Childhood
Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) was born in 1320 Hijri, 21 September 1902, in "Khomein" City - 349 km south-west of "Tehran" - in a house known for knowledge, kindness and piety. It had only been six months since his birth when his father Ayatollah Sayyed Mustafa al-Musawi was martyred by bandits backed by the government back then.
His father's martyrdom (MGHHS) on the 11th of Thoul Ki'dah, 1320 Hijri, gave Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) the bitter taste of orphan hood from infancy, thus he learnt the meaning of the martyrdom concept.
He spent his childhood and youth under the care of his mother "Hagar", a faithful woman from a family known for her knowledge and piety, as well as his aunt "Sahibat Hanem", a virtuous woman, known for her courage and for speaking the truth.
The Imam was deprived of the blessed presence of these two dear relations at the age of fifteen.

Study and Teaching Phase
His eminence studied Introductions to the Sciences in "Khomein" city until the age of nineteen. This included Arabic language, logic, derivation and jurisprudence, under the guidance of renowned professors. In 1339 Hijri, (1921) he joined the Education Howza (religious school) in "Arak" city where he remained for one year, then migrated to "Qom" city to further his studies in its Howza.
Additional to continuing his studies under the supervision of jurisprudents and scholars of his time, he took interest in studying mathematics, astronomy and philosophy.
During the time he concerned himself with gathering knowledge, he participated for six years taking lessons in ethics and mysticism, theory as well as practice, at the highest levels with the late Ayatollah Mirza Ali Shah Mohammad Abadi.
In 1347 Hijri (1929) at the age of twenty seven years old, the late Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) began teaching. He taught Islamic philosophy studies, theoretical and practical mysticism, the fundamentals of jurisprudence and Islamic morality.

Family and children
In 1929 His Eminence Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) married the daughter of the late Ayatollah Mohammed al-Hajj Mirza Mohamad al-Thaqafi al-Tahrani.
Eight children were born through this marriage:
- Martyr Ayatollah Sayyed Mustafa Khomeini
- a son named Ali who died at the age of four
- Sayyeda "Sadika Mustafawi" the spouse of the late Ayatollah "Ishraqi"
- Sayyeda "Farida Mustafawi" the spouse of Sayyed "Ala'arabi"
- Sayyeda "Fahima-Zahra-Mustafawi" the spouse of Dr. Sayyed "Albroojerdi"
- "Saiida" a daughter who passed away when only seven months old
- the late Hujja of Islam and Muslims Sayyed Ahmad Khomeini
- And a daughter named "Latifa" who passed away when still a child.
Though his Eminence (MGHHS) depended on his faith in God throughout his political and jihad life, drawing his strength from God alone, his steps guided by his confidence in his faith, the effective and influential role his son Mustafa played - along his side - was no hidden matter throughout the Islamic Renaissance.

Sayyed Mustafa played an important role in organizing the energies of the revolution, from gathering news and information, to delivering the Supreme Leader's secret appeals to the revered Ayatollahs, clergy and political factions' leaders and the establishment and maintaining communication channels with the revolutionary elements. In view of the role he played, the Shah's regime arrested and jailed him, and later exiled him later to Turkey, then onto Iraq.
There is no doubt that the reason behind his martyrdom in 1978 was nothing other than his effective role in the Islamic Renaissance and its continuance.
From the moment of his martyrdom, divine will placed Sayyed Mustafa Khomeini's responsibilities to his brother Sayyed Ahmad Khomeini, who was still in his youth but no less wise or capable.
Before this painful incident, Sayyed Ahmed appeared fully absorbed in his Howza studies, when in fact he was carrying his brother's responsibilities in the Education Howza in "Qom" city and at other points of Iran.
When the Imam's home in Najaf al-Ashraf (the nobler Najaf) was transformed to a launch point for exporting and leading the revolution, Sayyed Ahmad Khomeini took on the tasks of housekeeping, organizing the revolution's commander's meetings, facilitated necessary communication channels between militants and Najaf al-Ashraf, provided reports on the expanding revolutionary activities in Iran, relayed the Imam's orders to the militants and provided extensive communication channels with militant factions in the interior.

Whether in the sensitive stages of the Muslim Iranian people's struggle, during the migration of the Revolution's leader to France, or on his return to the homeland, and the subsequent victory stage of the revolution, Sayyed Ahmed was the trusted political aid, the mindful and politically wise organizer with a distant horizon, a Mujahid that does not tire or give up, a reliable supporter.
Dedicated to serving his father, he devoted all his time and efforts to acquire the acceptance of his elder along the path to accomplishing God's blessings and acceptance.
The rare and unique role played by Sayyed Ahmed, alongside the fervent torch of the existing dear Imam, was a source of blessings, whose traces can be found at every stage of the history of the Islamic revolution.
After His Eminence's departure, the late Sayyed Ahmad Khomeini had an effective presence in many of the cultural and political institutions, where he served the revolution and the system of the Islamic Republic, sparing no effort to provide advice and perform his duty.
Being one of the salient figures of the revolution, he was the subject of trust and advice by the regime's leadership and officials.
Sayyed Ahmed took on the responsibility to oversee the institution for "Organizing and Disseminating the Heritage of Imam Khomeini (MGHHS)", motivated by the wish to preserve the heritage of the great leader of the Islamic revolution, to disseminate his thoughts and views.
He spared no effort in turning His Eminence's blessed burial place to a radiating Centre of the Islamic Revolution.
Due to a heart condition Sayyed Ahmed departed this transient world on 17 March 1994.
By then the institutions for "Organizing and Disseminating the Heritage of Imam Khomeini (MGHHS)" and the revered blessed burial site of the Imam (MGHHS), had achieved their worthy stature.
Based on Sayyed Ahmad Khomeini's will, the custodian office of His Eminence's blessed burial site and the task of supervising the institution for "Organizing and Disseminating the Heritage of Imam Khomeini (MGHHS)", was entrusted to the eldest son Hujat al-Islam and Muslims Sayyed Hassan Khomeini, to always uphold the Imam's illumined path, and preserve the memory of this treasured figure forever.

Because Imam Khomeini's way of life and his simple living sprung from his religious beliefs, it (religion) remained the constant throughout the different stages of his life and his eventful political life struggle.
Upon visiting His Eminence's residence after he passed away, Journalists and foreign correspondents from world news agencies were astonished at seeing the modesty of his home and the simple living means of the great leader of the Islamic revolution.
What they saw could not be compared in any way with the pattern of life followed by State heads and political and religious leaders in the world today... His way of life and simple living brings back to mind images known to have been held by the righteous prophets.

The Struggle and Revolution phase
Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) began his jihad in the fervor of his youth and continued it throughout his education phase in different ways, combating the evils of social, intellectual and ethical deviations.
In 1943, through a book he authored and published called "Secrets Revealed", His Eminence exposed the crimes committed under the Reza Shah rule - the father of the ousted shah - and assumed the task of rebutting the suspicions of the deviants in defense of Islam and religious scholars.
He also raised the idea of an Islamic Government in his book, and the need for advocating its establishment.
Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) launched his unconcealed struggle against the shah in 1962, when he stood strongly against the replacement of the "Holy Koran" with the swearing of an official oath instead, and against the "provincial and city councils" bill.
The government's validation of such draft laws back then meant the deletion of Islam as a pre-condition to the eligibility of candidates and voters. However, his eminence opposed this bill and called on the people and reference authority figures of the Educational Howza to rise up and revolt.
In the wake of the threat the Imam telegrammed to the Prime Minister at the time, gave speeches with which he exposed the government, made strong statements, backed his stands received from reference authority figures, reflected by massive popular rallies in the cities of "Qom", "Tehran" and others. Thus, the Shah's regime was forced to withdraw the inventory and retreat from its implementation.
The continued struggle pushed the shah to commit one of his follies on 21 March 1963 when he ordered the attack on "Faydiyah" school in the city of "Qom". It was only a matter of time till the Imam's speech and statements on this tragedy spread to different parts of Iran.
In the afternoon of 03 June 1963 in a passionate and angry speech, Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) exposed the secret relations and the shared interests between the shah and "Israel".
At three o'clock after midnight the following day, special government forces surrounded the Imam's house, where he was arrested and sent to "Tehran" in chains.
News of the arrest quickly spread to various parts of Iran. Upon hearing the news of the Imam's arrest, in the early hours of 05 June 1963 the masses took to the streets in large demonstrations condemning the government's actions, the greatest of which took place in the holy city of "Qom", which was attacked with heavy weapons by government forces, bloodying many protesters in the process.
With the shah's regime declaring martial law in "Tehran", suppression of the protesters became harsher; the military government killed and wounded thousands of innocent people. Then came the massacre on 5 June 1963 with a degree of extreme cruelty and brutality, its news circulated in global and local news media.
Finally, public pressure coupled with objections by the learned scholars and the people, inside and outside the country, forced the Shah to release the Imam (MGHHS) after almost ten months of siege and arrest.
The Imam (MGHHS) continued his struggle through speeches exposing the system, and awareness-provoking statements. In the meantime, the Government endorsed the "Judicial Immunity" bill which provides for granting American military and political advisers judicial immunity, a decision that was met with the anger and fury of the leader of the revolution.
Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) began his broad moves immediately upon learning of this act of treachery; he began by sending envoys to various parts of Iran, to announce to the people his intention to make a speech on the 20th Jamadi-el-Thani, 1383 Hijri.
His Eminence the Imam delivered his famous speech on the declared day, without paying attention to the threats and warnings the system issued against him do so. He criticized the Judicial Immunity bill, and strongly attacked the American president at the time.
As for the shah's regime, it considered the best solution lies in sending the Imam into exile.
Once again hundreds of Special Forces units and paratroopers surrounded the Imam's home; on the early dawn of 03 November 1964.
Upon his arrest, his Eminence was directly taken to "Mahar Abad" airport in Tehran, and according to prior agreement, he was exiled to "Ankara" city (Turkey) first, then onto the Turkish city of "Kursk". The Iranian and Turkish security forces responsible for his surveillance banned him from exercising any political or social activity.

Though the shah resorted to mass slaughter, he was powerless in the face of the revolution that broke out.
Despite the Shah's declaration of martial law in eleven cities and his replacement of the Prime Minister and other senior officials, he was still unable to influence or prevent the widening area of the revolution. The scandalous statements of the regime, coupled with the Jihadist orders issued by Imam Khomeini (MGHHS), foiled all plots -political and military maneuvers- that were resorted to by the shah.
During the meeting in New York, between the Foreign Ministers of Iran and Iraq, the parties decided to remove Imam Khomeini from Iraq. On 24 September 1978 Baath forces surrounded the Imam's house in "Najaf al-Ashraf", and informed him that the continuation of his stay in Iraq depends on his ceasing his political activities, and abandoning the struggle.
The Imam insisted on continuing the struggle, resisting Baathist pressures he left "Najaf al-Ashraf" on 24 October 1978 after thirteen years in exile, and headed for Kuwait, however, the Kuwaiti government, at the request of the Shah's regime, prevented Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) from entering its territories.
After consulting his son, the late Ayatollah Ahmad Khomeini (MGBPWH) he decided to immigrate to Paris.
On the day following his arrival in Paris on 06 October 1978 His Eminence went to live in the house of an Iranian living at "Nouvelle Le Chateau" (Paris suburbs).
In the meantime, French "Elyse's" envoy informed the Imam of the French president "Giscard d'Estaing's" demand of having to avoid any kind of political activity. The Imam firmly replied that this type of harassment is contrary to claims of democracy, and that he would not abandon his objectives, even if he had to be in constant move from one airport to the next, from one country to another.
The Imam's four months stay in Paris, turned "Nouvelle Le Chateau" to one of the most highly sought after news locations in the world. Visitors from different parts of the world flocked in seeking his dialogues and meetings, to familiarize themselves with the Imam's ideas and views on Islamic government and the upcoming objectives of the revolution.
As for the Iranian people, inspired by his Eminence's guidance they increased the intensity of their demonstrations. Due to the increased area of unrest, government centers and institutions became paralyzed; the Shah's attempts to change the prime minister, his declaration of regret over previous actions, and releasing political prisoners, etc. .., were futile attempts to extinguish the revolution's flame and stifle its growing effects.
In the meantime, the Islamic revolution's commander announced to the people the formation of the Revolutionary Command Council and the appointment of its members. In his turn, the Shah decided to exit the country on 16 January 1979 under the pretext of illness and the need to rest.
The news of the Shah's escape from the country stirred a wave of joy and elation among the people, and increased their resolve to continue the struggle until the overthrow of the regime.
The Imam's decision to return to the country also stirred feelings of delight and hope in the hearts of the people, leading the enemies of the Revolution to commit humiliating follies, such as when the shah's regime - after consulting and coordinating with the U.S. government - closed the country's airports to all inbound foreign flights.
Crowds by the millions poured into "Tehran" from around the country to join the protests held in "Tehran" city demanding for the airport to be opened.
The shah's regime complied with the demands of the people and opened "Mehr Abad" airport in Tehran, enabling the arrival of the Islamic revolution commander at the homeland on 01 February 1979 after fourteen years in exile.
The Iranian people's reception of Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) reached an unprecedented magnitude, forcing Western news agencies to acknowledge him; some estimated the number of people welcoming him at the airport between four to six million.
The commander of the revolution declared the formation of the interim government, despite the continued presence of the shah's government exercising its functions.
On 05 February 1979 with the appointment of the Prime Minister, the interim government was given the tasks of preparing for public referendum and elections.
On 08 February 1979 the Air Force pledged allegiance to Imam Khomeini (MGHHS), at his residence in the Allawite School in Tehran.
09 February 1979 the Special Guard forces of the Shah's regime headed to suppress the intifada of the associated employees of the most important air base in Tehran; the people responded by taking to the streets to protect the revolutionary forces.
10 February 1979 police centers and government institutions began falling in the people's hands one after the other.

