading up to the victory of the Islamic Revolution and thereafter, concurrently with his effective presence in the Revolutionary Council and managing revolutionary affairs during the transition period, acted alongside Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini Beheshti, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Seyyed Abdolkarim Mousavi Ardabili, and Mohammad-Javad Bahonar to establish a revolutionary organization. This organization, named the Islamic Republic Party, officially announced its existence on 29 Bahman 1357, but its founding foundations date back to meetings in Mashhad in the summer of 1356, in which some activists, including the future founders of the Islamic Republic Party, sought to form an assembly and organized organization to act against the Pahlavi government and develop Islamic thought. On this basis, during its informal activity period in the months leading to the revolution's victory, the party played an effective role in holding gatherings and speeches, in which Ayatollah Khamenei's activity in this field was notable.
Among the reasons for the establishment of the Islamic Republic Party, one can point to filling the void caused by the lack of an organized and up-to-date structure for safeguarding and supporting the nascent Islamic Republic system, helping to continue the revolution and maintain integrity and the people's presence in the scene, laying the fundamental foundations of the Islamic Republic system, safeguarding the centrality of Imam Khomeini's role in the post-revolution era, deepening authentic Islamic thought in the minds of the people, moment-to-moment political guidance of the people, helping to provide human resources for executive bodies to achieve the goals of the Islamic Revolution, and taking explicit and honest positions against the tricks and deceptions of internal and external enemies. He was among the preparers of the party's charter. In the division of members' duties, he also undertook the task of party propaganda. He was a founding member and a member of the party's Central Council, and overall, during the party's establishment period, he played more of an explanatory role and presented the party's positions in the form of speeches and pamphlets. He played a role in establishing the party branch in Mashhad and opened its office on 26 Esfand 1357.
Secretary-General of the Islamic Republic Party
After Ayatollah Beheshti and Dr. Bahonar—the first and second secretaries-general of the party—Ayatollah Khamenei was elected as the third secretary-general of the party by the Central Council of the Party in Shahrivar 1360. In the years following the victory of the revolution until the consolidation of the Islamic Republic system in the 1360s, the Islamic Republic Party acted as an important pillar of the governance outside the official political structure and was a constituent of the foundations of the Islamic Republic system.
He considered the Islamic Republic Party an essential institution for protecting the entirety of the nascent Islamic Republic system. The first congress of the party was held in Ordibehesht 1362, and Ayatollah Khamenei was elected for the second time as the party secretary-general and a member of the Central Council and the Arbitration Council of the Party. During his presidency, he participated in Islamic Republic Party meetings in Tehran and counties, and while explaining the missions and goals of the party, he answered questions from offices, branches, and party members.
He also held the secretary-generalship of the Islamic Republic Party concurrently with his second presidential term. In this period, the party's activities decreased for various reasons, including: resolving the crises of the early years of the revolution, establishing institutions and organizations required by the Islamic Republic in which the party played an effective role in their establishment, strengthening, and growth, the occupation of key party figures including Ayatollah Khamenei and Hashemi Rafsanjani in important system positions alongside the absence of some of its effective founders, Imam Khomeini's dissatisfaction with the party turning from a unifying factor to a factor of division and intensification of factionalism within the party, and it no longer had the efficiency of the early years. Therefore, Ayatollah Khamenei and Hashemi Rafsanjani, in early Khordad 1366, by writing a letter to Imam Khomeini and mentioning the aforementioned reasons, especially the emergence and intensification of factionalism within the party and its danger to the unity and cohesion of society, requested the cessation of its activities. Imam Khomeini also agreed to this request on 11 Khordad 1366, and subsequently, the party's activities were ceased.
Tehran Friday Prayer Imamate
Imam Khomeini appointed Ayatollah Khamenei as the Imam of Friday Prayers in Tehran on 24 Dey 1358, citing his good record and competence in knowledge and practice. He led the first Friday prayer on 28 Dey 1358. From this date until the incident of 6 Tir 1360, when an assassination attempt was made on him at the Abu Dharr Mosque in Tehran and he was severely injured as a result, he led the Tehran Friday prayers, except for the period from 21 Bahman to 6 Esfand 1359 when he was on a missionary trip in India. After that, he also always held this position.
His important and innovative action regarding Friday prayers was the proposal to hold seminars for Friday Prayer Imams in order to coordinate the network of Friday Prayer Imams within the country and the Islamic world, which, following Imam Khomeini's approval, the first seminar was held at the Feyziyeh School in Qom, and subsequently, numerous seminars were also held. In the Friday Prayer sermons, as an influential tribune, he presented the most important and decisive principled and strategic positions of the Islamic Republic system, and also contributed to deepening religious thought and political insight and vision of the society. Attention to Arabic sermons, the audience of which was the Muslims of the Islamic world, was also among the characteristics of his sermons.
Representation in the Islamic Consultative Assembly
Ayatollah Khamenei, after candidacy for the elections of the first legislative term of the Islamic Consultative Assembly in Esfand 1358, was supported by the great coalition of Imam's Line forces including the Combatant Clergy Association of Tehran, the Islamic Republic Party and several other Islamic organizations and groups in the Islamic Consultative Assembly elections and entered the Parliament from the Tehran electoral district. In the Parliament, he was a member and chairman of the Defense Affairs Commission.
During his chairmanship, numerous plans, bills, and issues were examined in that commission, among the most important of which were providing the recruitment needs of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, merging the Organization of the Mobilization of the Oppressed (Basij) into the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Kurdistan issue, border issues, the Baluchistan issue, and the new organization of the Army. Among his important positions during his representation, one can refer to his important and documented remarks in agreement with the proposal of political incompetence of Bani-Sadr for the presidency. With the start of the Iran-Iraq War on 31 Shahrivar 1359 and due to presence at the war fronts, he attended sessions of the Islamic Consultative Assembly less frequently, and after severe injury on 6 Tir 1360, he attended it on rare occasions. Upon election to the position of Presidency in Mehr 1360, he left the legislative branch.
