In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
C/ O His Eminence Ayatullah Khou'i (may his blessings last) , Najaf
Their Eminences Afadil al-Anam wa Thiqat al-Islam and the esteemed students of the holy city of Najaf (may God always assist them) :
I was most grateful to receive Your Eminences' numerous telegrams containing your sympathies and condolences on the grave disaster brought to Islam and the Muslims in general and the clergy in particular. May God Almighty protect you, the gallant soldiers of the Living Imam and the Honor of the Time (may God Almighty hasten his glorious advent) for the sake of Islam and award you with the chance of serving the holy religion.
We are facing a despotic regime today that intends to alter the Islamic laws one after another. What they have mentioned so far in their speeches is the equality of rights between men and women in all aspects, because of which several essential laws of Islam will be trampled. In a recent bill prepared by the minister of justice, the prerequisites" being male and Muslim" have been dropped and there are horrible things still unveiled which can endanger the foundations of the religion.
The esteemed men of knowledge have to be aware of that today all groups of the people are held accountable. The great Authorities and `ulama' of Islam, the esteemed scholars, and the other groups of the people are all obliged to unite their efforts as far as they can defend Islam and its holy laws. It is expected from the younger generation and the venerable scholars to implore the influential figures to show more concern about the situation in Iran-the only center of Shi`ism and to avoid any secret compromise and to be wary of enticing the whispers of the despotic regime.
In spite of all problems, threats, pressures and insults, I am, God willing, determined not to stop until either I attain the ultimate goal and prevent them from encroaching the obligatory law of Islam, or I will have a good excuse in the court of God Almighty. I firmly hope that I will succeed. I implore your Eminences, the holy scholars (May God Almighty assist you and make you firm) to pray for the advancement of the Islamic causes. Your prayers shall be under the auspices of the holy shrines of the great Saints and Imams of mankind (may God's peace and salutations be upon them) especially the Commander of the Faithful and the Master of the Pious (Hadrat `Ali (`a)), May God's peace and mercy be upon you.
Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini