Ayatollah khomeini iran biography graphic organizer

Introduction

Imam Ayatollah Seyed Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini (May 17, 1900 – June 3, 1989) was unadorned Muslim cleric and Marja, countryside the political leader of dignity 1979 Islamic Revolution of Persia which overthrew Mohammad Reza Script, the last Shah of Persia. Following the Revolution, Imam Khomeini became Grand Leader of Persia — the paramount figure providential the political system of loftiness new Islamic Republic — undetermined his demise.

Imam Khomeini was reputed a Marja-e taqlid to numberless Muslims, and in Iran was officially addressed as Imam somewhat than Grand Ayatollah; his dick adhere to this convention.

Man of the cloth Khomeini was also a highly-influential and innovative Islamic political philosopher, most noted for his get up of the theory of velayat-e faqih, the "guardianship of illustriousness jurisconsult."

Early Years

Family and early years

Ruhollah Mousavi was born to Holy man Seyyed Mostafa Musavi and Hajieh Agha Khanum, also called Hajar, in the town of Khomein, about 300 kilometers south nominate the capital Tehran, Iran, maybe on May 17, 1900 respectful September 24, 1902.

He was a Seyyed from a nonmaterialistic family that are descendants aristocratic Prophet Mohammad, through the 7th Imam, (Imam Mousa Kazem). Coronate paternal grandfather was Seyyed Ahmad Musavi, whose third wife, Sakineh, gave birth to Mostafa propitious 1856. Imam Khomeini's maternal old man was Mirza Ahmad Mojtahed-e Khonsari, a high-ranking cleric in middle Iran whose Fatwa for curbing usage of Tobacco in comparison to a monopoly granted lump Shah to a British group of actors, led to cancellation of nobleness concession.

Imam Khomeini's father was murdered when he was five months old, and he was semicircular by his mother and adjourn of his aunts.

Later, in the way that he was 15, his stop talking and aunt died in excellence same year. At the queue of six he began union study the Quran, Islam's desolate book. He received his apparent education at home and heroic act the local school, under excellence supervision of Mullah Abdul-Qassem become more intense Sheikh Jaffar, and was secondary to the guardianship of his senior brother, Ayatollah Pasandideh, until noteworthy was 18 years old.

Opening were made for him carry out study at the Islamic institution in Esfahan, but he was attracted, instead, to the creed in Arak, which was prominent for its scholastic brilliance slip up the leadership of Ayatollah Ruler Abdol-Karim Haeri-Yazdi (himself a learner of some of the sterling scholars of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq).

In 1921, Imam Khomeini commenced his studies in Spirits.

The following year, Ayatollah Haeri-Yazdi transferred the Islamic seminary relax the holy city of Qom, and invited his students discriminate against follow. Imam Khomeini accepted description invitation, moved, and took suggest residence at the Dar al-Shafa school in Qom before teach exiled to the holy give of Najaf in Iraq. Rearguard graduation, he taught Islamic pandect (Sharia), Islamic philosophy and belief (Irfan) for many years gleam wrote numerous books on these subjects.

Although during this scholarly period of his life Imam Khomeini was not politically active, honourableness nature of his studies, impression, and writings revealed that misstep firmly believed from the glance in political activism by clerics.

Three factors support this murmur. First, his interest in Islamic studies surpassed the bounds attention to detail traditional subjects of Islamic illtreat (Sharia), jurisprudence (Fiqh), and average (Usul) and the like. Sharp-tasting was keenly interested in natural and ethics. Second, his education focused often on the number one relevance of religion to dexterous social and political issues compensation the day.

Third, he was the first Iranian cleric be a result try to refute the obstreperous advocacy of secularism in honesty 1940s. His now well-known publication, Kashf-e Asrar (Discovery of Secrets) was a point by categorize refutation of Asrar-e Hezar Saleh (Secrets of a Thousand Years), a tract written by tidy disciple of Iran's leading anti-clerical historian, Ahmad Kasravi.

Also yes went from Qom to Tehran to listen to Ayatollah Hassan Modarres —the leader of position opposition majority in Iran's legislative body during 1920s.

Imam Khomeini became neat Marja in 1963, following excellence death of Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Hossein Borujerdi.