Presence in the Sacred Defense
Ayatollah Khamenei, from the first hours of the start of the Iran-Iraq War, actively played a role in managing war issues. Hours after the start of the attack on the country's soil, he prepared the first statement regarding the aggression of the Iraqi Ba'ath Army against Iran and informed the people via radio. On the second day of the start of the war, he attended a session held at the Army Joint Staff to examine how to confront the Iraqi military aggression. And when it was decided that one of them should go to the war fronts to examine the issue, the first person who accepted this proposal was Ayatollah Khamenei. On 5 Mehr 1359, after Imam Khomeini's permission, in the capacity of a military figure, he was present at the war fronts to prepare a report on the status of the fronts and facilities of the Iranian forces in the area targeted by the aggression of Iraqi forces and help organize the forces to confront the enemy. Accordingly, he departed for the Southern Front and was stationed at that front until mid-Spring of 1360. After that, he was present at the Western Front. However, his presence was continuous, except for leading Tehran Friday Prayers, visiting and reporting to the Imam, or attending essential sessions, trips, and necessary speeches.
He participated in several military operations or their planning. Supporting and providing the weaponry and logistical needs of the Basij and IRGC forces was among his other activities in the battlefield. Most of his time at the fronts was spent guiding, supporting, and planning operations of the Irregular Warfare Headquarters—which was formed by Mustafa Chamran—. Among the special measures of this headquarters in which Ayatollah Khamenei played a direct role, was the formation of special military groups for tank hunting. He played an effective role in supporting the fronts of Khorramshahr, Abadan, and Susangerd, and played a significant role in strengthening popular military forces such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij and preparing their technical and equipment needs. Among his other efforts was creating coordination between the IRGC and the Army at the fronts and military operations.
Representation of the Imam in the Supreme Defense Council
By the order of Imam Khomeini on 20 Mehr 1359, the Supreme Defense Council was entrusted with all war affairs, and Ayatollah Khamenei, based on the Imam's decree on 20 Ordibehesht 1359, was his representative in this council and also its spokesperson. During this period, he was also Imam Khomeini's advisor on war affairs and issues. He usually conducted press interviews at the end of Supreme Defense Council sessions regarding the discussions and decisions of the council and informed the people of the council's decisions.
Operation Breaking the Siege of Abadan
He participated directly in the Operation Breaking the Siege of Abadan and believed regarding Khorramshahr that by adopting correct military measures, its fall could be prevented. He even wrote a letter in this regard to Abolhassan Banisadr, the President and Commander-in-Chief at the time, warning that if two armored brigades were deployed around Susangerd, the fall of the city could be prevented. However, Banisadr did not pay attention to that warning. Shortly after the start of the war, a group of international figures and organizations, as well as some countries, undertook activities to create peace between the two countries. Ayatollah Khamenei believed in this regard that until Iraq accepts Iran's main conditions including withdrawal to international borders, payment of damages, and punishment of the aggressor, no peace will emerge, and if Iraq does not accept these conditions, they will be forced out of their lands by force. He also believed that imposed peace is worse than war. Despite this, he considered the visits of peace delegations useful from the perspective that it helped clarify the extent of Saddam Hussein's crimes and his forces against the Iranian people and helped prove the oppression suffered by Iran and Saddam's aggression.
War, the Most Important Topic of the Presidency Period
During Ayatollah Khamenei's two terms of presidency, war was the top priority and the most important issue of the country. From 1360 to 1364, developments occurred in the war scene, and overall the balance on the war fronts shifted in Iran's favor. Iraqi forces were driven out of most of the occupied lands, and with the consensus of senior country officials including Ayatollah Khamenei as the Head of the Supreme Defense Council, a series of military operations were designed and executed. Concurrent with those developments, Iran's diplomatic presence in the international arena also became more frequent and active. During seven years out of the total eight years of his presidency, which coincided with the war, he dedicated a large part of his foreign negotiations to negotiating with peace goodwill delegations sent by international, Islamic, and regional organizations, or with important international and regional figures who had mediation missions. During the presidency period, due to the Imam's opposition to presence on the war fronts, he confined himself to some limited presences and visits, but in the final period of the war and after accepting the resolution, the critical situation of the fronts compelled him to proceed to the fronts to create a huge transformation after obtaining Imam Khomeini's consent. Also, Ayatollah Khamenei was the Head of the Supreme Council for War Support during the presidency period. This council was formed due to the special conditions of the war in 1365 and in order to better utilize the country's facilities in service of the war and take effective actions in mobilizing forces and facilities to meet the needs of the war fronts. Imam Khomeini, in response to his inquiry on 19 Bahman 1366, declared the council's resolutions executable until the end of the war. In the summer of 1367 and in the last year of Ayatollah Khamenei's presidency, with Iran's acceptance of Resolution 598, the Iraq-Iran war ended. The acceptance of Resolution 598 was approved in a session chaired by Ayatollah Khamenei and with the presence of high-ranking military officials on 26 Tir 1367, and Imam Khomeini also endorsed it. Imam Khomeini, in a message to the people of Iran, declared accepting the resolution a very bitter and unpleasant issue and solely due to the expediency of the Revolution and the Islamic Republic system of Iran: "Accepting this issue for me is more deadly than drinking poison; but I am satisfied with God's satisfaction and for His satisfaction I drank this gulp... In accepting this resolution, only the officials of the country of Iran have decided independently. And no one and no country has interfered in this matter." Following this decision, Ayatollah Khamenei as President in a letter dated 27 Tir 1367 to the then Secretary-General of the United Nations, Javier Perez de Cuellar, announced Iran's acceptance of UN Resolution 598.
Advisory Activities in the First Decade of the Islamic Revolution
A significant part of Ayatollah Khamenei's political and religious activities from the victory of the Islamic Revolution until his election to the presidency was advisory activities aimed at institutionalizing and consolidating the Islamic Republic system.
