Faraan: Normally every revolution that takes place in the world has different motives and causes, and in every revolution a certain part of a society uprises and makes the people its ally withe themselves by its general demands. But it rides the wave of change and by kneeling before the ruling power, ignores public demands. However, from this point of view, the Islamic Revolution is unique and unparalleled, that it cannot be confined to any particular class, such as the working class or the professional class. There is representation of every class of society here; The rich, the poor, the working class and the industrialists all rise up against oppression and hand over the 2500 year old monarchy to the Museum of History. The unique feature of the Islamic Revolution is that it happened in an era when religion was introduced everywhere as opium and it was propagated that it paralyzes the believers, as if they have taken sleeping pills and have nothing to do with the world. In these circumstances, the Islamic Revolution not only influenced the followers of all religions of the world, but also proved to be a turning point in the history of religion and spirituality, after which the world, evasive about religion, fascinated with it. It was the blessing of the Islamic Revolution that caused millions of people around the world not only to turn to religious principles, but to remove any obstacle that stood in their way. Looking at the effects of religion 42 years ago, it is quite clear where religion was in social life yesterday and where it is today? Today, not only Muslims but also Christians, Jews and Hindus around the world have returned back to religion. In Russia, where there the mosques were once locked up, holding Friday prayers in the capital Moscow today, and crowds of worshipers on highways as well as the Christian gatherings in churches are a testament to the revival of religion. Turkey, which had been founded on Ataturk’s principles and atheism, is today jubilates its return to religion. Whether in the United States or on the continents of Europe and Africa, the religion that was once abandoned by the people as an opium and as a source of sedentary and indolent lifestyle, we see today they are reviving their existence with the same religion.
If we want to see the results of the revolution, we can use several estimates and standards. And to know the effects and results of the revolution, the best source is to see how the founder of the revolution has expressed the effects and results of this revolution?
The article seeks to describe the effects, the blessings and achievements of the Islamic Revolution of Iran in the light of the statements of Imam Khomeini (may God have mercy on him). There is no difference that the results and effects of the revolution expressed by its founder are more reliable and credible than the statements of others, and these are the results on which the current state of the revolution can be measured and evaluated.
Significant effects of the revolution on Iran’s domestic politics and the people
It is true that the Islamic Revolution has important and significant effects on the domestic politics and people of Iran, on which many things can be written and read, but according to its Islamic goals, some important effects and results can be described as below:
1. Establishment of the Islamic State
The establishment of an Islamic state / government, at a time when Islamic values were being trampled on, and people consider religion as a catastrophe, is a great achievement of the Islamic Revolution. Anyway, after achieving this goal, Imam Khomeini (RA) didn’t say that he has gained the fundamental goal, and has been stating, “look, If the Islamic aims are being achieved, it will mean that our basic goals have also been achieved.” Therefore, the only country in the world today that is recognized as the face of Islam and the truth, is the Islamic Republic of Iran. The establishment of an Islamic government is such a great achievement that given the current situation in Iran, one can say that it has no precedent at all. This is an achievement that Imam Khomeini (RA) says about: “”We never imagined that we would succeed in this way and within a year and a half we would not only draw the lines of Islamic government but also introduce Islamic style of government to the world in practice… We have achieved in this revolution, was beyond our imagination; and after enduring a lot of persecution, we achieved great success; and overthrew a 2500 year old arrogant and oppressive government and formed an Islamic government, a government that is about to step on the path of Islam, Insha’Allah.”
It is worth mentioning that the first step to form an Islamic government is to complete the structure of the government and s and raise its pillars; and it was well done. In the past, there was no record of the people rising up against a corrupt government and succeeding in creating everything that is needed to form a government after one to one and a half years. He not only provided the necessary components and pillars for the government, but also drafted the “Constitution of the Islamic Republic” and approved it by the people. He prepared the ground for the election of the “Islamic Republican System” through a referendum, made possible the election of the president and the elected “Council of Experts” and formed the “Islamic Consultative Assembly” by the popular vote. Meanwhile, Imam Khomeini (ra) says: “Even with all these successes, we are still half way, there is still a long way to go ahead. Our biggest goal was not to oust Mohammad Reza Shah and the exotics, but it was all just a prologue. They had to be removed, and therefore these thorns had to be picked so that we could achieve our real goal, and our real goal is the practical implementation of Islam.”
2. Compilation of the Constitution
The compilation of the constitution of the Islamic Republic, a short time after declaring the establishing the Islamic Republic, is a one the great achievements.
Imam Khomeini (RA) Says in this regard: “The constitution is [not only] one of the great fruits, but [also] the greatest fruit of the Islamic Republic”.
3. Public and Islamic Revolution
One of the great achievements of the Islamic Revolution is that the foundations of the movement resulted in its victory, are based on Islam.
Imam Khomeini (RA) says: This is one of the blessings of this movement, one the blessings of Islam, that all its institutions are Islamic and popular.
4. Establishing a powerful and stable country
A great result of the Islamic Revolution is the introduction of the newfound government of the Islamic Republic of Iran as a stable government to the world. Looking at the stability power and majesty of today’s Iran, it is not possible to assess that this is the same country that has been suffering from economic sanctions for 42 years. And this is the country that has been at war for eight years, a war in which the whole world aligned with Saddam, and it fought successfully only with the strength of its faith. Even today, Iran is fighting global imperialism on the fronts of Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Imam Khomeini (RA) says about the stability and power of Iran in the early days of the revolution.”
Iran is one of the most stable countries… Where is such a country that might be so stable? Where is country that none of its existing organizations, may not have been shaken by killing of one or two? Now we saw that the president was martyred and the entire Iran is stable and has more strengthened and everyone is mourning for him and asking everyone to protect others.”
