The first sparks of Islamic Revolution were essentially lit in Muharram and inspired by teachings of Ashura movement. The uprising of 5 June 1963, a milestone in the history of Islamic Revolution, was occurred subsequent to Imam Khomeini’s speech on the afternoon of Ashura (June 3). The slogans chanted by people during this uprising and at the threshold of Islamic Revolution victory all referred to Ashura movement’s motifs. Although massacre of June 5 apparently suppressed Imam’s movement, but the blood of martyrs and succeeding revelations and struggles prepared the public minds for a revolution. Ashura, as well, was apparently ended with martyrdom of Imam Hussein and his companions, but indeed planted the seeds of great awakening movements and bore fruit.
Due to his courageous and blunt revelations against Pahlavi Regime, Imam Khomeini was arrested and sent into exile in Turkey and then Iraq. In his exile time and following Imam Hussein, Imam Khomeini remained patient and inspired by Ashura inculcated the spirit of religious fervor and epic on people. Disclosing the oppressions and corruptions of the regime, Imam Khomeini called on people to uprise against Yazid of the time and at the same time demanded establishment of an Islamic government and rule of Quranic values in the society. During that time he increasingly insisted on adherence to Imam Hussein’s movement and Islamic precepts: “present Islam to people and in your presentations model Ashura…”, because “Muharram is the month in which the Master of Martyrs Imam Hussein rose up against taghout to teach human beings construction and firmness. He did sacrifice and was sacrificed to annihilate the oppressor and the very same motif is the Islamic guideline for our nation forever.” (Sahife Noor, vol. 2, p. 11)
In the period between 1963 and 1979, Muharram ceremonies, tribunes, orations, and dirges took revolutionary and political moods. Political attitude towards Karbala event and learning from Ashura uprising became the footstone of the invitation of Imam Khomeini and his companions. Ashura was not a historical lesion any more, but the axis of mobilization against Pahlavi Regime…. Families portrayed their martyrs as offerings to God by the decree of Imam Khomeini and equivalent with Karbala martyrs. Mosques and other religious places were regarded as the most significant bases for activities of revolutionary forces, informing people of Pahlavi Regime’s corruptions, and organizing them for revolutionary activities and demonstrations. Influenced by Ashura, Iranian people recalled martyrdom-seeking and sacrifice spirit of Imam Hussein and his companions and chanting slogans such as “Allahu Akbar” (God is the Greatest).
Perhaps the most important impression of Ashura culture and teachings on Iranian Islamic Revolution was opposition to taghout and arrogance as it was observed in all activities and stances of Imam Khomeini as a central motif of his Islamic movement. Just as Imam Hussein discredited Yazid’s caliphate as illegitimate and usurper through refusal to pledge allegiance, Imam Khomeini repeatedly cast doubt on legitimacy of Pahlavi Regime in his orations, statements, and interviews. While being in exile, he called on preachers and clerics to take full advantage of Imam Hussein tribunes during Muharram and Safar. In his eyes these two months were the best time for disclosing anti-Islam measures of Muhammad Reza Shah. Public rallies on Tasoua and Ashura of 1978 broke the back of Pahlavi Regime. Moreover, Imam Khomeini’s epochal statement on 10 February 1979 ordering people to defy the curfew- which aimed to arrest the leaders of Revolution and supposedly bring an end to it- was practically another Ashura epic. Ordered by Imam Khomeini, people poured into the streets and delivered the final blow on the worn body of the regime.
Generally in Imam Khomeini’s eyes, genesis and continuity of Islamic Revolution owes to Ashura and the lesson Imam Hussein has given our nation. He remarks: “we all should be aware that our Revolution may not result in triumph if was not the uprising of the Master of Martyrs Imam Hussein; Islamic revolution is a light of Ashura and its Divine revolution. “ (Sahife Noor, vol. 8, p. 12)
Inspired by and using Ashura teachings as the great religious-political treasure of Islam, Imam Khomeini founded his uprising on it and sought to revive Islam. Recognizing world arrogance’s plots in the rise of Pahlavi Regime, discerning the similarities between it and Umayyad caliphates, and taking advantage of two stimulating religious elements of “enjoining good and prohibition of evil acts” and “Divine Assignment”, the late supreme Imam put an end to Iran’s 2500-year-old monarchy, revived Islam, and removed innovation and distortion from the face of religion.