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In the Name of Almighty Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
A Glance at Biography of His Eminence Ayatollah Khamenei, The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution
"You cannot find anyone like Sayyid Khamenei who is so committed and devoted to serve Islam. His heart is set on serving this nation - I know him for a long time." The Late Imam Khomeini (may Allah bless his soul)
His Life from Birth to Schooling The great leader, His Eminence Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei is the son of the late Ayatollah Sayyid Jawad Husseini Khamenei. He was born in the holy city of Mashhad – in the northeast of Iran – on July 17th, 1939 corresponding with Safar 28th, 1358 A.H. in the Islamic calendar. He was the second son of the family. Like many other clerics and Islamic scholars of his time, Ayatollah Sayyid Jawad had a very simple life. Actually it was he who had taught the members of his family how to live in a humble and simple manner. Recalling his life in his father’s home, Ayatollah Khamenei narrates: "My father was a well known religious scholar who was very pious and had a private life. We had to struggle to live. I remember the nights when we didn’t have any food in the house for dinner. Nevertheless, my mother would try to scrape something up, and it was nothing but bread- and- raisins." "My father’s house - the one that I was born in and lived until about the age of four or five - was a house with an area of about 60-70 square meters, located in the poor area of Mashhad. There was just one single room in the house with a gloomy and stuffy basement. My father was a famous clergyman and frequently received the people who came for consultation or seeking help. Whenever a guest came to see my father, we had no other choice but to go to the basement, and we stayed over there until they left our house. Some years later a group of people - who were very friendly with my father - bought a small piece of land next to our house so that he could add two more rooms, and so we ended up having a three-room house." Thus, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution grew up in a poor but religious, righteous, and pure atmosphere. At the age of four, he along with his elder brother Sayyid Muhammad, were sent to a traditional school (known as Maktab) to learn the alphabets as well as the Holy Koran. Afterwards, the two brothers were enrolled into a newly-established Islamic school named “Darol-Ta’leem Diyanati ”, where they completed their primary studies.
The Islamic Seminary In high school, Ayatollah Khamenei studied the book “Jaami’ol-Muqaddamaat” – a complete course of Arabic grammar and syntax – and then he entered Hawza Elmiyyah (the traditional Islamic Seminary or Theological School) and started to learn Arabic literature and other elementary studies from his honorable father and other religious scholars of the time. Relating the main reasons for his entrance into the Hawza Elmiyyah and selecting this path - the path of being a cleric and a religious scholar, Ayatollah Khamenei says: "The leading factor, which inspired me with the idea to choose this enlightened path, was my father. Of course, my mother, too, encouraged me to choose this path, as she was in favor of the idea." Ayatollah Khamenei studied books such as Jaami’ol-Muqaddamaat, Soyooti, and Moghni in the “Sulayman Khan” and “Nawwab” theological schools. At the same time, he was under direct supervision of his father in his studies. He also studied the book “Ma’alim” while attending those schools. Later, he studied courses of “Sharaye’ol-Islam” and “Sharhe Lom’ah” (on Islamic Jurisprudence) with the help of his father and a part of the second book with the late scholar “Aqa Mirza Mudarris Yazdi”. He studied the course of “Rasa’el” and “Makasib” (on lawful/unlawful transactions and business) with the late Sheikh Hashim Qazwini. Ayatollah Khamenei finished the other courses of intermediate studies in Feqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) and its principles (Osool) with his esteemed father. In this way, he finished the elementary and intermediate levels of Hawza in a wonderful and exceptional period of “five and a half years”. Undoubtedly, his father – the late Sayyid Jawad – played an important role in the success of his dear son. In the fields of logics and philosophy, the Great Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei, began his studies with the book entitled “Manzoomah Sabziwari” under the guidance of the late Ayatollah Mirza Jawad Aqa Tehrani. He later completed the book under the instructions