Salina Khan
Salina Khan
“Ayatollah Khamenei is the leader of the Muslims,” tweeted one Sunni Muslim with nearly 20,000 followers who goes by the name of “Islamic Resistance” on Twitter. He explained that no one else “fought for the survival of the Ummah like Iran.” While Imam Khamenei has always had a strong following in Iran and among fellow Shi‘as around the world, political allegiance from Sunnis and people of other faiths is skyrocketing, with many expressing their allegiance on social media.
That’s because on October 1 people of conscience around the world eagerly watched the tables turn as 180-plus Iranian ballistic missiles rained down on Israel, hitting military and intelligence targets and forcing millions of zionists into their underground bunkers. Imam Khamenei put the rest of the Muslim world to shame and ordered the counterattack to avenge the assassinations of three prominent Islamic resistance leaders fighting for Palestine: Ismail Haniyeh of Palestine, General Abbas Nilforoushan of Iran, and Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah of Lebanon.
“If we need to do that again, we would do it again in the future,” Imam Khamenei stated three days later during Jumuah (Friday) Prayers in Tehran, which he led for the first time in four years. More than a million Muslims from across Iran and even neighboring countries were in attendance, demonstrating their love and support for their leader. In his Friday Khutbah, he said: “The Qur’an’s policy for Muslims is that Muslim nations and groups should stand in solidarity with each other…[then] God’s might will support you… [and] you will overcome all obstacles and triumph over all enemies.”
Newfound respect for Imam Khamenei isn’t coming just from regular folks. It is also
- Government officials. The day after the retaliatory strikes, Iran’s long-time rival Saudi Arabia—whose Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman had called Imam Khamenei the “new Hitler in the Middle East” in 2017—announced that it wanted to “permanently close the chapter on our differences (with the Islamic Republic).”
- Media. Television stations in Pakistan and India aired Imam Khamenei’s Jumuah khutbah (sermon) live for the first time.
- Sectarian Dawah Boys. Well-known Sunni debaters like Muhammad Hijab were forced to delete social media posts against Islamic Iran and make videos in support of unity against Israel.
While this new awakening is welcome, it is a terrible tragedy that it took a genocide in the holy land for Muslims to begin to recognize Imam Khamenei—who has been advising Muslims on political matters for the past 35 years—as their khalifah, imam, or whatever one wants to call their ulul amr. Ulul amr is one to whom obedience in political matters is a religious obligation, according to the Qur’an.
As discussed in previous articles, Qur’anic verses dictate that ulul amr be contemporary Islamic scholars who not only have deep knowledge of Islam but also correct political insight, all manifested practically, selflessly and courageously in their lives. Allah commands obedience in political matters to ulul amr for the guidance and protection of the ummah. In matters of personal fiqh (canonical jurisprudence), people are free to follow any scholar of any sect they want.
“O You who have made a firm commitment to Allah, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and the ulul amr (those in authority among you).…” (Surah An-Nisa: 59).
Thanks to the Islamic Revolution of Iran in 1979 when an Islamic government in the form of vilayet-e-faqih, or guardianship of the Islamic jurist, was established under the leadership of Imam Khomeini, there is always an ulul amr (known as the Supreme Leader or Rahbar) to politically guide the people. Though Imam Khamenei gained many of his new supporters from his recent military feats, he also meets the other criteria for ulul amr set in the Quran:
- Deep knowledge of Islam. Imam Khamenei is the son of respected Islamic scholar Sayyed Javad Khamenei and he followed his father’s footsteps, attending an Islamic school at a young age and then studying theology in esteemed hawzas (Islamic seminaries) in Najaf in Iraq and Mashhad and Qum in Iran. He reached the pinnacles of scholarship, becoming a grand ayatollah and marja-e-taqlid, capable of providing religious interpretations on Islamic matters. He has written many books, including “Iqbal: The Poet and Philosopher of Islamic Resurgence” and has a special expertise in tafsir of the Quran.
- Correct political insight. From a young age, Imam Khamenei was a revolutionary and integral part of the struggle to bring down the tyrannical western-backed regime of the Shah of Iran and replace it with a political system based on Islam. He was imprisoned multiple times for his activities against the Shah and Israel, both of which he considered tentacles of American and British imperialism.
Throughout his leadership there have been many internal and external threats to the Islamic Republic which he has overcome to maintain the government’s revolutionary spirit. His recent attacks on Israel and continuous support of Palestine are living up to Iran’s 45-year constitutional commitment to supporting resistance groups, with freeing Palestine a linchpin of its foreign policy. The martyred Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar said: “If not for Iran’s support, we would not have our missile capabilities.”
