Farewell Dear Light Of The Oppressed
Tribute to our Imam
In the part of the world where we live, we have experienced 2,000 years of Christian history and struggle. Islam—which literally means submission to the one true God—stands as a continuation of this long tradition of divine guides, the prophet Muhammad being considered as the final seal of all the prophets before him.
As people of faith, no matter where we live on this earth, we must recognise those who sacrifice, struggle, and resist injustice and oppression. The Imam’s life was a clarion call for people to unite against oppression and the corruption of faith.
A passage that beautifully sums up the core of his lifelong approach can be found in Christian scripture in 1 Corinthians 13:1–3:
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
What people in our part of the world need to see is that this is exactly what Imam Khamenei possessed—a profound love for the downtrodden, whether they were from his own land or across the globe.
This is why he and his family were martyred. This message of love and concern for the oppressed is simply too powerful, too precious, and too dangerous to a global elite that thrives on preaching hate and division amongst people.
Our prayers are with his family and his people. May he be remembered for the love and compassion he personified as a leader—a rare gem in a dark world often consumed by corruption and greed. Let us remember his sacrifice as a light in the darkness of our present lives, echoing the truth of Surah Ali ‘Imran (Chapter 3, The Family of Imran, Verse 169) in the Holy Quran:
“And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision.”