Letter [to Sayyid Ahmad Khwansari]

(The content of Imam Khomeini's letter to Mr. Khwansari)
You in the capital are confined to retirement. No speeches, no declarations; you do nothing effective. You in Tehran do not invite the people to the Qur'an, i. e. to unity and solidarity. Why should it be so? You have to invite people to uprising so that when we order the charge they are ready to overthrow the Shah and uproot the government.
Why are the `ulama' of Tehran silent against these brutal wolves? Why you are so silent against the secularists who intend to seize our religion? Why do not you rise up against the Shah of the country who means to eliminate the clergymen? Why do you keep silent before tyrants? You have heard that Hadrat `Ali retired for a time, but there was more to it. He had an obligation to be retired for 25 years; but after this period, he dealt with the opponents. In fact, when the people witnessed Hadrat `Ali was right; they rose up against the impious. We have already been patient for many years. During his father's time, nobody opposed whatever he did. They waited to see what would happen in the end until he died. Now his son is doing harm to the religion. We have to dethrone this Shah in one way or another. It is of no use to be quiet from now on. It is not a time for calm anymore. It is now the day that we should rise up against the impious. If you do not want our Islamic country, our religion and faith to be destroyed, tell to me... . «2»