Following the occupation of the Spy Den, a body headed by Mr. Ramsy Clerk was to come to Iran and request visit with the Imam (s). As soon as the Imam heard of this he made an announcement declining to meet with the American body. He also ruled out such a visit with the cabinet, the Revolutionary council and other authorities, and said that none had to meet this body. The interesting point about this incident is that it was the only announcement of the Imam (s) that lacked the opening phrase of “Bismillah...” (in the name of God...) just as the Quranic surah “Repentence” (at-Tawbah (Baraah)) meaning that Hadrat Imam (s) in this declaration in pursuit of the surah “Repentence”, has begun his message without the Bismillah.
(In meeting with high school and university students) November 3, 1991
In the ups and downs of the Islamic Revolution of Afghauistan to decide their destiny, the Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently wished their will to be realized and, to prove this I remember the time when aggressor Russian leaders, in the height of the Imposed war sent a message to the great leader of the Islamic Revolution Hadrat Imam Khomeini saying “If you want us to supply you arms you ought to let up on the Afghanistan issue.” The Imam (s) replied: “We want weapons to protect Islam not to destroy it!”
(In meeting with layers of people) February 4, 1991
These are hard days for those who were and are in love with the Imam. On such days, three years ago, the friends of Imam were all ablaze. Two issues bothered us a great deal. One was Imam’s departure. What conditions will beset the country after his demise? Who will fill the vacuum after the Imam? Will the Leadership Council take over? Who will be the next Leader? The Imam was still alive when our friends gathered together in the Jamaran Hospital and greatly inflamed, they counted the minutes for his recovery when suddenly the Doctor called me and said that it was all over, the moment had come. In the first post-mortem minutes it was decided to call members of the Council of Experts to Tehran. Immediately a friend was assigned to this task and, overnight, all Experts were invited to Tehran and they came in fast from near and far. The multi-million presence of the people in Tehran streets and in the streets of every town, city, village and hamlet was so compressed and extensive that it rained cold water on the heads of all enemies of the Revolution. Were it not for the presence of the people in the scenes, the views and analyses would certainly be different and grounds would be ready for analysis by foreign media and enemies of the Revolution abroad and the mischief of their hired hands at home. However the presence of more than 9 million people who had poured in from provinces and joined up with the mourners in Tehran on the one side and on the other, the quick, serious and destiny-making decision read by the Council of Experts, was as thought the two had merged in such a way that one would think God had thrown open the doors to Mercy to the people of Iran, for, such an important thing had happened without the least bother to the Islamic Republic Regime.
(In meeting with the army of the I R Iran) June 3, 1992
When the site of the Islamic Republic Party had been blown up, coincidental with it, various other sites were blown up and many grandees were terrorized. A man by the name of Kashmiri who worked with the hypocrites, was assigned to bring a briefcase containing explosives and deposit it by the side of Imam at a time when the President, House speaker, the Prime Minister and the cabinet ministers were in the presence of Imam. You know that infiltration is a highly complicated task of intelligence machinery and of those who want to hurt their opponents. At that time, Kashmiri worked in the secretariat of the Security Council of the time, that is, he was secretary to the Council and had complete information on all that went on in that Council and he was a deputy to Mr. Rajai who was the President at that time. At the meeting with the Imam, were the President, the Prime Minister and his cabinet, the Parliement speaker and some other personalities. At the forked road to the street leading to Imam’s house it was said that Mr. Kashmiri will join the group shortly and he has a briefcase with him containing materials he needs to take notes at the meeting, papers, pen and other similar things to note down the discussions between the Imam and the president, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.
