Imam Khomeini’s Outstanding Works in Field of Quran Interpretation
But Imam Khomeini has also written outstanding works in the field of Quran interpretation, and even his revolutionary and political moves have been based on the teachings of the Quran.
According to Ali Asghar Ohadi, cultural and research deputy of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, Imam Khomeini began interpreting the Quran in the early years after the victory of the Islamic Revolution.
It started with the interpretation of Surah Al-Fatiha, the first Surah of the Quran, but Imam Khomeini’s interpretation sessions did not continue after five sessions due to some reasons, he noted.
Ohadi added that what has been published as Imam Khomeini’s interpretation of Surah Al-Fatiha is a collection of what was said in those five sessions.
Imam Khomeini has also interpreted Surahs Al-Fatiha and Al-Ikhlas briefly in Sirr ul-Salat and interpreted the two Surahs as well as Surah Al-Qadr in more details in the book Adab al-Salat, he said.
“He wrote Adab al-Salalt in a way so that everyone can benefit from it but the interpretation of Surah Al-Fatiha contains mystical and philosophical terms and is for special audience.”
Ohadi further said that Imam Khomeini emphasized the fact that the Quran cannot be distorted.
“He said about the truth of the revelation: ‘It is among the subtleties of the divine teachings and secrets of the religion’s truths that few can reach a slight part of them through scholarly ways. The first one is the (Holy Prophet) and after that men of God … No other person can learn these divine subtleties via Kashf and Shuhud (unveiling and witnessing).”
It is understood from what Imam Khomeini said that revelation is not a material issue, Ohadi said, adding that Imam Khomeini considered the truth of revelation as something that is incomprehensible for us because revelation is among secrets and truths and one needs to exit this material world in order to understand a slight part of that meaning and this is something that can be seen in the remarks of many contemporary researchers.
Ohadi went on to say that Imam Khomeini in a period was after establishment of an Islamic government and managed to materialize a Quranic and Islamic society and pave the way for creation of a divine system.
“This government was based on Quranic concepts and teachings. In fact, the political system presented by Imam was based on Islam.”
