SAEDNEWS: Our Seyyed Ali was imprisoned 5 or 6 times; they would come, arrest him in our home before our eyes and take him away, and for long periods we had no news of them. Our children suffered greatly in prison, and afterwards, alhamdulillah, the Revolution happened.
According to the political service of Saeed News, quoting Fars, 29 years have passed since the passing of the Imam of the Ummah. An Imam who, with his departure, seemed to take a piece of the soul and life of each of his followers with him to the heavens. That is why the people were so astonished and distraught in mourning for him. An Imam who was with his people and shared their hardships in the tight corners and calamities of the difficult years of the Revolution and the war. He was the father of the nation; and the loss of a father is painful...
29 years have passed since the Imam’s departure, and this time gap of nearly three decades paves the way for the distortion of the Imam’s path, opinions, and views. Distortion regarding a great personality such as Ruhollah al-Mousavi Khomeini is a serious matter: “Can personalities also be distorted? Yes. The distortion of personalities means that the main pillars of that great person’s character remain unknown, or are misinterpreted, or are explained in a deviant and superficial manner; all of this amounts to distortion of character. A personality who is a role model, an Imam and leader, whose behavior and words guide future generations—if distorted, it will cause great harm. The Imam should not be regarded merely as a respected historical figure; some want it this way.”
In recent years we have witnessed that political actors, for partisan, group, or personal interests, have distorted the Imam’s opinions. They have fabricated and falsified history for the Imam. They have twisted his words… Throughout these years, some wanted the Imam to be nothing more than a memory. A distant sacred memory that no longer exists in this world… He has a grand and majestic shrine and a tomb in which he is buried. They wanted people only to go visit him… Some wanted the Imam to be just that. A distant sacred memory. Some want the Imam to be like cultural heritage: “The greatest lesson our great Imam taught us was the spirit, the mind, and the practice of being revolutionary; we must not forget this. The Imam is not cultural heritage; some look at the Imam as cultural heritage. The Imam is alive; the Imam is our Imam; the Imam is our leader; look at the Imam with this view and learn from him.”
Today the children of the Imam, those who have no blood or family relation to Khomeini but whose hearts and souls are tied to the light of Khomeini’s existence, find the way and the path in the Imam’s vision. The children of the Imam and the Revolution have their eyes and hearts on the words of their Leader, who in all these three decades after the Imam has been the proud and victorious standard-bearer of the path and vision of the great Khomeini.
Lady Khadijeh Mirdamadi was the only child of Ayatollah Seyyed Hashem Najafabadi from his first wife; she was born on 6 May 1914 (16 Ordibehesht 1293) in Najaf Ashraf. Her mother, Bibi Sakineh, passed away early, and this child quenched her need for maternal affection from the loving care of her grandmother. Most likely, Khadijeh benefited from her father’s scholarly guidance during the first fifteen years of her life, gaining not only basic literacy but also acquaintance with some important texts.
She migrated with her father to Iran and at the age of 20 married Seyyed Javad Khamenei. She had learned Arabic and Persian simultaneously and gradually also acquired Turkish. Lady Khadijeh’s scholarly pursuits, including studies in the Qur’an exegesis and historical texts such as Rawdat al-Safa, reached a level where she could narrate the lives of the prophets and the personalities of the Qur’an in engaging stories for her children.
Lady Khadijeh was devoted to prayers and recommended acts. She diligently performed practices such as Um Dawood, supplications like Arafah, and prayers such as Ja'far Tayyar, and she involved her children in these rituals. She recited the Qur’an in a melodious voice, especially during her youth, which enchanted her children’s ears.
She was reserved in speech and conduct and preferred the company of women similar to herself. When reciting the Qur’an, she spoke with a distinct Najafi accent.
Seyyed Mohammad Hassan, her youngest son, says: “My mother called only one person ‘Lady’ with her entire heart, and that was Imam Khomeini’s wife.”
Her children describe her as eloquent, strict, a memorizer of Qur’anic verses, frank, with poor handwriting, and highly influential in raising and nurturing her children.
She was well-versed in Hafez’s Divan and refined her own spirit and that of her children with the poet’s verses. When young, upon marrying Seyyed Javad Khamenei, she brought a Divan of Hafez, printed in Bombay, among her dowry. This book belonged to her father, Haj Seyyed Hashem, who had long cherished it and filled its margins with notes and personal reflections.
Lady Khadijeh was courageous, a trait that manifested in all aspects of her life. “It was well known in our household that if my father was modest and reserved, my mother was a woman who intervened in matters when necessary and voiced her opinions.”
This quality was evident during her sons’ struggle against the Pahlavi regime, whether in interactions with security officers or when visiting her imprisoned sons. She never pleaded or yielded to insults or harsh words from officers.
No one recalls Lady Khadijeh ever complaining about her sons’ imprisonment within the family or at relatives’ gatherings. She stood firm against others’ sympathy, reminding them that this was not an act of compassion: they had fought and gone to prison for the sake of God; if they could not feel pride, their pity was unnecessary.