The Imam's Recommendation to Students to Refer to Ayatollah Khamenei
Following the martyrdom of Ayatollah Morteza Motahhari and the vacuum created by his absence among students and academics, Imam Khomeini on 23 Khordad 1358 during speeches to a gathering of students, named Ayatollah Khamenei an insightful individual and eloquent speaker, and designated him as the reference for addressing students' intellectual and ideological issues and countering the propaganda of parties and groups opposing the Islamic Republic system, especially Marxists in the university environment.
From this date until the start of the Iran-Iraq War on 31 Shahrivar 1359, he attended gatherings of students at the Tehran University Mosque on Mondays, and while leading the congregational Zuhr and Asr prayers and delivering speeches on important current issues, he would answer their intellectual and political questions. These sessions were later continued in major mosques of Tehran. The assassination attempt on him at the Abu Zar Mosque occurred during one of these same sessions.
Preventing the Dissolution of the Assembly of Experts for the Constitution
Another of his actions was countering efforts made by some members of the Provisional Government to dissolve the Assembly of Experts for the Constitution, which was in the process of formation. Accordingly, a letter signed by fifteen ministers and members of the Provisional Government had been prepared, and they intended to inform the people of the dissolution of the aforementioned assembly before informing Imam Khomeini and obtaining his opinion, and if Imam Khomeini objected, to resign en masse.
Ayatollah Khamenei, who participated in the Cabinet session on behalf of the Revolutionary Council, strongly opposed the aforementioned letter after it was raised in the session and emphasized the necessity of informing Imam Khomeini before its publication. Imam Khomeini also, upon becoming aware of the matter, opposed their request and emphasized the continuation of the legal work of the Assembly of Experts for the Constitution.
Propaganda Trip to India
On the second anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, which coincided with the beginning of the 15th century of the Lunar Hijri calendar, according to the decision of the Supreme Council of Islamic Propagation, various delegations were sent by the Islamic Republic system to different countries of the world to explain and elucidate the positions and viewpoints of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the characteristics of the Islamic Revolution for the nations, especially Muslim nations. Ayatollah Khamenei undertook the leadership of the delegation sent to India.
He traveled for two weeks in late Bahman and early Esfand 1359 to cities such as New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and the Kashmir region, and in speeches, meetings, conversations, and press interviews, especially with local press, university students and professors, Islamic associations and figures, and Shia of India, he explained and stated the real face of the Islamic Revolution of Iran and the Islamic Republic system and its important issues, especially the war with Iraq. He also met and conversed with Mrs. Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India, who was one of the credible and legitimate international figures.
Confrontation with Liberals and Banisadr
One of the important issues of Iranian society in the early years after the victory of the Islamic Revolution was the existence and activity of two influential factions known as the Line of Imam forces and the Liberals in the official political structure of the country. Most of the companions, associates, and advisors of Imam Khomeini, including Ayatollah Khamenei, were placed in the Line of Imam forces faction. The prominent figure of the Liberal faction, who had many ideological and political vision conflicts with the Line of Imam forces, was Abolhassan Banisadr.
Ayatollah Khamenei considered Banisadr the representative of a current that was the factor of division and conflict among the senior officials of the country and consequently caused division and dispersion in society. However, despite fundamental differences of opinion with Banisadr and his like-minded and supporting current, in order to preserve unity in society and due to Imam Khomeini's emphasis on it, he did not express his opposition in public gatherings. In some cases, he also brought judgments to Imam Khomeini. After Banisadr's clear deviation from the nature of the Islamic Revolution and the Constitution, and after the proposal of his political incompetence for the presidency in the Islamic Consultative Assembly on 30 Khordad 1360, Ayatollah Khamenei delivered a detailed and effective speech in agreement with the proposal.
Ayatollah Khamenei took an opposing stance against the Liberal and Nationalist faction in various cases from 1358 to 1st Tir 1360. He opposed the retention of the U.S. Military Advisory Group in Iran and its renaming by the Provisional Government. Regarding the selection of ministers, deputy ministers, and the issue of purification in government departments and organizations, he also opposed the selection of individuals who were not in the line of the Revolution and were supporters of the line of compromise with America or had relations with reactionary Arab countries and cases of this kind.
Failed Assassination by the Mujahedin
Ayatollah Khamenei was severely injured on 6 Tir 1360 while delivering a speech after Zuhr prayers at the Abu Zar Mosque, located in one of the southern areas of Tehran, due to the explosion of a bomb planted in a tape recorder. Imam Khomeini, in a message addressed to him, condemned the assassination plot against his life and praised him. As a result of this assassination attempt, he suffered serious injuries to the chest, shoulder, and right arm. Unofficial reports have identified the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization of Iran as the cause of this incident. Ayatollah Khamenei was the first individual to be assassinated in the events and currents after Banisadr's dismissal from the Commandership-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and the Presidency. He was discharged from the hospital on 18 Mordad 1360 and returned to the social and political scene again, and from 26 Mordad 1360, he attended sessions of the Islamic Consultative Assembly.
Presidency
First Term – Elected as President with 95 percent of the votes. Following the martyrdom of Mohammad-Ali Rajai – the second President of the Islamic Republic of Iran – the Central Council of the Islamic Republic Party and the Society of Teachers of the Qom Seminary unanimously elected him as the presidential candidate, despite his own objection, and Imam Khomeini, who had previously disagreed with clerics holding the presidency, approved his candidacy.
Following his nomination and confirmation of eligibility by the Guardian Council, various groups and figures supported his presidency. One of the most important supporters of Ayatollah Khamenei was the Coalition of Imam's Line Groups. The election was held on 10 Mehr 1360, and Ayatollah Khamenei was elected President by obtaining an absolute majority of votes (95.11 percent). On 17 Mehr 1360, Imam Khomeini endorsed his presidential decree, and on 21 Mehr, he was sworn in as the third President of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Islamic Consultative Assembly.
