Imam Khomeini Set An Exceptional Model of Political Independence in Islamic World
Sheikh Ghazi Hanina, one of the prominent figures of proximity of Islamic schools of thought in Lebanon, made the remark in an interview with IQNA on the 37th anniversary of the passing of Imam Khomeini (RA).
He emphasized that Imam Khomeini (RA) was a complete personality who combined depth of thought, precision in planning, and decisiveness in his stance.
The chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Lebanese Muslim Scholars Association said the late Imam was a complete personality in terms of concepts, ideas, insights, methodology and planning. “He was bold and steadfast in his stance, and clear-sighted in his vision, and was aware of the consequences of the situation in Iran, the region and the world.”
Referring to the political personality of Imam Khomeini, Sheikh Hanina said, “If we look from a global perspective, his stance on the US government when he described this government as the “Great Satan” was quite authoritative. This statement of the late Imam is also well-known, as he said: ‘Suppose America gives a 100% Islamic and humane plan, we do not believe that they will take any step in the interest of peace and our interests. If America and Israel say tere is no god but Allah, we will not accept it, because they want to cheat us’, and whoever deals with America is like someone who deals with a coal seller, he only gets blackened.’”
The Lebanese scholar said that the late Imam looked at the Palestinian issue with great care and attention in the regional dimension, and considered the Palestinian issue a pivotal point through which the Islamic Ummah could be revived in the Arab region and in the entire Islamic world.
Regarding the influence of Imam Khomeini’s personality in the domestic arena of Iran, Sheikh Hanina noted that the late Imam focused on the unity, cohesion, and Islamic identity of the Iranian people.
“He believed that Islam was the savior of the nation and the solution to its problems. Authentic and explanatory Islam respects the characteristics of every segment of the Iranian minority society, including Jews, Zoroastrians, and Christians.”
He explained that Imam Khomeini (RA) had combined all the elements of the religious, mystical, and political dimensions in his being. “We all remember that the Islamic Revolution began in Iran under the leadership of Imam Khomeini (RA) and how he moved in the domestic arena in light of the hostility of the Great Satan and the West towards the Islamic Republic. This struggle was in light of the hostility of the East and the West towards the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States was fighting the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Soviet Union was at war with the Islamic Republic, and the Arab countries were in conflict with Iran, except for the Syrian Arab Republic during the presidency of Hafez al-Assad. Also in this atmosphere, the late Imam raised a slogan that surprised the world.
“Imam Khomeini raised the slogan ‘Neither Eastern nor Western’ to show that he took the thought, foundations, and culture of his government, and even its capabilities, not from the East or the West, but from Islam and the people of ancient Iran. Therefore, this slogan was able to attract a large population in the Arab and Islamic region at that time, because many young people were looking for a position that was far from the United States of America and the Soviet Union of that time.”
He added, “Therefore, we see that Islamic movements, including the Muslim Brotherhood, Hizb-ut-Tahrir and other groups, were influenced by the position of Imam Khomeini (RA). The position of the late Imam, especially in Lebanon, was greatly praised and accepted because the Lebanese society was open and dynamic in terms of media, politics and thought. Therefore, Islamic movements in the region in general and in Lebanon in particular were influenced by the thoughts of Imam Khomeini and were attracted to the political views of this great leader.”
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Sheikh Hanina further emphasized that Imam Khomeini (RA) acknowledged the importance of unity above all else, because Islamic unity is a divine command.
“He called us to unity and asked us to stand together in support of the word of Allah.”
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