Ayatullah al-Udhma Sayyid Ali Khamenei

Taken from site http://www.emamreza.net/eng/mashhad/ulama.htm

"Right from the assassination attempt on my life, I had a

feeling that Allah had chosen me for a great task for which

I had prepared . At the time I did not know the nature of

the task. However, I had no doubt that I would be ready to

shoulder a great weight in His way for the sake of the

revolution and in the service of you, Oh people.

1. Birth and Lineage

His Eminence Ayatullah al-'Udhma al-Haj as-Sayyid 'Ali al-Husaini al-Khamenei

(May Allah prolong his life) was born in 1939 in the Holy City of Mashhad, Iran, in

a respected scholarly family.

His father, Ayatullah al-Haj as-Sayyid Jawad, was amongst Mashhad's erudite

'ulama (clerics).

For years on end, he used to lead Fajr (morning) prayers at the Gawharshad

mosque and dhuhr (midday) and 'Isha (evening) prayers at the Bazaar-e-Mashhad

mosque. He was a well-known preacher.

His mother was the daughter of Sayyid Hashim Najafabadi (Mir Damadi), one of

the well-known 'ulama of Mashhad. She was a chaste and honourable woman, who

had knowledge of religious injunctions. She had very high moral principles.

2. His Childhood

Ayatullah al-'Udhma Sayyid 'Ali Khamenei lived his childhood under the care of his

father, who was a loving parent and committed to bringing up his children in the

best way. He spared no efforts in teaching them. Those years were very hard on

Sayyid Khamenei because of poverty. He said, " I can recall that sometimes we

had nothing to eat. At dinner time, my mother used to take the money which my

grandmother gave me and my brothers and sisters, to buy milk and raisins for us to

eat with bread."

3. His Education and Studies

At the age of five, Ayatullah al-Udhma Sayyid 'Ali Khamenei and his elder brother

Sayyid Muhammad were sent to Maktabkhaneh (Qur'anic classes). Then they

were enrolled into a religious primary school by the name of 'Dar ut Ta'lim e

Diyanati'.

After he finished the primary school course, he attended evening classes in a state

school, without the knowledge of his father, and obtained a certificate. He then

enrolled in a secondary school for two years where he obtained a certificate.

As for religious studies, he studied Arabic grammar at the religious school. He

read some of the books from "Jami' al-Muqaddamat", which are Arabic syntax

books, under the supervision of his father. At the age of fourteen he joined the

Sulaiman Khan school to study religious sciences. After completion of the study of

Arabic grammar and the preliminary religious sciences he studied some of the

Intermediate religious stuides (Sutuh) till the end of Lum'ah (concise but

comprehensive text of Fiqh). Subsequently he joined the Nuwwab Religious

Seminary to complete his Sutuh level of studies at the young age of sixteen.

This led to his attending Bahthil Kharij (graduation classes) under the supervision

of Ayatullah al-'Udhma Sayyid Milani.

Ayatullah al-'Udhma Khamenei in addition to Fiqh and Usul also learnt and taught

Islamic Philosophy, Rijal (Biography of Narrators of Holy Traditions), Diraya

(Science of Comprehension of Traditions), Astronomy and Tafsir (Quranic

Exegesis). He studied under eminent scholars and jurisprudents like Ayatullah

Mirza Javad Agha Tehrani, Ayatullah Hakim, Imam Khomeini, Ayatullah

al-'Udhma Burujardi and 'Allamah Tabatabai.

Ayatullah al-'Udhma Khamenei spent most of his student days in Mashhad. In

1947 he also visited the Holy City of Najaf where he studied for two years. In 1958

he migrated to Qom where he studied for six years.

4. Teaching Career

His Eminence Ayatullah al-'Udhma Sayyid Khamenei started teaching early in his

student days. Whatever he learnt with his God-given ingenuity and great devotion,

he taught with complete mastery.

He expalins, "I started teaching right after I graduated from the primary school,

during the time of my religious studies at the Islamic seminary. I supervised the

learning of two elderly students, who were reading the book "Sarf -e-Mir". Up to

1958, at which time I started living in Mashhad, I used to teach Arabic syntax and

grammar, figures of speech, principles of jurisprudence and jurisprudence.

In Qom I also combined study with teaching. After my return from Qom to Mashad

in 1964, teaching was one of my main occupations. During these years, and until

1977, I supervised students at the level of advanced sutuh, teaching Makasib (an

advanced profound text of Fiqh) of Sheikh Ansari in jurisprudence and Kifayah in

usul (an advanced profound text on principles of Jurisprudence) and 'Aqaid

(beliefs)."

Ayatullah al-'Udhma Sayyid 'Ali Khamenei obtained a licence for ijtihad (deduction

of legal judgements) from his teacher, Ayatullah al-'Udhma Hairi in 1974, after

attending bahth ul-kharij for more than fifteen years.

Throughout his political career after the victory of the revolution, as testified by

his colleagues who pursued academic discussions with him, he never abandoned his

research and teaching. He would manange his time skillfully to engage in study and

research especially in the field of Fiqh.

5. His Struggle from 1962 Onwards

A great part of his life has been dedicated to struggle, either through his writings,

speeches, or taking up arms, especially when the late Imam inaugurated his

Islamic Revolution in 1963. A detailed description of his struggles would require

several volumes. However, a brief outline follows.