of the late Sheikh Reza Eassi. The Islamic Seminary of Najaf Ayatollah Khamenei had started his studies in the field of Dars Kharij [the highest level of Islamic Jurisprudence (Feqh) and its principles (Osool)] under the teaching of the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammad Hadi Milani in Mashhad. In 1957 with the intention of visiting the holy shrines of Shiah Imams (a.s.) in Iraq, he left Mashhad for holy Najaf. In Najaf, he attended the sessions of Dars Kharij taught by outstanding Shiah scholars such as the late Ayatollah Sayyid Mohsen Hakeem, Ayatollah Sayyid Mahmood Shahroodi, Mirza Baqer Zanjani, Sayyid Yahya Yazdi, and Mirza Hasan Bojnoordi. Observing the level of classes and research/teaching conditions in Holy Najaf, Ayatollah Khamenei decided to take residence in the Islamic seminary of Najaf; however, his father did not agree with his decision. Thus, after a short period, he returned to his hometown, Mashhad. The Islamic Seminary of Qom 1958 to 1964 was the period when Ayatollah Khamenei continued his higher level studies in Feqh, Osool, and philosophy in the Islamic seminary of Qom. There he attended the classes of dignitaries such as the late Grand Ayatollah Boroojerdi, the late Imam Khomeini, Sheikh Murtaza Ha’eri Yazdi, and `Allama Tabataba’i. In 1964, through a series of letters from his father, Ayatollah Khamenei learnt that his father had become blind in one eye because of cataract; this gave him a dilemma as to whether stay in Qom (and continue his studies) or to return to Mashhad and take care of his father. He finally decided to leave Qom - for Allah’s sake - and return to Mashhad to look after his father. Ayatollah Khamenei recalls the event: "When I returned to Mashhad, Allah blessed me so much. In Mashhad I acted upon my duties. I believe whatever success I have had in my life stems from that good deed that I did for my father; indeed, for both my father and mother." Ayatollah Khamenei selected the better of the two choices, although some of his teachers and friends were so sorry for his early departure from the Islamic seminary of Qom; they predicted that he would have had a bright future had he stayed. Nevertheless, the future clearly showed that he made the right choice, as his destiny had something better in store for him - more than what his teachers and friends could imagine. Could anyone ever imagine that - only 25 years later - the young 25-year-old competent scholar - who had left Qom for the pleasure of Allah to care for his father and mother- would hold the grand office of Walie Amr-il- Moslemin [The Guardian of Muslim Affairs]? In Mashhad, Ayatollah Khamenei did not leave his studies altogether. Rather, he continued his studies in Feqh and Osool by participating in the classes of grand teachers such as Ayatollah Milani until 1968 - only interrupting on holidays, or for political activities, or because of his imprisonment by Shah's regime, or when traveling. During the time he was in Mashhad since 1964, while caring for his parents, he would also teach Feqh, Osool, and other religious subjects to young scholars or university students. Political Activism Ayatollah Khamenei – as stated in his own words – is accounted as one of the pupils of the late Imam Khomeini in the fields of Feqh and Osool. Ayatollah Khamenei also considers himself as a pupil of Imam Khomeini in his revolutionary and political ideas. However, the first spark of his political activities and his opposition to the oppressive rulers was a gift by the great revolutionary, Shahid Sayyid Mujtaba Nawwab Safawi. It was in 1952 that Nawwab Safawi and some of his followers went to Mashhad to the “Sulayman Khan” theological school. There he delivered an awakening and fiery speech on the subject of “reviving Islam” and the necessity for “domination of divine commandments”. He further warned the deceitful lies of Shah and British government to the Iranian nation. At that time, Ayatollah Khamenei was a young student at Sulayman Khan school who had attended the speech of Nawwab Safawi. He was very much influenced by the late Shahid Nawwab Safawi. Ayatollah Khamenei remembers that moment, saying: "It was at that very moment that the sparks of Islamic movement flew up in my mind as a result of Nawwab’s speech. There is no doubt that Nawwab Safawi was the one who first kindled the fire (of Islamic movement) in my heart." Participating in Imam Khomeini’s Movement In 1962 - while still in Qom – Ayatollah Khamenei joined the revolutionary Movement of Imam Khomeini, which opposed the pro-American, anti-Islamic politics of Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. Despite all the