Imam Khomeini and Contemporary Islamic Movements

Introduction

Before the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, while most of the Islamic movements had taken a passive stance in the face of the manifestations of the modern age and the stunning Western civilization and questioned the efficiency of religious teachings in the rational and decent management of Islamic societies, the all-embracing Islamic Revolution led by Imam Khomeini embedded in the minds of Muslims the view that Islam as a divine school could bring about the most important global developments and helped people overcome the challenges of the modern age and the community management. This was one of the most important influences of the religious-political views of Imam Khomeini, which on the one hand theoretically underpinned the existing movements through religious teachings, and on the other hand, introduced the religious beliefs as a mobilizing factor that plays a role in the fate of the nations. Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei says:

“The wave of Islamism and the spread of revolutionary struggles against the oppressive system which dominates the world from the Middle East to North Africa and from Central Asia to the heart of Europe reflect the influences and blessings of the Islamic Revolution on the liberation movements and the global Islamic movements... The revival of Islamic identity among Muslims, the awakening of nations and the creation of joy and hope among revolutionary forces across the world, are the undeniable results of the Islamic Revolution of Iran.”

Moreover, the triumphant leadership of Imam Khomeini and his successful and flourishing strategy brought valuable and rich experiences for the Islamic movements to be used in their struggles and offered them the glimmers of hope and victory. Imam Khomeini’s experiences and strategies reflected the greatest achievements of the religious leadership in the history of religious and Islamic movements; Because none of the political revivalist movements that had gained popularity among Muslims at that time could achieve their goals, whereas the Islamic Revolution was the first successful religious movement which for the first time in history could accomplish the goals and aspirations of Islamic uprisings and religious movements. This, on the one hand, provided the pioneers of the Islamic movement with a rich set of political and religious experiences, and on the other hand, offered the hope of victory and the accomplishment of the high aspirations of such movements that for many years have been merely seen as theoretical sacred aspirations and goals. 

Thus, it can be said, “this is the first time in the contemporary history of Islam that the Islamic movement has found the power to shape a revolution and implement it through people. As a result, it can be argued that with the Islamic Movement of the Iranian people, Islam has been objectified both theoretically and practically. The social dimensions of Islam are reflected in the Islamic Revolution, and at the same time, Iranians, while being ready to endure the shortcomings, strongly fight against the global aggressors and arrogance that have used economic blockade as a means of undermining the revolution. Therefore, it can be said that among the Islamic movements, the socio-political revolution of Iran is in a remarkable and brilliant position in terms of resistance against foreign aggression and some social dimensions like the religious ones. 

The Universality of Imam Khomeini’s Movement

Although the Islamic Revolution of Iran led by Imam Khomeini was a political event that occurred in Iran; but its universal characteristics, derived from the element of religion and its religious nature, made this historical development not to be confined to the geographical boundaries of Islamic Iran but also profoundly influencing the Islamic world as well as all human societies. Thus, “the events that occurred in Iran are the most important ones in the Islamic world in recent history. They are by no means a series of events limited to Iran.” Therefore, the Islamic Revolution of Iran, which is the crystallization of the political thought of the leadership of this religious movement, while theoretically has not been limited to a specific geographical area and has outlined universal and cosmopolitan political and social goals and aspirations, at the same time, in the practical field, it also has laid out and organized its practical and objective strategy and policy in a way that the universal and human aims of the revolution arising from the religious beliefs and responsibilities of a religious and Islamic revolution being addressed. This point is particularly important in Imam Khomeini’s political thoughts concerning the nature of the Islamic Revolution. In one of his remarks, the founder of the Islamic Movement of Iran stated:

“Our movement is for the sake of Islam. The republic is the Islamic Republic. The Islamic movement cannot be confined to one country or even the Islamic countries. The Islamic movement is following the path of the movement of the prophets. The Prophet’s movement was not for one place. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was from Saudi Arabia, but his invitation did not confine to that country rather it addressed the world.”

