Introduction
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran; Ayatullah Ali Khamene’i (r.a) is an outstanding personality produced by the school of thought of his Eminence, the founder of the Islamic Republic; Imam Khomeini (r.a). He is one of such pious, humble and devoted personalities that sustain the Islamic Revolution and at the same time immortalize the legacy of the Leader of the Revolution; Imam Khomeini (r.a) and unify the entire people of Iran.
A short Background Biography
Ayatullah Sayyed Ali Khamene’i was born on the 17th of July, 1939, coinciding with the 28th Safar, 1358 A.H to the family of the late Ayatullah Sayyed Jawad Husaini Khamene’i in Mashhad. Ayatullah Sayyed Ali Khamene’i was the second son of his parents and he grew up under the custody of his poor parents who was very pious, humble and a well-known religious scholar, thus, he was also trained accordingly.
Ayatullah Sayyed Ali Khamene’i began the elementary Islamic studies at a tender age of four before he later moved to the seminary at Mashhad for further studies. At the age of eighteen, he began studying the highest level (i.e. Darsi-Kharij) of Jurisprudence (i.e. Fiqh) and its principles (i.e. Usul-ul-Fiqh) under the late grand Marja` Ayatullah al-Uzma Milani in Mashhad. Thereafter, from 1958 until 1964, Ayatullah Khamenei continued his higher level studies in jurisprudence, and philosophy in the Islamic seminary of Qom under the tutorship of great scholars such as the late Ayatullah al-Uzma Burujerdi, Imam Khomeini, Sheikh Murtadha Haeri Yazdi, and Allamah Tabataba’i.
His Political Activities
In 1962, while still in Qom, despite all the persecutions and tortures from the government and its agents, the revolutionary-minded youth joined the Revolutionary Movement of Imam Khomeini, which opposed the pro-American, anti-Islamic politics of Muhammad Reza Shah. This fearless young student of the school of thought of his Eminence; Ayatullah Khamenei was continuously spreading the message all over the nearby cities. This action caused the arrest of the Ayatullah Khamenei by the regime in the winter of 1975. However, after being released from the prison, he returned to Mashhad and continued his revolutionary activities.
In 1976, Ayatullah Khamenei was also sentenced to an exile in Iranshahr by the regime for a period of three years. However, during the civil unrest in Iran which later leads to the fall of the Pahlavi regime, he later returned to Mashhad at mid-1979.
Meanwhile, before the return of Imam Khomeini (r.a) from Paris to Iran, based on the directive of the Imam (r.a), Ayatullah Khamenei was included among the formed Islamic Revolutionary Council which coordinated the revolutionary activities. Thus, Ayatullah Khamenei (r.a) thereupon left Mashhad to Tehran where he continued with the unparalleled services to the newly established Islamic government till present. However, it is pertinent to mention that his eminence; Ayatullah Khamenei (r.a) after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, he has held various key and strategic positions before being finally appointed as the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic based on the unanimous approval of the Council of Expert immediately after the demise of Imam Khomeini (r.a). Among such positions include: the Secretary of Defense, Supervisor of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard and the Leader of the Friday Congregational Prayer in 1980; the Tehran Representative in the Consultative Assembly in 1981; an active present in 1982 at the warfront in the eight-year imposed war by Saddam; an elected President of the Islamic Republic of Iran between 1982 to 1990 (i.e. 2 terms in office) and the Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee in 1990.
His Literal works
Ayatullah Khamenei (r.a) apart from the political and social activities and the tedious task of administration of the Islamic Republic, he has written several books and delivered scores of speeches on both local and international affairs which are indeed sources of guidance to the world. Among such literary works include:
1. A Complete Overview of Islamic Thought in the Qur’an
2. The Profundity of Prayer
3. A Discourse on Patience
4. The Four Major Book Concerning the Biographic of Traditionalist
5. Wilayaat-Guardianship
6. A Glimpse at the History and Previous State of the Islamic Seminary of Mashhad
7. A Biography of the Shi’ite Imams (a.s)
8. Imam Saadiq (a.s)
9. Unity and Political Parties
10. Art in the Viewpoint of Ayatullah Khamenei
11. Understanding Islam Correctly
12. The Discourse of Wilaayat etc.
His Personality
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran; Ayatullah Khamenei (r.a) is a distinguished student of Imam Khomeini (r.a) and one of such selfless personalities that rendered great sacrificial services to the success and survival of the Islamic Revolution. He is indeed a great and selfless Leader in the World of Islam and beyond. Ayatullah Khamenei (r.a) is such religious authourity that is loved and revered for his virtues and the simplicity of his life-style. In addition to his political and social activities, he gives religious verdicts to religious questions both at home and abroad.
Ayatullah Khamenei (r.a) is one of such unique leaders of our generation with deep insight and farsightedness who are able to judge every issue appropriately without bias or favour. Without any iota of doubt, Ayatullah Khamenei (r.a) is indeed a very strong pillar to the survival of the Islamic Republic and the unity of the Iranian populace. If not for his intelligent roles, the political insight and foresight, and above all the Divine support the enemies of the Revolution who were anxiously waiting for the demise his founder for an opportunity to attack and destroy the Islamic Revolution, would have achieved their evil aims and objectives.
Ayatullah Khamenei (r.a) is such a personality who is a source of joy and comfort for the believers and at the same time, a tremble of fear to the unbelievers and the enemies. He is in fact an exemplary model of a perfect man.
Conclusion
Ayatullah Khamenei (r.a) is a pious, humble and devoted servant of Allah who believes in the His Oneness (swt), the Prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a) and the Leadership (Imamate) of the Pure Progeny of the Prophet (a.s) immediately after his demise. He also believed in oneness and unity of Islamic Ummah irrespective of their differences and he showed the practicable ways for the unity among the Muslims.
Ayatullah Khamenei (r.a) has immortalized the visions, missions and the legacy of the founder of the Islamic Republic; Imam Khomeini (r.a) both at home and abroad. He has demonstrated to the world the beauty of Islam as a religion and the qualities of an Islamic leader. Thus, today in the world of Islam and beyond, he is an ideal model of a Perfect being.
May Allah continue to prolong his life with good health and prosperity for the services of Islam and the humanity in general.
