Ayatullah al-Uzma as-Sayyid
'Ali al-Husaini Khamenei
"Right from the assassination attempt on my life, I had a
feeling that Allah had chosen me for a great
task for which I had prepared . At the time
I did not know the nature of the task.
However, I had no doubt that I would be
ready to shoulder a great weight in His way
for the sake of the revolution and in the
service of you, Oh people."
1. Birth and Lineage
His Eminence Ayatullah al-'Udhma al-Haj as-Sayyid 'Ali al-Husaini
al-Khamenei (May Allah prolong his life) was
born in 1939 in the Holy City of Mashhad,
Iran, in a respected scholarly family.
His father, Ayatullah al-Haj as-Sayyid Jawad, was amongst
Mashhad's erudite 'ulama (clerics).
For years on end, he used to lead Fajr (morning) prayers at
the Guharshad mosque and dhuhr (midday) and
'Isha (evening) prayers at the Bazaar-e-Mashhad
mosque. He was a well-known preacher.
His mother was the daughter of Sayyid Hashim Najafabadi (MirDamadi),
one of the well-known 'ulama of Mashhad. She
was a chaste and honourable woman, who had
knowledge of religious injunctions. She had
very high moral principles.
2. His Childhood
Ayatullah al-'Udhma Sayyid 'Ali Khamenei lived his
childhood under the care of his father, who
was a loving parent and committed to
bringing up his children in the best way. He
spared no efforts in teaching them. Those
years were very hard on Sayyid Khamenei
because of poverty. He said, " I can recall
that sometimes we had nothing to eat. At
dinner time, my mother used to take the
money which my grandmother gave me and my
brothers and sisters, to buy milk and
raisins for us to eat with bread."
3. His Education and Studies
At the age of five, Ayatullah al-Udhma Sayyid 'Ali Khamenei
and his elder brother Sayyid Muhammad were
sent to Maktabkhaneh (Qur'anic classes).
Then they were enrolled into a religious
primary school by the name of 'Dar ut Ta'lim
e Diyanati'.
After he finished the primary school course, he attended
evening classes in a state school, without
the knowledge of his father, and obtained a
certificate. He then enrolled in a secondary
school for two years where he obtained a
certificate.
As for religious studies, he studied Arabic grammar at the
religious school. He read some of the books
from "Jami' al-Muqaddamat", which are Arabic
syntax books, under the supervision of his
father. At the age of fourteen he joined the
Sulaiman Khan school to study religious
sciences. After completion of the study of
Arabic grammar and the preliminary religious
sciences he studied some of the Intermediate
religious stuides (Sutuh) till the end of
Lum'ah (concise but comprehensive text of
Fiqh). Subsequently he joined the Nuwwab
Religious Seminary to complete his Sutuh
level of studies at the young age of
sixteen.
This led to his attending Bahthil Kharij (graduation
classes) under the supervision of Ayatullah
al-'Udhma Sayyid Milani.
Ayatullah al-'Udhma Khamenei in addition to Fiqh and Usul
also learnt and taught Islamic Philosophy,
Rijal (Biography of Narrators of Holy
Traditions), Diraya (Science of
Comprehension of Traditions), Astronomy and
Tafsir (Quranic Exegesis). He studied under
eminent scholars and jurisprudents like
Ayatullah Mirza Javad Agha Tehrani,
Ayatullah Hakim, Imam Khomeini, Ayatullah
al-'Udhma Burujardi and 'Allamah Tabatabai.
Ayatullah al-'Udhma Khamenei spent most of his student days
in Mashhad. In 1947 he also visited the Holy
City of Najaf where he studied for two
years. In 1958 he migrated to Qom where he
studied for six years.
4. Teaching Career
His Eminence Ayatullah al-'Udhma Sayyid Khamenei started
teaching early in his student days. Whatever
he learnt with his God-given ingenuity and
great devotion, he taught with complete
mastery.
He expalins, "I started teaching right after I graduated
from the primary school, during the time of
my religious studies at the Islamic
seminary. I supervised the learning of two
elderly students, who were reading the book
"Sarf -e-Mir". Up to 1958, at which time I
started living in Mashhad, I used to teach
Arabic syntax and grammar, figures of
speech, principles of jurisprudence and
jurisprudence.
In Qom I also combined study with teaching. After my return
from Qom to Mashad in 1964, teaching was one
of my main occupations. During these years,
and until 1977, I supervised students at the
level of advanced sutuh, teaching Makasib
(an advanced profound text of Fiqh) of
Sheikh Ansari in jurisprudence and Kifayah
in usul (an advanced profound text on
principles of Jurisprudence) and 'Aqaid
(beliefs)."
Ayatullah al-'Udhma Sayyid 'Ali Khamenei obtained a licence
for ijtihad (deduction of legal judgements)
from his teacher, Ayatullah al-'Udhma Hairi
in 1974, after attending bahth ul-kharij for
more than fifteen years.
Throughout his political career after the victory of the
revolution, as testified by his colleagues
who pursued academic discussions with him,
he never abandoned his research and
teaching. He would manange his time
skillfully to engage in study and research
especially in the field of Fiqh.
5. His Struggle from 1962 Onwards
A great part of his life has been dedicated to struggle,
either through his writings, speeches, or
taking up arms, especially when the late
Imam inaugurated his Islamic Revolution in
1963. A detailed description of his
struggles would require several volumes.
However, a brief outline follows.
Responding to the call of Imam Khomeini (May his soul rest
in peace) in 1962, the centre of religious
learning, seat of knowledge and heart of
jihad in Qom assumed an invigorated role.