On 27 Mehr 1360, he introduced Ali-Akbar Velayati, who was a member of the Central Council of the Islamic Republic Party and among the forces of the Imam's Line, as Prime Minister to the Islamic Consultative Assembly, but he failed to obtain the majority votes of the representatives in the voting on 30 Mehr 1360. On 4 Aban 1360, he introduced Mir-Hossein Mousavi, who was a member of the Central Council of the Islamic Republic Party, editor-in-chief of the Jomhouri-ye Eslami newspaper, and Minister of Foreign Affairs in the governments of Rajai, Bahonar, and Mahdavi Kani, as Prime Minister to the Assembly. He managed to obtain the affirmative votes of the majority of Assembly representatives on 6 Aban 1360.
Ayatollah Khamenei began his presidency at a time when the presidency institution did not possess a suitable structure. Advisory groups and working groups to assist the President in performing legal duties had not yet been formed, and this created numerous problems for the President's performance. Gradually, the Presidency Office was formed with several advisors and working groups. Initially, Ayatollah Khamenei devoted part of his efforts to structuring the President's Office and the presidency institution. Later, following ambiguity in the description of the President's duties, the deficiency of which had become apparent especially in interaction with the Prime Minister during the first term, the Law on Presidential Authorities was prepared and drafted, and was approved by the Islamic Consultative Assembly on 16 Ordibehesht 1365.
The headline programs of Ayatollah Khamenei during the first four-year presidential term included: attention to matters related to the imposed war, achieving economic policies towards supporting the oppressed and those distant from the center, removal of Pahlavi regime influence from all aspects of the administrative, social, and political life of the people of Iran, discovering and utilizing human talents in all fields from technology to art, providing social, administrative, and judicial security to offer effective service to the people, ensuring security and freedom for all individuals loyal to the Islamic Republic system with any thought and ideology. In the second four-year term as well, while continuing the programs of the first term, at the top of which was the imposed war, drafting the bill of presidential authorities, reducing government interventionism and delegating affairs to the people, appointing competent, revolutionary, and efficient officials in the government, eliminating chronic and long-term poverty prevailing in society and people's lives, allocating agricultural lands to the people, transferring state industries to the cooperative sector, granting workers shares in factories, expanding and developing non-oil exports and reducing the country's reliance on oil income, people's participation in the country's economic and cultural affairs with government supervision, directing the country's cultural policy towards cultural independence were among the important programs of Ayatollah Khamenei. In the field of politics and foreign relations, his program included adopting an independent and balanced policy towards each of the countries of the world and decision-making based on the interests of the system and country along with decisiveness and clarity, non-alignment with East and West, giving importance to unity among Muslims of the world, serious attention to reclaiming the rights of Muslims of the world from global powers and continuous struggle against any action and movement towards the dominance of superpowers in the region, serious attention to the issue of Jerusalem and other usurped lands of Palestine and readiness for all-out struggle against the Zionist enemy, returning to the rich and authentic Islamic culture in the international arena as a barrier against enemies and plunderers, increasing activity and effective presence in international scenes.
Second Presidential Term
Given the experience of problems and disagreements with the Prime Minister and some members of the Cabinet during the first four-year presidential term, he was unwilling to participate in the presidential election for a second time. However, after Imam Khomeini deemed it his religious duty, he decided to run as a candidate in the fourth presidential election and asked the Imam to have discretion in selecting the Prime Minister, which the Imam accepted. After being re-elected as President, and on the eve of the Prime Ministerial selection, when it became known that Ayatollah Khamenei, due to dissatisfaction with the state of affairs managed by the Prime Minister, intended to nominate another individual for the premiership, some military figures expressed to the Imam that progress on the war fronts depended on Engineer Mousavi serving as Prime Minister again. Imam Khomeini accepted this view for the sake of the war's interests and ordered Ayatollah Khamenei to nominate Engineer Mousavi as Prime Minister. Ayatollah Khamenei, in obedience to the Imam's order and despite his own opposing view, nominated him to the Parliament. During Ayatollah Khamenei's second presidential term, disagreements between the President and the Prime Minister continued and even intensified in cases such as the nomination of cabinet members.
Political and Cultural Activities During the Presidency
Restructuring the Cultural Revolution Headquarters
On 8 Shahrivar 1362, Ayatollah Khamenei undertook the first major restructuring of the Cultural Revolution Headquarters based on Imam Khomeini's decree. The Imam issued this decree in response to his inquiry regarding the reopening of universities. Additionally, he carried out the second restructuring of the Cultural Revolution Headquarters based on Imam Khomeini's message on 19 Azar 1363. In this restructuring, the Cultural Revolution Headquarters was renamed the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, and the President became the head of this council. Ayatollah Khamenei held this position until the end of his second presidential term in Tir 1368, and during these years, he played an effective role in formulating the country's important cultural policies.
Activating the Foreign Policy Apparatus
During Ayatollah Khamenei's eight-year presidency, Iran's foreign policy and diplomatic apparatus became more active. One of the indicators of the development of foreign policy and relations was the President's trips to various countries to expand relations, which began during the first presidential term and expanded during the second term. During his first presidential term, from 15 to 20 Shahrivar 1363, he traveled to the countries of Syria, Libya, and Algeria, and during the second term, from 23 Dey to 3 Bahman 1364, he traveled to the Asian and African countries of Pakistan, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Angola, and Mozambique. From 11 to 15 Shahrivar 1365, he traveled to Zimbabwe again to participate in the 8th summit of the heads of Non-Aligned Countries in Harare. During this trip, he spoke at the summit of heads of state and met and conversed with some leaders of Non-Aligned Countries. From 2 to 6 Esfand 1367, he traveled to Yugoslavia and Romania, and from 19 to 26 Ordibehesht 1368, he traveled to China and North Korea.
