Imam Khomeini Was Messenger Of Love, Faith

Kuala Lumpur, Feb 12, IRNA -– Director of Philippine-based Shajaratun Muntazirah Educational and Research Institute said on Tuesday that after some years of reading and research, he had come to the conclusion that the school of thought of Imam Khomeini is the same school of thought of the Beloved Prophet of Islam. Manssor Limba in an interview with IRNA on Tuesday stated: ˈAnd that school is the school of love and faith, fraternity and cooperation, struggle and attainment of spiritual bliss.ˈ He said that in February 1979 when the Islamic Revolution of Iran emerged victorious with the return home of Ayatullah Ruhullah al-Musawi al-Khomeini after 13 years of exile, I also started knowing from the people around me that Khomeini is a Muslim religious scholar who is saying, “Death to America!” “Death to Israel!” “America can’t do a damn thing!” He added: ˈThese things would not have been enough to persuade me to delve deeper on the personality of the Imam and the Revolution he brought to victory. Then, after some years of reading and research I found him as the messenger of love and faith.ˈ Limba highlighted: ˈI believe and firmly believe that the most important dimension of Imam Khomeini’s personality in the victory, survival and perpetuity of his Revolution is not his being a veteran statesman, a charismatic figure, a national hero, and not even his being a religious reference authority (marja‘ al-taqlid) followed by millions of people inside and outside Iran.ˈ He went on to say the quintessence of his personality is his being an idol-breaker – an idol-breaker par excellence. ˈLong before becoming a marja‘ al-taqlid; long before becoming a national champion; long before becoming successful in breaking the idols in the outside world, he had first irreparably broke into pieces the idol inside him; the idol of “I” and I-ness (ananiyyah).ˈ The researcher continued: ˈImam let the idol of “I” evaporate in the midst of “we” – representing the people. And then, he tried his best to let this “we” – I mean the people – to annihilate itself in “Him” – I mean the Beloved Creator. This is the secret behind the victory, survival and perpetuity of the Islamic Revolution.ˈ He said: ˈI have the honor to translate into English the last two volumes – Volumes 20 and 21 – of Sahiyeh-ye Imam, the most comprehensive anthology of Imam Khomeini’s speeches, messages and letters. I also translated 3 works about him such as “Imam Khomeini, Ethics and Politics,” “Imam Khomeini and the International System” and “Imam Khomeini and the Muslim World”.ˈ He said that he had also two Filipino translations of his works. In addition, he addd that he had edited or proofread and typeset more titles. To a question whether in a single word or phrase, how would he describe “the Imam” and “the Islamic Revolution, he answered: ˈImam Khomeini – “idol-breaker”; Islamic Revolution – “an outburst of light”. Mansoor Limba is a translator, researcher and founding director of Philippine-based Shajaratun Muntazirah Educational and Research Institute (SMERI)./end