A Simple Guide To Islam

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"My beliefs and that of other Muslims are contained in the Quran and in the utterances of the Prophet of Islam and his rightful successors. The root, the essence, of all these beliefs - our dearest and most valuable belief - is monotheism. According to this principle we believe that the creator of this world and of all the beings in the cosmos, including mankind, is the one and only Exalted God Who knows all and is capable of all things. To Him belong all things, all objects, all beings.

This principle teaches us to be submissive only before the power of God, and to obey no man unless obeying him be tantamount to obeying God. On the basis of this principle, no individual has a right to force any other man to bow to him. Furthermore, this principle of faith teaches us the principle of human freedom; that is, that no man has a right to deprive an individual or a community of liberty, to legislate for them, to regulate their conduct according to that man's understanding - which is generally defective - or to regulate the conduct of others according to his own wishes or desires.

Further still, from this principle we come to believe that legislation for the progress of mankind is with God alone, just as the laws of creation and of being are willed by Him. The happiness and perfection of mankind, and that of communities, are linked to obedience to divine laws of which mankind has been informed by the Prophets.

The degradation and fall of mankind is due to deprivation of his rights and to his submission to other human beings. Therefore, we must rise in opposition to these shackles and the chains of bondage and challenge those who invite us to be servile to them so as to liberate ourselves and our communities, thereby becoming servants of God and submitting ourselves to Him alone.

It is for this reason that our social rules and regulations begin with opposition to dictatorial and colonialistic powers.

Also, from this principle of faith, this belief in monotheism, we get the (divine) inspiration that all human beings are equal before God, Who has created them all, and who all are His creatures and servants. This is the principle of the equality of mankind, and the principle that the only thing which distinguishes one human being from another, which gives them preference, is their virtue and their freedom from perversion and sin.

Therefore, any and all things which upset this equality, and which create vain and meaningless distinctions within a community, must be fought."

Imam Khomeini (RA)
Quoted from Hamid Ansari: The Narrative of Awakening (Institute for Compilation and Publication of Works of Imam Khomeini, Tehran)