The movement of Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him): a turning point in revitalizing Islam

1. Religious leadership

Ruhullah Musavi Khomeini was born in a family that loved science and Jihad in the town of Khomein of Central Province on the Shahrivar thirteenth in 1281 Sh. All of his ancestors tried to guide people and to gain divine trains generation in generation. His great father, deceased Ayatollah Sayyed Mustafa Musavi, was in the time of deceased Ayatollah Ozma Mirza Shirazi and after his father learned Islamic trains in Najaf for years, he succeeded to become a Mojtahed. Then he came back Khomein and guided them in religious affairs. When Ruhullah was only five months, the foes of God with the support of the government martyred his father that had stood against their oppression with bullet when he was traveling from Khomein toward Arak. His family and relatives went to Tehran so that they could provide a condition that his murderer was sentenced.
Hence, Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him) felt the pain of losing his father and got familiar with the conception of martyrdom in the time of his childhood. He was supported by his devout mother, Banoo Hajar, and his aunt (his father's sister) that was brave and the searcher of reality in the time of his childhood and teenager. His mother was from the dynasty of science and piety and one of grandchildren of deceased Ayatollah Khansari and was the writer of the book '' Zobdeh Al-Tasanif''. But he lost them when he was fifteen years old.
After Ayatollah Ozma Hajj Sheikh Abd Al-Karim Haeri Yazdi (may God's mercy be upon him) went to Qom, Imam Khomeini went to the theological school of Qom and learned the complete education of the sciences of the theological school from the instructors of the theological school of Qom. He taught the courses of jurisprudence, tenets, philosophy, theosophy and Islamic morality in '' Feiziyye'', '' the mosque of Azam'', the mosque of Muhammadiye'', '' the school of Hajj Molla Sadeq'', '' the mosque of Salmasi'' and …He also taught the trains of Ahle Beit and jurisprudence in the highest levels in the theological school of Najaf at the school of Sheikh Azam Ansari (may God's mercy be upon him) about fourteen years and he expressed the ideological foundation of Islamic Government in the sequences of the courses of spiritual leader for the first time in Najaf.
His interest in Jihad in the path of God is rooted in his beliefs, the way of training his family and social and political conditions during his life. When he was a teenager, he started his campaigns and continued it in different aspects as his knowledge was increasing and the aspects of his soul were completing and the social political situation of Iran and other Islamic societies was changing.

2. The social political ground of the Islamic Revolution

The political suppression of the society was decreasing at the end of 1340 Sh influenced by international conditions and an open political atmosphere and controlled freedom were created. This international change resulted from the victory of the party of democrat with the leadership of John Af Kandi and his emphasis on the establishment of political open atmosphere and social political expressions dominated by America. The purpose of this policy to subdue social political crises in these countries and to establish a barrier against the development of communism. The performance of land reforms and other principles of white revolution in Iran were to meet the need of the democrats of the government of Kandi and the regime of Pahlavi that had had to accept it. Religious forces with the leadership of Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him) pretended to do reformist actions and to westernize Iran with the material and spiritual support of America and this was considered as the beginning of the third era of the history of revitalizing Islam in Iran. This event caused that a serious change appeared at the atmosphere of the intellectuals of Iran which was interpreted as '' intellectual repent''.
Another event that influenced Islamic revitalizing at the beginning of 1340 Sh was the decease of Ayatollah Brujerdi (may God's mercy be upon him). He was Marja for fifteen years. After Ayatollah Brujerdi deceased, some clergymen with new thoughts and religious intellectuals surveyed this issue and collected some matters as an article that was published in the book '' a discussion about Marjas and clergymen'' in 1341 Sh.
In the new movement of Islamic revitalizing, Imam Khomeini (May God's mercy be upon him) and his like-minded clergymen attempted to consider policy based on the pivot of Marjas. The religious group of university students helped to implement this purpose. To explain about this thought, we can use the expressions of spirituality in policy and coming back the nature of Iranian Muslims. To implement this purpose, Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him) improved the theological school. The bill of provincial and country councils was enacted in the committee of the government on the Mehr 16th in 1341 Sh and according to it, the name of Islam was left out from the conditions of selected persons and persons that selected and swearing every heavenly book was replaced with swearing Quran. Since then Imam Khomeini (May God's mercy be upon him) started his activities with summoning and the formation of the meetings of consultation among the scientists of Qom. The new point about the leadership of Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him) was that criticisms that were about the government were applied about Muhammad Reza Pahlavi. The resistances of the government of Pahlavi against revitalizing thoughts caused that reforming changed to radical thought.
Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him) objected to the bill with expressing religious faults about it and wanted to abolish it. He objected Muhammad Reza Shah and his prime minister about the bill and reminded the consequences of disobeying Quran and the rules of Islam through sending messages. This objection and fight became comprehensive with the attempt of Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him). The first stage of the movement of revitalizing Islam ended with the retreat of Muhammad Reza Shah and the abolishment of the provincial and state bill on the Azar Tenth in 1341 Sh. The next stage was the disagreement of Marjas and scientists with the referendum of six principles of white revolution on the Bahman sixth in 1341 Sh and after some declarations were issued, some gatherings, talks and consultation meetings were formed in order to object to it and this caused that few persons participated in referendum. The important event in this area was the event of the Farvardin second that the government of Pahlavi suppressed clergymen at the school of Feizie and the school of Talebiyye of Tabriz. In this event, some of them were killed and some of them were wounded. The interesting point is that to deceive people, the regime announced that this event was fight between the opponent clergymen of land reforms and farmers. This action of the regime like other actions against the religion had a reverse result and provoked the anger of people all over the country and caused reactions in the theological schools of Najaf and Karbala. Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy upon him) issued the sharpest statement that was known as '' the friendship of the king meaning exploitation''.