In this regard, the influences of the Islamic Revolution and religious and universal thought of Imam Khomeini on the Islamic movements and liberation uprisings will become clear due to their deep intrinsic relationships.

“Since the sacred Iranian movement is an Islamic movement, it would influence all Muslims across the world.”

In sum, the most important indicators of the universality of the Islamic Revolution, which in turn reflect the universal views of the leader of the Islamic Revolution and its founder, are as follows:

1. Emphasizing the fixed principles of calling upon people, the negation of mustache and preserving the Dar al-Islam;
2. Supporting the oppressed people across the world;
3. Opposing the arrogant powers and tyranny;
4. Highlighting the concept of the “Islamic ummah.”

The Principle of Calling Upon People and Exporting a Revolution

The principle of calling upon people and exporting the revolution is one of the basic tenets of the Islamic Republic’s foreign policy, which Imam Khomeini has highlighted to the extent that they would turn into goals on which the religious movement of Iran will not make compromise introducing it as the mission and responsibility of the officials in the Islamic system: “Our officials should know that the revolution is not limited to Iran. The revolution of the Iranian people marks the beginning of the great revolution of the Islamic world under the leadership of Imam al-Mahdi (aj)... if the economic and material issues shift the focus of the officials from observing their main responsibilities, they would pose threats and lead to committing treason. The government of the Islamic Republic must do its utmost to better manage people’s affairs, but this should not make the government ignore the great goals of the revolution which is establishing a global Islamic state.”

On another occasion, Imam Khomeini elaborates on the principle of exporting the revolution as the requirement and consequence of its religious and Islamic nature stressing the continuity of this principle:

“We export our revolution to the whole world, because our revolution is Islamic, and the struggle continues until the voices of la ilaha illa Allah, Muhammad rasul Allah resonate with the whole world. We would be active as long as fighting against the arrogant powers continues in the world.”

Exporting the revolution, which in Imam Khomeini’s political thought is referred to as one of the principles of the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic, differs significantly from what foreigners and enemies of the Islamic Revolution have described and propagated as interfering in the affairs and destiny of other Islamic countries; Because exporting the revolution in Imam Khomeini’s political thought is not meant to interfere in the affairs of other countries, rather it aims to promote and disseminate the idea of fighting against oppression and arrogant powers among the Islamic and oppressed nations. Exporting the revolution is conveying the valuable experiences of a religious movement founded on the religious beliefs of the Islamic ummah and is announcing the glad tidings of emancipation and liberation of the oppressed Islamic ummah. It is precisely such an understanding of the export of the revolution that reflects the position of the Iranian religious movement and the profound influence of the religious views of its founder on Islamic and religious movements.

“What we say that our revolution must be exported to all countries does not mean that we want to expand our territory. We consider all Muslim countries like our own country. The boundaries of all countries should be preserved. What we want is that the events that occurred in Iran, in which people gained independence from the superpowers and cut their hands off from the country’s resources, would also take place among all nations and in all governments. This is our wish. The meaning of exporting our revolution is that all nations and governments will become aware and hence they could free themselves from colonialism, poverty and the exploitation of their resources.” 

Thus, the principle of calling upon people and exporting the revolution, which is one of the basic assumptions of Imam Khomeini’s political thought in foreign relations with other Islamic countries, creates a deep relationship between the Islamic Revolution of Iran and other Islamic movements. Through such a relationship, the founder of the Iranian religious movement tries to convey his revolutionary experiences along with religious and revolutionary ideologies to the pioneers of the Islamic and liberation movements and to provide them with opportunities for growth and prosperity.

Supporting the Oppressed People of the World

In Imam Khomeini’s political thought, supporting the oppressed nations is another assumption of the foreign policy of the Islamic state. The call for helping the oppressed people is a phenomenon that the Islamic Revolution and its leadership extended beyond the geographical boundaries of Islamic Iran and linked it to all Islamic movements and liberation uprisings. “We are supporting the oppressed people across the world. Since the Palestinians are being oppressed by the Israelis, we support the people of Palestine.”