The Leader of the Revolution recalls about his mother’s conduct: “Every time I came out of prison, I would hear that my mother had acted this way; much of my fatigue would be alleviated.”
When visiting her sons in prison, Lady Mirdamadi spoke with maternal care but did not lament her own suffering. She did not encourage them to reduce their political activities, nor did she utter a word that could shake their morale.
She behaved indifferently toward prison officers, inside or outside the visitation room, and spoke sharply. Her youngest son, Seyyed Mohammad Hassan, says: “The courage our mother instilled in us was inseparably intertwined with her hatred for the Pahlavi regime.”
Lady Khadijeh had a perceptive and insightful approach toward political phenomena. When her son, Seyyed Ali Khamenei, raised topics in his speeches that gained wide support among youth, intellectuals, and other segments of society, Lady Khadijeh would also sit attentively at his podium and observe with approval. Without being excited by the presence of thousands at her son’s platform, she validated his words and encouraged him for this reason.
Mrs. Mirdamadi traveled several times to the holy shrines in Iraq, all of which occurred before the 1958 coup by Abdul Karim Qasim. On her last trip (1957), Seyyed Ali and Seyyed Mohammad Hassan accompanied her. She performed Hajj twice. The first time, using the inheritance she received from her father (approximately 3,500 Tomans), she went to the House of God in the mid-1940s. The second time, after the revolution in 1982, she visited Medina and Mecca with her son and daughter-in-law (Seyyed Hadi’s wife).
Hajieh Khadijeh Mirdamadi served as a reference for some women in her local area or city. They consulted her for resolving disputes, asking about religious issues, seeking istikhara (prayer for guidance), or requesting prayers for solving problems. She welcomed them warmly. After the revolution, such visits increased, as women hoped that Lady Mirdamadi’s sons had the ability to resolve their issues. She would sometimes contact her sons, either kindly or with reproach, asking them to address the visitors’ concerns.
Hajieh Khadijeh Mirdamadi passed away on 6 August 1989 (15 Mordad 1368) due to a heart attack, and her body was buried the following day. Her resting place is in the Imam Reza shrine, next to her husband.
In this interview, she not only mentioned the virtues and characteristics of Imam Khomeini but also referred to the revolutionary struggles of her children, including Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
The full interview is as follows:
– Can you explain the role of women in the victory of the Islamic Revolution?
Lady Mirdamadi: The role of women was very important. In Mashhad, we observed that many demonstrations and marches across the city were organized by women, which were very magnificent and inspiring. If my feet did not hurt, we would sometimes attend, praying and crying, hoping that this government [the Islamic Republic] would soon be established.
There were women who gave up their homes, husbands, and personal lives for the revolution, as they participated in demonstrations for six months or a year. In some cases, their husbands disagreed and said, “Our husband hit us,” but they accepted it for God’s sake to go to the demonstrations. [Because] the Imam said that women should also participate, and it is permissible. If your husband does not allow, you may not go.
Even now, many women remain active, working and serving the revolution. Many people, like these women, have served the revolution; some were arrested at the time and held in prison for two or three days. However, their children followed their mothers’ path, and their husbands returned, becoming pious and enlightened.
– I had prayed to God for 30 years to overthrow the Pahlavi government
We ourselves prayed for 20 to 30 years, asking God to overthrow the Pahlavi regime and bring someone who would help us.
– Meeting with the Imam’s wife in Mashhad
When the Imam was exiled to Turkey, his wife came to our home in Mashhad. I cried and said, “Ask Imam Reza to save him.” She said, “I have come to Mashhad for this purpose.” I said, “Make a vow or perform a khatm for this purpose,” and she said, “I have already done all these things.”
For 20 years, I continuously cried. Young people were taken to prison. If our own children were imprisoned, my response was prayer, and I never disclosed anything to anyone.
– One of the important duties of women is to raise righteous, faithful, and pious children. Can you share your opinion on this?
Lady Mirdamadi: The relationship between a mother and her children is very important. Last summer, 200 women from Kerman and Rafsanjan came here to see us, and they had placed their children under the sun on the ground. I advised them, saying: Do not wrong your children so that they do not become oppressors; show mercy so that your children will be merciful; do not lie to your children so they will not lie; do not give them unlawful wealth, and do not feed them impure food. Encourage your children not only to study but also to practice religion. From their childhood, we told my children stories of the prophets and Quranic tales.
– Mothers have a great influence on their children
Of course, we were careful not to alter or change the truth, and to always tell things as they really are. Advice, exhortation, avoiding oppression, and honesty are very important, and mothers have a great influence on their children.
I raised my own children in the same way and always told them to be merciful and not to harm anyone: do not hurt children in the streets, do not knock on people’s doors, and do not trouble anyone.
– Do you have any memories related to the revolution and Mr. Khamenei’s activities during that period?
Lady Mirdamadi: Our children were very active in the revolution. Before that, they were also imprisoned. Seyyed Ali went to prison 5 or 6 times in Zahedan, Tehran, and Mashhad. [The SAVAK] would come, take him from our home in front of us, and we would have no news of him for a long time. Our children suffered greatly in prison, and then, thank God, the revolution happened.
