Problems and difficulties of Islam in Imam Khomeini's perspective

Written by: Naser Mazaheri Tehrani

 

Introduction
Today, the Islam world deals with various difficulties and vicissitudes in different political and economical aspects. These problems are often extended in the Islam world from the part of super-powers and colonial governments. They aim at preventing the influence and extension of Islam universally, and seizing Islamic nations' sources. Among the affected pains and problems to the world Muslim, consider the following lines: Muslims' great economical, political and material interdictions, the material violence and the Muslim's massacre, the seizure of underground and on-ground rich sources, cultural attack and seduction of the young. Without a doubt, the Islamic countries release from this condition requires a careful investigation around the present problems and finding a solution to remove them all. Regarding the reviving opinions of pure Islamic thoughts, the investigation and the analysis of these problems can be presented from different aspects and dimensions. This important issue is under discussion and mainly focuses on the internal and external elements and problems, different cultural and political field. In preface of this special edition, we briefly examined Islamic societies' problems in three parts through Imam Khomeini's perspectives:

 

a) the main nature of Muslim world problems

Regarding Imam Khomeini's perspective, there are three concepts presented around "Islam":

1. Islam is a world-included school and has a universal mission to lead and manage all the materialistic and spiritual affairs of people and is away from the tribal or racial distinctions. It has also presented a through and comprehensive program.

2. The real Islam is responsive to all humane needs and is able to manage materialistic and spiritual prosperity. The main problems of human societies, esp. the Islamic ones, from which other problems raises are the lack of attention and reliance to the exalted God and spiritual affairs, the lack of understanding Islamic instructions in all its dimensions and ignoring the Islamic laws and commands.

 

In the horizon of Imam Khomeini's thoughts, the most complex problems of the contemporary world are solved through real faith in the exalted God. If people have faith in God and practice for God in their social, political, economical activities plus other aspects, of life, the most complex problems of the world today will be easily solved, "we belief that the only school which can lead the society is Islam.
If people of the world want to save themselves from many problems, they would convert to Islam" (Sahifeh-ye Imam, vol. 5, p. 437).
In his historical letter to the Soviet Union president, Imam Khomeini declared, "Dear Mr. Geuorbachove, the main problem of your country is not ownership, economics or freedom, but the lack of real belief to God. This is the same problem that has destroyed the West" (Ibid., vol. 21, p. 221)
Under the shadow of this same thought, Imam Khomeini declared that the main problem of Islamic countries is separation from Islam and Koran instructions.

 