 

The attempt to form a united front of the oppressed people played a central role in Imam Khomeini’s political thought, which had certain effects on the disadvantaged nations and the liberation movements.

“The oppressed people of the world, whether dominated by Americans or other powers if they do not wake up and do not stand up and rise; the evil domains will not be abolished. We must all strive to achieve unity between the oppressed people regardless of their ideas and beliefs... We intend to abolish the domination and you should try to drive nations towards seeking the truth.”

Therefore, it can be said that the strategy of unity in Imam Khomeini’s political thought, which is recognized as an efficient and necessary strategy for any type of struggle against oppression, transcends the national and religious boundaries and is introduced as a necessity among all the dominated nations. However, the idea of ​​Islamic unity has long been at the forefront of Islamic and liberation plans of the great Muslim reformists and pioneers of the Islamic movements; But Imam Khomeini, while emphasizing this essential element, not only pursued the strategy of unity among the Islamic nations but also called for its application regarding all oppressed and dominated nations. Focusing on the unity of the oppressed nations in the form of a united front of the oppressed people, on the one hand, offered hope to the oppressed front and on the other hand, conveyed the objective experiences and achievements of this auspicious phenomenon in Islamic Iran to the emerging and anti-colonial movements in other countries.

Standing Against the Arrogant Powers and Fighting Against Tyranny

The fight against tyranny and the arrogant powers has been one of the fundamental tenets of Imam Khomeini’s struggle and has always been emphasized. Fighting against arrogance and tyranny as a religious-political responsibility has significantly influenced the struggles of the weak nations against the oppressive system that governs the world.

Imam Khomeini’s idea of fighting against tyranny which was derived from his pure religious thoughts and beliefs, on the one hand, by projecting the phenomenon of opposing tyranny as a religious duty, would make that thought become intertwined with the religious zeal of the Islamic ummah and forever play a role as one of the religious requirements and duties, and on the other hand, fosters the spirit of fighting against oppression and the arrogant powers in the depths of the hearts of the oppressed people, thereby providing grounds for the rise of liberation and anti-colonial movements more than ever. 

The serious and comprehensive struggle of Imam Khomeini against the arrogant powers, and especially the United States, in both theoretical and practical terms, had profound impacts on the world in general and the Islamic movements in particular. Before the triumph of the glorious Islamic Revolution of Iran, confronting the arrogant powers and standing up against the West and the United States would be considered only an ideal and a far-fetched aspiration, yet the formation of the Islamic Revolution and its victory, offered hope to the oppressed people that their anti-colonial and liberation struggles will succeed, and the Islamic movements gained new momentum in the global arena.

“Before the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, there were many Islamic movements in the Islamic world; but these movements, due to political pressures, were in a state of anxiety and worry, and because of the prevailing situation, they were afraid of publicizing their movement, mobilizing Muslims and fighting. The Islamic Revolution broke this wall of fear and taught the Islamic movement the lesson that it is possible to overthrow the greatest powers by using Muslim forces. Therefore, after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Muslim masses rose in Sudan, Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt and so on, Muslim nations took steps forward, the movement of the Muslim masses throughout the Islamic world increased and the cultural uprising and the political consciousness prevailed in the region.”

Years of unsuccessful anti-colonial and anti-authoritarian struggles in Islamic countries have gradually driven the hopeful young Muslims to despair. The failed experiences of Islamic movements in most Islamic societies slowly created a gap between the political and struggling thought of Islam and the religious and ethical practices of religion. The idea of ​​the separation of religion and politics, which justified making a compromise with the arrogant powers and the tyrants, had become universal and pervasive. In such an environment, the emergence of Imam Khomeini and his victorious leadership in the Islamic Revolution of Iran created a new strategy in the revolutionary movement of the Islamic movements and gave it impetus and dynamism after experiencing years of stagnation. It may not be possible to ignore the international influence of the Iranian Revolution. Even in cases where some Muslims lost their faith in the political aspect of Islam, the Islamic Revolution of Iran revived this aspect and reaffirmed the belief that Muslims would once again be capable of gaining economic, political, and cultural independence and becoming the most powerful international force.