 

Early Political Activity

In that time he could represent coronate religious-political ideas openly.

Because rendering deaths of the leading, tho' quiescent, Shia religious leader, Man of the cloth Seyyed Mohammad Borujerdi (1961), be first of the activist cleric Sermonizer Abol-Ghasem Kashani (1962) left leadership arena of leadership open plan Imam Khomeini, who had consummated a prominent religious standing via the age of 60.

Imprison addition, although ever since illustriousness rise of Reza Shah Pahlevi to power in the Twenties the clerical class had back number on the defensive because appreciated his secular and anticlerical policies and those of his youth, Mohammad Reza Shah, these policies reached their peak in nobility early 1960s with "White Revolution."

Opposition to White Revolution

Imam Khomeini rule became politically active in 1962.

When the White Revolution announced by the Shah's government redraft Iran called for land modify, nationalization of the forests, decency sale of state-owned enterprises stop working private interests, electoral changes damage enfranchise women, profit sharing persuasively industry, and an anti-illiteracy getupandgo in the nation's schools.

Virtually of these initiatives were thought as dangerous, Westernizing trends coarse traditionalists, especially the powerful added privileged religious scholars (Ulama) who felt keenly threatened. The Body instigated anti-government riots throughout primacy country. They found the Milky Revolution a sustainable ideological theory to support a particular consonance of domination, in this make somebody believe you the monarchy of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi.

This was on high all a hegemonic project deliberate to portray the Shah type a revolutionary leader through class utilization of social and factual myths reinterpreted through the prism of contemporary, often conflicting doctrinaire constructs, such as nationalism essential modernism.

In January 1963, the Foremost announced a six-point program grow mouldy reform called the White Insurrection, an American-inspired package of vague designed to give his setup a liberal and progressive deceit.

Imam Khomeini summoned a hearing of his colleagues (other Ayatollahs) in Qom to press prevail them the necessity of antagonistic the Shah's plans. Imam Khomeini persuaded the other senior Marjas of Qom to decree regular boycott of the referendum think it over the Shah had planned cut into obtain the appearance of habitual approval for his White Disgust.

Imam Khomeini issued on Jan 22, 1963 a strongly worded declaration denouncing the Shah courier his plans. Two days ulterior Shah took armored column contact Qom, and he delivered wonderful speech harshly attacking the ''ulama'' as a class. Imam Khomeini continued his denunciation of magnanimity Shah's programs, issuing a proposal that also bore the signatures of eight other senior scholars.

In it, he listed position various ways in which goodness Shah allegedly had violated honourableness Constitution, condemned the spread mislay moral corruption in the declare, and accused the Shah liberation comprehensive submission to America courier Israel. He also decreed delay the Nowruz celebrations for representation Iranian year 1342 (March 21, 1963) be cancelled as fastidious sign of protest against decide policies.

In the afternoon realize Ashura (June 3, 1963), Preacher Khomeini delivered a speech close by the Feiziyeh Madreseh seminary redraft which he drew parallels amidst Yazid and the Shah plus warned the Shah that provided he did not change government ways, the day would show up when the people would advance up thanks for his discrepancy from the country.

Following Imam Khomeini's public denunciation of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi as a "wretched miserable man" and his take into custody, on June 5, 1963 (Khordad 15, on the Iranian calendar), three days of major riots erupted throughout Iran with all but 400 killed.

Imam Khomeini was kept under house arrest in behalf of 8 months and was movable in 1964.

Also this was copperplate turning point in political frame of reference of Islam. The clergies difficult to understand supported Shia monarchy since formation of Safavids and this was the main source of truth of monarchs. Shia clergies challenging advised them to be impartial and obey Ja'fari jurisprudence.

Additionally monarchs didn't enforce religious reserve which restricted or threatened spiritualminded life and institutions and defended the Shia territory of Persia. But Reza Shah transformed greatness Iranian monarchy into a virgin dictatorship. The modernizing programs bring into the light Pahlavi dynasty restricted and endangered religious life and made clergies be against monarchy and when all is said Imam Khomeini decide to match with them and build regarding state comparable to religious rules.

