KARACHI, June 4: To observe the 19th death anniversary of Ayatollah Ruhollah Musawi Khomeini, the Iranian Cultural Centre in Karachi – Khana-i-Farhang – organized a conference on Tuesday night to pay tribute to the leader of 1979’s Islamic revolution in Iran. Various speakers including religious scholars, political leaders and intellectuals spoke on the theme of ‘The effect of Imam Khomeini’s philosophy on the reawakening of Muslim nations.’

Consul-General of Iran Massood Mohammad-Zamani, who was the chief guest, read out a part of the Ayatollah’s will addressed to the people of Iran. Describing how the whole nation had plunged into mourning upon hearing of Imam Khomeini’s death, he said a “sea of people” attended the funeral and accompanied the procession till the Ayatollah was buried in Tehran’s Behesht-i-Zahra cemetery.

“One does not know how to label the Imam as he was a religious scholar, poet, mujahid, philosopher, gnostic, jurist and leader. However, he himself did not like such grand titles,” Mr Mohammad-Zamani said.

Ayatollah Bahauddini, representative of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Pakistan, spoke at length about following in the spiritual footsteps of Ruhollah Khomeini.

“If one is not aware of Imam Khomeini’s qualities, one cannot appreciate him. It is difficult to speak about a man like the Imam. As a jurist he was among the best. Following his edicts is easy as the risala is present. But to keep steadfast on the spiritual path like he did is more difficult. You have to pick up the parts,” said Ayatollah Bahauddini.

Referring to the bloody 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War, he said “sometimes you have to celebrate the victory of Khurramshahr; sometimes you have to swallow the chalice of poison by signing the truce.” He added that “patience, not arrogance, was the Imam’s message. Imam Khomeini was a maker of history. He changed his times; he changed the politics of the world. Trust in Allah if you want to change your system and fear none but Him. Imam Khomeini was a total muwahhid (monotheist).”

Jamaat-i-Islami leader Professor Ghafoor Ahmed said when he visited Tehran after the revolution, he saw a visible change in the people. He said people told him that the revolution was that of Imam Hussain (AS) and Khomeini was their guide.

Columnist Dr Moeenuddin Qureshi said Ayatollah Khomeini overthrew the Shah not with a sword but with his teachings. He said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was a model Muslim leader, and added that his protocol consisted of a grand total of two cars.

Religious scholar Dr Jamil Rathore said Ayatollah Khomeini was a mujaddid of this age as he brought about several revolutions. “The Imam educated thousands of students and brought about revolutions in jurisprudence, philosophy and gnosis.” Terming today’s Jihadi groups “misguided” and “barbaric,” he said a true revolution comes about through hatred of Yazidiat and love for the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Maulana Mirza Yusuf Hussain said Ayatollah Khomeini awoke the slumbering Muslims of the last century. “One feels sad when one looks at the Muslim rulers of today and their silence,” he observed. Talking about the Lebanese resistance group Hezbollah, he said the group comprising a few thousand armed men fought Israel and its backers and defended their homeland, whereas previously, three Arab armies had laid down their arms at the feet of the Zionist state in a mere six days.

Former law minister Mir Nawaz Khan Marwat, scholar Allama Asghar Dars, adviser to the Sindh chief minister Rashid Rabbani and Khana-i-Farhang Director Dr Mehdi Tavassoli also spoke.