The term 'Abrahamic religions' denotes a collective of monotheistic faiths tracing their spiritual lineage to the patriarch Abraham. Key among these Abrahamic religions are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, each venerating Abraham as a pivotal figure and considering specific texts, namely, the Hebrew Bible in Judaism, the New Testament in Christianity, and the Quran in Islam, as foundational to their doctrinal frameworks.

 

The shared historical and theological connections among these monotheistic traditions persist, albeit undergoing evolutionary shifts over the millennia to accommodate the evolving needs of their adherents.

 

Determining the proportion of the Quran derived from the Hebrew Bible and the Christian New Testament proves challenging, given their antecedence. Scholars, however, discern parallels between the Islamic, Jewish, and Christian scriptures. While the Quran references over fifty people and events also found in the Bible, the narratives, though generally analogous, exhibit notable distinctions. Notably, certain verses in the Quran trace their origins to pre-Islamic pagan beliefs, including references to Allah, one of the prominent idols housed at the Ka'aba.

 

A distinguishing facet setting Islam apart from its precursors revolves around moral values, notably the unequivocal endorsement of 'truth'. An illustrative example is the ancient Iranian religion of Zoroastrianism, dating back to approximately 1800 BCE, considered the world's oldest monotheistic faith. Widely acknowledged as the world's oldest monotheistic faith, Zoroastrianism exerts a lasting influence on the doctrinal foundations of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In the context of Zoroastrianism, 'truth' stands as a pivotal tenet, constituting one of the fundamental pillars of the religious framework. This emphasis extends beyond mere theological discourse, permeating the ethical and moral dimensions of adherents' lives. The adherents of Zoroastrianism, irrespective of gender, are morally enjoined to uphold truthfulness as a cardinal virtue and to actively resist the encroachment of falsehood. This moral imperative transcends the confines of ritualistic observances, positioning 'truth' as a guiding principle shaping the conduct of individuals within the Zoroastrian faith. It is a clarion call to both men and women, prescribing a duty to navigate their lives with an unwavering commitment to truth and a steadfast opposition to the insidious influence of falsehood.

 

However, despite the presence of an analogous moral precept in the Bible, 'Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour' (Exodus 20:16), there is a conspicuous absence of a categorical condemnation of lies and liars in the Quran. This omission is noteworthy, especially considering that Christianity, which also inherited this moral injunction, places emphasis on the prohibition of falsehood.

 

In the biblical commandment, the unequivocal proscription against bearing false witness underscores the gravity of dishonesty and its potential harm to interpersonal relationships. This ethical stance has been transmitted through Christian teachings, contributing to the moral fabric of Christian communities. The absence of a parallel, explicit denunciation of lies and liars in the Quran raises intriguing questions about the nuanced ethical perspectives within Islamic doctrine.

 

Whilst this article has not been specifically prepared to delve into Islamic jurisprudence and theology or to expound upon the deficiency in truthfulness, given that the author is neither a theologian nor enrolled in Islamic studies, there is a necessity to furnish an introduction elucidating why leaders within Islamic communities, and regrettably to some extent, certain Muslims, do not refrain from falsehood. Notably, the Shia sect of Islam has elevated deceit to an unprecedented level by prescribing its adherents to engage in deceptive practices.

 

'To safeguard Islam and preserve the lives of Muslims, espionage, telling lies, and the consumption of alcohol are obligatory.'

- Ruhollah Khomeini, (Sahifeh-e Emam, Vol IV.)

 

The dearth of a well-contextualised moral code within Islam, compelling its adherents to steadfastly adhere to the truth and eschew falsehood, has facilitated the ascent of individuals entrusted with the faith of the people. Figures such as Ruhollah Khomeini, serving as a grand Ayatollah and leader of the Shia sect in Iran, exploited the void in ethical standards to achieve his objective of overthrowing the Imperial government of Iran. In the pursuit of establishing his fundamentalist regime in power, Khomeini resorted to a strategy rooted in deceit and falsehood. This article is meticulously crafted with the specific purpose of offering insight into this matter, accomplished by presenting his quotes to readers, categorised into two segments: pre-1979 and post-ascension to power.

