(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»
Qum
Inviting Mr. Khwansari to sign a joint declaration against the Shah's regime
Sayyid Ahmad Khwansari «1»
جلد ۱ صحیفه امام خمینی (ره)، از صفحه ۲۴۱ تا صفحه ۲۴۲
«۱»- As recorded in the SAVAK files, Mawlawi adds (Tehran SAVAK's head) in the secret report No. ۵۳۲۲/ S-T (dated: ۳/ ۷/ ۱۳۴۲ AHS) to Pakrawan (chief and Director General of SAVAK's Third Dept.) at the end of this document." According to Qum SAVAK report on ۳/ ۷/ ۱۳۴۲ AHS, Mr. Khomeini states to the carrier of the letter to Mr. Khwansari:" Tell Mr. Khwansari that I am going to prepare a declaration. You too have to participate in it; that is, you should sign it. This is because if you do not participate in this declaration, the people and especially the government will assume that the `ulama' are all against each other, and will take advantage of it to attain their evil ends. Therefore, we have to find a fundamental solution and all must unite to defeat these impious ones, or else our religion and faith will be at risk. The Shah and the government's policy will do serious and irreparable harm to the religion of Islam; therefore, you have to ward off this grave danger through unity and solidarity and rising up against them. Besides, please let me know if none of the `ulama' is going to participate in this movement, so that I can decide what to do against them."«۲»- Mr. Khwansari wrote this letter in response:" His Eminence Ayatullah Khomeini,I received your letter. I will also follow your suggestions as far as I can. I agree with it the way you find most advisable. Be careful with the language, writing the declaration, since it may give rise to their spite! Write the declaration in a lenient way! Advise them against their actions which are against the Qur'an; that they would better not to enforce the new law for the benefit of the country, and because people are all worried. It is in the Shah's interest not to endorse laws against Islam. The Shah needs the clergymen. The country without the clergymen is unthinkable. If there are no clergymen, communism will spread in our country, which is an Athna `Ashari (believing in the Twelve Imams) Shi`ah country. The Shah and the government have to maintain order as far as they can and prevent the country from being controlled and ruled by the foreigners. It is and was the clergymen who stood up against the communists and they will continue to do so."
امام خمینی (ره)؛ 07 خرداد 1342