In order for the shah's government to be able to carry out the military coup, planned with the aid of American advisors in Tehran, Tehran's military governor issued a statement declaring the extension of curfews hours until four P.M.
In the meantime, Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) issued a statement calling on the people of "Tehran," to take to the streets to thwart the looming conspiracy, and effectively abolish the imposed martial law.
Massive crowds of men and women, young and old responded by going to the streets and setting up trenches. No sooner were the Shah's tanks and armoured personnel carriers mobilized from army barracks, than they were confronted by the people, immediately stopping and disrupting their efforts, thus eliminating the last remaining pocket of power the Shah regime had in possession.
Dawn 11 February 1979 the victory sun of the Islamic revolution shone.

Forming the Islamic government; its gains
Fulfillment of the Imam Khomeini's (MGHHS) promises, and the victory of the Islamic revolution in Iran were not mere internal coincidence that led to regime change, but rather formed a devastating earthquake to the Western World, as described by many American, 'Israeli' and European officials, in memoirs they later published.
Thus, since morning of 10 February 1979, they began their animosity toward the youthful Islamic regime, in a flagrant, broad and comprehensive way. America was heading the enemies' front, to which the English government effectively contributed together with many other European countries, side by side with entire proxy regimes of the West.
Because of their discontent with the rule of religion in Iran, the former Soviet Union along with countries in its orbit also joined the Americans and endorsed a lot of their hostile stands against Iran.
Through declaring general mobilization of the Iranian people to build the country, Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) aspired to manifest a model of a healthy religious community that is also developed. Inspired by this, he announced the formation of "Jihad Al-Binaa" or Jihad of construction, which prepared the ground for specialized cadres and revolutionary energies to have large scale presence in disadvantaged areas, villages and the countryside, which quickly opened roads, established health and therapeutic centers, and large scale water and electricity networks.
It had only been two months on the revolution's triumph, when, in one of the most liberal elections in the history of Iran, the Iranian people declared their support for the establishment of an Islamic Republic in Iran by 98.2 percent of the votes.
This was followed by political elections to codify and ratify the constitution; subsequently the first election session of the Islamic State Council was held.
In this particular circumstance the escalation of seditious waves and external pressures intensified. The United States was seeking an end to the Islamic regime internally through problems created by a fifth column, to pave the way for overthrowing the regime by stirring seditions and conflicts.
One of the first wars the enemies resorted to weaken the Islamic Republic, was through launching an assassination campaign of key figures and important personalities of the revolution.
In a short period key figures were made to disappear, like Ayatollah Morteza al-Mutehri (member of the Revolutionary Command Council), Dr. Mohamed Mufatah, the lieutenant general Karni (Chief of Staff), al-Hajj Mehdi Iraqi, and Ayatollah Tabatabai.
Not only did the United States fail to respond to the legitimate demands of the Iranian people, to extradite the shah and return the Iranian funds and deposits frozen in the United States - which amounted to twenty two billion dollars - but rather placed extensive powers at the disposal of the Shah regime's fleeing officials, to enable them to regroup abroad and promulgate their animosity of the Islamic regime.
As a result of the blatant American animosity, the angry Iranian people pushed a group of Muslim Iranian students to storm the American Embassy in Tehran, to arrest the Americans spies inside after subduing the embassy's American guards.
Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) supported the students' revolutionary step, describing it as the revolution greater than the first. Student followers of Imam's path, gradually published documents they discovered in the embassy which they compiled in more than seventy books, titled "Documents of the American Spy den in Iran."
These undisputedly authentic documents revealed the American secrets of espionage and unbounded intervention in Iran and other countries in the world, disclosed many of America's agents, spies and tools, as well as American methods of espionage and political maneuvers in the different regions of the world.
Occupying the American embassy - "the espionage den" as it became known in the Islamic revolution culture - represented a major scandal for the U.S. Government, and achieved many gains for the Iranian people, the most notable of which is perhaps ensuring the continuation of the revolution.
Additional gains came from shattering American conceit, and instilling hope in the hearts of the peoples of the Third World, through providing them with a successful model of confronting major powers, and inflicting them with defeat.
The defeated American schemes that were aimed at overthrowing the Islamic Republic system, started by the placement of an economic embargo, imposing political isolation on Iran, through to "Tabas" desert operation, and attempts to partition the country, by supporting groups hostile to the revolution.
These failures lead the U.S. government to contemplate the military option.
On 22 September 1980 inspired by the American government with the backing of major world powers, the Iraqi army started its all out military aggression along 1289 km of common border with Iran.
At 14:00 hours of that day, Iraqi ground forces advanced simultaneously with Iraqi fighter jets bombing "Tehran" airport and several other cities.

In spite of its extreme importance, news of the war waged by Iraq against Iran was met with complete silence in international forums and by global forces. However, the initial reaction issued by Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) invoked, to a large extent, admiration and contemplation, as reflected in statements and speeches he used to address different dimensions of the Iraqi army's assault, however - unfortunately - insufficient space in this article to mention the entire lengthy moment to moment details.

