The Ashura-inspired Thought of Imam Khomeini (ra) and its Impact on the Formation of the Islamic Revolution of Iran(3)

The reason for the Pahlavi Regime’s opposition to holding mourning gatherings for Imam Husayn (as) in the view of Imam Khomeini (ra)

‘During the two months of Muharram and Safar, they have fears. It is these gatherings and meetings that bring people together. If one wants to render a service to Islam and talk with the public, it is through these speakers, preachers and Friday prayer leaders, as it is they who spread the word across the country. These gatherings become well-organized under the divine banner of Imam Husayn (as). If big powers want to organize a meeting in their regions, they have to make great efforts and invest great sums of money so that, let us suppose, they can bring together fifty or a hundred thousand people to a city to listen to what the speaker has to say. However, you will see that, thanks to these mourning gatherings, people from all walks of life from all across the country come together without much trouble and propagation, simply with a deep love for the Master of Martyrs (as).’

According to Imam Khomeini (ra), mourning for Imam Husayn (as) paved the way for the occurrence and victory of the Islamic Revolution.

‘Do not think that if these mourning gatherings and processions were not practiced, the 15^th of Khordad uprising would have happened. No power could bring about the 15^th of Khordad uprising except the force within the blood of the Master of Martyrs (as). No power can thwart the plots brewed against this nation, which is subjected to an all-out attack by the hegemonic powers, except these mourning gatherings. In these mourning gatherings, the elegies in memory of the Master of Martyrs (as), who sacrificed his life to earn God’s pleasure, and whose friends and family followed, elevate the youth to a state that seeks martyrdom in the war fronts, with pride and honor. Such that if they do not achieve martyrdom, they will lament. The elegies in memory of Imam Husayn (as) motivate mothers to such an extent that when they lose their youths on the battlefields, they offer to send their other sons. It is these gatherings of mourning for the Master of Martyrs (as), the recitations of the Supplication of Kumayl and other supplications that raise the people to such a spiritual station. Islam has laid the foundation for this spiritual development, provided that we proceed in accordance with this idea and program. If they understood the purpose behind these mourning gatherings and crying and realize how God gives spiritual reward for these devotions, they will not call us the ‘nation of weeping’; rather, they will call us the ‘nation of devotion.’ If they understood the impact and mobilizing power of the supplications bequeathed to us by Imam Sajjad (as), who suffered in Karbala and lived under a government that exercised control over everything, they would not question the whole basis of supplication. If our intellectuals understood the political and social purpose underlying these mourning gatherings, supplications and litanies, they would not object to their practice. If all the intellectuals, all the occidentalized people and all powers come together, they could not create something like the 15^th of Khordad uprising. That which commands this power and brings all together under the flag of the Master of Martyrs (as) is the mourning for Imam Husayn (as)...We have almost reached this elevated state, as our nation, all of a sudden, launched an unparalleled revolution. They abruptly experienced an inner explosion. A nation which the former regime had stripped of everything, even human dignity, and was totally dependent, generated a sudden explosion of faith thanks to these very sessions that permeated the entire country and that assembled all strata of people around a single axis. The preachers, Friday and congregational prayer leaders must elaborate on these points, so that people do not succumb to the idea that we are a ‘nation of weeping.’ Please educate them more effectively than I am capable of informing them about the fact that we are a nation that has overthrown a 2500-year-long regime through the use of these very cries.’

In the view of Imam Khomeini (ra), the preservation of the Islamic Revolution also depends on holding mourning gatherings for Imam Husayn (as).

‘It is this (tradition of) mourning that has kept this school alive until now. And it is the recital of these eulogies and their like that has kept us alive. These are the things that have brought success to this movement. It would not have succeeded had there been no Master of Martyrs (as). He is everywhere. Every place is Karbala. Manifestations of him are everywhere. All the pulpits are manifestations of the Master of Martyrs (as). All the masjids and places of worship are there because of him.’

The Political Aspect of Mourning for Imam Husayn (as) from Imam Khomeini's (ra) Point of View

‘Mourning gatherings are not only meant for crying for the Master of Martyrs (as) and for getting rewards - this is true of course. What is also important is the political aspect, which our immaculate Imams (as) have designed to preserve the cause. One of the infallible Imams (as) requested his household to ask someone to mourn for him in Mina. The Imam (as) did not need this crying nor did the mourning have any personal benefit for him. However, study the political aspect of this move. Imagine when people from across the world come to Mina and see that one or more persons are mourning for Imam Baqir (as), talking about the crimes of his opponents and the way they killed him. It can cause a wave around the world. They underestimated these mourning gatherings. Nothing can give expression to this idea as effectively as the mourning for the Master of Martyrs (as) can.’

The Fall of the Imperial System with Shedding Tears for Imam Husayn (as)

According to Imam Khomeini (ra), loving the Master of Martyrs (as) and crying for him is the cause of receiving divine help and also enjoying political insight to identify the tyrannical governments. He sees crying over the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (as) as the reason for the destruction of the imperial regime:

‘These mourning and cries overthrew a 2500-year-long regime. We have almost reached this elevated state, as our nation, all of a sudden, launched an unparalleled revolution. They abruptly experienced an inner explosion. A nation which the former regime had stripped of everything, even human dignity, and was totally dependent, generated a sudden explosion of faith thanks to these very sessions that permeated the entire country and that assembled all strata of people around a single axis. The preachers, Friday and congregational prayer leaders must elaborate on these points, so that people do not succumb to the idea that we are a ‘nation of weeping.’ Please educate them more effectively than I am capable of informing them about the fact that we are a nation that has overthrown a 2500-year-long regime through the use of these very cries.’

Reference: Islamic Revolution Research Quarterly. Vol 11, No 2, Summer 2022, Pgs. 35-53.