3. The uprising of the Khordad fifteenth

Another stage of the revolution that was considered as the part of the history was the uprising of the Khordad fifteenth in 1342 Sh. due to its importance and effect in the changes of Islamic movement in the future. The radical clergymen criticized the suppressing actions of the regime of Pahlavi in Muharram Month in 1342 Sh. And finally mourning ceremonies changed to radical clubs and political activities. In these activities, three powerful and useful groups, self-employed persons, university students and clergymen, exhibited their unity. This event became more important with the talk of Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy ne upon him) on the day of Ashura in the afternoon at the school of Feizie in Qom and he announced '' the purpose of the movement is to fight with Muhammad Reza Shah, Israeil and the preservation of the Islam from danger''. He said in another part of his talk addressing Muhammad Reza Shah'' I do not want that you have a destiny like your father. They want to introduce as a Jewish man so that I imagine that you are an unbeliever and they want to make you leave the country and kill you''.
The uprising of the Khordad fifteenth was a kind of exhibit of serious tendency of clergymen to political activities and it was an attempt to implement the political Islam. Self-employed people turned away the previous national ideology and tended toward the ideology of political Islam with the guidance of Marjas and clergymen. This new performance is considered as one of the features of revitalizing Islam in 1350 A.D. Another remarkable point is that messages and information were sent as soon as possible throughout Iran and the different classes of the society participated. This uprising shows that revitalizing event has changed to a serious event. After Ayatollah Brujerdi deceased, other minor factors improved Islamic revitalizing. The nature of their activity was Islamic and religious. The combination of the religion and nationalism of non-clergymen formed religious intellectuality and the movement of religious revitalizing. Of course, the background of this event comes back previous decades. The movement of freedom of Iran was one of religious political structures that was established at the end of Ordibehesht in 1340 Sh with the attempt of Mahdi Bazargan, Yadullah Sahabi, Ayatollah Taleghani, and other nationalists that believed in religious principles. These meetings were formed to sentence the government of coup and to reveal the action of the regime of Pahlavi. These accelerated the process of revitalizing Islam.
One of the features of Islamic revitalizing with the leadership of Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him) in those years was to improve the thought of relationship between the religion and policy, inadaptability with the regime of Pahlavi, the establishment of political Ijtehad in theological schools and the combination idea and action in standing against tyranny and colonization. More importantly, it aimed at the universal arrogance of new era. Other revitalizers of those days included Ayatollah Mahmud Taleghani (may God's mercy be upon him) and Shahid Ayatollah Morteza Motahari (may God's mercy be upon him) that did mind activities more. Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him) was exiled to Turkey and Najaf because he had done a lot of political activities in order to object to the enactment of the bill of capitulation. Since then political crisis and tyranny increased and political activities were done secretly. After Hasan Ali Mansur, the prime minister of that era, was assassinated, the crisis intensified. Hence, most of struggles happened in a hostile and doctrinal way. The activities of Islamic committees, the party of Islamic nations and the organization of Mojahedin Khalgh formed within the framework of a new attitude. The party of Islamic nations could establish the supranational super-religious Islamic government. The organization of Mojahedin Khalgh were doing theoretical studies and learning military trains between 1340 and 1350 Sh, but it did not have much effect on the process of the movement of Islamic revitalizing in 1350 Sh. Most of the founders and leaders of this organization between 130 and1353 Sh were either captured or imprisoned after it was understood that they had the possibility of fighting with weapons. This movement ramified and divided into Islamic and Marxist groups which led to bloody skirmishes within parties. The movement of revitalizing the world of Islam and the independent attempts of Islamic nations influenced the movement of the event of Islamic revitalizing Iran in 1350 Sh, especially its second half. The victory of Muslim radicals of Al-Jazeera and the movement of Palestine had the highest effect among them.

