Sayyid Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini, leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, was a figure rooted in the love of God from his childhood.

He was born on 24 September 1902 and as one of three boys and three girls, Ruhollah was orphaned aged just 4 months and 22 days. He was brought up in Khomein by his mother, wet nurse and aunt Sahebeh — a woman of tremendous character and strength.

He was a child full of energy, known to spend his days playing in the street. His physical strength made him grow into a champion at sports, beating other boys at wrestling and leapfrog.

At the age of seven, as was the norm, he was sent to a local maktab (school) where he was taught the alphabet, the Quran and popular religious stories. The religious festivals of the Shia Muslim calendar formed the core of Imam Khomeini’s childhood entertainment. By the time he was a teenager, Ruhollah had memorised hundreds of verses of poetry, by religious and classical poets. His skill at writing poetry developed and further in his years he would memorise Arabic poetry.

Khomeini began his seminary studies in the city of Isfahan moving on to a new theological college established in Sultanabad-Arak and then later to the city of Qom. He wore the customary turban, a symbol of the life of religious learning he had committed himself to. In 1936 he achieved the permission of Ijtihad (the authority of interpretation of religion) at an impressive rate — only fifteen years after beginning his studies.

Khomeini married the daughter of a wealthy Tehran cleric, Ayatullah Mirza Mohammad Saqafi. Refusing at first, she was persuaded to agree to the marriage by a dream in which Fatima (as) visited her.

Khomeini’s thirst for Irfan (gnosis) led him to study under Mirza Mohammad Ali Shahabadi. Shahabadi influenced Khomeini’s political views and taught him to simplify social, religious and political issues for the wider population — this teaching became key to Khomeini’s success in the Islamic revolution. In 1929 Khomeini wrote a commentary on Dua al-Sahar (The Dawn Supplication) and this followed with numerous books, poems and lectures which stirred the hearts of the Muslim community.

By the age of 27 years, Khomeini started his own circles of teaching and with his unswerving resistance to the injustice of the Shah’s regime these circles often took on an ethical and political nature

On 5 June 1963, after publically denunciating the Shah, Khomeini was arrested at his home. Following this incident, demonstrations took place, people gathered in support of Khomeini shouting ‘Khomeini or death’ and ministry buildings were set on fire. So, Khomeini was moved to a cell in Eshratabad. But with continuous tension between the government and Khomeini, and his refusal to pacify his stand, Khomeini was sent to exile in Turkey, then Iraq, and finally to France. Khomeini’s life in exile amongst secular societies brought him to an advantage that not many students of theology had — he could easily understand and see into the mind of the layman.

On 16 January 1979 the Shah left Iran never to come back. Imam Khomeini returned to his homeland triumphant and was welcomed on 1 February 1979 as the leader of one of the foremost revolutions in modern history.

He had brought with him the values of hope, freedom, justice and independence that the Iranian people yearned. The cries of ‘Allahu Akbar’, chants of ‘Khomeini O Imam’ and salutations of peace carried the Imam from the aeroplane. It is said that you know when you have landed in a land of a dictator by the photos of the leader you see displayed everywhere, but this is not the case for Iran — behind those pictures is love, hope and faith.