Imam Khomeini’s anti-arrogant approach, as a religious and divine responsibility, establishes a deep and comprehensive link between his political and religious thought and the Islamic movements around the world. Given the religious responsibility, this close tie has been established between all religious movements, providing the grounds for further fertility and prosperity through theoretical and practical unity. Imam Khomeini addressed this issue in this way: “For me, the place does not matter; what is important is fighting against tyranny. Wherever this fight is being carried out the best, I will be there.” Thus, fighting against tyranny and arrogance has the strongest motivations when it takes place within a religious framework. Imam Khomeini’s political attitude to the social duties in religion has led the religion and religious teachings to play an important role in motivating, encouraging, and mobilizing the masses of people against the oppressive system which dominates the oppressed societies more than ever. If in the political thought of Imam Khomeini, fighting against tyranny and arrogance is considered as a religious duty, it is natural that this will play a significant role in strengthening and encouraging the Islamic movements:

“God Almighty has obliged us to confront and fight against tyranny and the people who are undermining the basis of Islam and acting against the interests of Muslims. Also, if possible, we would engage in an armed struggle against them.”

This remark reflects Imam Khomeini’s comprehensive position on the inadequacies and lacking existed within human societies. Whereas most of the Islamic and reformist movements in Islamic countries in their orientations and struggles focus on specific dimensions and are content with guiding and forming the thoughts and views of the masses, Imam Khomeini, by suggesting a new and comprehensive strategy, introduces an anti-colonial and liberation struggle in all political, social, cultural, and military dimensions.

The formation of Islamic uprisings in some Islamic societies through the framework of a comprehensive struggle against tyranny and colonialism has taken full advantage of this strategy, and this necessitates the changing of the approaches of the Islamic movements from being reformist into a revolutionary one and also shows the necessity of the Islamic Revolution.

 Emphasizing the Islamic Ummah 

The idea of ​​the formation of and achieving the Islamic ummah based on Islamic belief and ideology has long been the focus of religious reformists and pioneers of the Islamic movement. The strategy of unity which centred on the Islamic ummah has a high status in Imam Khomeini’s political thought. The deep and comprehensive religious and ideological relationship between the Islamic movements has led Imam Khomeini to establish close ties between the Islamic Revolution of Iran with the Islamic movements across the world by promoting and disseminating the doctrine of the Islamic ummah while introducing this idea as the most effective strategy in fighting against the domineering powers.

Imam Khomeini says in this regard: “We are ready to defend Islam, the Islamic countries and their independence. We follow the path of Islam; the common word of all Muslims is unity; unity of all Muslim countries; brotherhood with all Muslim schools of thought all around the world; and alliance with all of the Islamic states around the world...”

It is precisely this attitude in the religious movement of Iran and its founder that characterizes the Islamic movement as being universal and pervasive and leads the liberation struggles throughout Islamic societies as well as other societies: “To bring unity among the Islamic ummah, to free and liberate the homeland of Islam from the colonialists and their puppet governments, we have no choice but to establish a government...”

The profound results and implications of this thought in creating alignment within the global Islamic front is the most effective strategy in the anti-colonial struggle of the Muslim and oppressed nations: “Today, Muslims all over the world from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, to Europe and the United States, feel that they are part of a large global community; That is, the Islamic ummah. This was created by Imam Khomeini. The sense of commitment and belonging to the Islamic ummah is the greatest motivation for defending Islam against arrogance.”

