• MIGRATION TO QUM FOR COMPLEMENTARY LESSONS AND FOR TEACHING ISLAMIC SCIENCES:
Shortly after migration of the grand Ayatullah Haj Sheikh Abdulkarim Haeri Yazdi(5) to Qum, in new year 1300, a.h.sh. (= Rajab, 1340, a.h.l.), Imam Khomeini, also migrated to the Qum Theologic Assembly and took the complementary lessons with the scholors of the Assembly of Qum.
These included lessons from the lengthy book of Mutavval on rhetorics (Maani & Bayan) taken with the late Mirza Muhammad-Ali Adib Tehrani; completion of the Level studies with the late Ayatullah Seyyed Muhammad Taqi Khonssari but mostly with the late Ayatullah Seyyed Ali Yathrebi Kashani; (Fiqh) Jurisprudence principles with the master of the Qum Assembly, Ayatullah Haj Sheikh Abdulkarim Haeri Yazdi.
The sensitive and searching spirit of Imam Khomeini could not settle with just Arabic literature and lessons in "Fiqh" Jurisprudence and Principles. He was interested in other sciences as well. Therefore, along with learning jurisprudence and Principles "Fiqh" from the "Fuqaha", jurisconsults of the time, he took lessons in mathematics, astronomy and philosophy from the late Haj Seyyed Abulhasan Rafiey Qazvini and continued taking the same lessons in addition to spiritual sciences and mysticism from the late Mirza Ali-Akbar Hakami Yazdi. He also took lessons in prosody, and rhyme, as well as Islamic and western philosophies with the late Agha Sheikh Muhammad-Reza Masjid-Shahi Isfahani. He then took lessons in Ethics and "Erfan" gnosticism from the late Ayatullah Haj Mirza Javade-Maleki-Tabrizi and he further studied the highest levels of Thoretical and practical "Erfan" (gnosticism) for a period of 6 years with the late Ayatullab Agha Mirza Muhammad-Ali Shahabadi.
After the demise of grand Ayatullah Haeri-Yazdi, the efforts of Imam Khomeini and a number of other clergymen of Qum bore fruit and grand Ayatullah Borujerdi(6) proceeded to Qum Theo1ogic Assembly in the capacity of the leader of the Assembly. By this time Imam Khomeini had been recognized as one of the teachers and jurisconsults with authority in "Fiqh", jurisprudence and principles, philosophy, mysticism, "Erfarn" (gnosticism) and ethics. His asceticism, chastity, and devotion was exemplar to the elite and the lay as well. It was these exalted characterisitics acquired after years of challenging the ego and experiencing religious asceticism, and the principles and concepts of mysticism in the very text of his personal and social life, also, the political policy of His Holiness the Imam, which stressed the preservation of the mastery of the theologic Assemblies, the might of the clergy and the sovereignty of the Religion as the only refuge for the people in those perilous days, that made Imam Khomeini constantly use his knowledge as well as his efforts, notwithstanding other merits, to serve the strengthening of the newly-found Theologic Assembly in Qum and to remain, as a mighty defender, by the sides of the grand Ayatullahs, Haeri and Borujerdi. When Ayatullah Borujerdi died there was widespread approach to Imam Khomeini, by the student-clergy and Ulema and by the Muslim community, as a Reference Authority (Marjae Taqlid) but he was careful not to de anything that might smack of ambition and seeking position. He also counseled his friends to avoid being ambitious and not to mind such issues. At a time when the aware men of the Islamic society had gathered around him as the precursor of the real and genuine Islam and saw their hopes reflected in his virtue, knowledge and awareness, yet, there appeared no change in his conduct, but, he frequently said: "I regard myself a servent and soldier of Islam and the "nation." This is that great man who answered:"Nothing!" when asked how he felt on returning home on the 12th of Bahman 1357 (= 1st of February 1978) with tens of millions of people gathered to welcome their leader and Imam. The press correspondent who had asked that question must have figured that, like all political leaders, Imam Khomeini would be highly excited to see such welcome signs and ceremonies. But the Imam's answer proved he was of a different kind. For, Imam Khomeini, as he often declared, considered gaining the pleasure of God and fulfilment of duty as the criteria for all his moves and conducts and his doings were, nothing but performance of divine duties. Thus to him who does things for God's sake, power or imprisonment, jail and deportation were things of little consideration. As a matter of fact several decades prior to his triumphant return, while practicing mysticism (= Erfan Amali), he had abandoned the world and all it contains and was striding in the path of annihilation and union with his lord. Perhaps a better and worthier answer to that question can be traced in the following verse composed by the imam himself:
"Opting the Tavern, detached of all people, the Heart has laid its Hopes in destiny as it may be, and in nothing else"
For many years, Hazrat Imam Khomeini taught "Fiqh", jurisprudence and principles mysticism and Islamic Ethics in Qum Theological schools including the Faiziyya, the Aazam mosque, the Mubammadiyya Mosque, the Haj Mulla Sadiq School, the Salmasi Mosque etc. He taught "Fiqh" and the knowledge of the Ahl-e-Bayt, at the higest level, for 14 years at the Sheikh Ansari (s) Mosque in Najaf Theologic Center. It was at Najaf that Imam Khomeini (s), for the first time included, in his lessons on "Fiqh", the Theoretical foundations of the Islamic gouvernment. His students declared his lessons and classes among the most credible in the Theologic Assembly of Najaf. Some of his classes at Qum had as many as 1200 atudents which, included scores of established jurisconsults (mujtahedeen) who benefited by the Imam's school of "Fiqh" jurisprudence and principles. The blessings of Imam Khomeini's teaching included training and education of hundreds, better yet, considering the length of his teaching, thousands of learned men and scholars each one of whom is currently illuminating a theological Assembly. To-day's jurisconsults, "mujtahedin" and prominent gnostics have been among Imam Khomeini's students in Qum or at other centers of knowhledge. Outstanding thinkers such as the great scholar Shahid Mutahhari (7) and the wronged Shahid Beheshti (8) felt honored to have benefitted by Imam Khomeini's teachings. Today the prominent clergy who guide the Islamic Revolution and system of the Islamic Republic in all civil affairs are all among those educated by the school of Fiqh and politics of Imam Khomeini. With regard to the dimensions of characteristics of Imam Khomeini's school of science, in various fields, we shall have more to say in continuation of this article and in conclusion of the article we will briefly introduce each one of his works.