London, June 7, IRNA

A Muslim Canadian clergy said here Thursday that the late Imam Khomeini (P) revived spirit of resistance and saying no to oppression and hegemony among the world Muslims.

Sheikh Ahmad Hanif who after converting to Islam studied Islamic sciences for many years in Qom seminary schools added in an interview with IRNA, ˈThe thoughts of Imam Khomeini (P) were spread around the globe after the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran.ˈ

He reiterated, ˈImam Khomeini (P) also revived Palestine cause in the world public opinion and we were witnesses to the fact that after the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran resistance against the occupation policies of Israel became a culture.ˈ

Sheikh Hanif said, ˈRevival of the Islamic resistance in Lebanon, too, was among the fruits of the thoughts of Imam and the Islamic Revolution of Iran, which managed to kick the Zionist regime off the soil of that country and emerged victorious in the course of the 33 Day War.ˈ

He reiterated, ˈThe late Imamˈs emphasis on observation of piety and fearing the Almighty Allah and his entering of the rules of ethics and spiritual values in governance and in ruling a country were samples of a new approach in political leadership in the world, which had no precedence.ˈ

Sheikh Hanif who is presently a researcher and professor of Islamic sciences in London, said, ˈOne of the major axes of Imam Khomeiniˈs thoughts was his resolute confrontation against tyranny and neo-colonialism, and it was this thought that granted self-confidence to the Muslim nations, strengthening them against their internal and external enemies.ˈ

The Canadian Muslim cleric added, ˈThe influence of Imam Khomeiniˈs thoughts and the Islamic Revolution of Iran are clearly observed in recent developments in the Arab world, the Middle East and the North Africa.ˈ

Rouhollah Mostafavi Mousavi Khomeini was an Iranian religious leader and politician, and leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution which saw the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran who ruled a totalitarian dictatorship.

Following the revolution, Imam Khomeini (P) became the countryˈs Supreme Leader, a position created in the constitution as the highest ranking political and religious authority of the nation, which he held until his death. 

Imam Khomeini was a Marjaˈa ˈsource of emulationˈ in Twelve Islam Shiˈa Islamic schools of thought, and the author of more than forty books. He spent more than 15 years in exile for his opposition to the last Shah. In his writings and preachings he has expanded the Shiite basic theory of Velayat-e Faqih, the ˈGuardianship of the Supreme Source of Jurisprudenceˈ to include theocratic political rule by the Islamic jurists. This principle was installed in the new Islamic Iranian Constitution after being put to a referendum. 

He was named Man of the Year in 1979 by American newsmagazine TIME for his international influence and has been described as the ˈvirtual face of Islam in Western popular culture.ˈ He was known for his support of the hostage-takers during the Iran hostage crisis and his fatwa calling for the death of British Indian novelist Salman Rushdie. 

He is also lauded as a ˈcharismatic leader of immense popularityˈ and a ˈchampion of Islamic revivalˈ by Shiite and Sunni scholars alike. 

© IRNA 2013