Ayatollah Khamenei participated in the 42nd session of the UN General Assembly on 31 Shahrivar 1366 and, in his speech, elaborated on the views and principled positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the heads of world governments. This was the first presence of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the UN General Assembly. A notable point in the trip to the UN was the immense reception by Iranians and Muslims residing in New York and international press members, and his activities to explain the conditions of the Islamic Revolution, the Imposed War, and the policies of global arrogance towards Iran. Leading the Friday prayer of New York Muslims and delivering a sermon were also among the interesting and important points of this trip. Among Ayatollah Khamenei's other measures in the field of foreign policy, one can mention establishing coherent communication with Shia political groups in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Lebanon, creating understanding between them, and forming the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq. Such that he transformed the differences between them into unity and solidarity against their common enemy. The formation of the Party of Islamic Unity from the eight parties of Afghanistan, which ended their detrimental competition, as well as the formation of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, are important examples of this approach. During this period, the scope of Iran's support for Islamic fighters in Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, and Afghanistan was increased, and Iran's support granted a considerable regional and international status to Islamic parties and groups in those countries.
Visits, Meetings, and Provincial Trips
Meeting with various strata of the people, visiting various institutions and organizations, participating in project inauguration ceremonies, attending conferences, and provincial trips were among the other programs and actions of Ayatollah Khamenei during his presidency. Maintaining communication with the people, especially the families of martyrs, was one of Ayatollah Khamenei's key strategies during his presidency. On this basis, public meetings—on various occasions—in meetings with the families of martyrs, especially dropping by their homes, is considered one of his fixed programs and a notable initiative in the nature of the relationship between rulers and the people. Furthermore, Ayatollah Khamenei's trips to provinces and various regions of the country, aimed at meeting various strata of the people, especially the deprived stratum, and becoming acquainted with their issues and problems firsthand, resolving differences among local officials, following up on war-related matters and cooperation between the IRGC and the Army, meeting with scholars and elders of cities and villages, examining economic issues and problems, and the like, were among his initiatives, continuous and effective activities.
Imam Khomeini's Letter to Ayatollah Khamenei
On 16 Dey 1366, Imam Khomeini, in a letter to Ayatollah Khamenei regarding his statements in the Tehran Friday Prayer sermons on the subject of the limits of the Islamic government's authority and the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist, declared the Islamic government to be among the primary decrees of Islam and preceding all secondary decrees, and termed the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist as absolute. Ayatollah Khamenei, in response to the Imam's letter, announced his theoretical and practical compliance with the Imam's viewpoint. Also, in a private session, he raised the purpose of his statements in the Friday Prayer sermons with Imam Khomeini. Imam Khomeini immediately responded to this letter on the same day, and while appreciating Ayatollah Khamenei, wrote in part of it: "I have had close contact with Your Excellency since the years prior to the Revolution, and thanks to God Almighty, that contact remains to this day. I consider Your Excellency one of the capable arms of the Islamic Republic, and I know you as a brother who is familiar with jurisprudential issues and committed to them, and who strongly supports the jurisprudential foundations related to the Absolute Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist, and you are among the rare individuals among friends and those committed to Islam and Islamic foundations who shine like the sun."
First Chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council
Following disputes between the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Guardian Council on the approval of various bills, Imam Khomeini agreed to the formation of the Expediency Discernment Council on 17 Bahman 1366 in response to the letter from the heads of state (including Ayatollah Khamenei). Accordingly, Ayatollah Khamenei was appointed as the first Chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council. He held this position until the end of his presidency term.
Assignment of Multiple Missions by the Imam
During his eight-year presidency, Ayatollah Khamenei, like the years following the victory of the Revolution, was one of the close associates, advisors, and trusted figures of Imam Khomeini. For this reason, in numerous instances, Imam Khomeini assigned him missions beyond the duties of the presidency or accepted his proposals on various subjects. On 15 Farvardin 1362, he entrusted the management of Army and IRGC affairs to Ayatollah Khamenei. On 1 Aban 1362, he tasked him with pursuing Iran's claims from the USA and other countries. On 1 Azar of the same year, he agreed to Ayatollah Khamenei's proposal regarding the formation of the Army Intelligence Protection Organization. On 9 Dey 1362, he tasked him with re-examining the Ta'zirat Bill. On 23 Bahman 1367, the Imam tasked Ayatollah Khamenei to invite members of the Supreme Judicial Council to participate in the meeting of the Heads of the Three Branches and present their plans regarding the division of labor for the better management of that council. Finally, he agreed to the plan examined in the meeting of the Heads of the Three Branches. On 19 Esfand 1367, in a letter, he made him responsible for addressing the problems of Iraqis residing in Iran.
Presence in the Constitutional Review Council
In a decree on 4 Ordibehesht 1368 addressed to Ayatollah Khamenei, Imam Khomeini appointed a committee consisting of twenty people, including Ayatollah Khamenei, to form the Constitutional Review Council along with five representatives of the Islamic Consultative Assembly elected by the Islamic Consultative Assembly, and to engage in amending, reviewing, and completing the Constitution on five subjects. After the formation of the aforementioned council, Ayatollah Meshkini was elected as Chairman, and Ayatollah Khamenei and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani were elected as First and Second Vice-Chairmen of the Council, respectively. The Council discussed and decided on five main topics over the course of forty-one sessions: Leadership conditions, concentration in the Executive and Judiciary branches, concentration in the management of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, how to potentially review the Constitution in the future, and the number of representatives in the Islamic Consultative Assembly. These sessions continued until after the passing of Imam Khomeini.
Period of Leadership
On 14 Khordad 1368, while the people and officials were preparing for the funeral and burial of the pure body of Imam Khomeini, in a session attended by civilian and military officials, Ayatollah Khamenei, the President, read the political-divine will of Imam Khomeini. The Assembly of Experts for Leadership convened a session that afternoon to select a new Leader or Leadership Council for the Islamic Republic system. According to Article 107 of the Constitution approved in 1358, the selection of the Leader is the responsibility of the representatives of the Assembly of Experts. In the discussion regarding council or individual leadership, the majority of the Assembly of Experts members did not vote for council leadership, and when the discussion turned to the candidate for leadership for voting and the name of Ayatollah Khamenei was raised. Some representatives, who had brief information about Imam Khomeini's opinion regarding Ayatollah Khamenei's suitability for leadership of the system after the Imam's demise, which he had expressed in multiple sessions in the presence of heads of branches, the Prime Minister, and Hajj Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini, requested clarification from the witnesses thereof. Two of the witnesses narrating Imam Khomeini's statement, who were themselves members of the Assembly of Experts, confirmed the attribution of this opinion to the Imam. Also, another statement from the Imam regarding Ayatollah Khamenei's competence for leadership, which he had expressed during his recent trip to China and North Korea, was also narrated indirectly in that session. Following this, a vote was taken, and the overwhelming majority of the Assembly of Experts representatives, considering the opinion of the late Imam and the religious, scientific, and political qualifications of Ayatollah Khamenei, elected Him to the leadership of the Islamic Republic system. Ayatollah Khamenei himself has referred to this matter, saying that until I did not consider the selection definite, I refused to accept that position. After the revision of the Constitution and the holding of a referendum, the Assembly of Experts for Leadership voted once again on His leadership based on the new Constitution, and the overwhelming majority again elected Him to the leadership of the system.
