Biography
Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini was born in 1900 in Khomein, Iran, to a family of religious scholars. His father, Mustafa Musavi, was killed when Khomeini was just five months old, leaving his mother and aunt to raise him. He began his religious education early, studying Islamic jurisprudence, philosophy, and mysticism with various teachers. By the 1920s, he had become a promising young cleric and moved to Qom, the hub of Shia Islamic learning in Iran, where he continued his studies and eventually became a teacher.
Khomeini's political awareness grew in the 1940s and 1950s as he saw the increasing Western influence in Iran under the Pahlavi monarchy. He became more vocal in opposing Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's modernization programs, which he viewed as corrupting Islamic values and catering to foreign interests. His arrest in 1963 after giving fiery speeches against the Shah's policies led to nationwide protests. After his release, his continued opposition led to his exile in 1964, first to Turkey, and then to Najaf, Iraq, where he spent 13 years developing his political ideas on Islamic governance.
While exiled in Iraq, Khomeini wrote extensively about his vision for Islamic government, especially in 'Islamic Government: Governance of the Jurist.' He argued that in the absence of the Hidden Imam, qualified Islamic jurists should run society according to Islamic law. His teachings were smuggled into Iran via cassette tapes and pamphlets, creating a network of supporters among the clergy and devout Muslims. When the Shah's regime faced growing opposition in the late 1970s, Khomeini became the symbolic leader of the revolution from his exile in Najaf, and later from Neauphle-le-Château, France.
Khomeini returned to Iran on February 1, 1979, to a massive crowd following the Shah's departure. Within weeks, the monarchy fell, and Khomeini became the Supreme Leader of the new Islamic Republic of Iran. He oversaw the drafting of a new constitution that institutionalized his idea of clerical rule. His decade in power included the consolidation of theocratic governance, the Iran-Iraq War, the hostage crisis with the United States, and significant social and cultural changes. He died in Tehran on June 3, 1989, leaving behind a transformed Iran and a model of Islamic governance that influenced movements across the Muslim world.
Before Fame
Khomeini's early life was marked by tragedy and a deep religious upbringing. After losing his father when he was a baby, his mother Hajar and aunt raised him and made sure he started his religious education early. He memorized the Quran as a child and studied Arabic, Persian literature, and Islamic law. This happened during a time when Iran was rapidly modernizing under Reza Shah Pahlavi, creating a clash between traditional Islamic values and Western-style reforms.
The young cleric's rise to prominence began in Qom, where he learned from notable teachers like Abdul Karim Haeri Yazdi. He excelled not only in traditional Islamic studies but also in philosophy and mysticism, areas sometimes viewed with suspicion by orthodox clerics. His marriage to Khadijeh Saqafi in 1929 linked him to an influential clerical family, boosting his status in religious circles. By the 1940s, he had started teaching and writing, gradually making a name for himself as both a scholar and a vocal critic of the Pahlavi regime's secular policies.
Key Achievements
- Led the 1979 Iranian Revolution that overthrew the Pahlavi monarchy
- Established the world's first modern theocratic state as Supreme Leader of Iran
- Developed the political theory of 'Governance of the Jurist' (Velayat-e Faqih)
- Named Time Person of the Year in 1979 for his global impact
- Created a new model of Islamic governance that influenced movements worldwide
Did You Know?
- 01.He wrote poetry under the pen name 'Hindi' and composed hundreds of mystical and romantic verses throughout his life
- 02.His famous declaration that 'America is the Great Satan' became a defining slogan of the Islamic Republic
- 03.He issued a fatwa in 1989 calling for the death of British author Salman Rushdie over his novel 'The Satanic Verses'
- 04.An estimated 10 million people attended his funeral in Tehran, causing such chaos that his body fell from the coffin during the procession
- 05.He refused anesthesia during medical procedures, believing it interfered with his religious obligations
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Time Person of the Year | 1979 | — |