• THE LAST YEARS OF IMAM KHOMEINI'S LIFE AND THE UNPLEASANT EVENTS:
Imam Khomeini's kin have recorded in their memoirs, accounts of the conditions and states of mind and soul in which, the Imam was, during his last years of life. Their account shows that his holiness the Imam, seemed to have regarded that the moment of joining the Beloved was at hand. Aside from the Imam's mystic or gnostic states during these last years, his messages and sermons, and his political positions and attitudes, had qualities that made them quite distinct from those of the past; samples of these will be given later herein.
Several incidents occurred in these days that weighed heavily on the Imam's soul and memory. One was the martyrdom of the Haj pilgrims, by the side of Kaaba, during the 1366 (1987) Haj season. On the strength of hundreds of the clear Quranic verses, on the basis of the conduct of the Prophet (saw) and the religious grandees, and on innumerable quotes, from the Infallible Imams, Imam Khomeini strongly believed that politics is a part of religion, and that, separation of religion and politics has been the work of colonialism in recent centuries, and the ominous results of this separation is evident in the world of Islam, and among the followers of other divine religions. Hazrat Imam regarded the Religion of Islam as the doctrine for the guidance of mankind in all stages, in all dimensions and in all eras of individual and social lives, and, as social relations and politics are inseparable parts of human life, therefore, in the opinion of Imam Khomeini, that Islam which is confined merely to devotional aspects and individual ethics and bar the Muslims from intervening in their own destiny and in social and political problems, is a perverted Islam, and, in Imam's interpretation, it is an "American version of Islam." The Imam had founded and conducted his Movement on the basis of inseparability of religion from politics.
After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini, in addition to forming the Islamic government on a style, completely different from modern political orders, a style the organs and principles of which, are drawn up in the Constitution of the Islamic republic, undertook the revival of the Islamic laws and rules including Friday Mass Prayer rites, and special prayers on major Islamic holidays, all over the country. These he revived as politico-devotional duties; posing and discussing the problems and difficulties of the Islamic society within the country and abroad, in the Friday Mass sermons, and in Religious holiday ceremonies; changing the tempo and contents of the mourning ceremonies, are some examples.
One of the most outstanding works of Imam Khomeini is the revival of the Haj, as performed by Abraham (a.s). Before the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the annual ceremonies of Haj was performed far away from its real spirit. This was due to the types of attitudes, and attachments of governors in the Islamic lands, particularly those of Saudi Arabia rulers.
Muslims performed the Haj rites while they were utterly ignorant about the philosophy of the legislation of this greatest annual religious congregation in the world. Although by the explicit text of the Quran, the Haj pilgrimage is defined as a center for the rise of men, and the most prominent demonstration and manifestation for seeking immunity (baraat) from evil and pagan. There was no evidence of posing the problems of the Islamic world, nor of seeking absolution from paganism while at the same time Islamic societies were living in harshest conditions, and under attack by colonialists and Israel. After the victory of the Revolution, by issuing annual haj messages, Imam Khomeini emphasized, as haj organs, the necessity of attention to be paid by Muslims to the political problems of the Islamic world, to seeking immunity to pagans and, to the duty of the haj pilgrim in connection therewith. Gradually the great haj congress was acquiring its real form. Each year the ritual of seeking immunity to Moshrekin (atheists, polytheists, evil) was observed by tens of thousands of pilgrims from Iran with participation of revolutionary muslims of other countries. In the course of a magnificent march slogans declaring aversion to America, Soviet union and Israel, as prominent models of paganism and world impiety, were sounded and voiced, inviting Muslims to unity. Coincidental with the haj pilgrimage, meetings were arranged to exchange views among the Muslims and find solutions to their problems. The extraordinary effect of these actions made America increase its pressure on Saudi Arabian Government to prevent this ritual.
