Introduction from The Imam Khomeini Cultural Institute

On Saturday evening, June 3, 1989 (the 13th of Khurdad, 1368 corresponding to the 28 of Shawwal of the lunar year 1409) Imam Ruhullah Khomeini (S.A.), the great leader of the Islamic revolution and founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, passed away and joined the high heaven. In Imam Khomeini's demise the world lost a great history making revolutionary and a matchless leader who awakened the Muslims, revived Islam and restored to it its pristine grandeur by his honourable life.

The beloved lmam was the true archetype and the perfect example of an Islamic leader. All of the words and messages of Imam Khomeini (S.A.), this magnanimous personality are instructive and inspiring, however, his divine and political last will and testament which he himself penned as a momentous spiritual legacy to the Iranian nation and to all Muslims of the world, will remain as an excellent and unique document in that it covers the important Islamic and revolutionary principles in a comprehensive form. We will study the complete text of this last will and testament in the following pages and listen to the final message of a man who devoted the 89 years of his blissful life to chastity, to self-purification, nearness to God, acquisition of knowledge, struggle for liberation of the oppressed masses from the shackles of the arrogant; in short, a man with a heart aflame with love for the true Islam of Muhammad (SAW) who, as a butterfly that sacrifices its life in the flames of lighted candle, let his love consummate his entire being. We shall then pledge ourselves in obedience to his exalted soul that we shall advance and safeguard the Islamic revolution, in the path that he has outlined, with steadfastness and dedication (God willing).