10 key statements from Imam Khomeini: From covenant with God and struggle against arrogance to hope for salvation of oppressed

Pars Today - Late leader of Iran's Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (God’s mercy upon him), transformed the destiny of this country and the Islamic world through his divine uprising, bringing about a revolution that heralded humanity, freedom, justice, and independence across the globe.

"Seyyed Ruhollah Khomeini" was born on September 24, 1902, in Khomeyn, Iran. His father, Agha Seyyed Mostafa, was a critic of the local khans and government agents of that era, namely Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar. When Ruhollah was just five months old, his father was martyred. After studying Islamic sciences in Khomeyn, Imam Khomeini went to Arak and then Qom to complete his education, beginning to teach philosophical sciences at the age of 27. As the oppressive measures of the Pahlavi regime intensified, he began criticizing the regime and then actively struggled against it by raising awareness among the Muslim people of Iran.

Imam Khomeini's staunch opposition to the capitulation bill (which granted American advisors immunity from judicial prosecution in Iran) in 1964 led the Shah's regime to exile him to Turkey, and subsequently to Najaf. However, Imam Khomeini's exile did not halt the Islamic Revolution's momentum. Instead, he continued to enlighten the people about the regime's betrayals and crimes even during his exile. With the escalation of protests in 1977 and 1978, the Islamic Revolution of Iran finally triumphed on February 11, 1979.

Following the victory of the Islamic Revolution led by Imam Khomeini, he invited the people to participate in the elections for the Islamic Republic of Iran. With a 98% public vote, he established this Islamic system. After the victory of the Revolution, Imam Khomeini continued to guide Iran's affairs. In 1979, Imam Khomeini suffered from a heart condition and, on his doctor's orders, moved from Qom to Tehran. He passed away in 1989 at the age of 81.

In this article, Pars Today has taken a look at 10 key statements from late leader of Iran's Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (God’s mercy upon him), on various issues:

Struggle against the world-devouring America

"The world must know that Iran has found its path and will engage in an uncompromising struggle with the world-devouring America, that spiteful enemy of the world's oppressed, until its interests are severed. The events in Iran will not only not deter us for a moment, but will make our nation more determined to annihilate the US interests. We have begun our tough and relentless struggle against the US, and we hope our children, freed from the yoke of oppressors, will raise the flag of monotheism throughout the world. We are certain that if we precisely continue our duty, which is the struggle against criminal America, our children will taste the sweetness of victory."

Eliminating dependencies

"I strongly recommend that you do not listen to the propaganda loudspeakers of the opponents of Islam and the Islamic Republic, who are all striving to remove Islam from the scene to secure the interests of the superpowers. Rise up with your resolute will, activity, and perseverance to eliminate dependencies."

Defense of the oppressed

"Our revolution is Islamic, and as long as there is a struggle against oppressors anywhere in the world, we are there. We defend the defenseless people of Lebanon and Palestine against Israel."

Declaration of dissociation: The first stage of struggle

"The declaration of dissociation is the first stage of our struggle and duty, and in every era and time, it demands its own appropriate manifestations, methods, and programs. We must consider what needs to be done in an era like today, where the leaders of disbelief and polytheism have endangered the entire essence of monotheism and have made all the national, cultural, religious, and political manifestations of nations playthings of their whims and desires?"

Martyrdom

"No power can contend with a nation whose men and women are ready to sacrifice their lives and seek martyrdom."

Covenant with God

"I have made a covenant with my God to prioritize His satisfaction over the satisfaction of people and friends. If the whole world rises against me, I will not abandon truth and reality. I am not concerned with history or what happens; I must only fulfill my religious duty."

Proud of Islam and the Quran

"We are proud, and our dear nation, wholly committed to Islam and the Quran, is also proud to be a follower of a religion that seeks to rescue the Quranic truths — which entirely speak of unity among Muslims and humanity — from tombs and cemeteries and as the greatest version of humanity's salvation, to save mankind from all the shackles that have entangled his feet, hands, heart, and mind and are dragging him towards destruction, nothingness, and slavery and servitude to the tyrants.

We are proud to be followers of a religion whose founder, the Messenger of God, was appointed by Almighty God, and whose leader, Amir al-Mu'minin Ali ibn Abi Talib, the servant freed from all constraints, is commissioned to free humanity from all chains and forms of slavery.

We are proud that the infallible Imams, from Ali ibn Abi Talib to the savior of mankind, Imam Mahdi (May God hasten His reappearance), who by the power of the Almighty God is alive and oversees affairs, are our Imams."

The Islamic Revolution of Iran, a divine gift

"This great revolution, which cut off the hands of the world-devourers and oppressors from Iran, triumphed with divine, unseen confirmations. There should be no doubt that the Islamic Revolution of Iran is distinct from all other revolutions, both in its emergence, in the nature of its struggle, and in the motive of the revolution and uprising. This revolution was a divine gift and an unseen present bestowed by the benevolent God upon this oppressed and plundered nation."

Salvation of the oppressed

"I hope that this movement and this revolution will culminate in the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (May God hasten his reappearance), and I hope that our revolution will be exported to the entire world and to all the oppressed, for the salvation of all the oppressed. I hope that everyone, just as you have overcome the enemy of Islam and the enemy of the nation, the oppressed, will also overcome the oppressors."

Velayat-e Faqih

"...I assure all the people, all the security forces, that if the affairs of the Islamic government are under the supervision of Faqih (an Islamic jurist) and the Velayat-e-Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist), no harm will befall this country. Speakers and writers should not fear the Islamic government and should not fear the Velayat-e Faqih, the Velayat-e Faqih as Islam has stipulated and our Imams have appointed, will not harm anyone, will not create a dictatorship, and will not do anything contrary to the interests of the country."

AE/ME