 

Shapour Suren-Pahlav

5th June 2012

 

 

 

Prior to his return to Iran and ascension to power:

 

'Personal desire, age, and my health do not allow me to personally have a role in running the country after the fall of the current system.' Interview with the Associated Press, Paris, 7 November 1978.

 

'I have repeatedly said that neither my desire nor my age nor my position allows me to govern.' Interview with the United Press, Paris, 8 November 1978.

 

'I don't want to have the power or the government in my hand; I am not interested in personal power.' Interview with The Guardian newspaper, Paris, on 16th November 1978.

 

'I don't want to be the leader of the Islamic regime; I don't want to have the government or the power in my hands. I only guide the people in selecting the system.' Interview with the Austrian TV in Paris on 16th November 1978.

 

'It is the Iranian people who have to select their own capable and trustworthy individuals and give them the responsibilities. However, personally, I can't accept any special role or responsibility.' Interview with Le Journal newspaper, Paris, on 28th November 1978.

 

'After the Shah's departure from Iran, I will not become a president nor accept any other leadership role. Just like before, I limit my activities only to guiding and directing the people.' Interview with Le Monde newspaper, Paris, 9th January 1979.

 

'The Islamic government does not have oppression.' Interview with France Press news agency, Paris, 25th October 1978.

 

'The foundation of our Islamic government is based on freedom of dialogue and will fight against any kind of censorship.' Interview with Reuters news agency, Paris, 26th October 1978.

 

'In the Islamic regime, the rights of religious minorities are respectfully regarded.', Interview with an Austrian TV reporter, Paris, 6th November 1978.

 

'In Iran's Islamic government the media have the freedom to express all Iran's realities and events, and people have the freedom to form any form of political parties and gatherings that they like.' Interview with the Italian newspaper Paese Sera, Paris, 2 November 1978.

 

'Our future society will be a free society, and all the elements of oppression, cruelty, and force will be destroyed.' Interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel, Paris, 7th November 1978.

 

'In Iran's future Islamic system everyone can express their opinion, and the Islamic government will respond to logic with logic.' Interview with international reporters, Paris, 9th November 1978.

 

'We would like to run the Islamic government like Islam at its beginning, so that people know how different the Islamic democracy is from other democracies. If the people of the world know the benefits of Islam, my hope is that they all become Muslim.' Interview with a young French group in Paris, 9th November 1978.

 

'In the Islamic government all people have complete freedom to have any kind of opinion.' Interview with Human Rights Watch, Paris, 10th November 1978.

 

'My proposal for establishing an Islamic government does not mean a return to the past. I am strongly for civilisation and progress.' Interview with international reporters, Paris, 11th January 1979; also quoted in the Persian Ettela'at newspaper in Iran.

 

'These words that you have heard regarding women in the future Islamic government are all hostile towards them are propaganda. In the Islamic regime women have complete freedom, in their education, in everything that they do, just as men are free in everything.' Interview with German reporters, Paris, 12th November 1978.

 

'Women are free in the Islamic regime in the selection of their activities and their future and their clothing.' Interview with The Guardian newspaper, Paris, 6th November 1978.

 

'The ranking Shiite religious clergymen do not want to govern in Iran themselves.”  Interview with France Press news agency, Paris, 25th October 1978.

 

'In Islamic Iran the clergy themselves will not govern but only observe and support the government's leaders. The government of the country at all levels will be observed, evaluated, and publicly criticised.' Interview with Reuters news agency, Paris, 26th October 1978.

 

 

Following his return to Iran and subsequent rise to power

 

'Don't listen to those who speak of democracy. They all are against Islam. They want to take the nation away from its mission. We will break all the poison pens of those who speak of nationalism, democracy, and such things.' In a meeting with Iranian students and educators, Qom (3), 13 March, 1979

 

'That group that due to its opposition to Islam is opposing us, with the same fist that we destroyed the regime we will destroy that group as well. Pay attention to your statements. Repent from your writings. I am warning you that you still have time to repent.' In a discourse delivered at the Fayzieah School, Qom, on 5th June 1979.