The Imam immediately called the people to resist. In the first analysis he gave in a speech, he considered America the causative basis of this war, Saddam's (Iraqi president) mover and supporter.
His Eminence assured the Iranian people in no uncertain terms that if they faced the aggression, as a service and a legitimate spiritual duty, seeking only God's acceptance, the enemy's defeat would be inevitable, despite all apparent factors suggesting otherwise.
The following day, after the start of the Iraqi attack, Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) defined in a statement seven brief but accurate and comprehensive items to the Iranian people, outlining the manner with which to conduct the war and the country's affairs in war time. He presented his argument to the Iraqi people through the many statements he issued back then.
As of that day and with extraordinary wisdom he assumed the supervision and leadership of the people over eight long and arduous years in defense of the nation.
The Iranian revolutionary youth received the Imam's call to mobilization with a festive welcome, quickly forming a twenty million strong army. Images of troops going to training, to be later mobilized to battle fronts, inspired confidence in the morale within Iran. The successive victories achieved by fighters of the Islamic forces, revealed the weakness and confusion among enemy ranks.
Little by little the United States and its Europeans allies revealed their faces from behind the guise of war. Highly sophisticated weapons-usually extremely difficult to obtain in peace time and only after lengthy and consuming talks and concessions- were now being pumped with surprising speed into Iraq, to be placed at Saddam's disposal.
As a result, Iraq did not hesitate to commit the most heinous atrocities, such as the intensive aerial bombardment of cities and villages, destruction of economic centers, using destructive long-range missiles on residential areas, leaving behind hundreds of women and children victims.
This is the scene took place right before the eyes and ears of international organizations without a word uttered by them; when they claim to defend human rights.
The entire comprehensive and broad aid Saddam was provided with could not change the course of the war or the situation on the battlefronts to his advantage; to the contrary, the situation on the battle fields was moving at an accelerated pace to the favour of the Islamic forces.
Coinciding with the escalating pace of shelling residential areas and launching long-range missiles, the United States resorted to direct intervention in the war, when American, English and Russian aircraft carriers headed for the Persian Gulf to be at close proximity to the war theatre.
The United States believed the only remaining option it had, was to internationalize the war, thus it can push for other countries' direct intervention, the reason they resorted to what was later called the 'Tankers War'.
In this aspect of the war, foreign troops stationed in the Persian Gulf blockaded Iranian oil exports, stopped commercial ships for inspection and prevented basic commodities from reaching the Islamic Republic.
During these events, several commercial vessels and Iranian oil carriers were targeted by American missiles and air bombing campaigns. U.S. forces also set on fire several Iranian oil wells and platforms in the Persian Gulf waters.
As a last act of aggression, in July 1988, the American government committed its shameful and heinous crime against humanity, when its aircraft carrier "Winston" downed an Iranian civilian plane into the waters of the Persian Gulf with two missiles, killing all the 290 men, women and children on board.
One more of the painful incidents witnessed in this phase was the massacre committed by members of the Saudi regime against Iranian pilgrims to Sacred Mecca.
On Friday, the 6 Hijja 1407 (Hijri), 02 August 1987, and during the performance of the 'Renouncing Idolaters' ceremony, more than a hundred and fifty thousand pilgrims, in the streets of Mecca, were suddenly attacked from all sides by Saudi police wearing military and plain clothes. The police had blocked all exits, before attacking them with various types of weapons, killing, injuring and beating them, as if in a reprisal against them.
Nearly 400 pilgrims were martyred in this incident, from Iranian, Lebanese, Palestinian, Pakistani and Iraqi backgrounds, and five thousand more were estimated dead from the rest of the world's pilgrims. Many innocent people were also arrested.
The presence of mobilized Western forces in the Persian Gulf, alongside scenarios witnessed in the last months of the eight year war, proved events were not occurring haphazardly but in toe with the Islamic forces showing full superiority in battle, particularly when the enemy was forced into retreat behind border lines, out of most areas they had previously occupied, in a war that nearly uprooted sedition from the region.
Saddam's fall at the hands of Islamic forces, was almost a declaration of defeat announced to the world by several global forces in their confrontation against the Islamic Revolution. For that purpose, the United States and the Security Council - in contrast to previous position held by them - concentrated their efforts now on blocking the Iranian fighters' progress and preventing Saddam's fall.