During their demonstrations, they would leave home for some time and hide their families. At night they would stay hidden, and during the day they would attend gatherings, hospitals, and Hussainiyas, giving speeches. Then, thank God, victory came.
– My children worked for the cause of our dear Imam
[After the revolution] their activities began and increased. All of them went to Tehran, and thank God, they worked for the presence of our dear Imam and for the revolution’s success.
The day the Shah left Iran, people celebrated, distributed sweets, and congratulated each other. Similarly, the day the Imam arrived, there were gatherings for men and women and significant demonstrations in Mashhad.
– Where was Mr. Khamenei on 22 Bahman (11 February)?
Lady Mirdamadi: He was in Tehran. There, together with the late Martyr Beheshti and other leaders, they secretly organized committees and the party. Thank God, everything was eventually organized.
– Do you have personal memories from the time of the revolution? How did you, as a mother, endure all these hardships?
Lady Mirdamadi: God gives patience, and we were always hopeful for His mercy. One day I told Seyyed Ali: “Mother, people are busy with worldly matters—they travel to Mecca, Syria, and abroad, hold weddings, and live comfortably. But our bodies constantly tremble because they may come and take you.” We would call to check on him at home. Twice, they took him from our house. When I told my son this, he said: “Mother, all of that is an animal-like life, where humans merely eat and graze. The life of wise and devout people is not just to care for this world; we must also think of our religion.”
– My children have always been devoted followers and imitators of the Imam
Another day, their father said: “Because of the constant traffic at your home and the crowds coming and going, it is dangerous.” They said: “If the Imam orders us to give our lives, I will do it; all of them from the beginning were devoted, imitators, and followers of the Imam.”
– Do you have any memories of Mr. Khamenei?
Lady Mirdamadi: I have many memories, especially from Tehran. At one time, all three of them were in prison—Seyyed Ali, Seyyed Hadi, and Hassan—all imprisoned in Tehran.
– I roamed the streets of Tehran just to see my children
For two months at a time, over the course of a year, I went to Tehran alone. I wandered the streets. Wherever I was directed, I went. Seyyed Mohammad—may God protect him—had a car. He would take me to Qasr Prison. Of course, to see my children, I went to the Committee Prison, Bagh Mehran, Mikdeh Street, and other terrifying places, hoping to see them. I saw Hassan twice, but I did not see [Seyyed Ali and Seyyed Hadi].
– Seyyed Ali said: “Mother, it was your prayers that shortened my imprisonment”
Our Seyyed Ali was in prison for eight months. After he was released, I said, “Mother, I prayed a lot, completed prayer cycles, and did many deeds. I had a strange dream: I saw Imam Reza in my dream, and he placed his hand on my chest, and my heart felt calm.” He said: “Mother, it was your prayers that shortened my eight-month imprisonment; I was supposed to remain in prison for eight years.”
– Our eyes were enlightened by the victory of the revolution
For no one was this Islamic Republic a celebration like it was for me. No one waited for twenty years—or perhaps a little less—as I did, until, thank God, their eyes witnessed this revolution and this victory. We constantly pray for the Imam, and I am ready to give my life for him. God, may He protect the Imam.
One day, “Our Agha Seyyed Ali” came here and said he had seen a dream: He dreamt that the Imam had passed away and he interpreted it well. He said: “I dreamt the Imam had passed away, and we were carrying him. There was a huge crowd. We left the city, the crowd thinned, and we went to a height, placing the body on a high place.”
– The Imam told Seyyed Ali: “You will become a Yusuf”
I saw that people were silent, but out of my deep love for the Imam, I kept touching my legs, walking, and hitting myself from distress. When we reached the top, I wanted to see the Imam’s face. When I lifted the covering, the Imam raised his head and, with a finger, said twice: “You will become a Yusuf.” When he told me this dream, I said: “Prophet Yusuf was also imprisoned, and because you go to prison so often, you resemble Prophet Yusuf.”
This dream remained in memory until the year Seyyed Ali was elected president. One of the scholars of Tehran remembered Seyyed Ali’s dream and said: “See what this dream meant; it meant that when Prophet Yusuf was released from prison, he became the beloved of Egypt.”
– The story of Ayatollah Khamenei serving in Goharshad Mosque
Once, Seyyed Ali came and said: “I had a dream in which I had a task in Goharshad Mosque. I was decorating walls and doing difficult work. Then the Prophet (PBUH) and Imam Ali (AS) came and observed. I stood next to Imam Ali, and I said: ‘O Commander of the Faithful, please tell the Prophet that I am tired and want to stop.’ Imam Ali said: ‘O Messenger of God, Seyyed Ali says he is tired.’ The Prophet replied: ‘No, he must continue his work.’”
Seyyed Ali said: “In the dream, I gained strength. When I woke, I realized that my activity was for serving Islam and spreading guidance. People come to my home, and we guide them. This was one of his dreams.”