Responding to the call of Imam Khomeini (May his soul rest in peace) in 1962, the

centre of religious learning, seat of knowledge and heart of jihad in Qom assumed

an invigorated role. With courage and zeal, 'ulama and students alike took it upon

themselves to disseminate the messages of the Imam and other religious

authorities to every corner of Iran. Their instructions and calls were printed and

circulated widely through the support and help of all popular forces. This new found

vigour and zeal spread to the other centres of theology in the country, especially

the Islamic seminary of Mashhad.

Ayatullah al-'Udhma Sayyid Khamenei (May Allah prolong his life) played a

decisive role in this awakening. Alongside his activities in Qom, he strengthened

his bond with the 'ulama and students of Mashhad. Counting on the activities and

support of the 'ulama of Khurasan, he succeeded in mobilising theology students in

a better way.

His fiery sermons exposing the treachery of the regime and widespsread activism

against the oppressive Pahlavi rule led to his arrest and imposition of harsh

treatment.

He was forced to do menial work, kept in solitary confinement, insulted and

severely humiliated, threatened with death and subjected to other tortures in jail.

After his release from detention, Ayatullah al-'Udhma Khamenei decided to settle

in Mashhad instead of going back to Tehran or Qom. He took up teaching as his

prime concern. He gave classes in Qura'nic commentary, specially tailored for

theology students, and other classes for university students and youth. He used

these classes as a platform to disseminate revolutionary ideas, a rallying point for

revolutionaries, and a centre for awakening. These classes turned into an axis of

popular sentiments and Islamic dissent.

These activities in the fields of knowledge, teaching, jihad and service of the

people contributed to Ayatullah al-'Udhma Khamenei's becoming, with time, a

focus of jihad in Mashhad. People came to see him from far flung places in Iran.

He in turn had contacts with the people in all areas.

Ayatullah al-'Udhma Khamenei thus, commanded the respect of the Iranian people

for his integrity, morality and courage. Invitations from many bodies and

institutions in Iranian towns and cities such as Isfahan, Kirman, Yazd and Tehran

were raining down on him to come and give lectures and talks. He spared no

efforts to make use of all occasions to disseminate Islamic revolutionary ideas, tell

the truth about the regime's practices, and encourage people to adhto the path of

jihad and revolution.

Besides his lectures, the books he either wrote or translated gave life to

revolutionary ideas and fervour. Books like the Treaty of Imam Hasan (peace be

upon him) The Future is This Religion's, and The Role of Muslims in India's

Awakening played a great role in educating the youth and grooming them for

revolution.

After the departure of Ayatullah al-'Udhma Burujardi in 1970, Ayatullah al-'Udhma

Sayyid Khamenei embarked on the task of promoting Imam Khomeini as a Marj'a,

(religious authority); he thought the time was right for such a move; the years 1968

to 1971 witnessed the building of peaceful revolutionary culture. The youth were

still taking their first steps in the realm of revolutionary Islam.The 'ulama became

their most deadly weapon. The latter did not miss the opportunity of spreading

pristine Islamic knowledge and sciences amongst the youth, using every available

medium, be it the pulpit of the mosque, private classes, free and open discussion

sessions, or publishing books and leaflets. Sayyid Khamenei calls this period the "

years of clandestine activities."

As he was keen on educating revolutionary cadres, enlisting the support of trusted

elements, and establishing contacts with activists, he accepted an offer to combine

teaching with the task of leading prayers, i.e. being the Imam of the congregation.

Capitalising on the strength the Islamic movement had achieved , it was thought fit

and timely to create organised Islamic cells, headed by the 'ulama and those

well-versed in jurisprudence and politics instead of ordinary people or politicians.

The first of these cells was set up, headed by the late Imam Khomeini and

supervised by revolutionary ulema in Mashad.

The Mujahidin 'Ulama League was born; its emergence was a prelude to the

founding of the Islamic Republican Party after the revolution.

The activities of the League were responsible for mobilising and organising

millions of people in marches and demonstrations during the period 1977 to 1978.

Sayyid Khamenei's role in establishing the League was pivotal. It is worth noting

that the Savak prevented him from leaving the country for ten years from 1965.

His exile lasted till 1978, the year when the masses took the upper hand so much

so that matters went out of the hands of the regime. Availing himself of the turmoil

into which the ruling establishment was thrown, Sayyid Khamenei returned to

Mashhad to continue his jihad with a vengeance.

6. During and After the Revolution

1. Membership of the Revolution Command Council

Besides the leader, the Revolution Command Council played a major role in

administering the revolution and eventually rendering it triumphant.

2. Member of Imam Khomeini's Reception Committee

3. Representative of Imam Khomeini in the Revolutionary Council in the Defence Ministry

4. Commander of Revolutionary Guards

5. Imam of Tehran Friday (Juma'h) Prayer

6. Member of the Islamic Consultative Council in the first term.

7. Imam Khomeini's counsel in Supreme Defence Council

8. President of the Republic for two consecutive terms

7. His Leadership

After the sad demise of the founder of the Islamic Revolution, the Council of

Experts on 4th June 1989 unanimously elected him to the Leadesrhip post of the

Islamic Revolution and the Muslim Ummah.

During his wise leadership he has succeeded in discharging his responsibilities in

the best manner and steers the revolution on the same pristine path trodden by the

late Imam Khomeini. It is no wonder for he is one of the disciples of the Imam.

We pray he continues his firm but wise leadership till the reappearance of the

Awaited Saviour of mankind, the Original Leader of the Global Islamic Revolution,

the Holy Imam al-Mahdi (May Allah Hasten His Glad Reappearance)

http://www.wilayah.org