How has Imam Khamenei become leader of Islamic system? Biography + Pictures

Pars Today- On Khordad 14, 1368 of Iranian calendar year (June 4, 1989), then President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, was elected as the Leader of the Islamic system with the majority of votes of the Assembly of Experts.

As the news of Imam Khomeini's departure from the mortal world was broadcast, members of the Assembly of Experts attended the assembly as the body is responsible for election of the leader. During the session in the morning of June 4, 1989, Imam Khomeini's testament was read out by Ayatollah Khamenei, while the afternoon session was dedicated to electing the Leader of the Islamic system. Ayatollah Khamenei was elected as the Leader with nearly 60 out of 74 votes of the members. Pars Today has taken a look at the life of Imam Khamenei and how he was elected as the Successor of Imam Khomeini to lead the Islamic Revolution.

Birth

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the second child of Hojjat-ol-Islam Haj Seyyed Javad Khamenei, was born on Farvardin 29, 1318 (19 April, 1939) in the holy city of Mashhad. He is the second son of the family.

Seminaries

He entered the seminary as an adolescent and learnt literature and preliminaries from his father and other teachers. Ayatollah Khamenei had started the courses of high courses of Kharej-e Fiqh (specialized high level of jurisprudence) and Osool (Principles of jurisprudence) in Mashhad at the age of 18, but in 1957 set out for holy Najaf for pilgrimage of the holy shrines in Iraq. Seeing and participating at the high level courses of the Mujtahedin of the great seminary of Najaf, he was interested in the courses and research at the seminary; thus he informed his father of his intention. But, his father didn't agree. After a while, Ayatollah Khamenei came back to Mashhad. He studied at high levels of jurisprudence, principles and philosophy at Qom seminary from 1958-1964. In 1964, he realized through correspondence, that his father had become blind due to cataracts. He was so sad and didn't know whether to stay in Qom for studying or return to Mashhad for taking care of his father. Finally, he made up his mind and left Qom for Mashhad to look after his father.

Marriage

Ayatollah Khamenei married with lady Khojasteh in early autumn of 1964. The result of this marriage was 4 sons and two daughters.

Political struggles

Ayatollah Khamenei says that he was among the disciples of Imam Khomeini in jurisprudence, principles and political and revolutionary struggles. He joined Imam Khomeini's revolution in 1962 which the Imam had started in protest to the anti-Islamic policies of the mercenary regime of Mohammad Reza Shah which was absolutely dependent on the US. Ayatollah Khamenei struggled fearlessly for 16 years despite tortures, hardships, prisons and exile. He was arrested 6 times by the Pahlavi regime each of which included tortures.

Exile

The criminal Pahlavi regime arrested Ayatollah Khamenei in late 1977 and sent him to exile in Iranshahr city, southeast of the country, for 3 years. However, he was freed in the climax of the struggles of the Iranian masses and returned to Mashhad from exile. Immediately he joined the frontline of the revolutionary people. So, after years of brave and inexhaustible struggles and steadfastness in the way of God, the Islamic Revolution triumphed, the ignoble oppressive Pahlavi rule collapsed and people witnessed the establishment of the divine rule in their country.

On verge of victory

At the threshold of victory of the Islamic Revolution, before Imam Khomeini's return from Paris to Tehran, the "Central Council of Islamic Revolution" took shape in Tehran with the participation of combating personalities such as Martyr Motahhari, Martyr Beheshti, Martyr Mahallati and others to organize and plan for welcoming the Imam's arrival home. Ayatollah Khamenei was also a member of the council upon the order of Imam Khomeini.

After victory

Ayatollah Khamenei continued valuable Islamic activities fervently after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in a bid to lead the revolution to its lofty goals. All these activities were precious some of which we mention here:

• Foundation of "Islamic Republic Party" in 1979 with the cooperation of scholars who were his fellow-combatants during the struggles.
• Deputy Minister of Defense in 1979.
• Acting Head of the IRGC in 1979.
• Friday prayer leader of Tehran in 1979.
• Imam Khomeini's representative at Supreme Defense Council in 1980.
• Representative of Tehran at the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament) in 1979.
• Active and sincere presence in the fronts of the Holy Defense in 1980 with the outbreak of the all-out 8-year war imposed by Saddam at the behest of his masters in Washington and then Soviet Union.
• His abortive assassination by hypocrites on 27 June, 1981 at Abuzar Mosque of Tehran.
• Presidency: After the martyrdom of Mohammad Ali Rajaei, the second president of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei gained over 16 million votes of the Iranian people in October 1981 and became the president with the endorsement decree of Imam Khomeini. He was elected as president for the second time from 1985-1989.
• Head of Cultural Revolution Council in 1981.
• Chairman of the Expediency Council in 1987.
• Chairman of the Council for Revision of Constitution in 1989.

Election as leader

According to the Constitution, the election of leader after the passing away of Imam Khomeini had to be done by the members of the Assembly of Experts. Article 5 of the Iranian Constitution reads,

"In the time of the occultation of Imam Mahdi (May God expedite his reappearance), the Wilayah (God-given authority) and Imamate of the Ummah in the Islamic Republic of Iran is taken over by a just and Godwary jurisprudent who is aware of the time, brave, manager and prudent, and the majority of the people have recognized and accepted him as leader, and if no jurisprudent enjoys such a majority, the leader of council of leadership composed of the jurisprudents with the above-mentioned qualifications will take over the responsibility based on article 107."

Thus, On Khordad 14, 1368 of Iranian calendar year (June 4, 1989), then President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, was elected as the Leader of the Islamic system with the majority of votes of the Assembly of Experts (nearly 60 out of 74 votes of the attendees).

Banner-bearer of Islamic Ummah

The broad allegiance pledged by the senior officials of the Islamic system, various institutions, Imam Khomeini's family, Maraje' (great Sources of Emulation), elites, seminary and academic dignitaries, families of martyrs and different strata of people with Ayatollah Khamenei proved to the world that Iran continues to be the banner-bearer of the Islamic Ummah.

What did Imam Khomeini's son say about Ayatollah Khamenei?

Late Haj Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini, son of Imam Khomeini (God's mercy upon him), sent a message to Ayatollah Khamenei a few hours after his election as the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, part of which read, "The Imam had several times mentioned you as a definite Mujtahid and the best person for leadership of our Islamic system. I and all members of the house of Imam sincerely thank the members of [the Assembly of] Experts as we believe that the spirit of our dear Imam is happy and calm with this election. As a humble brother, I once again consider the orders of that Wali-e Faqih obligatory on myself."

Follower of Imam Khomeini's path

After election, Ayatollah Khamenei remembered Imam Khomeini as the "Root of the Pure Tree of Revolution" and announced, "We will continue our path on the basis of Imam Khomeini's path."

RM/ME