 

'The intellectuals, the writers, those who have information and thoughts, you see some of them take their pens and in the name of democracy they write whatever they want and they cause disagreements. This group of so-called intellectuals has to correct themselves. Whatever we are suffering is from this group of intellectuals and judges. What we are suffering is because of them.” In a discourse delivered at the Fayzieah School, Qom, 23 July 1979.

 

'We have to warn these intellectuals that if they don't stop their meddling, they will be crushed. We have treated you gently so that maybe you would stop your evilness, and if you don't stop, we will have the last word. These American sympathizers and others must know that in just a few hours we can throw them in the trash can of annihilation any day that we wish to do so.' In a televised speech addressed to the Iranian nation on 8th August 1979.

 

'Those who create political fronts must stop their activities. If from the beginning, as in other revolutions in the world, several thousand of these corrupt individuals had been burned and beheaded till the issues were finished, problems would have been solved. We will allow one or more parties to operate if they operate correctly. But we announce that the rest are forbidden. We will no longer allow the same freedom that we used to give, and we cannot allow these parties to continue their activities. According to religious law, we can't give them a grace period. Canonically, it is not correct to give a grace period. We made mistakes when we gave freedom; we can't treat these wild animals gently. We will no longer allow any of their writings to be distributed in the country. We will destroy all their writings. We have to deal with them harshly, and we will deal with them harshly.” In a meeting with selected members of the Congress, Qom, on 18th August 1979.

 

'After the revolution the borders were left open. Pens were free, expression was free, political parties were free. Even if these people are not Moslems, it was assumed that at least they are human. But it is clear now that they are foreign puppets. For us the identity of these writers, the identity of these political parties, the identity of these nice and meaningless phrases are now very clear. We will no longer give freedom. These people are not the type who will stop their activities just from advice. We have to deal with them harshly.” In a discourse delivered at the Fayzieah School, Qom, 19th August 1979.

 

'Those who are trying to bring corruption and destruction to our country in the name of democracy will be oppressed. They are worse than Bani-Ghorizeh Jews, and they must be hanged. We will oppress them by God's order and God's call to prayer.' In a discourse delivered at the Fayzieah School, Qom, 30th August 1979.

 

'Those who have not voted for the Islamic regime, it means that they want the previous system. Those who boycott the election so no one votes for the Islamic regime are seditious. We will treat them like enemies, and we will oppress them. You are enemies that you want to cause trouble. You are enemies that you are conspiring against Islam and against the country. Your comings and goings are controlled. We have been informed that you are in contact with those who want to bring our country back to its previous system. Now that your conspiracy has been proven, we will destroy you all. If you don't stop your evilness, we will mobilise an even higher mobilisation, and we will clean out all of you. We will not allow you groups of corrupt people to remain and continue your activities.” In a message to the Iranian people at the conclusion of the month-long Islamic fasting month of Ramadan on 3rd September 1979.

 

'These rotten roots that are now at work will be oppressed, and the country will be cleaned up. After he encountered the Moavieh army, which were even worse than the infidels, and he encountered the khavarej , his Excellency the Imam Ali, the Chief of the Faithful, acted very harshly and destroyed them to the extent that only a few were able to escape.' In a speech addressed to the families of Iranian Air Force pilots in Qom on 2nd September 1979.

 

'The day of the khavareg ['outsiders'] is the day that his Excellency the Imam Ali, the Chief of the Faithful, pulled out his sword and cut all these corrupt people just like cancer tumours and killed them all. That day was 'Yom-ol lah,' the day that God punishes nations by bringing earthquakes on them, bringing floods, bringing storms, and slashing people till they become human. These all are God's day [sic], and these things are related to God.' In memory of the martyr s of the 17th of Shahriver [September 8th], Qom, September 8, 1979

'Do not interrupt the activities. You all have to obey the Islamic regime. And if you don't, you all will vanish.' In a speech addressed the Iranian Air Force officers, Isfahan, 19th September 1979.