Some of the main grounds for the late Imam's opinion on the leadership of Ayatollah Khamenei include: long-term struggle for the realization of Islamic government, firm and clear belief in the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic system, more than a decade of comprehensive political, executive, and cultural activities for the establishment of the Islamic Republic system, religious insight, scientific mastery over religious fundamentals, individual and social conduct, asceticism and piety. Imam Khomeini had confirmed Ayatollah Khamenei's qualifications, commitment, and service in the path of serving the Islamic Republic system on various occasions.
Imam Khomeini, on the date 7 Tir 1360, in part of his message on the occasion of the assassination attempt on Ayatollah Khamenei, stated: «Now the enemies of the revolution, by attempting to assassinate you—who are from the lineage of the Holy Prophet and the family of Hussein ibn Ali, and have no crime other than serving Islam and the Islamic country, and are a devoted soldier on the war front, an instructive teacher in the mihrab, a capable preacher in Friday prayers and congregations, and a compassionate guide in the scene of the revolution—have recorded the extent of their political thought and support for the people and opposition to oppressors. These people, by attempting to assassinate you, have wounded the feelings of millions of committed people across the country, rather the world. These people are so devoid of political insight that immediately after your speeches in the Parliament and Friday prayers and before the nation, they committed this crime and attempted to assassinate someone whose call to righteousness and rectitude resonates in the ears of the Muslims of the world... I congratulate you, dear Khamenei, for serving this oppressed nation in the battlefronts with the uniform of a soldier and behind the front with the attire of a cleric, and I ask God Almighty for your health to continue serving Islam and Muslims.» On the date 8 Shahrivar 1365, he advised individuals and political figures that in their speech, instead of constant fault-finding, they should be like Ayatollah Khamenei, who always advises everyone and does not flaunt his services to the people. On the date 21 Dey 1366, in response to Ayatollah Khamenei's letter regarding the Absolute Authority of the Jurist, he wrote in part of the letter: «I, who have had a close relationship with Your Excellency since the pre-revolution years, and that relationship, praise be to God Almighty, remains until now, consider Your Excellency one of the powerful arms of the Islamic Republic, and I know you as a brother familiar with jurisprudential issues and committed to them, and you strongly support the jurisprudential fundamentals related to the Absolute Authority of the Jurist, and among friends and those committed to Islam and Islamic fundamentals, you are among the rare individuals who give light like the sun.»
Hojjat al-Islam wal-Muslimin Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini, the closest individual to Imam Khomeini who was his advisor and fully trusted by him, has narrated that the Imam said following Ayatollah Khamenei's foreign trip: "Indeed, he possesses the eligibility for leadership." Zahra Mostafavi, Imam Khomeini's daughter, has stated that when she asked the Imam about the future leadership of the system, he mentioned Ayatollah Khamenei, and when she inquired about Ayatollah Khamenei's scientific status, he confirmed Ayatollah Khamenei's ijtihad. Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani has also narrated that when the Imam intended to dismiss Ayatollah Montazeri from future leadership, during a session held in the Imam's presence with the heads of the three branches of government, the Prime Minister (Mir-Hossein Mousavi), and Haj Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini, where the successor to the leadership was discussed, he named Ayatollah Khamenei for the future leadership of the system. He has also stated that in his private session with the late Imam, he expressed concern regarding the status of leadership in the future, and the Imam, in response pointing to Ayatollah Khamenei, said: "You will not be at an impasse; such an individual exists among you. Why do you not know yourselves?".
Undoubtedly, the time period of the selection of His Eminence Ayatollah Khamenei to the leadership of the system held special importance and sensitivity. Some concerns that arose following the illness of Imam Khomeini (may God sanctify his secret) included:
- Management of the country in the post-Imam Khomeini era.
- Incompletion of the amendment and revision of the Constitution.
- Concern regarding attack or military provocations by Iraq, America, and the Munafiqin; considering Iraq's repeated violation of the ceasefire and extensive propaganda to claim victory in the war.
- Continuation of the crisis caused by the conspiracy of publishing the book The Satanic Verses in foreign policy and the issuance of Imam Khomeini's decree regarding the apostasy of Salman Rushdie, the author, which faced stern reaction from Western countries.
However, what turned all concerns into hope included:
- The selection of Ayatollah Khamenei to the position of leadership, which occurred in the shortest time.
- The million-strong and unprecedented funeral and farewell of the people with Imam Khomeini and the formation of the largest funeral and farewell for a people's leader, which, like a massive storm, ruled out any kind of enemy conspiracy.
- Confirmation and pledge of allegiance by senior officials of the system and various institutions of the country, the Imam's household, marjas and clerics including Ayatollahs Araki, Marashi Najafi, Ayatollah Mirza Hashem Amoli, Ayatollah al-Uzma Golpayegani, and Ayatollah Meshkini, elites, seminary and academic figures, families of martyrs, and various strata of the people.