ups and downs, persecutions, exiles, and imprisonments, Ayatollah Khamenei fearlessly continued on this path for sixteen years. In Moharram 1383 A.H. [May 1963], for the first time, Ayatollah Khamenei was sent on a mission by Imam Khomeini. This mission was to communicate the Imam’s message to Ayatollah Milani and other high-ranking Shiite clergymen in the Khorasan province. This message suggested setting the tone for the propagation and exposure of the treachery and pro-American policies of Muhammad Reza Shah during the month of Moharram, when a large number of clergymen used to deliver speeches for the public. Ayatollah Khamenei fulfilled this mission; moreover, he himself acted according to the message and headed for the city of Birjand – in Khorasan province – to do the job. As a result of his propagation on Moharram 9th (June 2nd, 1963), he was arrested, and spent a night in jail. He was then freed and ordered not to speak in public again. From that moment on he knew that he would be under police surveillance. Upon the development of the bloody incident of ‘The Fifteenth of Khordad’ – the uprising of people against Shah – Ayatollah Khamenei was detained in Birjand. He was then transferred to a prison in Mashhad where he spent ten days under severe torture before being released. The Second Imprisonment In January 1964 – corresponding with the Holy Month of Ramadan 1383 A.H. – according to a well-organized plan, Ayatollah Khamenei and some of his friends left for the city of Kerman. After two or three days of preaching and visiting religious scholars and students in Kerman, they departed for Zahedan. Their preaching and their emphatic way of exposing the Shah’s hypocritical referendum ideas were well received by the masses. On the fifteenth of Ramadan, the birth anniversary of Imam Hasan (peace be upon him), his brave and explicit preaching and public disclosure of the satanic, American politics of the Pahlavi Dynasty reached its peak. As a result of this, SAVAK [The Shah’s intelligence Agency] arrested him the same night and took him to Tehran by airplane. The grand leader spent about two months in solitary confinement, bearing various types of tortures and abuses. The Third and Fourth Imprisonment Ayatollah Khamenei held different classes for the youngsters on various subjects like Tafsir (exegesis of the Holy Koran), Hadith (Sayings and Narrations by the Holy Prophet and Infallible Shiite Imams), and Islamic ideology. The classes were held both in Mashhad and Tehran, and were warmly welcomed by the revolutionary and active Muslim youth. Because of these activities, SAVAK began to keep a close surveillance on Ayatollah Khamenei. Consequently, in 1966 Ayatollah Khamenei was forced to start his underground resistance movement in Tehran. However, a year later – in 1967 – he was captured and imprisoned by SAVAK. In 1970 he was again arrested by SAVAK for similar academic activities, such as holding classes and conducting enlightening and intellectual discussions.
The Fifth Arrest Ayatollah Khamenei writes about his fifth apprehension by SAVAK as follows: "Since 1348 A.H. [1969] the situation was ripening for an armed revolution in Iran. The sensitivity and severity of the former regime against me had increased. Because of the arisen circumstances they could no longer ignore people such as me. In 1350 A.H. [1972] I was again taken to prison for the fifth time. The harsh attitude of SAVAK in the prisons indicated that the corrupt regime was much afraid of an armed revolution to join the sound Islamic ideology. They had reached the conclusion that my intellectual activism and propagation in Mashhad and Tehran were somehow interrelated with the developing situation. After being released, the circle of my open classes on the exegesis of the Holy Koran and private classes on ideology and other subjects expanded." The Sixth Arrest The period of years between 1972 and 1975 was the time when Ayatollah Khamenei’s classes on the exegesis of the Holy Koran and Islamic ideology were being held in three Mosques: “Masjid Karaamat”, “Masjid Imam Hasan (a.s.)”, and “Masjid Mirza Ja’far” in the holy city of Mashhad. Thousands of people attended those classes, particularly the wise, open-minded, revolutionary, and intellectual Muslim youth and politically-active seminary students. In this way, they became more close to the pure Islamic thoughts. Ayatolah Khamenei’s lectures on the Nahjul-Balaghah (the collection of Imam Ali’s sermons, letters, and aphorisms) offered another type of experience in a different way. These lectures were transcribed and published in a circular under the title of ‘Beams of Light from