 

'Those who are against us are like cancer tumours that need to be removed surgically; otherwise they will corrupt everything.' In a speech addressed the Iranian Air Force officers, Isfahan, 19th September 1979.

 

'These writings, these speeches, these wrong activities, these democratic programs are separations from Islam. All these voices are blasphemy and are atheistic.' In a discourse delivered to the representatives from Tabriz in Qom on 19th September 1979.

 

'We have to identify those who are not in line with Islam and the Islamic movement by their articles, speeches, and activities. You the clergy, thank God, who have control over the Islamic nation [referring to the Iranian people] have to warn people of the devils who arrange gatherings and lectures. They are all afraid of one thing, which is Islam. They might criticize many things, but the key point is that they are attacking Islam itself. Their pens are the same old bayonets that have become like pens ... [sic]. They all have to understand that as long as there is a pulpit and an altar, and as long as these homily readers [that is, Mullahs] exist, they cannot do anything. To all of you who oppose us, I recommend that you don't gather so much, don't send so many fliers, don't publish so much; have you now become brave enough to stick out your neck? I will slap you on your mouth. You think that you have power? Stop all these words and all this gibberish.' To a group of clergymen, Qom, 22nd October 1979.

 

'In the revolution that was achieved in Iran, people were screaming that they wanted Islam; these people did not rise up so their country could have democracy.' In a meeting with the Islamic Regime Television and Radio Committee in Qom on 10th December 1979.

 

'This nation exists and clerics exist too. You all must know that in every place in this country only clerics can get the job done. Don't show so much prejudice that you want to put the clerics aside. What have you done for your country in all these years that now you're saying clerics should not be in charge? Appreciate these clerics. You do not understand correctly! If you put this group aside, no name or sign of Islam will remain. Imagine one cleric has done something wrong somewhere. Why can you do something wrong and some cleric cannot do anything wrong?' In a meeting with the Islamic Parliament, Jamaran (2), Tehran, 27th May 1981.

 

'These criminals that have been arrested are not accused, but their crimes have been proven. We only have to prove their identity and then kill them all. There is absolutely no need for a trial. No compassion for them will be allowed. We believe that the guilty party does not need a trial and must be killed.' In a message to the Iranian people, 30th June, 1980

 

'People have to learn from the mother who brought her own son to court and then her son was hanged. This is one of the paradigms of Islam, that everyone has to be the same. Children, brothers, kids--if they do not accept advice, introduce them to government officials so that they can receive their punishment ... this is their Islamic responsibility and their faith responsibility. This must be done.' In a meeting with a selected group of police officers on 24th July 1981.

 

'This job that you have accomplished, Oh you, woman, that you brought and gave away your son for punishment has become a paradigm in Islam. This is something that everyone must do. It is the responsibility of all Moslems to do the same.' In a meeting with the mother of Mahmoud Tarighol-Islam to acknowledge her as an exemplary mother for surrendering her son to the regime for execution, Jamaran, on 26th August 1981.

 

'Iran is following a program, and that program is Islam. The same Islam that says if somebody has an association with left or right, that individual is fighting God. He has the intention of fighting God, and his punishment is the punishment that people fighting God will receive.” In a meeting with sports coaches and educators at Jamaran on 19th September 1982.

 

'Dear students, you must watch the behaviour and the activities of your teachers and professors so that if, God forbid, they say something wrong, you see them deviating, right away you must report them to the responsible officials. Teachers and professors, you must be alert to watch your own colleagues to see if some of them are trying to teach deviating thoughts during their lessons to the children of our Islamic nation so that they can be stopped. If this does not work, directly communicate with officials. My dear children, you too take care of one another in the best possible way, and if you observe that some enemies in the appearance of friends or schoolmates are trying to attract your friends, introduce them to the responsible officials, and try to do all these things very secretly. Committed mothers and fathers, watch the comings and goings of your children and observe their activities.' In a message on the first day of the school year in Qom on 23rd September 1982.