 

Opposition to capitulation

During November of 1964, Imam Khomeini made a berating of both the Shah put forward the United States, this ahead in response to the "capitulations" or diplomatic immunity granted draw near American military personnel in Persia by the Shah.

In Nov. 1964 Imam Khomeini was re-arrested and sent into exile.

 

Life confine exile

Imam Khomeini spent see the sights 14 years in exile, chiefly in the holy city keep in good condition Najaf in Iraq. Initially, proceed was sent to Turkey intensification 4 November 1964, where forbidden stayed in the city incessantly Bursa for less than spruce up year.

He was hosted encourage a Turkish Colonel named Calif Cetiner in his own house, who couldn't find another seats alternative for his stay rot the time. Later in Oct 1965 he was allowed stop by move to Najaf, Iraq, hoop he stayed until being constrained to leave in 1978, sustenance then-Vice President Saddam Hossein minimum him out (the two countries would fight a bitter octet year war 1980-1988 only organized year after the beginning chastisement Imam Khomeini’s leadership in Persia and the start of Saddam Hussein’s term in Iraq) name which he went to Neauphle le Château in France.

Logically, propitious the 1970s, as contrasted partner the 1940s, he no long accepted the idea of first-class limited monarchy under the Persian Constitution of 1906-1907, an answer that was clearly evidenced hard his book Kashf-e Asrar.

Envisage his Islamic Government (Hokumat-e Islami) — which is a lot of his lectures in Najaf published in 1970 — oversight rejected both the Iranian Style as an alien import running away Belgium and monarchy in common. He believed that the regulation was an un-Islamic and felonious institution usurping the legitimate faculty of the supreme religious head of state (Faqih), who should rule similarly both the spiritual and state guardian of the Muslim people (Umma).

In early 1970 Imam Khomeini gave a lecture series transparent Najaf on Islamic Government which later was published as ingenious book titled variously Islamic Command or Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists (velayat-e faqih).

This was his most famous and forceful work and laid out surmount ideas on governance (at think it over time): 

• That the laws of kingdom should be made up one and only of the laws of Divinity (Sharia), which cover "all oneself affairs" and "provide instruction gain establish norms" for every "topic" in "human life."
• Since Sharia, espouse Islamic law, is the permissible law, those holding government posts should have knowledge of Jurisprudence (Islamic jurists are such people), and that the country's person should be a faqih who "surpasses all others in knowledge" of Islamic law and virtue, as well as having common sense and administrative ability.

  Rule strong monarchs and/or assemblies of "those claiming to be representatives pay the bill the majority of the people" (i.e. elected parliaments and legislatures) have been proclaimed "wrong" make wet Islam unless approved by nobleness faqih.

• This system of clerical enactment is necessary to prevent injustice: corruption, oppression by the muscular over the poor and exhausted, innovation and deviation of Mohammadanism and Sharia law; and further to destroy anti-Islamic influence talented conspiracies by non-Muslim foreign powers.

A modified form of this Velayat-e Faqih system was adopted sustenance Imam Khomeini and his mass took power, and he became the Islamic Republic's first "Guardian" or Grand Leader.

In the intervening time, however, Imam Khomeini was alert not to publicize his text for clerical rule outside refreshing his Islamic network of hostility to the Shah which unwind worked to build and hearten over the next decade.

Record copies of his lectures intensely denouncing the Shah as, transport example, "the Jewish agent, say publicly American snake whose head mould be smashed with a stone," became common items on excellence markets of Iran, helped with demythologize the power and amour-propre of the Shah and her majesty reign.

As protest grew, so outspoken Imam Khomeini’s profile and help.

During the last few months of his exile, Imam Khomeini received a constant stream round reporters, supporters, and notables, zealous to hear the spiritual empress of the revolution.

Grand Leader appropriate Islamic Republic of Iran

Return bare Iran

Only two weeks after rendering Shah fled Iran on Jan 16, 1979, Imam Khomeini joint to Iran triumphantly, on Weekday, February 1, 1979, invited tough the anti-Shah revolution which was already in progress.

Conservative estimates reproving the welcoming crowd of Iranians at least three million.

During the time that Imam Khomeini was on flat surface on his way to Persia after many years in expatriate, a reporter, Peter Jennings without prompting him: "What do you feel?" and surprisingly Imam Khomeini declared "Nothing!"

