20 years have elapsed since the passing away of the founder of Islamic revolution but the name of Iran and the Islamic revolution have never been separated from that of Imam Khomeini(May his soul rest in peace). His enlightening and awakening movement has flourished day by day and his ideas have swept all over the world. Today on the 20th anniversary of Imam Khomeini’s departure from the mortal world his holy shrine is full of huge crowds which gather there to commemorate him and his high ideas. Today the attempts of Muslims in the remotest parts of the Islamic world have found momentum and the cries of people seeking Islam is heard even in European countries.
One can say that the great name of Imam Khomeini will never be wiped out of minds. He enlightened the dark path of Muslims and led the justice-seekers to the truth. Therefore, the Imam has been considered as the reviver of Muslims’ dignity and respect in the contemporary era. Whenever mention is made of defending oppressed nations, Imam Khomeini and his Islamic revolution are present.
Now the name of Khomeini is the cry of vigilance of the present generation. He introduced Islam as a path of life accompanied with respect and dignity in the present era. So his commemoration is tantamount to attaching value for rationality, religion and truth-seeking. May God bless the great architect of the Islamic Revolution.
According to the French magazine Le Message de l’Islam in an article named Imam Khomeini the figure of the century: “Some political theorists believe that every powerful leader has both periods of rise and fall, but the noteworthy point in Imam Khomeini’s leadership is his continued influence during the revolution, the victory of the revolution and even after his passing away.
Researchers of social sciences are amazed that although years have passed after Imam Khomeini’s passing away, his personality has remained so popular and sacred and the world Muslims still consider him the symbol of purity, piety, popularity, and bravery.
Imam Khomeini as an Islamic jurisprudent, God-seeking gnostic and a brave leader took step to reform the Iranian society and with the victory of the revolution he founded a system inspired by Islamic teachings. The system presented modern criteria and built a genuine culture based on human dignity. The Islamic Republic system of Iran is today known as a focal point to all nations.
What is particularly noticeable in Imam Khomeini’s movement lies in the fact that its values are comprehensive and beyond time limits. With his revolutionary move, the late Imam tried to bring back the human history to its main path so that finally, the nations can get rid of the yoke of despotic and tyrannical powers and step on the liberating path of Prophets.
According to Imam Khomeini, a government is sacred and valuable only when it leads the society to perfection and prosperity. This is possible only with the return to human principles. That is why during his life, the Imam never confined himself to the geographical boundaries and promoted a life accompanied with spirituality and remembrance of God. The American strategist Alvin Toffler says:”When Ayatollah Khomeini sent a message to the leader of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev, actually he sent a historic message to the world governments that many analysts were unable to analyze. The real content of the Imam’s message is the coming of a new era of the world sovereignty which should be studied by the westerners precisely. For, the Imam’s ideas can change the status of power of governments.”
Professor Hamid Mowlana of US Communications University believes that the mystery of Imam Khomeini’s triumph lied in his outstanding characteristics.
He says: “The role of Imam Khomeini in the vigilance of the world Muslims is unprecedented. I should confess that since the 15th century in the western world and perhaps after the advent of Islam I have never seen such a figure whose movement, thoughts and performance have such affected the world.”
Imam Khomeini did not fear the world powers and at the same time he changed the meaning of power at the world level. Prior to him, power was defined only on the basis of material sources and facilities, but in Imam Khomeini’s literature, power at the world level means power in ideas and thoughts. Imam Khomeini established a popular and lovely relationship with the world oppressed and with all people especially those of the Islamic countries. The Imam managed, more than any other leader, to convey the social and political messages of the holy Quran to the masses of people in simple language. His simple spiritual life made him quite qualified for the leadership of the oppressed. We have never seen such a simple life among the leaders of the world revolutions.
Ayatollah Khomeini is a thinker who put forward the theory of dignity and power of Muslims and the world oppressed. He urged many nations to turn to religious beliefs and enhanced their self-belief, self-confidence and independence-seeking. Whenever Imam Khomeini spoke of defense of human rights, he took into consideration the rights of all nations irrespective of their race, nation and religion. The Imam’s inviting all nations to defend human values and campaign against oppression led to his widespread popularity outside Iranian borders. Imam Khomeini addressing all oppressed nations said: “Take your right with all your might and never fear the hue and cry of the super powers and their agents.”

On Imam Khomeini’s characteristics, Ayatollah Khamenei says:
“Only one of the Imam’s characteristics was sufficient to make a great man of a person. The Imam was a wise, intelligent, and smart person with strong will and no one could hinder him from his path and at the same time he was very kind.”
The leader of the Islamic revolution adds: “Winning the hearts of the Muslim Ummah all over the world who despite different interests showed their company with the Imam was the result of his great sincerity. He spoke for God, acted for God and he was prepared to stay or move for God. His sincerity was the basic point of his life.”
Now many thinkers acknowledge that with the emergence of the Islamic revolution the wonderful capability of Islam for building civilization and the privileges of the Islamic beliefs have further revealed. Presently despite all destructive efforts of the enemies, Islam is regaining its main role in the international equations. May God bless Imam Khomeini and we ask the Almighty to help us properly continue his path which is the path of Islam and the holy Quran.

Imam Khomeini R.A