Ayatollah Khamenei’s spiritual leadership, commitment to justice will continue to inspire: Scholar

By Alireza Kamandi

The inspiring legacy of Martyr Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei will endure because of the spiritual and ideological depth he brought to leadership, says an African-American Islamic scholar.

In an interview with the Press TV website, Sheikh Jafar Muhibullah, the resident cleric at the Islamic AhlulBayt Association (IABA) in Austin, Texas, said the martyred Iranian Leader’s eloquence and the heartfelt nature of his speeches distinguished him most.

“When I lived in Iran, I always loved to hear his speeches and lectures because they came directly from his heart. There is a beautiful saying from the Prophet: ‘One who speaks from the heart delivers the message to the heart of the audience.’ That, for me, was one of the most distinguishing aspects of the martyred Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei,” the African-American scholar said.

Sheikh Muhibullah stressed that Ayatollah Khamenei was always attuned to the needs of the people, the needs of the nation, and the needs of people around the world who were suffering from injustice and oppression.

He added that Ayatollah Khamenei’s stance served as a beacon for free thinkers globally. His refusal to take shelter amid threats while ordinary citizens could not, which ultimately led to his martyrdom, serves as a significant source of inspiration for campaigners for truth and justice worldwide.

“This is a tremendous source of inspiration for those around the world who are struggling for justice,” he said.

Sheikh Muhibullah identified the legacy of resistance, the legacy of standing confidently against oppression, and advocating for the oppressed as among Ayatollah Khamenei’s greatest legacies.

“He did not make a distinction about who was being oppressed; the principle of justice was what mattered. Whether the oppressed were Muslims or not, he spoke up for their rights and against the oppressor,” the noted Islamic scholar told the Press TV website.

He added that Ayatollah Khamenei’s stance has inspired people worldwide to stand against injustice, including in America.

“His position became known to many people, though some may not have been fully aware of it because of the way news is presented here and through the media. However, as the war began, social media started to shed light on the reality of his positions,” he asserted.

“For example, the repeated false claim that Iran shouldn’t have nuclear weapons was challenged when people learned that Ayatollah Khamenei had issued a fatwa stating that nuclear weapons, which indiscriminately destroy and kill Allah’s creation, are not permitted.”

He said many people in the US and across the West then realized that this false pretext had been raised to justify an illegitimate and illegal war against Iran.

“People began to see his true position, and his stance of resistance has inspired many around the world. His leadership has also inspired many in Palestine by encouraging Palestinians not to lose hope and to remain steadfast in resisting oppression and injustice,” Sheikh Muhibullah said.

“His worldview will endure. This is because his critical understanding and views are grounded in the message of the Quran and in the lifestyle of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his Ahlul Bayt (the Shia Imams). Because his ideology has such deep roots, I believe it will remain impactful for a long time to come.”

He further stressed that Ayatollah Khamenei’s physical absence, but not his spiritual or ideological presence, is a loss.

“We will miss seeing his face, his living image, and the beautiful artworks created with his quotes, but his spiritual presence will live on. As Allah says, do not consider the martyrs dead; they are alive with Allah. So, while our hearts are heavy because of his physical absence, our minds and our understanding that his course of life was that of a noble person will always remain with us.”

Sheikh Muhibullah described the martyred Ayatollah Khamenei as a man of God—someone who loved God and God’s creation; a man of honor and principle who stood for what is right and against what is wrong.

“If you ever felt his presence, you would feel his kindness and understand his deep love for Allah and the path of the Prophet and the Ahlul Bayt. This was evident from his manners and the way he interacted with others—he was someone who genuinely tried to emulate the lifestyle of the Prophet and the Ahlul Bayt,” he told the Press TV website.

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