Nahjul al-Balaghah’. The young revolutionary students, who were taught the reality and true meaning of struggle by Ayatollah Khamenei, were very diligent in spreading this ideology to the masses in nearby cities. This action caused SAVAK to break into his home in Mashhad in the winter of 1975, arresting him and confiscating many of his notes and other writings. This was the sixth and most difficult imprisonment in Ayatollah Khamenei’s life. He was detained in the central prison of Iran until the fall of 1976 under the most stringent conditions. Ayatollah Khamenei describes the severity of the condition of that prison saying, "Those conditions can only be understood by the people who have experienced it." After being released from the prison, Ayatollah Khamenei returned to Mashhad where he continued his political / revolutionary activities although he was not allowed to reestablish his classes as before. In Exile In late 1976, the atrocious Pahlavi regime arrested Ayatollah Khamenei and sentenced him to exile. As a result, His eminence was exiled to the city of Iranshahr for a period of three years. By mid 1978, during the climax of civil unrest in Iran, he returned to Mashhad where he confronted the bloodthirsty Pahlavi regime and took part in the demonstrations and rallies in opposition to Shah. Finally, after fifteen years of sincere struggles and resistance for the sake of Allah (S.W.T.), and in the wake of a long period of harsh and bitter moments of the Islamic revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei witnessed the fall of tyrannical Pahlavi regime and the establishment of the Islamic Republic. On the Threshold of Victory Some days before the final victory of Islamic revolution in Iran in early 1978 – just before the glorious return of the late Imam Khomeini to Iran - an Islamic Revolutionary Council was formed by the order of the Imam. This council consisted of important personalities such as the late Ayatollah Shahid Motahhari, the late Ayatollah Shahid Beheshti, and Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani. Ayatollah Khamenei was also appointed by Imam Khomeini as a member of the said council. The order of Imam Khomeini was submitted to Ayatollah Khamenei through Ayatollah Shahid Motahhari; thereupon, Ayatollah Khamenei left Mashhad and traveled to the center of campaigns, Tehran.
After the Victory After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei continued to be very active in working for Islam and fulfilling the goals of the Islamic revolution. The tasks that he performed at those times were unparalleled actions. In this brief life history, we can only mention the most important of those tasks. A chronological list of Ayatollah Khamenei’s services to the Islamic Republic of Iran - after the victory of the Islamic revolution - is as follows: * February 1979 – A founding member of the “Islamic Republic Party” along with his other close companions like Ayatollah Shahid Beheshti, Shahid Bahonar, Ayatollah Moosawi Ardabili, and Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani
* 1979 – Deputy Minister of Defense
* 1980 - Imam Khomeini’s
Representative in the Supreme Council for Defense
* 1981 – He became a victim of an
assassination attempt by the deviant members of so-called “Mojahedin
Khalq”. The event took place in Abuzar mosque in Tehran Written Works Here, we will mention briefly some of the written works authored by His Eminence Ayatollah Khamenei: His Writings and Research Work:
1- A Complete Overview of Islamic
Thought in the Holy Koran 4- The Four Main Books in the field of Rijal (Rijal: Survey on the life histories of great Islamic narrators and dignitaries to recognize them as reliable or unreliable sources)
5- Wilayat (The Guardianship) 10- Art in the Sight of Ayatollah Khamenei 11- A Right Understanding of the Religion 12- The Concept of Combat in the life of Infallible Imams (a.s.) 13- The Spirit of Tawhid (Monotheism), Negation of Worshipping Creatures Other Than Almighty Allah 14- The Necessity for Return to the Holy Koran 15- Imam Saqjjad’s Way of Life 16- Holy Imam Reza (a.s.), and His Position as Walie-‘Ahd (Heir to the Throne of Islamic Caliphate) 17- The Cultural Attack (a collection of speeches and messages of His Eminence Ayatollah Khamenei) 18- Hadith Wilayat (a collection of sayings, speeches, and messages of His Eminence) – 9 volumes already published The Discourse of Wilaayat.
Translations (from Arabic to Persian):
1-
The Peace Treaty of Imam Hasan (a.s.) – written by Raazi
Aal-Yasin
3-
Muslims in the Liberation Movement of India – written by
Abdol-Mon’em Nasri
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