On Friday the 6th Zihejja 1407 (ahl), when over 150 thousand pilgrims were walking in the streets of Mecca, intent on participation in "Immunity" ceremonies, Saudi's open and covered agents, with prior readiness, and having blocked the central path to movement, all of a sudden, attacked the demonstrators with fire arms and cold weapons and suppressed the movement. In this tragic event about 400 pilgrims from Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, Pakistan, Iraq and other countries were martyred and about 5000 were wounded and some innocent ones were arrested. Women and elderly people, who were unable to run away, made the majority of those martyred and wounded. They lost their lives because they chanted slogans including glorification of God or "God is Great!" as they voiced their oversion to paganism, and more importantly the reverence and honor of God's secure sanctuary had been defiled on a Friday, during Hajj Pilgrimage within a reverend month. Imam Khomeini's anger at this impudent act, and his deep grief because the expediency of the Islamic ummat and conditions of the Islamic world prevented any counter action to be taken, were with him to the last day of his life and were observable in his works and deeds. The year after this event, for reasons already stated herein, the Islamic Government of Iran and the government of Iraq signed the Resolution 598 and the imposed war was over. The sacrifices of the fighters, the epic resistence of the Iranian nation during 8 years of holy defense, the making of enemies of the Islamic Revolution meet with failure in all their aims for which they had imposed this war on Iranian nation, the expulsion of the aggressors from towns and villages and occupied areas in an uneven war and the termination of the war in victory for the army of Islam, all, entailed honor and joy. However, the atrocities committed and conditions developed before the end of war including the massacre of the people of Halabcheh by chemical bombardment, and the mass killing of the innocent people in Iranian towns and cities and the invitation by pseudo-Islamic governments to America and Europe to send naval forces to the Persian Gulf to support Saddam, and exploding Iranian passenger aircraft over the Persian Gulf by American military units, were all painful issues that made the heart of every zealous muslim throb with pain, let alone, a man like Imam Khomeini who had given up his all, including his life, dedicated to the good and the expediencies of Muslim ummat and to uprsing, to regain the past glory of the Muslim peoples.
Imam Khomeini felt great pain observing that, many governments ruling over Islamic countries ignore the wishes of their people and side with the spiteful enemies of Islam and support the aggressor. Particularly because the Imam could see the losses that resulted from such supports, and had often declared that, confronting the Islamic Order and supporting the Baathist rulers, not only solves no problem of the world of Islam, rather, in the near future, themselves will be caught in the fires they have concealed under ashes. A sample of this amazing presage by Imam Khomeini, can be seen in his speech made 8 years before Saddam's attack on Kuwait (26/2/1361) printed the same year in the book "Sahjfa Noor" (vol. 16, p. 150). On that day, imam Khomeini, addressing the Arab States that supported Saddam, said: " These regional governments must realize that they are being made to perish themselves for America 's sake, or, for some other block We have aften warned them that they are tools in the hands of the superpoweres. They should know that if Saddam is saved and gains power again, he is not a man to appreciate them. He is mad with self-aggrandisement, and it makes him fight those who provided him with the support he needed." The year before, Imam Khomeini, in his speech on 11/9/1360, had also warned: "I advise all regional governments to stop supporting Saddam, and beware of the day that Almighty God, may show them his anger!" Not long after this pious man's demise, his presage came true and those who regarded Iran as war monger and regarded the aggressor as peaceful, became victims of the same aggressor, with the difference that, contrary to the conduct of the Iranian nation and government, they took refuge in those who had set ablaze, the fire of those seditions and insurgencies of the past and present.
The indifference of the Islamic governments vis-a-vis Israel's invasion of southern Lebanon, the atrocities of the Zionists in this country, the cruel suppression of the revolting Palestinian Muslims and, worse than thses, the approach of Arab governments to Israel for compromise, and desisting from the aim to liberate the Quds, all were troubles that weighed heavily on the heart of the Old Man of Jamaran. From the start of his movement, Imam Khomeini had cried out and clamoured for liberation of Islamic lands from the clutches of Zionists and shouted down Israel and its principal support, America, and for doing so, he was sent to live in exile for 14 years and, after the truimph of the Revolution he had spared no material and moral assistance for the sake of this objective. But now he was seeing that, while the waves of wakefulness and Islamism among Palestinian youth and throughout the Islamic world had changed the conditions to the detriment of Israel and America, heads of Islamic governments and of Palestinian organizations are preparing themselves to sign the document of submission. These issues, too, beset the Imam's soul with gnawing pains. Surely, during the last few years, a part of Imam Khomeini's nocturnal prayers with his God, must have been spent in, plaintively asking for a change of the conditions.
In the area of internal problems, too, the conditions that resulted in the removal of the Deputy leader by the Imam (8/1/68) was another unwholesome event. One of the most advanced principles approved on the basis of Imam Khomeini's views and embodied in the constitution of the Islamic Republic, is the formation of the Council of Experts for appointment of the Leader and to lay down the qualifications for leadership of the Islamic Order. The experts (Khubregan) are jurisconsults and authorities in (Fiqh), who are elected directly by the people, and so, the people, through their votes for electing the Experts, have a part in the supervision of the highest affairs relating to the destiny of the Islamic society.
