Imam Khomeini boosted family foundations, built strong society

  It has been reported through a series of memoirs that Imam Khomeini, the late leader of the Islamic Republic used to show deep respect for his wife and all other family members.

Imam Khomeini observed their rights in all thick and thin times and all circumstances.

Imam also raised statues of women and encouraged them to participate all social, cultural and political arenas following the victory of the Islamic revolution under his wise leadership in 1979.

The following memoirs highlight that how Imam was committed to fulfill rights of his family and relatives. 

A Piece of Advice to Solve Family Issues
One of the Imam’s daughters narrates: “At the start of my marriage, I went to Hajj Agha so that he could give me some advice. He said: “If your husband is upset, or if he says something to you for whatever reason, or acts badly, at that time don’t say anything, even if you are in the right. Leave it until he has calmed down, and then say what you have to.” He also gave the exact same advice to my husband.
In the beginning I didn’t give this advice much importance. Later upon reflection, I saw that indeed the root of many of the family disputes came back to this very issue. Therefore, from then on, every time somebody has wanted advice about family issues, I have given them this very same advice of the Imam.

 Hujjatul Islam Muhammad Hassan Murtadhavi Langarudi  

I Have Come to Wash the Dishes
One day, as it so happened, there were many guests at the Imam’s house. After the meal, I collected the dishes and took them to the kitchen. Along with Zahra, the daughter of Agha Ishraqi, we prepared to wash the dishes. However we saw that the Imam himself had immediately come to the kitchen.

I asked Zahra: “Why has Hajj Agha come to the kitchen?” I had a right to be surprised because it wasn’t time to perform wudu. Imam rolled up his sleeves and said: “Because there are many dishes today, I have come to help you.” My body started to tremble. My Lord! What am I seeing! I said to Zahra: “I swear by you to Allah, please request the Imam to leave. We will wash the dishes ourselves.” This was really unexpected for me. 

Marzieh Hadide Chi (Dabagh)

Utmost Respect for Children
The Imam really liked young children. He had such an attachment to them that he said:

“In Najaf, when we would return from the shrine, I used to like the children very much despite their rough appearance.” The children would follow the Imam until he reached home. 

The Imam used to tell my daughter who used to complain about the mischievousness of her child: “I am ready to exchange the reward that you get by bearing the mischievousness of Husayn, with the reward of my worship.” He believed that children should be free until they became older, and then limits should be set for them.

On the subject of raising children, he used to say: “Be truthful with your children so that they too are truthful. The role-models of children are their fathers and mothers. If you behave correctly with your children, they will be brought up correctly. Whatever you tell your children, act on that.”

Farida Mustafavi (Imam’s daughter)

He Would Never Pass his Work to Anyone Else
As far as possible, Imam was particular that he should not impose his work on others, but rather carry it out himself. In Najaf, it sometimes happened that from the roof, the Imam would notice that the kitchen or bathroom light was left on. 

In these cases, he would not tell his wife or anybody else who was also on the roof to go and switch off the light. Rather, he would himself make his way down three flights of stairs in the darkness, switch off the light and return.

Occasionally, he would also want a pen or paper that was upstairs. In this circumstance too, he would not tell anyone, not even his loved ones the children of Martyr Marhum Hajj Sayyid Mustafa (Imam’s son), to bring them for him. He would himself get up and go up the stairs to get what he needed and return.

Hujjatul Islam Sayyid Hamid Ruhani

 Why is Hassan Disheveled Like This?

The Imam acted exactly according to all the instructions that he gave from the start, and in actuality, was an embodiment of those very instructions. He himself was the book ‘Forty Hadith’ that he had written in his youth. Suppose he spoke about riya (performing any action for the purpose of other than the pleasure of Allah) and reproached it, he himself would stay away from it with intensity. 

I remember one day my son entered the house wearing trousers which I had patched up at one knee. Imam asked: “Why is Hassan disheveled like this?” I jokingly replied: “It’s the life of poor people, Agha.”

Immediately, his face became drawn, and he said: “You don’t want to do riya.” I said: “No, why riya?” He said: “Be careful. Not paying attention to outward physical appearances has value. However, if you want to show (people) that I am such and such, it is riya.”

Imam said this sentence to me with the same intensity with which he had, at the age of 30 years, written in his book!

Fatema Tabatabai (Imam’s daughter-in-law)