4. The formation of religious idea for establishing government

The most important event of this era was the start of the matter of Islamic government with name '' the primacy of the top spiritual leader'' from Imam Khomeini (May God mercy be upon him) in Najaf in 1348 Sh. In these sessions, he proved and explained about the government of jurisprudents, relationship between the religion and policy and the superiority of ideology toward worshipping. During these matters, they stood against the government of Iran and Islamic countries and summoned experts to study in this area. His thoughts were announced to the people of Iran through a message-sending channel and caused a new movement among Iranian radicals.
One of factors of improvement and the distribution of the thoughts of Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him) in Europe and America was Iranian Muslim university students that were active as Islamic clubs and were in touch with Najaf. Because newspapers and public media were available in appropriate political atmosphere, there was a chance for them to preach and be more active. The presence of Ayatollah Beheshti in the Islamic center of Hamburg in Germany and his relationship with university students had a high importance. Iranian Muslim university students published a statement with name '' Islam, radical school'' in Europe in 1345 Sh. University students were more interested in studying his works when Ali Shariati started giving talks in the Husseinie of Ershad and his writings were prohibited in 1360 Sh.
The government of Pahlavi established the troop of the religion in 1351 Sh so that they could subdue the activities of opponent clergymen. But this action had a reverse result and the clergymen stood against the mentioned action strongly with the guidance of Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him) and did activities against the regime.
The movement of Islamic revitalizing reduced between 1354 and 1355 Sh and it happened only among university students because there was political crisis and suppressing atmosphere and most of religious radicals and intellectuals that had main role were imprisoned. Muslim university students established different praying rooms in universities, arranged fun programs for climbing, held group praying and the sessions of discussion at home in order to deal with ideological challenges and the extension of cultural corruption in universities and the society. Therefore, they could relate this activities to the next stages that were the final movement for the victory of revolution. Groups that had religious thoughts in an extreme way were active in 1360 Sh apart from the activity of Islamic political and mind events. These groups that were in touch with clergymen included seven groups '' united nation'', '' monotheism'', '' line'', twilight'', '' farmer'','' triumphant'' and ''believers in one God''.
Moreover, in spite of the fact that other groups '' Forghan'' and '' the ideals of poor persons'' had religious tendencies, they were independent from clergymen.
One of important channels for leading the process of Islamic revitalizing was theological schools, the schools of religious sciences and radical preaching clergymen in 1350 and 1360 Sh. The most important and extended theological school was the theological school of Qom.
The schools of religious sciences such as '' Haghghani'', '' Ayatollah Golpayegani'' and some other schools and publications such as '' the school of Islam'', '' the school of Shias, '' Bethat'', '' the school of Jafari'', '' the rise of Islam'', '' the Azam Mosque of Qom'' and '' the message of Islam'' were organized and published with the attempt of radical clergymen and they had a role in Islamic revitalizing. The theological schools of cities had an important activity. The theological school of Mashhad was one of clubs of standing against the regime of Pahlavi and one of effective centers in revitalizing religious thought due to the presence of well-known radical clergymen such as Ayatollah Muhammad Hadi Milani, Ayatollah Hasan Qomi, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, Hujatulislam Valmuslimin Abd Al-Karim Hashemi Nejad and Hujatulislam Valmuslimin Abbas Vaez Tabas. Preaching clergymen accompanied Islamic movement with their preaching travels in Muharram, Safar and Ramadan Months. The establishment of political open atmosphere at the end of 1355 Sh, especially 1356 Sh and the freedom of political prisoners provided a pleasant condition for the movement of Islamic revitalizing. The decrease of the sensor of newspaper caused that this medium could be used usefully and political opponents persons, especially religious forces, took the advantage of the chance to criticize the government of Pahlavi strongly. For example, when Keihan Newspaper asked '' what's problem of Iran?'' over forty thousand letters were received to answer this question. The subdued policy of Pahlavi led to the unity of political opponents and the declination of the foundation of the government of Pahlavi at the end of 1355 Sh and Islamic revitalizing surpassed ideas and individual actions, passed basic steps for final victory and made the regime of Pahlavi accept its requests in cultural social political areas.
Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him) observed the changes of the world and Iran carefully and took advantage of the chance. He announced through a message in 1356 Sh
''There is a chance through the intermediate of the situation of country and abroad and the reflection of the crimes of regime in societies and foreign media that scientific and cultural societies, patriotic men, university students in the country and abroad and Islamic clubs in each place use and demonstrate immediately''.
The martyrdom of Ayatollah Hajj Mustafa Khomeini at the beginning of Aban Month in 1356 Sh and the magnificent ceremony that was held in Iran was the beginning point of the uprising of theological schools and the uprising of religious society of Iran. Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him) called this event '' the hidden favors of God'' surprisingly. The regime retributed with writing an insulting article against Imam in the newspaper of Ettelaat. Objection to this article led to the uprising of the Dey nineteenth in Qom in 1356 Sh. and in this uprising, some radical clergymen were killed. Although Muhammad Reza Shah killed a lot of persons, he could not extinguish the blazed flames. He considered military mobilization and armed public Jihad only way in the conditions that America had tended for military coup.

