Fathali: Iran Steadfast on Imam Khomeini’s Path

Fatimah Haydar

To mark the 26th Passing Anniversary of the late Leader of the Islamic Revolution His Eminence Imam Sayyed Rouhullah Khomeini, al-Ahed news interviewed the Iranian envoy to Lebanon, his Eminence Sayyed Mohammad Fathali to shed light on some of the many accomplishments of the late Imam and their influence on modern day life; as well as to tackle a glimpse of the Imam's personal and professional life.

Below is the interview script.

How did the late leader of the Islamic Revolution his Eminence Imam Sayyed Rouhullah Khomeini found the Islamic Republic as a contemporary republic?

While talking about the Imam [may god rest his soul], we begin by asking: what was the necessity behind forming and establishing the Islamic Republic?

As you know, Iran was under the rule of the Shahs dynasty for over 2500 years; it was important for our clergy men to reform the state and guide it toward the Islamic values and Islamic path; our clerics believed that the main and only way that the country can succeed and head towards Allah is if the government adjusted itself with the orders and regulations of Islam.

Long before the revolution in 1979, the late Imam was studying in Qum's religious schools. He was a great man but there was a time when he was not the main clergy in Iran; however, he did not want to cause a widening of the gap among Iranian people, so he did not intervene nor did he immediately engage in politics; he just advised the Iranians and tried to maintain the people and safeguard them from Western dangers.

Though, the Shah understood Imam's strong influence on ordinary people as well as clergies so he had the Imam arrested, ordered to reduce his public influence and indirectly asked to do three things: to refrain from talking about the Shah, to refrain from attacking "Israel" and not to say that Islam was in danger.

But of course, the Imam denied those orders as he believed that they were the main problems the Islamic Uma was facing and that if he relinquished to these orders he would have accomplished nothing.

If you could tell us more about the Imam's vision concerning the project of the oppressed?

In this world, there are demons that oppose Mankind's God-given obligation. It is the duty of every man and woman to ready themselves to be tangible to Allah.
The Imam believed that it is not only Man's obligation as an individual, but the duty of the community, government and the world - a collective duty - to be harmonized in this direction.

So the oppressed people are those under the pressure of powers disobedient to Allah's orders; they want to fulfill and implement the plans of Satan.

He believed that what we are facing now is the fight between right and wrong which had existed from the beginning of creation and continues in many shapes and forms. Thus, it is the duty and responsibility of the political and religious leader to aid and guide the righteous group to, somehow, defeat the other by every method.

Accordingly, the Quran ordered people to be committed to helping the oppressed and preventing them from being misled.

It is very clear that everything the Imam was doing directed later to the orders of Allah and the Quran as the Imam was a great scientist in the sciences of the Quran, ideology of God and Islam... so everything was related to Quran and Islam and never from the Imam's behalf.

Hereafter, we should be aware not to be misled and stay connected to the Quran and the Islamic values.

On the level of the Wahhabi Takfirist which is spreading throughout the region; how did the Imam present a modal Islamic country that keeps pace with modernism and development?

Imam believed that it is Man's duty to head towards integration or completeness. However, he indicated that modernity is a human conception showing the desire for completeness.

But what is the definition of completeness? It means that integration should comply with the criteria of Islam set by Allah. But then, any other criteria would be a human conception - and humans make mistakes and stray from righteousness since Man's power of understanding is limited to itself when he is disconnected from the main power, ideology or thought; thus he would be deceived by his own wrong doings as right ones; he would be caught in his own trap.

Unfortunately, people who call themselves followers of Islam and seem to have very severe and extreme way in obeying Islam have not understood Islam as it is; They have had a wrong conception of Islam which had guided them to be Takfiris.

Wahhabism is a misconception of Islam. Wahhabis cannot understand what Islam means since their school of thought lacks depth and they just perceive the surface of Islam as its depth contradicts their actions.

Henceforth, we have an obligation to save and immune the community from the dangers of the infidels and disbelievers as well as the Takfiris, who the Imam considers to be the most dangerous.

Consequently, the late Leader always reiterated the issue of those people being very dangerous since many Muslims mistake them for being Islamic leaders who convey Islam.

As a leader of the Islamic Republic, the Imam did not use his position for personal benefits. Can you tell us a glimpse of the Imam's humility and modesty?

The Imam was a very great man with very great power. But this man devoted himself to Allah. The essence of Imam's success and people's admiration is that he wanted nothing for himself and was ready to sacrifice himself for Allah's sake; he harmonized his words and school of thoughts to the Quran and its teachings.

The Imam obliged himself to see nothing but Allah; he sought no one but Allah. When you ask everything from Allah only and no one else, you would then be directly connected to the main power in the world - Allah is the main dominant power in the universe - and the Imam had grasped this idea from the very beginning of his life.

This devotion to Allah had helped the Imam to be selfless and to employ his powers in the prosperity and guidance of people towards righteousness.

Further, the Imam was very brave and feared no one in the world but Allah. He clearly understood that his life is from Allah, his soul as everything else belongs to Allah, so Allah can claim whatever he gave us and that everything is valueless unless used to disseminate the orders of Allah to the world.

Hence, being devoted to Allah and ready to be sacrificed for Allah's sake is a buffer against any kind of threat or danger. Having followed any other method would be fruitless.

In your opinion, how was the Islamic Republic of Iran able to maintain the Islamic Path set by the Imam?

The imam ordered to have the Islamic republic's constitution written. You can notice that every article of the constitution is based on Islamic values, orders and criteria via the prophets and the Imams - our religious leaders.

Moreover, his Eminence indicated that the opinions of the people are very important in relation to the government; he valued their votes. He rejected discrimination among rich and poor people and called for justice among all layers of the community.

Fortunately, the Imam was a great teacher that after his demise he was succeeded by His Eminence Imam Khamenei who was elected by the council of experts which in turn was elected by the people.

Accordingly, the Imam advised statesmen to support and follow Velayat-e Faqih [Supreme Jury's Prudence] in governing the country.

It should be noted that Imam Khamenei had followed that path and had run his administration for nearly three decades with wisdom and awareness as it maintained the authenticity of Imam Khomeini's Islamic approach.

As you know, this approach had demonstrated and expressed superb manifestations, for instance, the achievements of the valiant Islamic Resistance in Lebanon which honors Arabs and Muslims under the wise and courageous leadership of Hizbullah's Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah as among the figures entrusted with safekeeping this righteous approach.

Source: al-Ahed News