- Haj Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini, hours after the selection of His Eminence Ayatollah Khamenei to leadership, stated in a congratulatory message sent to him: "The Imam repeatedly mentioned Your Eminence as a confirmed mujtahid and also the best individual for the leadership of our Islamic system. I and all members of the Imam's household sincerely thank the honorable members of the Assembly of Experts; because we believe the spirit of our dear Imam has become happy and calm from this selection. I once again, like a younger brother, consider the commands of that Wali Faqih binding upon myself." This extensive and widespread pledge of allegiance carried the message that the successor of Imam Khomeini, in the realm of thought and action, has a firm belief in the path and thought of the Imam and will continue it with all power. These pledges of allegiance were conducted in person, through participation in rallies, issuance of statements and congratulatory messages, and signing of petitions thereafter. "Caravans of Covenant with the Imam and Allegiance to the Leadership" were launched from across the country on the eve of the fortieth day of Imam Khomeini's demise, and "Allegiance to the Leadership maneuvers" were held in some border and strategic regions of the country, as well as "Seminars of Covenant with the Imam, Allegiance to the Leadership." Allegiance to Ayatollah Khamenei continued months later and proved to the world that Iran, with the leadership of Ayatollah Khamenei, remains the standard-bearer of the Islamic Ummah.
- Explicit and repeated positions of Ayatollah Khamenei regarding the continuation of the Imam's path and preserving unity and creating mutual trust between the people and the leadership, and insisting on preserving religious principles, Sharia, and Islamic jurisprudence, unwavering support for the oppressed and deprived and lower strata of society, and creating unity and solidarity with oppressed nations and honoring Islam and Muslim nations and not being intimidated by the threats of global powers. Ayatollah Khamenei referred to Imam Khomeini as the "root of the blessed tree of the Revolution" and announced: "We will continue our path based on the Imam's path."
Views
Unity-oriented Views
The Supreme Leader is among the staunchest defenders of the issue of the unity of the Islamic Ummah and approximation among followers of Islamic schools of thought, to the extent that one of his first actions after assuming leadership was the establishment of the Assembly for Approximation of Islamic Schools of Thought following the holding of the Fourth International Conference on Islamic Unity in the Islamic Republic of Iran. He dedicates one day exclusively to the conference guests in all unity conferences and delivers an important speech for them each year, the collection of which over the past years itself constitutes a roadmap and an important legacy of approximation that not only encourages the elites of the Islamic world but also all conscientious Muslims to unity and empathy even more, transforming it from the level of a concern to a religious duty and an Islamic principle against the sworn enemies of religion, Islam, and spirituality. Below, we refer to some parts of his statements regarding approximation:
And promoting and propagating religion centered on these pure teachings for Muslims and followers of schools of thought will certainly bring their hearts closer and make them intimate. The Supreme Leader has emphasized this point many times and says:
"Today we face a single enemy; besides the fact that there is a single book, single Sunnah, single Prophet, single Qibla, single Kaaba, single Hajj, single acts of worship, single principles of belief in the Islamic society. Of course, there are differences too. Scientific differences may exist between any two scholars. Besides these, there is a single enemy facing the Islamic world. The issue of unity among Muslims is a serious matter. This issue must be treated this way. Every day this matter is delayed, the Islamic world suffers a loss, and these are days that are so sensitive that they affect a lifetime. You must not let it be delayed."
"We want to tell and remind all Muslims—Shia and Sunni—that you have common points and points of difference and separation. In some things, you are partners and think and act alike, and in some things, each sect has its own method. The point is that firstly, those common points are more than the points of difference; meaning all Muslims believe in the One God, single Qibla, single Prophet, and rulings, prayer, fasting, Zakat, and Hajj. You cannot find two Muslims who, when morning comes, do not rise for prayer; unless they intend not to fulfill their duty, otherwise all Muslims of the world believe that morning, noon, afternoon, and night, prayer must be performed and it is recommended to perform night prayer in the middle of the night. All Muslims of the world believe that prayer must be performed towards the Kaaba and in the language of the Quran and from the verses of the Quran. All Muslims of the world, when the month of Ramadan arrives, when they know it is the first day of the month, they fast."
In another part of his speeches, he says:
"There are great commonalities; everyone should gather around this axis. Tolerate each other. There are principles, there are axes; the principle is that we be of one heart in these principles. It is possible that individuals differ with each other in a hundred branches, let it be; this does not contradict gathering, coming together, assembling; these should be the criteria. In our speech, we must be careful. Rejecting others, expelling others, absolutely on second-tier issues, is not expedient."
The Religion of Islam
"All people of Iran should remember this meaningful and short lesson from our dear Imam and not forget unity of word on the axis of Islam: Hold fast to the divine cord and unite on the axis of Islam. This unity is the cure for all pains and crushing to all enemies. The greatest elixir for the victory of the Iranian nation is this very point: Unity of word based on Islam."
The Holy Quran
"Today the Islamic world, more than ever, is in need of unity, concord, and holding fast to the Quran. The Quran says: «وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِیعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا» (Al-Imran, 103), holding fast to the rope of God is a duty for every Muslim; but the Quran does not suffice to command us to hold fast to the rope of God, rather it tells us to perform holding fast to the rope of God in the form of society; 'Jami'an'; all together hold fast."
Prophet of Islam
In the corpus of the Supreme Leader's speeches regarding unity, the personality of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) holds a significant position. In this regard, he states:
"The recommendation to Muslim brothers is that today, unity among Muslims is a vital necessity for Muslims. It is not a joke or a slogan; Islamic societies must seriously achieve unity of word with one another and move in alignment. One of the factors that can serve as a center in this field is the sacred existence of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny). Muslims and Islamic intellectuals must invest in the personality and teachings of this great figure and love for this great figure, with a comprehensive view towards Islam. The existence of the Honorable Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his progeny) has been the greatest source of unity in all Islamic eras and can be so today; because the belief of all Muslims in that sacred existence of the Great One is accompanied by emotion and love, and therefore, that Great One is the center and axis of the emotions and beliefs of all Muslims, and this centrality is considered one of the causes of the harmony of Muslims' hearts and the closeness of Islamic sects with one another. Our recommendation to all Muslims of the world is that much work be done on the dimensions of the Prophet's personality, life, conduct, ethics, and the teachings transmitted and specified from that Great One."
