Imam Khomeyni’s last will

The term wasiyah (will) means “giving a piece of advice” and in Islamic terminology, it is the remarks made by a person before his death. Several verses of the Holy Quran address the issue of making a will (such as 5:106 and 2:180). The Quran states that when humans find out that death is close to them, they should make a will. The Prophet of Islam and the Infallible Imams have also made many recommendations on the matter of making wills.

In a will, the person usually first addresses his/her beliefs and then points out the obligations and debts that he or she owes and that must be taken care of by others after his/her death. Part of the wills is dedicated to the belief in the legitimacy of the Imamate of the infallible Imams, the inseparability of the Qur’an and the infallible Imams, and explanations about Nahj al-Balaghah [The Peak of Eloquence] and Sahifah al-Sajjadiyyah [The Book of Sajjad].

In this part, Imam Khomeyni has advised all the oppressed nations and the nation of Iran to adhere to this divine straight path which God has determined for them and does not depend on the atheist East or the oppressive, infidel West. He added that the activities and plots of the agents of the superpowers, whether foreign or domestic, who are worse than the foreigners, should not waver from their pure intentions and will of the nation, and they should know that the main concern of the mass media around the world and the evil powers of the West and East is the divine power of the Iranian people. The concluding phrase of the introduction part of Imam Khomeyni’s will refers to American state-sponsored terrorism and the United States’ ally, the Zionist regime which have both committed so many crimes that the pens cannot write and tongues cannot speak about.

The main text of Imam Khomeyni’s will is divided into two parts. In the first part, the Islamic Revolution is considered as a gift from God which is different from all revolutions and has been able to cut off the hands of the oppressors from Iran.

The second part, which is the main part of the will and constitutes the most important topics, addresses the following matters: calling for the observation of cohesion and unity in the face of enemies, the interrelatedness of and the lack of separation between religion and politics; not heeding the hostile propaganda of the opponents and the enemies of Islam and the Islamic Republic, for they all intend to do away with Islam so that the interests of the superpowers will be safeguarded; the need for unity between religious scholars and the academics with respect to serving the country; striving for independence, freedom and Islamic values, even if it requires facing great hardships; making reforms in the scientific and ethical affairs of universities; calling for the participation in the political affairs of the country, especially in the elections of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the presidential elections; selecting righteous and courageous judges in the judiciary system; striving to training knowledgeable clerics who observe ethical codes; contributing to the progress of the country in all organizations and executive departments; the permanent readiness of the military forces, police and the Basij; observing the Islamic values and norms as well as interests of the country by the press, media, radio and television; advising groups who oppose Islam and the Islamic system to return to the nation; caring for the deprived so that social justice will be promoted; advising the Muslims and the oppressed people of the world to rise up and defend their right in the face of the arrogant powers; electing the president and representatives who have felt the oppression and deprivation of the oppressed masses and who are concerned about their welfare; having an eye to the exigencies of the day which sometimes will have to be executed by way of secondary ordinances (ahkam al-thanawiyyah) and at other times by way of the decree of the Guardianship of the Jurisprudent (Wilayah al-Faqih), etc.

The final section is devoted to how to read the will to the people and making four remarks. The last part of the will ends with the following sentences:

“With a tranquil and confident heart and a conscience hopeful God’s beneficence, I now take leave of my sisters and brothers for a journey to my eternal abode while I very greatly need your blessing and supplication of the Blessed and Supreme Lord… I hope the nation will pardon my shortcomings, my negligence and faults and march on firmly and resolutely, assured that the absence of one servant will not cause a crack in the iron-like ranks of the nation, for there are better and more noble servants among you, and God will protect this nation and the oppressed masses of the world.”

In the following years, the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution approved that the text of the Imam Khomeyni’s will can be taught as an optional unit in all universities of the country.