Islamism Is Incomplete Without Mentioning Imam Khomeini
By
Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, New Age Islam
6 July 2022
Among
All the Ideologues of Islamic State, Political Islam, Islamism Only Imam
Khomeini Can Be Attributed With Creating an Islamic State
Main
Points:
1. Imam
Khomeini's ancestral roots can be traced to Kashmir.
2. Among
Islamists only Imam Khomeini could establish an Islamic State.
3. Imam
Khomeini's Fatwa against Salman Rushdie was uncalled for and did more harm to
Islam than build its positive image.
------
Marhoom
Imam Khomeini Aur Kashmir (Late Imam Khomeini and Kashmir)
Author:
Shafi Ahmad Qadri
Publisher:
Sheikh Ghulam Muhammad & Sons, Tajiran e Qutb, Srinagar, Kashmir.
Year
of Publication: 2022
Price:
Rs 695 Pages: 141
ISBN:
9789384019747
----
Islamism or
political Islam is incomplete without mentioning Imam Khomeini. Among all the
ideologues of Islamic state, political Islam, Islamism, if we mention the terms
synonymously although these all convey different meanings and define variegated
phenomenon academically, only Imam Khomeini can be attributed with creating an
Islamic state. From Maulana Mawdudi to Syed Qutb, Hassan Al Banna to Taqiuddin
al Nabhani, all have conceptualized, explained and struggled to establish an
Islamic state but it was Imam Khomeini only whose struggle at establishing an
Islamic state was successful in Iran. Since the Islamic revolution in Iran
(1979), scholars have engaged with the thoughts, works and activism of Imam
Khomeini. There has been engagement both at academic and theological level.
Some have appreciated this revolution, others have condemned it, while few have
explained the reasons for the success of Imam Khomeini and how he ushered a
revolution.
Many Sunni
scholars have dubbed this revolution as Shia one, only to seek to diminish its
appeal and appreciation. There is quite little written literature available by
Sunni scholars about Imam Khomeini or his revolution. Mostly the works
available particularly in vernacular Urdu are written as a rebuttal to Imam
Khomeini and Iranian revolution. Maulana Manzoor Noamani’s book, Shi’ism, Imam
Khomeini and Iranian Revolution is a manifestation of the same literature of
refutation. It is quite interesting that Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi who was a
stalwart scholar and always stood for unity among various Muslim sects, wrote a
foreword praising this work, that condemned Shi’ism, Imam Khomeini and Iranian
revolution, dubbing it as unIslamic. This book was then circulated in huge
numbers with the help of Saudi Arabia, to diffuse the energy and inspiration
that Iranian revolution had inculcated in the Muslim world.
The present
work by a seasoned writer of Kashmir, Shafi Ahmad Qadri, transcends the
sectarian boundaries to appreciate the contribution of Imam Khomeini and
Iranian Revolution. It locates Imam Khomeini in the Kashmiri milieu because his
ancestors belonged to Kashmir valley and then migrated to Iran. This work reads
as a biography of the Imam, depicting his turbulent childhood as his father is
killed during his infancy. Then it deals with his education and also the
prevalent political climate under the monarch, Reza Shah Pehlavi.
Imam
Khomeini since his youth is involved with religious interpretation and
political activism against Shah. Shafi Qadri, although does not engage too much
with Imam Khomeini’s Ijtihad. It was Imam who conceptualized Vilayat e Faqih,
otherwise Shias were waiting for Imam Mahdi to deliver them from tyranny. They
would never have dared to rebel against Pahlavi, had it not been for Imam as
well as the communists. The role of communists has been condemned only by the
Islamists but their role in the struggle against Pehlavi needs appreciation
too. They were also responsible for instilling among people courage to stand up
against the atrocities of the monarch. So it was Imam’s Ijtihad that informed
the masses that help will not come from Mahdi, but they have to prepare
themselves to fight, resist and usher a revolution. Imam led the revolution,
once it was realized he also fought the counter revolutionary forces, something
that Muslim Brotherhood under Muhammad Morsi, failed to undertake resulting in
the establishment of the military dictatorship of Abdul Fateh al Sisi. He also
led Iran during the decade long Iran-Iraq war that was part of the move of the
counter revolutionary forces to shatter the image and energy of the revolution.
In this war Muslims fought each other and their nations regressed and were
destroyed as a result of this protracted war.
The anti-Shah
political activism, speeches and writings of Imam landed him into jail. Even
incarceration did not break his resolve, so he was exiled to Turkey, then to
Iraq and ultimately to France. The diplomatic pressure coerced these countries
to make Imam leave their territories. Imam condemned the Bahais too, and at one
point Pahlavi regime tried to tame him, to buy his loyalties but failed to
break his resolve. Imam is the person who termed United States of America (USA)
as the Big Satan. He was critical of the U.S policies towards the Muslim world.
Pahlavi was one of the greatest allies of U.S and Imam was able to oust him
with the people's struggle and his charismatic leadership. He remained critical
of the U.S activities, cautioned the Muslim world against it and even now Iran
although cosying up to U.S remains one of its greatest opponents in the Middle
East.
Imam
Khomeini also articulated an unneeded Fatwa against the author and novelist
Salman Rushdie for writing and publishing his novel Satanic Verses. U.S made
Rushdie write Satanic Verses (P-110) is not a fact, although Shafi Ahmad
mentions it, but Rushdie wanted fame, so he wrote this blasphemous novel. The
fatwa of Khomeini made him quite famous and that led to the creation of an
Islamophobic image of Muslims and Islam in the West. The fatwa did not serve
any purpose and later on was withdrawn by the Iranian government. For this
fatwa Imam Khomeini is legitimately criticized by many.
Imam
Khomeini lived a very humble and simple life, even after he was legally the
head of the Iranian state. He did not plunder the state exchequer like most
Muslim rulers who enjoy lavish lives at the expense of common masses. After his
death it came to the fore that he possessed very few belongings. He espoused
liberation and freedom of oppressed people, particularly Muslims. He laid great
emphasis on the role of mothers and teachers in building a great society, which
can be productive and help people progress. Shafi Ahmad also engages with the
writings of the Imam.
The book is
a very welcome addition to the flimsy literature available in Urdu about Imam
Khomeini and is the first attempt at finding his roots in Kashmir. The author
needs to be congratulated for his efforts and a note of appreciation is a must
for one of the oldest publishers of Kashmir valley for bringing out this work.
The price of the book could be brought down so that common readers too can have
access to this treasure.
----
A New Age Islam columnist, M.H.A. Sikander is Writer-Activist based in
Srinagar, Kashmir
URL: https://newageislam.com/books-documents/islamic-state-islamism-imam-khomeini/d/127415
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