Given the fundamentals of the religious policy of Imam Khomeini concerning the Islamic ummah and human societies, one can see and examine the deep and comprehensive relationship between the Islamic Revolution and religious movements around the world. In this regard, the profound and widespread influence of his political thoughts on the Islamic movement can be traced. By examining the protests and statements of foreigners and opponents of the Islamic Revolution we could realize the depth of that impact. Robin Wright, a Western thinker, states, “Thirteen years after the first modern world religious state was established by the Iranian Revolution, Islam has once again emerged as a powerful political paradigm.” So, it can be said that the Islamic movements, after years of failed and unsuccessful experiences which had been accompanied by a state of stagnation and had produced a negative attitude towards the capabilities of religious teachings in managing the affairs of the society, was mobilized and gained a new impetus with the revivalist uprising of the pioneer of religious movement in Iran, Imam Khomeini, and once again the successful and efficient image of Islam and religious ideology in the field of politics and management of human life was crystallized in a part of the Muslims world. Consequently, the Islamic movements stood firm in their faith and hoped for a bright and successful future of their struggles.

If we take a glance at the profound and comprehensive influence of Imam Khomeini on the Islamic movement, we will realize that the Islamic Revolution of Iran has had a significant impact, both in terms of theory and practice, on the Islamic movement in all religious communities. However, explaining all of the achievements of the Islamic Revolution is not possible here; yet, only the most important impacts made by Imam Khomeini on the Islamic movement in theoretical and practical dimensions will be addressed.

Imam Khomeini’s supportive position regarding the Islamic movements

The founder of the Islamic Republic, far from political compromises and the complements which are common in contemporary diplomacy, while being firmly committed to his religious responsibility regarding the Islamic ummah, has always emphasized his supportive position regarding the Islamic movements and unequivocally announced his total support of these movements.

“We support all liberation movements around the world that fight for the cause of God, truth and freedom. We reiterate that we would support our Muslim brothers in Afghanistan and strongly condemn the act of occupying another country.”

Also, he states: “I announce that we help and support all movements, fronts and groups who are fighting for liberation from the left and right superpowers. I express my support for Palestine and Lebanon.”

Supporting the Islamic and liberation movements which rooted in the political beliefs of Imam Khomeini caused his supportive and anti-oppression position to transcend the Islamic movements addressing all liberation and anti-colonial movements: “We fully support all the dominated countries to gain freedom and independence, and we expressly state that they have to demand their rights.” 

Generally, it can be said that Islamic movements have faced two major challenges:

1. The incomplete and probably contradictory understanding of the pioneers of the movement regarding the religious teachings;
2. A sharp and negative reaction to the cultural phenomena and Western civilization.

The first would deprive the Islamic movements of a comprehensive and powerful religious foundation that deals with the challenges and needs of contemporary societies, and the latter would, on the one hand, deprive the movements of new scientific and cultural achievements and that on the other hand, will make these movements being introduced as a violent and fundamentalist movement among societies. Concerning the first case, Imam Khomeini, by presenting a comprehensive interpretation of religious teachings, sought to enrich and strengthen the intellectual and ideological basis of the Islamic movements. In this regard, through his legal and realistic views, he organized the precious and important legacy of the idea of ​​change in Muslim minds and established a logical connection between the past Islamic heritage and religious beliefs with the changes and innovations of the modern age. By emphasizing Islam as a progressive, vibrant and rational religion, Imam Khomeini restored the religious identity of Muslims and created a sense of pride and conviction that Islam can meet the needs of contemporary humanity.

Regarding the second weakness of the Islamic movements, Imam Khomeini, while adopting a two-sided attitude towards the West and new manifestations of Western civilization and culture, attempted to disentangle the intellectual and cultural confusion from the religious thought and distinguish between the positive and negative aspects of the civilization. In this regard, he intertwined the concerns of society with the necessity of responding to the threat posed by the Western culture and the necessities of modernism and sought to establish a relationship and harmony between non-religious modernism and religious traditionalism.

Imam Khomeini’s religious modernism offers a dual approach which simultaneously comprised of acceptance and rejection of the West. Therefore, the theoretical influence of Imam Khomeini on the Islamic movements, in addition to providing a rational and appropriate response to the Islamic movement’s challenges with the West, also created the strongest sense of religious identity and a firm belief in the efficiency of religious teachings and Islamic ideology. 