The first meeting of the Council of Experts dated Tir 1362 (july 1883) chose, Ayatulla Montazeri as Deputy Leader. Ayatulla Montazeri was one of the excellent students of the Imam and was a jurisconsult who had active participation in the 15th khurdad uprising and in the events that followed, and because of this, like Ayatulla Taleqani and other Revolutionary clergies, he had experienced long terms of confinement in the Shah's prisons.
In his last letter to Ayatullah Montazeri which resulted in accepting his resignation and removal from the deputy leadership position, Imam Khomeini had specified that, he had disagreed with his appointment, as Deputy Leader, from the start and had regarded him (Ayatullah Montazeri) as lacking the stamina (taqat) necessary for acceptance of this heavy and serious responsibility.
It is specified in said letter that Imam Khomeini had not opposed the selection of Ayatulla Montazari to the status of deputy leader, by the Council of Experts because he had not wanted to intervene in the lawful duties of the Council. This point is highly important from the viewpoint of Imam Khomeini's type of leadership, for it indicates the Imam's respect for and attachment to the rules of Islamic order and to the vote of people, to the point that, even in most critical issues, he had been unwilling to implement his personal view although such intervention would have created no problem, considering his popularity and acceptability among the people.
In continuation of the said letter, the Imam, expressing his interest in him (Ayatullah Montazeri), has indicated that he thinks it expedient for him to avoid past errors and keep his homestead clear of incompetent individuals and the traffic of those opposed to the Islamic order, so that the people, the Order and the theologic assemblies may benefit by his jurisprudential views.
It is to be noted that, following the election of the Council of Experts, with regard to the Deputy leader, not only he has not expressed his opposing view, rather, he acted to strengthen his deputy and improve his weak points, and in order that he may acquire experience and readiness for accepting the grave responsibility of leadership, the Imam devolved to him, many important tasks. But, unfortunately that reality which was "lack of necessary stamina for bearing this heavy mission" gradually began to show itself; incompetent agents infiltrated the house of Ayatullah Montazeri. Television confessions by these agents revealed their ominous past and future objectives. These agents took advantage of this weak point and went so far as to ignore Imam Khomeini's counsels and kind advice and insisted on continuing their past acts. imam Khomeini had, for several times, by letter, or in audience, emphasized the necessity of eliminating these elements and cooperating with the dedicated authorities, of the system.
To understant the subtle points of this event and the bitterness of its effect on the soul of the Imam, and at the same time, to get some idea about the extent of the Imam's attachment to the expediencies of the Islamic nation, while ignoring his personal and emotional relations vis-a-vis more important objects, we quote below the text of the Imam's address to the Majlis delegates and the government cabinet on 21/1/1368 (= april 10, 1989) that needs no explanation and interpretation: "I have heard that you are not aware of the affair relating to Hazrate Aghaye Montazeri and do not know what it is all about. Know then, that your old man (ref to himself) has been trying, without success, for two years by messages or in statements to prevent the matter from reaching this stage...on the other hand my religious duty called for decision to be taken to protect the order and islam; therefore, with bloodsmeared heart, I removed the fruit of my life (ref to Ayat. Montazeri) from his office (Deputy Leader) for the safeguard of the Religion and the Order..."
Thus one of the worries relating to the future of the Islamic Order was obliterated by the able hand of the Imam. This difficult task was possible of performance by a man of the Imam's caliber only. With regard to others, the Imam had said: "The Revolution owes nothing to any group", "I have often declared that, I have entered in no brotherhood pact with any one, regardless of his position or status,".... "The framework for my friendship, lies in the honesty and veracity of each individual," Rather, in his famous message to the theologic assemblies, he had written: "God knows that I do not consider myself entitled to any immunity right and or privilege. If I err, I am ready to be taken to task"
As already mentioned, Imam Khomeini's messages and lectures and sermons during the last years of his life have an essential difference from those of earlier years. His recent messages reveal his foresightedness, and sense of responsibility vis-a-vis the era after himself. Unlike his earlier statements which, were aimed at guidance of people and authorities in respect of daily problems of the community and assuning proper positions against problems from which the country and the Islam world were suffering, his recent massages more markedly show a summary of past and present problems, and a view of the future and specify Muslims general duties vis-a-vis future responsibilities In other words the Imam cherished a feeling of departure (from this world) and in view of it, he attempted, in his last years to recall or review the total values, ideals and objectives for the realization of which, the Movement had been organized, and to draw up the Islamic world Revolution, on the basis of those ideals and values.
