On the 19th of Ramadan 40 AH (27 January AD 661), Imam Ali (peace be upon him) was struck on the head with a poison-coated sword during the morning prayers in the Great Mosque of Kufa, in today's Iraq, and passed away two days later.
Every year, on the 21st day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, mourners gather in mosques and religious centers across Iran to attend ceremonies commemorating the first Shia Imam's martyrdom.
It is also thought to be the night when the blessings and mercy of God are abundant, sins are forgiven, supplications are accepted, and God decides the fate of each individual for the coming year.
Imam Khomeini time and again said that Imam Ali (PBUH), is the appearance of the absolute justice, the marvel of the world , who has no equal by kindness in the world-from the beginning until the eternity- unless the more respectable Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him).
The founder of the Islamic Republic frequently said that Imam Ali—the truthful infallible successor of the holy prophet of Islam has been perfect model to follow for the whole humanity throughout all ages.
Imam Khomeini used to maintain that
According to Imam Khomeini, in the early days of Islam, the ideal Islamic government ruled twice: first at the time of the Holy Prophet Muhammad and secondly when Imam Ali ibnAbiTalib (peace be upon them) governed the Muslim societies and set unprecedented divine patterns.
They were the only two examples that the immaterial values dominated. In other words, they were governments of justice in which the rulers had never violated the law. During those two periods, a government of law was in control and perhaps we will never find another government of law with such qualities all over the world.
A government whose head was equal to the simplest citizen living there before the law. It happened in the government of the early Islam. In such a government all are equal before the law because the Islamic law is a divine one and all – whether the ruler, the Prophet, the Imam or the common people.
The historical accounts indicate that Islamic leaders such as the holy prophet and his infallible successors such as Imam Ali (PBUH) were sitting among the people in small mosques and listening to their words.