In a speech given be acquainted with a huge crowd on rank first day of returning amount Iran, Imam Khomeini attacked interpretation government of Shapoor Bakhtiar fanatical "I shall punch their devastate in." He also made orderly variety of promises to Iranians for his coming Islamic regime: A popularly elected government guarantee would represent the people sell like hot cakes Iran.

Establishment of new government

On Feb 11, Imam Khomeini declared expert provisional government.

On March 30, 1979, and March 31, 1979, the provisional government asked collective Iranians sixteen years of advance and older, male and ladylike, to vote in a suffrage on the question of appreciative an Islamic Republic as depiction new form of government dominant constitution. Through the ballot busybody, over 98% voted in advice of replacing the monarchy fumble an Islamic Republic.

Subsequent elections were held to approve realize the newly-drafted Constitution. Along competent the position of the Enormous Leader, the constitution also hurting fors that a president be elect every four years, but single those candidates approved indirectly from one side to the ot the Council of Guardians hawthorn run for the office.

Preacher Khomeini himself became instituted by reason of the Grand Leader for poised, and officially decreed as say publicly "Leader of the Revolution." Make something stand out assuming power, Islam was notion the basis of Iran's unusual constitution and obedience to Islamic laws made compulsory.

Relationship with mess up Islamic nations

Imam Khomeini intended collision reconstruct Muslim unity and concordance, so he declared the dawn week of Prophet of Monotheism (the week between 12th have a break 17th of Rabi'al-Awwal in Islamic Hegira calendar) as the Wholeness accord Week.

Then he declared magnanimity last Friday of the immorally month of Ramadan as rank International Day of Quds put in 1979.

But because of Islamic credo of Islamic Republic of Persia, most rulers of other Mohammedan nations turned against him spell supported Iraq in the involuntary war against Iran, even sort through most of Islamic parties pointer organizations supported his idea.

 

Iran-Iraq War

Saddam Hussein, Iraq's secular Arab chauvinist Ba'athist leader, was eager elect take advantage of Iran's injured military and (what he seized was) revolutionary chaos, and involve particular to occupy Iran's neighboring oil-rich province of Khuzestan topmost undermine attempts by Iranian Islamic revolutionaries to incite the Shia majority of his country.

With what many believe was the collaboration of the United States, Arab Arabia and other countries, Irak soon launched a full superior invasion of Iran, starting what would become the eight-year-long Iran-Iraq War (September 1980 - Revered 1988).

A combination of crazy patriot resistance by Iranians take precedence military incompetence by Iraqi bolster soon stalled the Iraqi contact and by early 1982 Persia regained almost all the neighbourhood lost to the invasion. Goodness invasion rallied Iranians behind illustriousness new regime, enhancing Imam Khomeini's stature and allowed him halt consolidate and stabilize his leadership.

Although outside powers supplied arms analysis both sides during the enmity, the West (America in particular) became alarmed by the feasibility of the Islamic Revolution airing throughout the oil-exporting Persian Oversupply oil and began to equipment Iraq with whatever help dynamic needed.

The war continued supplement another six years, with 450,000 to 950,000 casualties on excellence Iranian side and the apply of chemical weaponry by rectitude Iraqi military.

As the costs well the eight-year war mounted, Presbyter Khomeini, in his words, "drank the cup of poison" at an earlier time accepted a truce mediated by way of the United Nations.

As dignity war ended, the struggles betwixt the clergy resumed and Father Khomeini’s health began to decline.

 

Rushdie Fatwa

In early 1989, Imam Khomeini issued a fatwa calling resolution the killing of Salman Writer, an Indian-born British author. Man of the cloth Khomeini claimed that Rushdie's homicide was a religious duty grieve for Muslims because of his purported blasphemy against Prophet Mohammad timetabled his novel, The Satanic Verses.

Rushdie's book contains passages walk some Muslims — including Chaplain Imam Khomeini — considered quarrelsome to Islam and the Forecaster. Though Rushdie publicly apologized, picture fatwa was not revoked, Chaplain Khomeini explaining that "even on condition that Salman Rushdie repents and becomes the most pious man lay out all time, it is demanding on every Muslim to take on everything he has got, life and wealth, to save him to Hell."

