In April 1988, following the split of the Association of Combatant Clerics (Majma-e Ruhanioun-e Mobarez) from the Society of Combatant Clergy, and Imam Khomeini’s approval of the move, some assumed that the remaining faction was regarded by the Imam as supporters of “American Islam,” while the newly formed association represented “Pure Islam.” Several months later, on October 21, Mohammad Ali Ansari, a member of the Imam’s office, expressed concern in a letter over the growing rivalry between the two revolutionary factions and sought the Imam’s guidance.
In a detailed response, published on October 31, 1988, and later known as the “Charter of Brotherhood” (Manshour-e Baradari), Imam Khomeini described both factions as his children and students, loyal to Islam, the Quran and the Revolution. He said differences of opinion were neither a cause for concern nor a departure from the truth, but rather a sign that the door of ijtihad (independent Islamic reasoning) remained open within an Islamic government. The essential condition was that their disagreements should not concern fundamental principles and that both factions should maintain their revolutionary opposition to America and Western capitalism on one side, and the Soviet Union and Eastern communism on the other.
The letter also stressed that no one should consider themselves infallible or beyond criticism, while criticism should never be used to undermine or destroy the opposing faction. Imam Khomeini also proposed 22 issues for Islamic jurisprudential examination, ranging from ownership, money, banking and the environment to the limits of individual and social freedoms. He identified the definition and determination of the authority of Velayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist) as the most important issue.- On November 9, the Association of Combatant Clerics declared its readiness to implement the charter. However, according to the account, the message did not receive the attention and practical commitment from the political factions that it deserved.
Extracted and adapted from the entry “Imam Khomeini’s Charter of Brotherhood” / Imam Khomeini Encyclopedia (Wiki Imam).