In another passage regarding this, he states:
"My dear ones! The Muslims of the world, under the name of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny), can unite more easily and readily than anything else. This is the characteristic of that Great One. I have stated many times, that Great One is the gathering point and convergence of Muslims' emotions. A Muslim loves their Prophet. O God! You are witness that our hearts are filled with love for the Prophet. This love must be utilized. This love is guiding. Today, Muslims need brotherhood and fraternity. Today, the slogan 'Indeed, the believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your two brothers' (Hujurat, 10) is more serious than ever."
The Prophet's Ahl al-Bayt
"Among the factors that can serve as the axis of this unity and upon which all Muslims can agree is following the Prophet's Ahl al-Bayt. All Muslims accept the Prophet's Ahl al-Bayt. Of course, Shias believe in their Imamate; non-Shias do not consider them Imams in the sense of Imamate in Shia terminology, but they know them as great figures of Islam, they know them as the Prophet's family, they know them as being aware of Islamic knowledge and rulings. Muslims must agree on acting upon the words of the Imams (peace be upon them) and the Prophet's Ahl al-Bayt. This is one of the means of unity. Of course, this is a technical task; it is not an easy task and has prerequisites. Those who are experts, who are hadith scholars, who are scholars of sciences related to hadith, know what the prerequisites of this task are."
Ghadir as a Source of Unity
"The issue of Ghadir can also be a source of unity; the issue of Ghadir itself, apart from the aspect that Shias have accepted it as a belief—namely the appointed governance of Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) by the Prophet which is evident in the Hadith of Ghadir—the original issue of Wilayah is also raised. This no longer distinguishes between Shia and Sunni. If today the Muslims of the world and the nations of Islamic countries raise the slogan of Islamic Wilayah, many untrodden paths and unresolved knots of the Islamic Ummah will be opened, and the problems of Islamic countries will come closer to solution."
Amir al-Mu'minin as the Axis of Unity
"Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) is the axis of unity. The entire Islamic world is humble before Amir al-Mu'minin; it does not distinguish between Shia and Sunni. A small group called Nawasib were enemies of Amir al-Mu'minin. Throughout Islamic history, both during the Umayyad and Abbasid eras, groups were enemies of Amir al-Mu'minin; but the majority of the Islamic world—whether Sunni or Shia—honor Amir al-Mu'minin. You see that the jurisprudent Imams of the Sunnis have poems of praise regarding Amir al-Mu'minin. The famous poems that are said belong to Shafi'i. Imam Shafi'i has poems of praise regarding Amir al-Mu'minin. Not only regarding Amir al-Mu'minin, but regarding all or most of the Imams, they are humble."
Martyrdom
Finally, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khamenei, after a life of struggle and wise leadership of the Iranian nation and the Axis of Islamic Resistance, on 9 Esfand 1404 SH, corresponding to 10th of the holy month of Ramadan 1447 AH, during the 2026 US and Israel attack on Iran, in their office along with some relatives, attained the grace of Martyrdom.
Their martyrdom, minutes after the Fajr adhan on 10 Esfand 1404 SH, was announced via IRIB with the reading of a statement by the Supreme National Security Council on the occasion of the martyrdom of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution:
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Great Nation of Iran!
The exalted spirit of the leader of the great nation of Iran and the freedom seekers of the world and the Islamic Ummah, His Holiness Imam Khamenei (May God sanctify his pure soul) joined the Supreme Realm and reached his long-standing wish and following his great grandfather Imam Ali (Peace be upon him) in the holy month of Ramadan by uttering the heavenly call "Fuztu wa Rabbil Ka'bah" reached the holy divine presence and drank the sweet nectar of Martyrdom in this holy month. Today the resilient nation of Iran and the Islamic Ummah and freedom seekers of the world are mourning due to the vicious attacks of criminal American and wicked Zionist enemies but let the ruthless enemies and international oppressive hellions know that the vigilant people of the world have found their path and these martyrdoms although costly for our nation and Islamic nations will make them more resistant and determined and undoubtedly the martyrdom of this great personality will be the start of a great uprising in the struggle against the oppressors of the world[1]. Template:Quran Text ! Supreme National Security Council.
Paying Respects
Dozens of foreign delegations from various continents came to Iran to pay respects and on Friday 12 Tir 1405 SH corresponding to 18th of Muharram in the Farewell Hall located in Tehran Musalla paid respects to the body of the Martyred Imam and wrote a text in the condolence book and expressed sympathy with the nation of Iran with a divine mission.
Farewell, Escort, and Funeral Procession
The farewell ceremony began on Saturday 13 Tir corresponding to 19th of Muharram in Tehran Musalla and on Monday the escort and funeral procession of the Martyred Imam's body in Tehran and on Monday 15 Tir corresponding to 21st of Muharram, and on Tuesday 22nd of Muharram in Qom and on Wednesday 23rd of Muharram in Iraq and in the cities of Najaf and Karbala on Thursday 24th of Muharram in Mashhad and adjacent to Hazrat Reza (Peace be upon him) in the Daralzekr corridor was buried.
See Also
- Sayyid Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini
- 2026 US and Israel attack on Iran
- Sayyid Mohsen Hakim
- Qom Seminary
- Ramadan War
- SAVAK
- Exile
Gallery
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View of the farewell ceremony in Tehran -
View of the prayer held over the body of the Martyred Imam in Tehran -
Sign of the clenched fist of the Martyred Imam in Enqelab Square Tehran -
View of the funeral procession in Tehran -
View of the prayer held over the body of the Martyred Imam in Qom -
View of the funeral procession in Qom -
View of the funeral procession in Najaf -
View of the funeral procession in Karbala -
View of the prayer held over the body of the Martyred Imam in Mashhad -
View of the funeral procession in Mashhad -
View of the preparation of the grave -
View of the grave in Daralzekr of the Shrine of Imam Reza (Peace be upon him)
Footnotes
Template:Islamic Scholars Template:Ramadan War Template:Martyrs