Rejecting Oppression and Supporting the Oppressed:
Today, for us Muslims, especially the Shia, the issue of Islamic resistance has become a model and a plan to resist against any kind of tyranny, coercion and oppression. It is also considered the most important basis for supporting the oppressed. In this case, Imam Khomeini (ra) the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran states: “The nation of Islam follows a school of thought that can be summarized in these two phrases: Oppress not, and do not submit to oppression!”
Imam Khomeini (ra) hoped that with his activities, he would be able to wake up the Muslim nations and free them from the domination of hegemonic powers, he emphasized: “We hope that all the Islamic nations will rise up with awareness, and eliminate these corrupt forces that seek to place all the Islamic nations under the domination of the superpowers.”
Imam Khomeini (ra) is the first religio-political figure in Iran who wanted the oppressed to be liberated from the clutches of the colonial powers. He stated: “We support all the nations that are still under colonial rule. They must regain their complete freedom and independence. We openly declare to them that this right is a matter that can be only regained through struggle and resistance. Therefore, they should rise up and protest. They should expel the superpowers from the annals of history. I have said this on numerous occasions and I will say it again, the East which has been victimized, as well as Africa, shall remain suffering forever unless they gather themselves and realize this. I admonish Africa and the East under colonial rule, and all the countries under tyranny as well. I urge them to unite. It is only then that you will be able to do as you desire; you must cut the hand of America, the aggressor, from your lands!”
Recognizing the Enemy and not Surrendering:
From the very beginning of the struggle against the Pahlavi regime, Imam Khomeini (ra) did not accept reconciliation with or submission to the enemies. He never believed in negotiating with the enemies. He used to say: “Even if Khomeini is to be hanged, he will never compromise with the enemies.” He (ra) also said, “The day when the US admires us, we should mourn. The day when Carter and Reagan admire us, it should be known that something wrong has been found among us.”
In fact, Imam Khomeini's avoidance of compromising with the enemies is rooted in his ontology and anthropology. Therefore, when he mentions the US as the Great Satan, this naming indicates two subtle points: 1. “Satan” is the source of all impurities and vices in the universe, and 2. “Satan” is the enemy of God and man; and Satan's confrontation with man continues until the Day of Resurrection. In fact, with this description, Imam Khomeini (ra) emphasizes his irreconcilability with the US and calls it the irreconcilability between Islam and disbelief.
Promoting Unity
Imam Khomeini (ra) emphasized the unity, solidarity, cooperation and resistance of Muslims. He looked at the Islamic Ummah with all its schools of thought as a single nation and by referring to the Quranic verses: “Indeed this community of yours is one community, and I am your Lord; So worship Me,” and “Indeed those who split up their religion and became sects, you will not have anything to do with them,” he emphasized the establishment of unity among the Muslims of the world.
In fact, in Imam Khomeini's intellectual system, preserving the unity of Islamic societies against the enemy's conspiracies, such as the creation of divisions and spreading of sectarianism, can only be done through conscious resistance. Resistance for the sake of God against the enemies' conspiracies and divisions requires one to stand up and follow the path until the very end. Therefore, the unity of the Islamic Ummah, which is the result of resistance stemming from the awareness of the enemy's goals, will eliminate even the most stubborn enemies. “Selfishness and abandonment of rising for God’s sake has made us wretched, and has caused the whole world to overwhelm us and has brought Muslim countries under foreign influence…Your resistance, the people of Iran, was the reason that you did not fail; your resistance led to the unity of the people.”
Seeking Independence and Relying on Domestic Capabilities
Imam Khomeini (ra) has stated: “We want to live a humble life, but be free and independent. We do not want the progress and civilization that causes us to stretch our hands towards foreigners. We want a civilization resting on dignity and humanity, which can keep the peace. The superpowers want to bring humanity under their domination. We, you and every Muslim, are bound to stand up against them and not to compromise with them.”
Imam Khomeini (ra) also said in this regard: “As long as you hold the belief that you are incapable of forming your own industries, big or small, and as long as you believe that you are incapable of producing the goods that have been provided with by the West, you will never succeed in doing anything. You should first develop your own self. You should first begin to believe in yourselves as human beings with the power to think…If this belief is established within you, you will succeed.”
Negating Aristocracy and Charity-seeking as Characteristics of American Islam
Imam Khomeini (ra) explicitly states that aristocracy and charity-seeking, both of which are the characteristics of American Islam, contradict the notion of struggle and stability. Describing aristocracy as one of the most important threats to the resistance he said: “Our beloved nation, which constitutes the true and authentic combatants of Islamic values, has understood well that struggle is at variance with charity-seeking.”
The emphasis on preserving a simple way of life, choosing the officials of the country from among the oppressed and condemning the wealthy elites and rulers reflect his deep belief in the fact that protecting Islam and the Revolution can only be achieved with a struggle whose goal is the Revolution, and in which all the facilities are utilized. If this happens, we can then expect the nation to bear the difficulties and shortcomings of the constant confrontation between right and wrong. “The dignitaries and aristocrats consider all values to be in the place where they live, in the manner they treat people, or in the property and money they possess.”
Therefore, by rejecting aristocracy and supporting the oppressed throughout the world, Imam Khomeini (ra) invited them to the revolutionary front, which is maintained by persistent fighting. He openly announced their victory and his support for this group. Accordingly, the main factor in achieving independence and preserving it would be resistance against the economic, cultural and political hegemony of foreign powers.
Archive of Imam Khomeini
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