The Revolutionary Side of Islam

The Revolutionary Side of islam

A Review of the Book Islam and Revolution - Writings and Declarations by Ruollah Khomeini

16th-20th of december 2009

By Jan Freidun Taravosh

"Unity of purpose is the secret of victory"

- Ruollah Khomeini

Introduction:

All people who are sincerly interested in governance, social or cultural development or the dynamics of world politics, muslim och non muslim

alike cannot deny the active role that Islam plays on global political arena. In relation to this, all sincere students of islamology

find most western headlines on the subject laughable and and rightfully so, in western media ever since the triumph of the Iranian revolution, with was predominantly islamic

headlines such as the now infamous time magazine headline Iran vs The World has been the kind of headlines that have dominated the western media since the victory of the revolution in Iran

this has thus seriously affected the general perception of Islamic thought in the west in a really bad way. Especially since the Foreign policy of the Islamic Republic is founded on the principles of peace and mutual understanding and non interference

The above picture gives a clear example of the stereotyped western view of islam

The Revolutionary Side of islam as presented by Imam Khomeini

Ruollah Khomeini who is a leading figure in the islamic community although he passed away decades ago as

has been written of simply as a mad man, and little attention has been what the man actually stood for. Now regardless if you agree with the man or not he is one of the most important political figure of our time,

His teachings brought a new dynamic into the world of politics and saw the victory of an islamic revolution and the establishment of an Independent islamic republic,

which was unprecedented at the time.

The Book Islam and Revolution, Writings and Declarations part 1 is a perfect way of getting to know the revolutionary side of Islam

and it is a good oppurtunity to know the man under the turban.

Khomeini explains the true nature of why western capitalist leaders and imperalists oppose Islam with passion and clarifies that this has nothing to do with 

"concerns for human rights".

In the section Islamic Government, page 28: the Imam explains: "

“It’s the religion of those who desire freedom and independence, It is the school of those who struggle against imperialism. but the servants of imperialism has presented islam in a totally different light, they have created in men’s mind a false notion of islam. The defective version which theyhave presented in the religious teaching institution, is intended to deprive islam of it’s vital, revolutionary aspect, and to prevent muslims from arousing themselves to gain their freedom [...] and allow them to live lifes worthy of human beings”

"Turning more closely to the anti imperialist nature of Islamic Thought, and the exploitive nature of capitalism Ruollah continues and says the following (page 39). "“If you pay no attention to the policies of the imperialists and consider islam to be simply a few topics you are always stuying and never go beyond them, then the imperialists will leave you alone - Pray as much as you like - it’s your oil they are after - why should they worry about your prayers, they are after our minerals and want to turn our country into a market for their goods. That is the reason the puppet governments they have installed prevent us from industrialising, and instead, establish only assembly plants and indystry that is dependent on the outsude world. They do not want us to be true human beings, for they are afraid of true human beings. Even if only one true human being appears, they fear him, because others will follow him, and he will have an impact that can destroy the whole foundation of tyranny, imperialism and government by puppets. [...] Now the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was also a political person.“

The above state explains that what the western establishment really fear is the enlightened muslims, beacuse they know that a deep understanidng Islamic thought poses obstacles for imperialist interfernece in the muslim world and beyond This is what is made clear by Imam Khomeini, and that is the western media is trying to hide this fact away from the ordinary people.

Especially in the Era of the Western Imperialist war aganst 'terrorism'  - a time where muslims are taking the blame as scapegoats everywhere without any sense of reason. 

     With Knoweldge of this the importance of stuying and fully understanding Islamic governance and jurispudence cannot be overstated. Thus Ruollah Khomeinis book gives thereader a clearer picture of islam.

Regardless if you agree with everything in this book or not, it takes the dicussion of islamic thought far beyond the narrow minded frames of the western establishment, and as such it is a great read. For newcomers there is a great foreword which gives the reader a good introduction to the history of the iranian revolution and the life of Ruollah Khomeini. Don't be afraid to ask you local library for this book.