On 20 July 1988 Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) issued what later became known as 'Resolution 598 Acceptance Statement', another shining example of the Imam's wisdom and leadership in manifestation. In this statement he addressed the results and dimensions of the imposed war frankly and openly, outlining the future of the regime and the Islamic Revolution in various domains. This included the confrontation with major powers, adherence to the goals and aspirations of the revolution.
Thus the eight year war ended without a single objective achieved by those who ignited it.
The noble Iranian people once again demonstrated, under the Imam's wise leadership, the correctness and legitimacy of their movement, making the mission of fragmenting Islamic Iran and its defeat a painful failure to the enemies.
Apart from the immense humanitarian and economic loss both countries incurred, derailing the global Islamic revolution was the most serious of Saddam's crimes and the greatest of the betrayals he committed on behalf of countries hiding behind Arabism and Islam. Countries that had encouraged his aggression, gave him large scale support and aid to wage this abhorrent war, at his masters' orders. Saddam did away with efforts already made to unify the Islamic world to achieve the global Islamic revolution, as conditions were ripe for its achievement after the shah's fall.
Once peace was relatively stabilized, Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) issued a statement on 03 October 1988 of nine clauses; he defined the approach to be followed in the rebuilding and reconstruction process for the officials of the Islamic Republic. A careful reading of these clauses suffices to see the depth and originality of the values and vision the Imam held.
Another important stand Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) made in the end months of his blessed life, a matter deserving contemplation, was the message he had issued and sent on 01 January 1989 to "Gorbachev", the last head of the former Soviet Union.
In this letter the Imam addressed the shifts taking place within the Soviet Union and pointed out the Marxist atheist system's inability to manage society. He also announced that the Soviet Union's fundamental problem lies in their leaders' lack of faith in God.
He warned them against submitting to the Western capitalist system, and against being fooled by America.
In another aspect of the letter, he referred to the deep and profound matters of philosophy and mysticism, and the failure of the communists' policies against religion. Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) invited Mr. "Gorbachev" to believe in God, to have faith instead of pinning his hopes on the materialistic tendencies of the West.
The printing and publication of the book titled "the Satanic Verses" in the last months of the Imam's life, by a Western publishing house, was among the important and painful incidents.
If we look at the truth behind the West's official support for the author of this book - Salman Rushdie - we find it represented a beginning of a new chapter in the cultural attack by the west against Islamic values and sanctities.
Since this book was aimed at the impugnation of Islamic principles and offending its sanctities, enthusiasm for protecting the targeted aspects of Islam became the reason for emerging Islamic movements to unify their approach and harmonize their goals and aspirations.
In light of the given facts, based on Islamic doctrines from different Muslim sects and according to the opinions of respected Muslim scholars of the various stems of Islam, as per opinions recorded in jurisprudence reference books, all of which confirming Salman Rushdie's apostasy, Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) issued a statement on 14 February 1989 punishing Salman Rushdi and the publishers aware of the book's content with the death sentence.
With the Imam's sentence passed, Muslims of all denominations, languages and nationalities stood up together in the face of this attack that was prepared in advance by the West.
This incident revealed the cohesion and unity of the Islamic community when threatened, and pointed out that Muslims, despite internal differences - given real leadership - as the vanguard of the religious revivalism movement - they can play a decisive role in shaping the future of the world.
In the years following the victory of the Islamic revolution, despite successive conspiracies aimed at toppling the Islamic government in Iran and the eight-year war launched by Islam's enemies headed by the U.S. against the Muslim Iranian people, the Imam was able to form revolutionary institutions and vital centers, reorganize formations inherited from the former regime and pave the way for extensive valuable services for the Iranian people.
The following are only a few of the achievements accomplished during the Imam's life:
- "Jihad el-Binaa" (Jihad of building)
- "Imam Khomeini Relief Committee"
- "15 Khordad Foundation"
- "Housing Corporation"
- "Islamic Revolution Martyrs Foundation"
- "Institution of the Disadvantaged"
- "Literacy Renaissance"