In his messages Imam Khomeini, by presentation of his own evaluation of the factionalism present within the country, and throughout the world of Islam, and by his analysis of the dominant rules and orders in the contemporary world, has tried to pave the way for future generations to distinguish and choose and to set forth the duties of each stratum (of population) for prevalent conditions when he is no longer with them.
Imam Khomeini had penned his detailed divino-political will or testament dated Bahman 26, 1361 (= Feb. 15, 1982), several years before his ascension. His testament is based on above motives. This last Testament of the Imam, already translated and published in numerous languages, is, Imam Khomeini's eternal message and contains the principles of his thought, and ideals and it will, for ever, be a guide for his followers. The writing of such a will, of such level and scale and dimensions, is an unprecedented undertaking among the Shiite Jurisprudents and Reference Authorities. It shows the Imam's deep awareness of the current and future needs of the Islamic societies and of his own responsibility in connection therewith.
Imam Khomeini's recent mesages are, in fact, description and interpretation of the values, well defended in his Testament or last will and of the political problems described therein. A special feature of these messages is the Imam's emphasis on the necessity of paying attention to two types of antithetical understandings of Islam. On the Strength of countless historic evidences, Imam Khomeini believed that Islam and other divine religions have, from the earliest times, been presented in two contradictory features. On the one side, there is the perverted Islam which is at the service of despotic colonial rulers and has been developed by lying pseudo-clerics and, on the other side, there is the pure, orthodox Islam that has survived through the ages by the blood of crusaders and the ceaseless effort of the religiously dedicated ulema and has remained immune to superstitions, perversions and embellishments. One of the secrets of Imam Khomeini's success in making the Islamic society rise and move has been his ability to clarify those perpetual antithetic understandings of Islam and the characterisitics of each.
Imain Khomeini believed that carelessness and lack of recognition of this historic reality, has been the cause of infiltration by colonialism in Islamic countries and the straying away of the Muslims from the eras of their own great and famous civilization and culture resulting, ultimatety, in getting bogged down in the present dire conditions as we can all see. Unfortunately, the Islamic governments whose mottos were once: "Islam is the supreme and nothing is superior to it." (38) and "God will not let the unbelievers triumph over the faithful." (the Holy Quran sura: Al-Nisa=the39 women, verse 141) are, today, even for the safeguard of their borders, and their own beings begging help from the enemies of Islam, the heathens and pagans.
Imam Khomeini has defined the two types of understanding of Islam as, the "Pure Islam" and the "American version of Islam." He belived that, Islam in which, the definite Quranic decrees and the traditions of the Prophet (saw) regarding social responsibilities are ignored; that Islam in which the decrees and chapters regarding jihad, enjoining to good and interdicting the evil, Islamic justice and decrees relating to social and economic relations be ignored and abandoned; that Islam in which Muslims are barred from participation in politics and, their own destiny and in which religion be viewed as a number of personal prayers and individual devotional acts without regard to their philosophy and real spirit, such Islam is made and formulated by America and its affillates.
To prove his analysis Hazrat Imam had telling historic proofs and evidences of the conditions prevalent in Islamic countries. He believed that neo-colonialism is the result of the efforts made by former colonialists. Their previous effrorts to change the faith of the Muslim peoples by means of Christian missionaries had failed, and from then on, they have aimed their efforts at neutralizing the progressive decrees of the Religion of Islam, and to render this Religion ineffective from within, the result is Quite clear: Today in most Islamic countries the systems of government, the constitutional laws, political and social legislations, and legal procedures. are all derived from anti-Religious western laws and processes, which, in their real essence, are not compatible with laws derived from divine inspirations. It is the Americanized Islam that permits the degenrate Western culture infiltrate deep into Islamic communities and threaten the seed and race of the Muslims. It is the American version of Islam that shields puppet governments and empowers them, and they in the name of Islam, confront the true Muslims and at the same time, plan submission and compromise with America and Israel, the enemies of Islam.
In his recent messages, Imam Khomeini has emphasized, with greater clarity, the fact that mankind's only way out of present dead ends is return to the era of religion and religionism. The only way open to Muslim countries, to rid themselves out of the present sorry circumstances is return to the orthodox Islam and to their independent Islamic identity.