Imam Khomeini from Birth to Death

Rohullah was born in the small town of Khomein on Friday the 20th of Jamadi Al-Thani, 1321 AH/ September 24, 1902 coinciding with the auspicious birth anniversary of Fatima Zahra into a religious, knowledgeable family. His father was assassinated at hands of local evil persons when he was five months. He was raised by his kind mother Hajar and one of his aunts. Imam Khomeini learned horseback riding and took basic training of gun shooting and arrow throwing at home.

First stage of Ruhollah's life from 1902- 1921
Ruhollah passed his childhood and youthhood when Iran was passing trough and surrounded by social and political crisis. He could feel the pains and plights of the masses from very early stages of his life. He used to express his sorrow about people's sufferings through drawing lines. He also made defense bases along with his family and friends and tuned into a great and an all-out combatant against any aggression in such circumstances. Some of these heart-breaking and painful sufferings such as 'bombing of a gathering' have been reflected and accessible through his homework and paintings he drew during his early age. For an instance, he has addressed the sufferings of the Iranian nation in one of his diary memoirs while he was just nine or ten years old. The memoirs read: “What happened to zeal of the Islamic and national movement?”
[Kawthar, vol. 1, p. 615, 1992, Published by the Institute for Compilation and Publication of Imam Khomeini's Works]
He went on to say that Iran has been plunged into sufferings and the country of Daryoush is being tarnished and damaged by aggressors.
This short writing can be considered as his first political statement or manifesto during Ruhollah's youthood period. His concerns about national issues could easily be understood through these types of writings. He had showed his affections and very deep inclinations towards the freedom fighters and revolutionaries of Jungle movement. He released a song and raised funds in support of Mirza Kouchek Khan, the head of the movement. Ultimately he made up his mind and joined the historic movement of jungle and traveled to visit his bases in mountainous region.

Rohullah's Education and Qualifications
Rohullah had extraordinary capabilities and talent to gain a well command over a range of academic fields. He managed to complete very higher educational ranks beside the prominent seminary professors in the cities of Khomein, Arak and Qom in fields of jurisprudence, mysticism and philosophy.

He read first of his political statement during a religious and political gathering in the city of Arak held in honor of Ayatollah Tabatabaei, one of the prominent leader of the constitutional movement.  He was just 19 years old at the time. His speech was widely welcomed and met with great appreciation. This was actually a political statement or manifesto which was declared through a young seminary student to hail the precious services rendered by the constitutional movement leaders. The great Imam has recorded a memory in this regard as following:
“I was suggested to address through podium and tribune, I welcomed the suggestion and could not sleep very well at the night, I was not scared to see the people, but this thought had kept me thinking that how to address through a podium which belongs to messenger of God. I sought help and assistance from God, the Almighty. I held a commitment that I will never utter a single expression that I don't believe on a podium throughout my life. The first of my speech was a little bit longer, but no body became tired of it. Some of them also offered appreciations. Then I felt that these appreciations had made me a little bit happy. From that day forward I rejected the following invitations for delivering any speech through podium and I stayed away from the tribune at least for next four years.”

[Khomeini Rohullah, compiled by Seyed Ali Qaderi, the Institute for Compilation and Publication of Imam Khomeini's Works]

Second stage of Rohullah's life (1921-1940)
This era started with migration of Rohullah to holy city of Qom and continued with anti-religious policies of Reza Khan. He kept himself busy in acquiring knowledge, teaching and compiling books and Rohullah also became familiar with prominent seminary scholars such as clergy combatant such as Nurullah Isfahai and others. The main objective of the religious scholars during this tough and rough political era was to shield and protect the seminary system in the holy city of Qom. The significance of this matter was not less than establishing an Islamic government in 1978.

Third stage of Rohullah's life (1940-1960)
This era of great significance started at a time when Imam was just 4o years old. It coincided with significant occurrences-- the start of World War II and ouster of Reza Khan and the start of kingdom of Mohammad Reza. According to Imam, this was a suitable time for a peaceful uprising. However, the uprising failed to take place in this period despite all untiring efforts by Imam. Of course Imam had turned a wise leader with abundance knowledge, great religious authority and political freedom. He possessed great knowledge of domestic and international politics at this stage. He reminded the nation the sutiable time for a political uprising through issuing a statement in mid of the Iranian month of Khordad in 1943:
"This is the day when spiritual wind is blowing and it would be the suitable time for a reform movement to take place. If you lose this opportunity and do nothing to restore the religious rituals, then people with material lusts and thugs will dominate your society and will undermine your religion and dignity due to fulfill their lower desires." (Sahifeh ye-Imam, vol. 1, p. 21)

Fourth stage of Rohullah's life (1960-1988)
This era starts with two unpleasant occurrences and sad incidents. The passing away of Ayatollah Broujerdi inflicted a great loss on the Islamic society. However, it had emboldened the enemies and they saw a big obstacle removed from their way. Meanwhile Ayatollah Kashani also passed away during this time.  He was seen as symbol of combat against the British imperialism and colonialism and whose name used to shake the enemies of Iran and Islam.
The US had also added its pressure on the regime to implement certain western reforms. This attractive package of reforms was presented to enhance provincial and governmental and state issues. However, these deceptive reforms had paved the way and background for a secret alliance of regime with the US and Israel. Washington and Tel-Aviv were increasingly dominating and meddling in Iran's internal affairs. Imam took a very tough stance against these US-led reforms and in return the regime agents attacked a religious ceremony being held at Faiziah seminary on the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) in 1962. Several religious professors and student were killed and many more seriously injured during this brutal raid.
Imam revealed all secrets of regime and said through a message of condolence forty days after the tragic incident:
“I have made up my mind and will never back down unless I knock down this corrupt regime”
Imam also delivered his historic speech at Faiziah seminary and Shah also issued a command to silence Imam's voice. At the same evening the great Imam was detained by regime agents and transferred to Qasr Prison.
The news of Imam's detention started spreading in Tehran and all other major cities.
Next day a large number of protesters took to the streets and marched toward Shah's palaces. They chanted slogans and announced their readiness to sacrifice their lives for Imam Khomeini's cause. The uprising was brutally suppressed and regime agents had filled streets with a bloodbath.
Following the incident of 15th Khordad, Imam was exiled to Turkey and from there to Iraq. The suspicious martyrdom of Mostafa Khomeini in also boosted the morale of movement.
The appearance of an anti-clergymen's article in Etala'at Newpaper also met with fierce reaction by the masses and public.
The uprising known as 19th Dey has had also a great significance in the revolution history.
Several protests, uprisings by masses and bloodbaths took place by the regime agents during these years. This series of tragic incident continued until deposed Shah fled the country.
Imam had returned from Paris to Tehran to lead the revolution. Imam's wise policy had confronted the all conspiracies of any military coup. The revolution gained final victory on 22nd of Bahman 1357 AHS (1979).
The US-led western conspiracies and several other hostile domestic and international groups tried to confront the Islamic Revolution. However the masses under the leadership of Imam confronted all these challenges in the coming decades. The public continue to follow the path of Imam with great determination following Imam's heavenly departure.

 

May his soul rest in peace