Hujjat al-Islam Ghayuri’s Memory of Imam Khomeini (ra)
Hujjat al-Islam Ghayuri said that while we were in Neauphle-le-Château, Paris, the first day of Muharram coincided with the first night when Iranians shouted the phrase Allah Akbar from their rooftops. That night, someone called from Tehran and said, ‘I will leave the phone next to the window so that you can hear the people shouting Allah Akbar, while there is gunfire in the background.’ I recorded these sounds and brought them to Imam Khomeini (ra). When I got there, he was standing in his room with a rosary in his hand, reciting Ziyarat Ashura. While we were unaware that Muharram had set in, he was reciting Ziyarat Ashura in a country where probably it was never done before. Also, he used to recite this Ziyarat during the first ten days of Muharram. His companion once said, ‘One day, close to noon, I heard someone’s lamentation and crying. After a while I found out that Imam Khomeini (ra) was on the roof reciting Ziyarat Ashura and weeping for Imam Husayn (as).’
Re-examining the Lessons of Karbala and Ashura in the Words of Imam Khomeini (ra)
What follows are some of Imam Khomeini’s (ra) remarks about Ashura and its messages for humanity.
Stand up and Reject ‘Great Empires’
In the view of Imam Khomeini (ra), shedding tears for Imam Husayn (as) is a source of strength in the face of oppressors and tyrants. In this regard, he has said:
‘Mourning for Imam Husayn (as), as well as following his movement and promoting the idea that a small group of people stood up against a ‘great’ emperor are all obligations that people must strive for. The saying, ‘Every day is Ashura and every land is Karbala,’ indicates that people must keep this movement and its messages alive. Imam Husayn (as) sacrificed everything he had for Islam. He resisted a great empire and said no; this ‘no’ should be preserved every day and in every land. These gatherings are held to preserve this very same ‘no’. Our children and youth should not think that we are a nation of weeping! It is others who have inculcated this idea that we are a nation of weeping. They fear these tears. They fear that they are shed as a token of sympathy for the oppressed. The processions come out to fight the oppressor. They see the mourning gatherings that remember the tragedies suffered by the oppressed and crimes committed by the oppressor as a stand against the oppressor. They forbade religious sermons and prayers in congregation because they believed that they would not be in their best interest. Suddenly, we saw that no gatherings of these types were held in Iran. Some clerics in Qum, such as Mr. Muhammad Saduqi, held some mourning gatherings before the call for dawn prayer, but he was ordered to end it before the call to prayer begins. They put an end to all gatherings. They prevented all the masjids, prayer leaders, and high-ranking clerics from functioning. Regrettably, they created such an atmosphere and spread such propaganda that affected the nation in such a way that some people were led to oppose religious scholars. Their propaganda, which claimed that the clerics were British puppets, achieved satisfactory results. It was the British agents who introduced the clerics like this. This means that British agents were spread around the nation and propagated that the scholars were their agents. We must continue holding and attending the mourning gatherings in order for this movement and school of thought to be preserved. These social movements are indebted to Imam Husayn (as). These people do not understand; they are like children, but they bear no malice. However, it is possible that some of them are malicious, while others are working according to a plan, as it was during Reza Shah’s time. But he (at first) did it out of ignorance, whereas later, he did it with knowledge. He stopped the preachers from preaching. He banned the prayer leaders. We could not hold a single commemoration gathering. It used to be said that in the whole of Qum, there was only one mourning gathering, which was held by Mr. Saduqi, which would end in the early hours of the morning, before the call for dawn prayers or before sunrise. It was not just by mistake that Reza Khan prevented the preachers and the prayer leaders from having activities and made them dress in ordinary clothing. It was indeed a plot, a plot to crush this force comprised of the preachers and prayer leaders who could motivate this nation to resist and destroy such a monarchy. He intended to deprive us of this force.’
Even If They are Nationalists, They Should Promote the Mourning Gatherings
Imam Khomeini (ra) believed that Iran’s preservation was reliant on holding mourning gatherings for Imam Husayn (as). Furthermore, he requested every stratum of society to hold such gatherings for this purpose.
He said, ‘The political figures do not know what service the pulpits have rendered to this country. If they are nationalists — we are not bothered whether or not they have God in mind — and say that they love their country and their nation, they ought to increase these mourning gatherings, because it is these gatherings that have safeguarded your nation. It is these gatherings and recitals (of the tragedy in Karbala) that have safeguarded your country. The question of how long should we continue practicing these mourning gatherings has now been placed in the minds of our youth. Let us give a reply. They do not understand the purpose of these mourning gatherings and know who has maintained this basis up to the present time. No one can make them understand it. They do not know that this mourning and crying mend man’s way. These mourning gatherings for Imam Husayn (as) are an act of propagation against oppression and oppressors. They support the oppressed and must be maintained. These same people once cried for the slain youth, but they are now deluded, saying, “Forget those youth!” Those who regard Imam Husayn (as) as the foundation, which has kept Islam alive, nurtured those youth. Prophet Muhammad (sawa) has said: “I am from Husayn (as).” This means he preserves the religion of Islam and his sacrifice has preserved Islam. Therefore, we must protect it too. Let them not play games with you with these illogical arguments. Such rituals and teachings must be preserved. These are our religious rituals and traditions that must be preserved. These are political traditions that need to be preserved. Take care, lest these sell-out writers should trick you! Be careful not to be deceived by these people who appear by different names and deviating creeds. Do not let them strip you of everything. They see the mourning gatherings and remembrance of the disasters suffered by the oppressed and crimes committed by the oppressor as a fight against the oppressor. They do not understand that these gatherings are serving the country and Islam. Our youth are not paying attention! Do not be tricked by these traitors injecting into you the idea of us being a ‘nation of weeping’. Their masters fear this mourning! Reza Khan, as a foreign agent, came into power and banned them. After his fall, the UK announced on radio that we brought him into power and have now removed him! They brought him in to stifle Islam, and one way of doing so was to strip you of these gatherings. Our youth should not think that in these gatherings no mention should be made of mourning rituals. Do not think that you are serving the country in this way! The oppressions must be highlighted in order to make people understand what had happened in the past. This must be done continuously, so that its socio-political aspects are protected.’
Reference: Islamic Revolution Research Quarterly. Vol 11, No 2, Summer 2022, Pgs. 35-53.
Archive of Imam Khomeini
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