Thus, the “significant impact of the Islamic Revolution led by Imam Khomeini is that Islam and Muslims were regarded as a serious political and religious force, and as a result, Muslims and their doctrine found a much stronger position than ever before in superpowers’ political calculations and assessments. To substantiate this claim, one can refer to the works entitled: ‘The Power of The Islamic World’ or ‘The Dynamism of Islam” which deal with the issue of the revival of Islam.

 

The Practical Influence of Imam Khomeini on Islamic Movements

The profound influence of the transcendent ideas of the religious leader of the Islamic Movement on the Islamic movements was not confined to the theoretical and intellectual dimension; it has also influenced the movement of Islamic movements from a practical perspective. Moreover, it has played a great role in Imam Khomeini’s political thought. Describing the phenomenon of exporting the revolution as a fundamental principle and defining it as conveying the experiences of the Islamic Revolution of Iran by Imam Khomeini reflect the objective and practical influence of his political and revolutionary ideas on Islamic movements. On the other hand, most of the Islamic movements and Muslim countries, in their anti-colonial struggles, have used the objective experiences and achievements of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, and this illustrates some aspects of the practical influence of Imam Khomeini on these movements.

“In addition to his thoughts and policies, the special legacy of Imam Khomeini which influenced all the people of the world is his lifestyle. A simple and humble way of living with which the contemporary world is not familiar.”

It is precisely this lesson that has revived the spirit of struggle against the arrogant powers among the oppressed nations. In this regard, an Egyptian author writes:

“Namibia’s new independence and the wave of peace in South Africa are a result of the Movement in Iran. In addition, the Islamic Republic of Iran under the leadership of Imam Khomeini was a political, diplomatic, and material supporter of liberation movements in South Africa and its border provinces. The Iranian Revolution also provided support and help for the oppressed communities in South Africa during their struggles against racial domination. 

The Islamic movements’ reliance on and trusting the masses as the most successful strategy along with relaying on the spiritual power of the people’s faith away from political compromises were among the most important influences and achievements of the religious movement of Imam Khomeini, which gave the Islamic movements a new direction and offered hopes for a successful future. 

“Another conclusion of studying the Islamic Revolution is that an Islamic movement not only faces the opposition of all the superpowers and their local agents; but also, such a movement should not accept compromise in order to remain committed to its ideals and achieving success.” 

 

Imam Khomeini’s successful and practical conduct also introduced the concepts of serving the Muslim public’s interest and linking the Islamic movement with the masses as the successful strategy for anti-colonial struggles.

“This revolution has another consequence, that is, if people’s interests are integrated into the ideals of the Islamic Movement, or the movement is not confined to a mere ideology, and if it rejects any participation in the existing system, then the Islamic movement will be able to supersede its non-religious counterparts.”

Finally, Imam Khomeini revived Islam, and he was the one who astonished the Western and world leaders by reviving the forgotten values ​​of millions of people. It is precisely in this context that the enemies of the Islamic Revolution have no choice but to admit that “Ayatollah Khomeini inspired the anti-Israeli campaign in Lebanon and the occupied territories of Palestine, and all Islamic combatant groups in Egypt, occupied Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria should be called pro-Imam Khomeini.”

The pioneers of the Islamic movements in the past have been largely deprived of a serious and comprehensive relationship with the masses, and this is one of the causes of their failure. Imam Khomeini practically influenced the Islamic movements by presenting an objective and successful strategy of struggle, whereby scholars and intellectuals, as pioneers of the Islamic movements, united with the masses. However, most of the pioneers of the Islamic movements regarded the masses as ignorant and Muslims in name only and therefore were deprived of the support of the people. The integration of the Muslim scholars and the masses in Iran created an Islamic and invincible power by which the ruling regime was overthrown.

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