Imam Khomeini stressed that Muharram is a month when justice rose up against inequity and righteousness rose up against wrong and it has proven that the right always defeats the wrong throughout history. (Sahifeh-ye-Imam, Vol 5, page 184)
He also said in a famous message that the holy months of Muharram and Safar have kept Islam alive.
The contemporary leader of the Muslim world used to advise preachers to promote genuine teachings of Islam and convey global progressive perspectives of Ashura during this period of great significance on the Islamic calendar.
Imam Khomeini had strongly recommended all clerics and preachers to deliver such speeches at religious gatherings which can elevate the Islamic societies towards spiritual growth and grab the attentions of the youth towards the real message of Ashura.
The late founder of the Islamic Republic stressed that Imam Hossein (peace be upon him), the grandson of the holy prophet of Islam, rendered matchless sacrifices in Karabla to revive the divine teachings and rescue the Islamic societies from plunging into decline at a sensitive juncture of history.
Imam Hossein (PBUH) has been introduced as the role model by the honorable prophet of Islam. It is widely reported in authentic Islamic resources that the holy prophet of Islam also said: “Truly Hossein is the lamp for guidance and the ark for salvation.”
Some of sayings which were delivered by Imam Khomeini on various occasions regarding Muharram and Ashura come as following:
- Muharram, the month of heroism, bravery, and sacrifice has commenced. It is a month wherein the blood conquered the sword; it is a month in which the power of truth rescinded the wrong forever and stamped the forehead of tyrants and the satanic governments with its stigma. It is a month which has taught the generations throughout history the path of victory over the lances; a month that witnessed the downfall of big powers against the word of truth. (Sahifeh-ye-Imam, Vol 5, page 73)
- Muharram is the month during which the Doyen of the warrior of holy defense oppressed (i.e. Imām Husayn (‘a) revived and saved Islam, which, due to the conspiracies of the members of the corrupt regime of the Banī Umayyad, was on the verge of annihilation. From its very outset, Islam was strengthened by martyrs’ blood. (Sahifeh-ye-Imam, Vol 11, page 112)
- The martyrdom of the Leader of the Oppressed as well as the supporters of the Qur’an, on the day of ‘Āshūrā, marked the beginning of the everlasting life of Islam and the Qur’an. (Sahifeh-ye-Imam, Vol 14, page 346)
- The honorable Doyen of the Martyrs (‘a) fought for Islam with those youth and companions, all of whom gave their lives and revived Islam. (Sahifeh-ye-Imam, Vol 8, page 135)
- It is Muharram and Safar that have kept Islam alive. (Sahifeh-ye-Imam, Vol 15, page 287)
- It is the month of Muharram. Keep this Muharram alive. Whatever that we have is from this Muharram and these gatherings. If these eulogizing meetings, sermonizing, mourning, and grieving gatherings were not present, our country would not have triumphed. All revolted under the banner of Imām Hussayn. ( Sahifeh-ye-Imam, Vol 17, page 53)
- if the uprising of His Holiness, the Doyen of the Martyrs (‘a) was not existed, today, we, too could not have been victorious. All this unity of expression, which was the source of our victory, was because of these mourning and grieving ceremonies and these propagation gatherings grounded for the promotion of Islam. ( Sahifeh-ye-Imam, Vol 17, page 51)
- The martyrdom of the Doyen of Martyrs was meant for the establishment of the divine justice. ( Sahifeh-ye-Imam, Vol 20, page 348)
- Imām Husayn with a few people sacrificed everything he had for Islam. He resisted a great empire and said “no.” This “no” should be preserved everyday and everywhere. These gatherings are held to preserve the same “no.” Our children and youth might not imagine that we are a “nation of weeping"! Others to say “nation of weeping” inculcate this! They fear these tears that are shed in token of sympathy with the oppressed. The processions come out to rise against the oppressor. ( Sahifeh-ye-Imam, Vol 10, page 222)