Composing the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, was an important step initiated in the early stages after the victory of the Islamic revolution, as it assumed the responsibility to oversee university course programs and curricula codification, preparation of university professors and organizing admission to universities.

Ten years on the Islamic Republic regime in Iran, his eminence Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) sent a letter on 24 April 1989 to the President of the Republic (His Eminence Ayatollah Khamenei), in which he entrusted the task to study and codify the necessary amendments in the constitution to a commission of opinion makers and experts, based on pivotal points he had defined in the letter, with the motivation of reforming and completing the formations of the Islamic regime.

Such decisions clearly indicate the extent to which the Imam's thinking was occupied with consolidating and strengthening the pillars of the Islamic government, employing every opportunity to pave the ground and open the way for the best possible implementation of Islamic laws.

The Departure
Even at his noble age nearing ninety-years, in his pursuit to advance the Islamic community, Imam Khomeini (MGHHS) did not tarry for a moment and was considered one of the most active political leaders in the world.
Additional to the daily activities of keeping himself informed of important news and official press reports, he read scores of special news files, listened and watched the news on Iranian radio and television; he was also keen to listen to foreign broadcast stations.

His Eminence believed in programming, order and discipline in life, he dedicated certain hours of the night and day for worship, prayers and for reciting the Koran.
For sport, and as a part of his daily program, the Imam walked while praising God while meditating and reflecting.
Thus was His Eminence.