On 26th demise anniversary of the founder of the Islamic Revolution of Iran Imam Khomeini on June 4, 1989, hundreds of thousands of Iranians converged at his mausoleum in southern outskirts of Tehran to pay tribute to late leader and meet the Leader to renew their allegiance.
Iran’s Leader Ayatollah Khamenei attended the ceremony to address the gathering which is usually a review of Imam Khomeini’s beliefs and principles as role model for the nation.
Considering the occasion of birthday anniversary of twelfth Shia Imam, Imam Mahdi (AJ), on Mid-Shaban in Islamic calendar which was on June 3 this year, Ayatollah Khamenei touched upon the issue of Savior and asserted that all Abrahamic religions recognized that somebody would save the world from oppression and that the ‘great person’ is known as ‘Mahdi’ in all Islamic denominations.
Pointing to Shia belief that Imam Mahdi was born on July 29, 869 AD and has so far lived for more than 11 centuries as the only difference between Shia and other denominations’ belief about the Savior, he referred to Quran which has spoken of Prophet Noah living among his nation for 950 years as an indicator of possibility of the issue by God’s permission.
“The most important feature of this belief among Shia Muslims is creating hope among them; Shia society not only relies on its background and history, but also has an eye to the future,” said the Leader. “Even in most difficult situations, one who believes in Imam Mahdi will not their hope and knows that injustice and oppression are doomed to failure in future.”
On Imam Khomeini and his character, the Leader emphasized that a major threat was distortion of the character and beliefs of Imam Khomeini and depicting him as merely an honorable person. “Imam Khomeini is symbol of a movement started by Iranians that changed their history. He’s founder of a political and social school of thought.”
He affirmed that Imam Khomeini was a great cleric, philosopher, politician and scholar; though neither would define him sufficiently, as “Imam Khomeini is the embodiment of Quran verse about those who make efforts for the sake of God.”
Ayatollah Khamenei also pointed to two ‘great jobs’ carried out by Imam Khomeini; overthrowing the oppressive hereditary monarchy and the other was to create an establishment based on Islam.
He further dubbed Imam Khomeini’s movement as not only political, but also a spiritual, religious and social movement. Iran’s Leader underlined that the country was kept retarded and dependent, and without any hope for future before the Revolution and that Imam Khomeini’s school of thought and principles had revived the nation to seek change and progress and hope for bright futures.
Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that the Iranian nation would suffer heavy damages if Imam Khomeini’s path was forgotten. “Everyone should know that Insatiable appetite of global arrogance has never ceased to covet Iran which is a great and rich country located at a critical crossroads. This greed would be cut only if the nation achieves strength and progress.”
He believed that correct recognition of Imam Khomeini would prevent such threats against the country and criticized attempts to depict Imam as a hardliner or a liberal person by some during his life or after his demise.
Ayatollah Khamenei continued with enumerating some major principles in Imam Khomeini’s school of thought and path. “Proving Pure Islam against American Islam was the first principle in Imam Khomeini’s thought,” he stated.
“Imam Khomeini was against either secular or dogmatic interpretations of Islam; the two of which currently exist under US, Zionist supports. ISIL and Al-Qaeda are both examples of radical and wrong interpretations of Islam which are supported by the United States and the Zionists.”
Another principle was Imam Khomeini’s belief in nation. “Imam Khomeini truly believed in nation and always supported the oppressed. He was always against hegemonies and he was the one who called the United States as ‘Great Satan’.”
Iran’s Leader further pointed to Imam Khomeini’s support for Palestinians as well as his support for Afghans against the Soviet occupation and stressed Iran’s ever support for the oppressed; “we are against any oppression in the world, as we oppose US Federal Police brutality against Americans. We are as much against Israeli blockade on Gaza, and oppose killing of innocent, defenseless people in Yemen.”
“Imam Khomeini always supported Palestine; the Palestinian issue is still a major issue for Iran and will never be out of the Islamic Republic’s agenda.”
He also described national unity as another major principle of Imam Khomeini. “Enemy has always tried to sow ethnic, sectarian discord among Muslims. US now dares to speak of Shia, Sunni Islam to divide them. Iran has worked similarly with both Sunni Palestinians and Shia Hezbollah of Lebanon.”
Ayatollah Khamenei also slammed attempts by ‘US minor allies’ to fuel sectarianism and division among Muslims by speaking of Shia Crescent. “American Sunni Islam and London-based version of Shia Islam both are brethren of Satan.”
He reaffirmed that all enemy’s efforts were in any form aimed at dominating Iran and that the West was seeking to hinder Islamic Republic’s progress. “A US veteran politician has said Islamic Iran, rather than terrorist groups, was a problem for US as Iran was an Islamic civilization. He had used the word ‘empire,’ but he is totally wrong; Iran is an Islamic Civilization,” the Leader concluded.
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