5. The migration of Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him) from Iraq to Paris

The ministers of foreign of Iran and Iraq decided to make Imam Khomeini (May God's mercy be upon him) leave Iraq. The house of Imam in Najaf was surrounded by the forces of Bathi on the Mehr second in 1357 Sh. The reflection of this news led to the anger of Muslims in Iran, Iraq and other countries. Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him) left Najaf in order to go to the boundary of Kuwait on the Mehr twelfth. The government of Kuwait prevented from the entrance of Imam to this country because Muhammad Reza Shah had wanted them. It was discussed before that Imam went to Lebanon or Syria.
After he consulted with his son, Hujatulislm Valmuslimin Hajj Sayyed Ahmad Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him), he decided to migrate Paris and he entered Paris on the Mehr fourth.
He was in the house of one of Iranian persons for two days. The guardians of Alize Palace annunciated the opinion of the president of France related to avoidance from any kinds of political activities to Imam. He expressed harshly that these kinds of limitations were in contrast with democracy and he had to go from an airport to another airport and from a country to another country, but he did not give up his purpose.
Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him) formed the council of revolution in Dey month in 1357. After Muhammad Reza Shah formed the council of dynasty and the acceptance of vote of confidence for the cabin of Bakhtiar, he escaped from the country on the Dey twenty sixth. This news distributed in Tehran and Iran and people celebrated and gamboled in streets.

6. The return of Imam Khomeini to Iran

It was published in newspaper that Imam Khomeini had decided to come back Iran at the end of Bahman Month in 1357 Sh. The people of Iran had been waiting for him for fourteen years, but the people of friends of Imam were worried about his life because the government of Muhammad Reza Shah had not been eradicated and military government was up still. However, Imam Khomeini had made his decision and had sent his messages that he wanted to be with his people in those impotent and critical days. Therefore, the government of Bakhtiar closed the airports of the country for the abroad flights with the cooperation of General Hyzer.
The Government of Bakhtiar lasted for few days and had to accept the request of the nation. Finally Imam Khomeini entered the country after fourteen years on the Bahman twelfth in 1357. A lot of persons had come to welcome him undeniably and western news confessed the reality and estimated about four or six million persons in the time of the entrance of Imam.

7. The decease of Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him)

Imam Khomeini had told (may God's mercy be upon him) purposes, ideal and whatever he was supposed to annunciate and had applied whatever he had in order to implement purposes . Hence, he prepared himself to visit a dear that he had spent all of his life for, had bowed only against him and had cried only for him on the Khordad fifteenth in 1368 Sh.
It was 22:10 on Saturday in the afternoon on the Khordad thirteenth in 1368 Sh that Imam Khomeini was ready to visit exalted God. His heart that had revitalized millions hearts to the light of God and spirituality stopped beating.
People all over Iran and all of clubs that were familiar with the name and message of Imam Khomeini cried and mourned. No sentences can describe the aspects of this event and uncontrollable feelings of people in those days.
The people of Iran and radical Muslims were expected to cry in this way and create a scene that is the greatest throughout the history.
People had lost their beloved and religious leader and the annunciator of the true Islam.