5. The fall of the oppressive monarchy
Is it trivial in the success of the Islamic Revolution that the 2,500-year-old monarchy fell to the ground? If the revolution had no other effect, this one effect alone would not be insignificant. The Islamic Revolution saved Iran from 25,000 years of tyranny. And even today this revolution is withstanding the imperial temperament all over the world as it withstood Muhammad Reza Shah until he was defeated. Therefore, the overthrow of the monarchy was in itself a great achievement, which can be said that if the mission of the revolution was only to save Iran from the monarchy, it would still be a great work.
The fall of the oppressive monarchy
And this is not us, but Imam Khomeini (RA) has stated: “This movement has several blessings and effects, one of its great blessings is that it brook the monarchy, evicted the thieves and the plunderers, cut off the hands of the polytheism and the hypocrisy as well as the hands of those who were devouring the riches of oil, and plundering.” These were the blessings that came to us. [Anyway[ Even if we had not achieved any other success, it would have been enough for us that this [Pahlavi] clan and this dynasty, would have left.
6. Sovereignty and Independence
Once even the smallest issues of Iran were resolved in Washington, but today, thanks to the Islamic revolution, Iran is recognized as a country with an independent political stance. The entire world knows that the Islamic Republic is not under the influence of any country; and that Iran, in terms of political sovereignty, despite economic sanctions, still stands where it was at the beginning of the revolution and neither yesterday nor today has this country’s political sovereignty was compromised. One of the reasons for maintaining political sovereignty is that Iran has not allowed pro-Western elements, who wanted to make Iran the political nut of a country or pro-East and West, to flourish. Imam Khomeini (RA) says in this regard: “Thanks to strong faith, commitment to Islam, and the great change that has taken place in various strata, today, Islamic Iran has cut off the hands of the East and the West and deviant parasites from its country and does not allow any power to interfere in its affairs.”
7. Dismantling of oppression
For a long time, there was an atmosphere in Iran where the ruling class was oppressed and the poor were constantly oppressed. People deprived of the right to vote were further deprived of their rights while the pockets of the rich continued to be filled. But thanks to the Islamic Revolution, the monopoly of a few royal families on the use of special benefits was lifted. On the contrary, the wealth of the country was distributed among the people, the era of arbitrariness in the affairs of the country is over, and now there is no one who commits lawlessness and is not accountable to anyone. Today, everyone is aware that everyone shall be held accountable for what they have done. As a result, those who did not follow the law and filled their pockets with national wealth were fired. The people raised their voices to achieve their right, and dismantled the tyranny. It is the same today and the Islamic Revolution is categorically standing against any kind of internal or external oppression. Imam Khomeini (RA) says:
“Today is different from the time of the former regime, because today is a country where no one can coerce and push to impose something on the nation; We do not have such an official at all. That is, our nation no longer tolerate such an official. That is, the condition of the nation is such that if an official wants to impose something, they stand in front of him and clench their fists and prevent him. This is a great blessing for nation that no official is able to oppress.”
8. Freedom
One of the achievements of the Islamic Revolution was that it gave the people freedom, without which the conception of human life is impossible. Is life without freedom also a life? Intellectuals like Hegel construe the freedom as the essence of spirit. In the pre-revolutionary era, freedom was as much as the monarchy desired. In the pre-revolutionary era, freedom was as far as the monarchy wanted. But after the Islamic Revolution, this issue has changed and entered the field of religion. And the scope of freedom in religion extends to the freedoms that Allah Almighty has given to His servants. Where a person’s order does not apply unconditionally to anyone and no individual can arbitrarily restrict a person’s freedom. Regarding this, Imam Khomeini (RA) says: “This freedom that our nation now enjoys, for women, for men, for writers, this freedom is freedom in everything that are in your own interest. You are free to go out and say your own thing, to criticize the government, to criticize anyone who has deviateed, nobody can say you ‘why’?”
9. Political freedom
The Islamic Revolution not only granted freedom of speech and writing, but also gave everyone the right to be completely free politically. According to the constitution, he can speak and criticize. Whereas in the past and during the imperial system, these freedoms has not been existing; As says Imam Khomeini (RA): “The blessing of freedom is the highest blessing that man can have. You had not been blessed with this. You were not allowed to say a single word. Even you did not have permission to gather in this place [Imam’s house] together. Was it possible for you and us to sit down and talk to each other? They were not allowing anyone to enter the place. Allah Almighty has granted you the blessing of freedom and put you to the test of this freedom, to see what do you do with this freedom.”
10. Freedom of election
Freedom of expression and political freedom is not the only thing that the Islamic Revolution has given the people, rather it has given every human being the freedom to express his views, to have his own opinion and to choose whoever he wants; as Imam Khomeini (RA) says: “As I have said many times, people are free in elections and do not need a guardian, and no individual, group or faction has the right to impose a person or persons on the people.”
The above 10 points of the Islamic Revolution are among the most important points of the achievements of the revolution that Imam Khomeini (RA) described in the early years of the revolution, which are still resonant and lasting as well. And today, the Islamic Revolution is the voice of justice in the world against oppression, the beating heart of the oppressed, and the people beyond the land and geography see it as the voice of their own heart.
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Note: All of Imam Khomeini’s statements are derived from the magazine Hosoun:
The achievements of the Islamic Revolution from the perspective of Imam Khomeini (RA); Sadegh Farazi, Hossoon Magazine Early 2005, No. 2.
Written by: Syed Najeeb Ul Hassan Zaidi
Translated by: Al-Haaj Hussain