b) the condition of problems structuring

The quality of problems structure and the ways they approach the Islamic societies are considered the second main issue in analyzing Islam world's vicissitudes. The significant point in Imam Khomeini's thoughts is his consideration to the role of people in relation to their place and rank as the manager of a tribe, representative of a group, president or the governor of a society in different regional, national and super-national levels.
Regarding Imam Khomeini's same hierarchical perspective to the world and the place of mankind as the first constituent element of all communities, he believes that the origin of all difficulties, prosperities and vicissitudes of communities is mankind.
Considering the amount of man's approximation and dimensions taken from, the permanent divine essence and the amount of his utilizing the acquisition of ethical virtues and avoidance of vices, he is the main origin of social evolutions and materialistic difficulties. The first point of every reformist action is in mankind (Ibid., vol. 15, p. 491).
Mankind is the origin of all dangers for himself and therefore, the origin of reform also should be started from the man himself (Ibid., vol. 17, p. 193).
Imam Khomeini believes that all the calamities flourishing toward man or the society have their roots in selfishness. In this direction, the effect of man's behaviors and actions in inducing problems for societies and communities can be best expressed in the following lines which are done in regional, national and international levels:
"All the troubles for nations are for the lack of purification; the origin of all troubles and problems relates to the unpurified authorities (Ibid., vol. 9, p. 135)". Selfishness and the quit of revolutions for God are two important elements which have made our days terrible. These two factors had made Islamic countries be under the influence of foreigners. From the very beginning, the Muslims were captured by lust and carnal desires which is now the origin of our troubles (Ibid, vol. 1, p. 22)".
From the other hand, in analyzing the structure of problems in Islamic communities, we can point to two internal and external elements. Among these elements, Imam Khomeini focused on the influence of external elements. In his perspective, the main roots of Islamic nations' problems are the interruption of foreigners and colonial powers. This fact is, of course, mainly done by hands of unqualified internal elements.
"The Muslims troubles originate from the super-powers and their servants in region. If the Muslim does not save themselves from the hands of them, their problems would never be solved (Ibid, vol. 17, p. 208)".
In introducing the internal elements of Islamic countries problems, Imam Khomeini mentioned the following reasons; "the dependence of Islamic authorities to super-powers, governmental authorities' ignorance to Muslims' problems, the dispute among Islamic authorities between nations, lack of understanding between Islamic governments and people, separation and dis-unity among the Muslim and the weakness of management. Imam Khomeini believed that the main problem of Islamic countries originates fro two basic principles, "in my opinion, there are two main problems for Islamic countries; one is among the nations and communities (governments), which is on the basis of the separation of governments from people (nations). That is, the government does not believe in the belonging to the nation and the nation also does not believe in belonging to the governments. If governments be in the service of people, then people would certainly cooperate with them. The second problem is also important for Islam's nations and governments; this problem is among the governments.
In spite of the fact that Islam had invited Muslims to Unity, and the holy Koran, but yet there are disputes among Islamic nations. Why should it be the case that two Islamic governments, with same essence, prophet and the holy book (Koran), do not agree on accepting Islam's invitation? This invitation is also to their benefits. If they accept the invitation and if the Islamic governments become united, then the number of Muslims would reach one billion people which are greater than any other powers. They are equipped with faith which is stronger than any other equipment. These two problems which I briefly mentioned are the basics of Muslims' troubles. If these two problems be removed, all the Muslims troubles would also be removed and the happiness of Islamic beginning days would be returned to Muslims" (Ibid., vol. 10, p. 486).

 

c) the way to solve Muslim world's troubles

The exact examination of Islam world's troubles and the analysis of their quality and develop in Islamic communities will lead us to approaches to release from them. On the basis of mentioned issues in Imam Khomeini's thoughts in relation to the most important elements in problem-raising, it was perceived that the only way to solve Muslim's pains and the oppressed problems is to return to principles of growing and prosperity in mankind and communities.
"If we never turn to the Islam of the prophet, we would have our same problems intact" (Sahifeh-ye Imam, vol. 13, p. 89).
"If the Muslim practice what has been preached in this verse (و اعتصموا بحبل الله جميعا و لا تفرقوا) , they would not face any social, political and economical troubles and all their vicissitudes will be removed easily" (Ibid., p. 275).
Regarding the grounds of problem-raising in Islam world, Imam Khomeini believed that some elements are the main reason of Muslims' prosperity which include, paying attention to Koran instructions, relying on Islam, replacing the Islamic culture with the foreign cultures, the unity of Muslims and Islamic governments, avoiding the disputes, awakening the Islamic governments, authorities governing on people's hearts, and mutual understanding of people and governments. The late Imam Khomeini had depicted the mystery of victory and defeat of Muslim nations in following lines; "thou! The world Muslims and the followers of Towhid School! The mystery of all Islamic countries' troubles is in controversies and the lack of harmony and the mystery of victory is in the unity and association. The exalted God stated the above-mentioned issue in one sentence; و اعتصموا بحبل الله جميعا و لا تفرقو.
This sentence expresses the harmony between Muslims. This is for the sake of Islam and Muslim's benefits, digression from separation, and attraction to groups which are the basics of all misfortunes. I wish the exalted God to bring back the magnificence of Islam, and the unity among the world's Muslims" (Ibid, vol. 10, p. 160).