9. Hazrat Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, the second leader of Islamic revolution of Iran

Hazrat Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, the child of deceased Hujatulislam valmuslimin Hajj Sayyed Javad Husseini Khamenei, was born in the holy city of Mashhad on the Teer twenty fourth in 1318 Sh. He is the second son in the family. The life of sayyed Javad Khamenei waseasy like most of clergymen and the instructors of religious sciences.
The leader of the revolution grew up in a poor family but religious, good-natured and friendly in his childhood. He along with his older brother, sayyed Muhammad, was sent to school to learn alphabets and Quran in the age of four. Then both of them registered in the Islamic School that had just been established and learned elementary studies there.
When he was studying at the high school, he started learning '' Jame Al- Moghaddamat'' and grammar and syntax. Then he went to the theological school and learned literature and basics from his father and other instructors. Afterwards, he went to the presence of great instructors of the theological school in order to achieve other scientific degrees.
When he became eighteen years old, he learned jurisprudence and tenets from deceased Ayatollah Ozma Milani.
He started learning the superb studies of jurisprudence, tenets and philosophy from 1337 until 1343 Sh from instructors such as diseased Ayatollah Al-Ozma Borujerdi ( may God's mercy be upon him), Imam Khomeini ( may God's mercy be upon him), Sheikh Morteza Haeri Yazdi ( may God's mercy be upon him) and Allame Tabatabaei ( may God's mercy be upon him).
He came back Mashhad in order to take care of his sick father in 1343 Sh and started studying at the school '' Suleiman''. In that time, he was one of young clergymen of this theological school, got familiar with Shahid Navvab Safavi and was strongly influenced by his remarks.
When he was in Qom in 1341 Sh, the radical movement of Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him) against the policies of Muhammad Reza Shah that are not Islamic and are confirmed by America started and he started political campaigns and fought for sixteen years in spite of the existence of a lot of ups and downs, tortures, exiles and imprisonment and in this path, he had no fear against dangers.
The mission of Ayatollah Khamenei from Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him) was to send his message to Ayatollah Milani and the scientists of Khorasan about the way of preaching programs of clergymen in Moharram and revealing the policies of Muhammad Reza Shah from America, the situation of Iran and the events of Qom.
He did his mission and went to Birjand in order to preach. According to the message of Imam Khomeni, he started preaching against the regime and America. Therefore, he was captured and arrested for a night. He was freed next day provided that he did not ascend over pulpit and was controlled. Afterwards, he continued his political campaigns according to the order of Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him), was arrested by savak (the officers of the regime), was imprisoned in the different prisons of the regime and was tortured.
Ayatollah Khamenei taught '' interpretation'' and ''ideology'' in three mosques '' Keramat'', '' Imam Hasan'' and '' Mirza Jafar'' and attracted thousands eager persons, especially wise and intellectual youths and radical and devout youths, to these three centers and got them to be familiar with Islamic thoughts between years 1350 and 1353 Sh.
He taught ''Nahj Al-Balaghe'' impressively and it was copied as pamphlets and was distributed hand in hand. This caused that he was arrested once more.
The criminal regime of Pahlavi arrested Ayatollah Khamenei at the end of year 1356 Sh and exiled him to Iranshahr for three years. When the campaigns of Muslim and radical people of Iran became more, he was freed and came back Mashhad.
At the advent of the victory of Islamic revolution, before Imam Khomeini came back from Paris to Iran, the council of Islamic revolution with the participation of radical persons such as Shahid Motahari, Shahid Beheshti, Hujatulislsm Valmuslim Rafsanjani and … was formed in Iran according to the order of Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him). Ayatollah Khamenei became the member of this council according to the order of Imam.
Hazrat Ayatollah Khamenei was at the risk of assassination by hypocrites at the mosque '' Abuzar'' in Tehran on the Teer sixth in 1360 Sh and this assassination did not happen according to the will of exalted God and After Muhammad Ali Rajaei, the second president of Iran, was murdered, Ayatollah Khamenei was selected as a president in Mehr Month in 1360 with the gain of over sixteen million votes of people and the appointment of the decree of Imam Khomeini (may God's mercy be upon him). He was selected as a president for the second time between years 1364 and 1368.
After Imam Khomeini (may God mercy be upon him) deceased, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei was selected as the leader of the Muslims nation of Iran by the constituent assembly. Therefore, the leadership of this nation was given to a man that had been trained for this heavy responsibility during his life.