- Living Islam. Imam Khamenei is known for his simple lifestyle. “One of his most important traits is his asceticism,” Ayatollah Mohammadi Golpayegani, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Supreme Leader, shared in an interview last year. (“The pleasures of) the world, for which some do strange things, are all available to him. But he has no affinity for the world. I attest to this.” He shared that one time another head of state brought Imam Khamenei expensive gifts of gold and jewelry, but without even looking at them, Imam Khamenei sent them to be appraised and sold, buying houses for the poor instead.
- Holder of authority. Before his death, Islamic Iran’s first Supreme Leader Imam Khomeini recommended Imam Khamenei as his successor and he was duly elected by Islamic Iran’s Assembly of Experts in 1989. Imam Khamenei is the longest-serving head of state and commander-in-chief in the Muslim world. He was also the President of Iran from 1981 to 1989. While there are other scholars across the globe who meet the criteria for ulul amr, Imam Khamenei is the ulul amr because in addition to being a top scholar he also holds authority over an established Islamic government.
Recognizing Imam Khamenei as ulul amr is a start but what the Qur’an demands is obedience to the ulul amr in political matters, even if it entails sacrifice and struggle. Though Allah prepares us for this role through Islamic rituals—such as praying in congregation behind an imam, giving up food and water during Ramadan, and performing Hajj in unity with brothers and sisters from around the world—history reveals that many people get deceived into not only leaving their ulul amr but even going against them.
This happened during the time of Imam Ali and he complained of it many times: “I want to cure (maladies) by you, but you are (yourselves) my pains,” and “I am entangled by people who do not obey.”
The same tactics used by the enemies of Islam to turn people against Imam Ali are used today to distance the ummah from Imam Khamenei and we should be aware of them to avoid falling into these traps. Some common ploys:
- Telling Lies. Propaganda against Imam Ali was so widespread that people were surprised when they heard that he was praying inside a masjid when martyred. In the same way, Muslims are inundated with lies from politicians, media, religious leaders, mosques, and even family members about Iran and Shi’a Islam. To find the truth, get information from primary sources. Read the writings of Imam Khomeini and listen to the speeches of Imam Khamenei to understand their political thoughts and goals. Do your research and determine for yourself whether Imam Khamenei deserves to be obeyed as ulul amr.
- Starting civil wars. Once in power, Imam Ali had to battle people close to the Prophet (pbuh) after they took up arms against him. Likewise, one year after the Islamic Revolution, Iran was invaded by Iraq with the support of the collective west and most Arabian regimes, embroiling it in a war for nearly a decade. Then in another plan concocted by the zionists, the Islamic Republic and its allies had to fight 80+ countries in Syria in the 2010’s to prevent regime change of the government of President Bashar al-Asad, a staunch resistance ally.
- Now Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a certified war criminal, has unveiled the Abraham Accord, a proposed partnership between Israel and Arabian regimes to fight against the Axis of Resistance comprising Iran and its allies. Muslims must be vigilant and not fall for enemy traps.
- Promoting alternative leaders. Multiple individuals desired to be khalifah in place of Imam Ali and they were able to convince people to support them, causing death, destruction and chaos and foiling Imam Ali’s plans to get the ummah thriving again. Even today, there are people in places of influence, whether celebrity imams, mosque leaders, or media personalities, who are catapulted into leadership positions because they are useful tools for the zionists. They are “gatekeepers” in that they openly condemn the enemies’ activities but do not direct people to real solutions, such as following the ulul amr. Instead, they keep people busy in useless endeavors like interfaith dialogues, signing petitions, and voting for the least of the evils. Instead of listening to these fake leaders, find local ulul amr in allegiance to Imam Khamenei who know your culture, circumstances and language and can guide you in your political responsibilities. Some prominent regional ulul amr are Imam Muhammad Al Asi in America, Ustadh Syed Jawad Naqvi in Pakistan and Sheikh Ibrahim El Zakzaky in Nigeria. Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah of Lebanon, the Secretary General of Hizbullah, before his martyrdom was one of the most well-known and successful disciples of Imam Khamenei and gave credit to the Imam’s guidance for his party’s feats against the zionists.
Before his martyrdom, Seyyed Nasrallah wrote a note that should be studied by all yearning for victory:
“In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. I bequeath to you for the good of this world and the hereafter that your faith in the leadership of Imam Khamenei be strong and steadfast.”
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