We had agreed to let no one, regardless of position or rank, to bring into the meeting hall, anything he carries in his hand, for, we had been aware of the fact that replacement of such things as briefcase or other similar things, is easy, with those carried by the President, the minister, etc. Such incidents had occurred in other countries against Palestinians by the Zionists. Words came that Mr. Rajai says: “Mr Kashmiri is the Secretary to the Council, let him in, he writes down whatever we say in the meeting. If we are to mistrust him, whom can we trust!? They came and told me this from the forked road to Imam’s residence. I said we are a group and this is a group decision we cannot break it while their signature has not completely dried, we won’t do this, we cannot allow it.” Again words came that Messrs. Bahonar and Rajai have sent this message that they do not come up, and that Mr. Kashmiri must be present with his briefcase. We persisted and said no. Mr Kashmiri, fearing that if he leaves his briefcase there and goes to the presence of the Imam (s) without it security elements might suspect the briefcase and its contents become known, returned back in protest taking the case with him, and it was the same case that was placed beside the late Rajai and Bahonar in the office of the Prime Minister where it exploded and these two grand persons were terrorized.
(In meeting with the Basij) September 29, 1992
In the year 1358 (1979) when the Referendum about “Islamic Republic” was held for a day or two the press were busy with publishing congratulation messages. The Imam said: “Tell the newspapers to stop this!” Redundant praise is the work of pagans and must be eradicated with an all-inclusive effort.
(In meeting with Friday prayer Leaders) 9/20/1993
In hard conditions of making decisions that which would put the mind and heart of Imam at ease, was only his reliance on God and recitation of His Name. Under no circumstances would he postpone the hour of his prayers and he performed all the commendable just as he did in his political struggles; in pursuit of Hadrat Rasoul the Prophet (s) and the Infallible Imams (a), he always observed his Islamic duties.
(In meeting with university students) July 27, 1993
In devotional matters, Hadrat Imam (s) never expressed a view and, like an ordinary person he abided by and observed the decrees just as had been relayed. He recited all the prayers in the Mafatih al-Jinan exactly as they are written. I recall the day that this 90-year old man for every pilgrimage prayer, he performed one ablution and in less than two hours he performed three, for reciting three different prayers, and he would not do with just one ablution. He was devout in the real meaning of the word. When he was in Najaf during the month of Ramadan, every three days he recited the entire Quran. When he was in Jamaran due to age he recited this holy book once every ten days. During the year he recited the Quran once a month. He associated with the Quran very closely. He used to divide one Juz (1 part of the total 30 parts) of the Quran in 8 sections, each section he recited at a particular time. Sometimes he dwelt on one verse of the Quran for a long time. He was so accustomed to the book Mafatih that he had to get a new copy every few months or have the old ones bound.
The great Imam always despised wastefulness, attachment to luxury, and avoiding simple living and clergy attire. Many a time, although in poor health I noted he had walked a relatively long distance in snow in order not to have asked us to do some task, say to put out a light in the yard. By the darkness falling in the yard we would know he was there. I would get to him quickly and tell him he could use the intercom system to tell us do some chore, for instance, to put out a light. He would reply: “well, someone had to do it!”
When the Imam was going to return home from Paris he sent a message advising friends to provide a place for him downtown. After going to Qum and the onset of his heart condition, at the insistence of his physicians he went to live in Jamaran, at first, in the house of a mason with an area less than 100 square meters. It was also his place of work. Later on, Mr. Imam Jamarani made his house there, available to the Imam.
(Statements at the commencement ceremonies of the Ten-Day Dawn) 1/1/94
The day the Shah fled agents of the entire communications media of the world had arranged interviews in Noephel Le Chateau with the Imam. Perhaps close to 150 television networks were broadcasting this program directly because it was a major event in the history of the Revolution. All wanted to know the Imam’s views. He spoke a few minutes and then asked me if it was noontime, I said that it was exactly noontime. The Imam called the meeting off by saying “Wassalamu Alaykum” (Peace be upon you all). He thus sacrificed such a meeting for the sake of saying noon prayer on exact time. Whereas mass media agents were cabling news of the interview for their audiences and viewers.
(In meeting with members of taxicab drivers union) February 26, 1993
Source: STANDPOINTS- A Selection of the Positions of Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimin Haj Sayyid Ahmad Khomeini