With courage and zeal, 'ulama and students
alike took it upon themselves to disseminate
the messages of the Imam and other religious
authorities to every corner of Iran. Their
instructions and calls were printed and
circulated widely through the support and
help of all popular forces. This new found
vigour and zeal spread to the other centres
of theology in the country, especially the
Islamic seminary of Mashhad.
Ayatullah al-'Udhma Sayyid Khamenei (May Allah prolong his
life) played a decisive role in this
awakening. Alongside his activities in Qom,
he strengthened his bond with the 'ulama and
students of Mashhad. Counting on the
activities and support of the 'ulama of
Khurasan, he succeeded in mobilising
theology students in a better way.
His fiery sermons exposing the treachery of the regime and
widespsread activism against the oppressive
Pahlavi rule led to his arrest and
imposition of harsh treatment.
He was forced to do menial work, kept in solitary
confinement, insulted and severely
humiliated, threatened with death and
subjected to other tortures in jail.
After his release from detention, Ayatullah al-'Udhma
Khamenei decided to settle in Mashhad
instead of going back to Tehran or Qom. He
took up teaching as his prime concern. He
gave classes in Qura'nic commentary,
specially tailored for theology students,
and other classes for university students
and youth. He used these classes as a
platform to disseminate revolutionary ideas,
a rallying point for revolutionaries, and a
centre for awakening. These classes turned
into an axis of popular sentiments and
Islamic dissent.
These activities in the fields of knowledge, teaching,
jihad and service of the people contributed
to Ayatullah al-'Udhma Khamenei's becoming,
with time, a focus of jihad in Mashhad.
People came to see him from far flung places
in Iran. He in turn had contacts with the
people in all areas.
Ayatullah al-'Udhma Khamenei thus, commanded the respect of
the Iranian people for his integrity,
morality and courage. Invitations from many
bodies and institutions in Iranian towns and
cities such as Isfahan, Kirman, Yazd and
Tehran were raining down on him to come and
give lectures and talks. He spared no
efforts to make use of all occasions to
disseminate Islamic revolutionary ideas,
tell the truth about the regime's practices,
and encourage people to adhto the path of
jihad and revolution.
Besides his lectures, the books he either wrote or
translated gave life to revolutionary ideas
and fervour. Books like the Treaty of Imam
Hasan (peace be upon him) The Future is This
Religion's, and The Role of Muslims in
India's Awakening played a great role in
educating the youth and grooming them for
revolution.
After the departure of Ayatullah al-'Udhma Burujardi in
1970, Ayatullah al-'Udhma Sayyid Khamenei
embarked on the task of promoting Imam
Khomeini as a Marj'a, (religious authority);
he thought the time was right for such a
move; the years 1968 to 1971 witnessed the
building of peaceful revolutionary culture.
The youth were still taking their first
steps in the realm of revolutionary
Islam.The 'ulama became their most deadly
weapon. The latter did not miss the
opportunity of spreading pristine Islamic
knowledge and sciences amongst the youth,
using every available medium, be it the
pulpit of the mosque, private classes, free
and open discussion sessions, or publishing
books and leaflets. Sayyid Khamenei calls
this period the " years of clandestine
activities."
As he was keen on educating revolutionary cadres, enlisting
the support of trusted elements, and
establishing contacts with activists, he
accepted an offer to combine teaching with
the task of leading prayers, i.e. being the
Imam of the congregation.
Capitalising on the strength the Islamic movement had
achieved , it was thought fit and timely to
create organised Islamic cells, headed by
the 'ulama and those well-versed in
jurisprudence and politics instead of
ordinary people or politicians. The first of
these cells was set up, headed by the late
Imam Khomeini and supervised by
revolutionary ulema in Mashad.
The Mujahidin 'Ulama League was born; its emergence was a
prelude to the founding of the Islamic
Republican Party after the revolution.
The activities of the League were responsible for
mobilising and organising millions of people
in marches and demonstrations during the
period 1977 to 1978. Sayyid Khamenei's role
in establishing the League was pivotal. It
is worth noting that the Savak prevented him
from leaving the country for ten years from
1965.
His exile lasted till 1978, the year when the masses took
the upper hand so much so that matters went
out of the hands of the regime. Availing
himself of the turmoil into which the ruling
establishment was thrown, Sayyid Khamenei
returned to Mashhad to continue his jihad
with a vengeance.
6. During and After the Revolution
1. Membership of the Revolution Command Council
Besides the leader, the Revolution Command Council played a
major role in administering the revolution
and eventually rendering it triumphant.
2. Member of Imam Khomeini's Reception Committee
3. Representative of Imam Khomeini in the Revolutionary
Council in the Defence Ministry
4. Commander of Revolutionary Guards
5. Imam of Tehran Friday (Juma'h) Prayer
6. Member of the Islamic Consultative Council in the first
term.
7. Imam Khomeini's counsel in Supreme Defence Council
8. President of the Republic for two consecutive terms
7. His Leadership
After the sad demise of the founder of the Islamic
Revolution, the Council of Experts on 4th
June 1989 unanimously elected him to the
Leadesrhip post of the Islamic Revolution
and the Muslim Ummah.
During his wise leadership he has succeeded in discharging
his responsibilities in the best manner and
steers the revolution on the same pristine
path trodden by the late Imam Khomeini. It
is no wonder for he is one of the disciples
of the Imam.
We pray he continues his firm but wise leadership till the
reappearance of the Awaited Saviour of
mankind, the Original Leader of the Global
Islamic Revolution, the Holy Imam al-Mahdi
(may our souls be sacrificed for him).
E-mail:istiftaa@wilayah.org
Tel : +98(251)7745312
+98(251)4417474
Fax: +98(251)7742228