Letter to Mikhail S.

Gorbachev

In December 1988 (before the fall of the Songwriter Wall), Ayatollah Imam Khomeini twist and turn a letter to USSR Concert-master Mikhail Gorbachev predicting the tumble of Communism and inviting him to study and research Monotheism. In his historical letter unquestionable wrote: "It is clear fight back everyone that Communism should hereafter be sought in world museums of political history."

 

Life under Ayatollah Khomeini

Under Imam Khomeini's rule, Law (Islamic law) was introduced, portray the Islamic dress code obligatory for both men and unit.

Women had to cover their hair, and men were clump allowed to wear shorts.

Life lack religious minorities has been assorted under Imam Khomeini and sovereign successors. Shortly after his repay from exile in 1979, Leader Khomeini issued a fatwa ordination that Jews and other minorities (except Bahai) be treated come off.

By law, several seats efficient the Parliament are reserved pray minority religions. Imam Khomeini additionally called for unity between Sect and Shia Muslims (Sunni Muslims are the largest religious boyhood in Iran).

Death and funeral

After 11 days in a hospital be intended for an operation to stop intrinsic bleeding, Imam Khomeini died loom cancer on Saturday, June 3, 1989, at the age look up to 89.

Many Iranians mourned Rector Khomeini's death and poured appeal to into the cities and streets. More than 10 million cohorts from across the country guileful Imam Khomeini’s funeral to send one of the largest customarily funerals in the world.

Following Friar Khomeini’s demise, Ayatollah Seyyed Calif Khamenei came to be elite on June 4, 1989 unused the Assembly of Experts seat be his successor, in accord with the Constitution.

Political thought direct legacy

Imam Khomeini adamantly opposed nation, arguing that only rule strong a leading Islamic jurist would insure Sharia was properly followed (Velayat-e Faqih).

Imam Khomeini believed think it over Iran should strive towards autonomy.

He viewed certain elements think likely Western culture as being intrinsically decadent and a corrupting claim upon the youth. His last vision was for Islamic benevolence to converge together into top-notch single unified power, in button to avoid alignment with either side (the West or interpretation East), and he believed make certain this would happen at boggy point in the near future.

Imam Khomeini expressed support for birth Universal Declaration of Human Rights; in Sahifeh Nour (Vol.

2, page 242), he states: "We would like to act according to the Universal Declaration freedom Human Rights. We would liking to be free. We would like independence."

Imam Khomeini led inventiveness ascetic lifestyle, being deeply fascinated in mysticism, and was realize the accumulation of land famous wealth by the clergy.

Many deduction Imam Khomeini's political and nonmaterialistic ideas were considered to titter progressive and reformist by fist intellectuals and activists prior be the Revolution.

Imam Khomeini's definition distinctive democracy existed within an Islamic framework.

His last will boss testament largely focuses on that line of thought, encouraging both the general Iranian populace, birth lower economic classes in frankly, and the clergy to occupy their commitment to fulfilling Islamic revolutionary ideals.

Family and descendants

In 1929, Imam Khomeini married Batol Saqafi Khomeini, the daughter of keen cleric in Tehran.

They challenging seven children, though only quintuplet survived infancy, 3 daughters innermost 2 sons. His sons entered into religious life. The respected son, Mostafa, was murdered mess 1977 while in exile do business his father in Najaf, Irak and SAVAK (the Imperial-era shrouded police) was accused of potentate death by Imam Khomeini. Ahmad Khomeini, the younger son, monotonous in 1995.

Imam Khomeini's grandson Seyyed Hassan Khomeini, son of leadership late Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini, hype also a cleric and distinction trustee of Imam Khomeini's shrine.

Works:

• Velayat-e Faqih
• Forty Hadiths (Forty Traditions)  
• Adab-e Worship (The Disciplines of Prayers)       
• Jihad-e Akbar (The Greater Struggle)
• Tahrir al-Wasilah
• Interpretation relief Surah Fatihah
• Serr al-Salat (Secrets follow Prayers)
• Interpretation of Dawn Pray
• Interpretation be snapped up Forces of Reason and Inadvertence Tradition 
• Hajj