Some Memoirs from Imam's Diary
Imam led a simple life of a seminary student
Imam led a very simple and normal life just like a seminary student. He became satisfied to a living standard even lower than the students. I knew about his expenses because a helper for his house's maintenance known Hossein Mashadi used to get house budget from me. They used to spend very small amounts on maintenance of house and life. Another instance for his simple life style that some of the Iranian doctors, who visited the holy city of Najaf and had a special respect for Imam, frequently recommended that we must provide Imam with supplementary food during his old-hood. But Imam refused these offers and believed that simple food stuffs could meet his physical needs.
[Hojjat ul-Islam Rasoul Mahallati, Some Phrases from Conduct of Imam Khomeini, vol. 2, p. 94]
He used to clean his shoe with tissue papers
Each time Imam wanted to go for a pilgrimage of Imam Ali's shrine in holy city of Najaf during his stay there, he used to clean his shoes with tissue papers. He had also a fixed mirror in the courtyard, he used to go to the yard and comb his beard. He used to apply a scent or perfume before leaving the house. He never gave up even optional worships. He also recommended these things to us. Sometime we used to visit the house twice a day. We never went to Imam's house directly from the street. If Imam had seen us with untidy condition, he would have asked us the reason behind. He used to recommend us to be tidy and disciplined. We did our best to maintain discipline and we tried to visit him at suitable times.
[Zahra Ishraqi, Some Phrases from Conduct of Imam Khomeini, vol. 2, p. 156]
We never saw Imam idle
None of the closest of his relatives or friends can claim that Imam spent even a single moment as an idle man even during his days of old-hood. No one has seen him wasting a single moment of his life.
We were witnessing Imam life from very closely and the word holiday never existed in his life especially when he came to dealing the public and government affairs. It did not make different for him to deal these affairs during all seasons, working days, holidays and festivals. He used to spend all his moments in reading, worshipping and reading various reports.
[Hojjat ul-Islam Rahimian, Some Phrases from Conduct of Imam Khomeini, vol. 2, p. 339]
He used to recite Quran even for less than two minutes
Imam used to come to have a lunch following saying his noon prayers. If he could find even some moments, he would have picked up the holy Quran and used to recite some verses from it.
[Marzia Hadidche, Some Phrases from Conduct of Imam Khomeini, vol. 2, p. 348]
Compensation money must be paid
Imam received a warm welcome after entering the country days before the victory of the Islamic Revolution. The people had gathered in big crowds on the way from the airport to Behest Zahra cemetery (the burial place of martyrs). We were met with challenge at Freedom Square when people picked vehicle carrying Imam on their shoulders. Again when it was placed to the ground, in this process somebody foot was fractured. This incident was brought to Imam's notice and Imam had assigned me to pay compensation for his cure and remedy. However, the person denied accepting the amount due to his great respect for Imam.
[Mohsen Rafiq Doust, Some Phrases from Conduct of Imam Khomeini, vol. 2, p. 405]
Kindness and affections of Imam
I still remember when I was a child. One day an old man had brought some soil or clay for garden. Imam told us that the man had not taken his lunch. We had also not plentiful food. However, Imam took a plate and asked each of us to share a spoon. In this way he arranged a dish for the man. My joy knew no bounds during childhood and I cannot forget this spiritual satisfaction.
[One of the Imam's daughters, Some Phrases from Conduct of Imam Khomeini, vol. 2, p. 183]
The great Imam was so emotional
Sometimes if my sisters had come to see their father (Imam) during our stay in Najaf, I could never see the moment of saying goodbye by Imam. I used to leave the yard and so my brother (Mostafa Khomeini). It was because Imam used to become very emotional while behaving with their children. However he never let influence these matter while making decisions.
[Late Haj Sayyid Ahmad Khomeini, the Message of Revolution, Issue No. 60]
Old Friends
One night a group of European students had gathered in yard of holy shrine in Najaf to see Imam Khomeini. They seemed a bit stranger among our gathering. They were not observing the proper dress code and other norms. We were not happy with this situation. However, Imam behaved them very sincerely and kindly. Imam behaved them as if they were his old friends. They were deeply impressed by Imam's speech and left the gathering with a great hope, faith and energy.
[Ayatollah Karimi, Some Phrases from Conduct of Imam Khomeini, vol. 3, p. 285]
You must be careful about poems
Imam usually used to sing some poetic verses while walking and then made notes of it on the corner of newspapers. He was very fluent in writing verses. Sometime I used to recommend Ahmad to take care of these verses. I never wanted to lose a single poetic verse by Imam. I was also concerned that Imam may regret from writing some poems. If he was not satisfied with a phrase, he used to try to waste it thought pouring water over it. I was also concerned that the children may use these papers to play. And if we had delays in collecting these newspapers, then somebody could have taken these away. In this way the poems could be wasted.
[Dr. Fatima Tabatabaei, Some Phrases from Conduct of Imam Khomeini, vol. 2, p. 174]