Imam Khomeini emerged as the "pole” (qutb) of the Shi’ite community at the most critical period in modern history of Muslim peoples, leaving behind his legacy to the Muslims around the world: "Heed to the message of the Qur’an! Don’t let the Book of God complain against Muslims that they did not read it the way it was supposed to be read!”
Spirituality in the Qur’an is intertwined with moral vision of Islam calling upon humanity to witness God by standing for justice and against the evil that exists among the powerful and arrogant sectors of humanity.
This invitation to witnessing the divine is essentially preparing human beings for an active participation in creating the ideal polity where people can live in peace and in cooperation with one another in all matters affecting a good life on earth.
Imam Khomeini, who was dedicated to the Qur’an as revealed truth from God, shows throughout his lived life his total dedication to spirituality-cum-morality.
From the beginning of his career -- both as a student and teacher of Islamic sciences, Imam Khomeini committed himself to a life of simplicity, of spiritual discipline to discover and understand the essential aspect of his life, namely, his struggle against those who abuse God’s trust by falsely assuming the responsibility of working towards a just and equitable society while failing to uphold justice and corruption-free everyday life.
He took up the challenge of standing true to the Prophet’s mission of actively engaging the world to reform it and advance it towards a better future.
(Excerpts from Professor Abdulaziz Sachedina, Professor and IIIT Chair in Islamic Studies at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, presented a paper on Qur’anic Spirituality in Imam Khomeini’s Life at the International Congress on “Quran in Imam Khomeini’s Seerah and Thought”, held in Tehran in November 2015)
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