Interaction with Opponents in the Imam Khomeini's Political Thought

Considering the importance of constructive engagement with opponents and the need to grow and develop it in the community especially among the youth and politicians, the present paper aimed to evaluate this topic according to the political thought and practical lifestyle of Imam Khomeini (RA). Having interaction with the opponents can be conducted in different ways and what was analyzed in this study was the practical interaction in the political thought of Imam Khomeini which could be observed in the way he treated the opposing groups. Copying the practical lifestyle of Imam Khomeini and applying his political ideas in the socio-political interactions with opponents are of great importance because Imam has always chosen the most appropriate solution based on existing condition. In order to achieve a pattern of Imam’s interaction with opposition groups, the library study method was used through analyzing and describing the data obtained from verses and hadiths and especially Imam Khomeini’s works. After the preliminaries and the literature, the principles of interaction with opponents according to the ideas of Imam Khomeini were extracted from his books. Imam Khomeini has always applied these principles in engaging with all enemies and he has been committed in keeping his words. Imam during his socio-political life had been faced with various groups of opponents including political and religious opponents. Naturally, these groups were not identical in terms of idea and performance and each one is divided into at least two moderate and extremist groups inside and outside the country and Imam interacted with them differently. Imam also did not interact with moderate and extremist Sunni sects such as Wahhabi and also arrogance and non arrogance groups so in the same way. This diversity in Imam’s behavior was based on Quran and the Innocent’s (masumin) teachings and which had formed the basis of Imam Khomeini’s political idea and practical lifestyle. Because Imam’s behavior arose from Quran and hadith and the Prophet and his family’s way of life and from the beginning to the end of his life he has always tried to represent a full interpretation of Islam to the world.