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. “ (Sahifeh ye Imam, vol. 8, p. 12)
Imam Khomeini used to say Muharram, the month of heroism, bravery, and sacrifice has commenced. It is a month wherein the blood conquered the sword.
According to Imam Khomeini, Muharram is the month in which justice was raised up against cruelty while truth confronted falsehood, and has proved that throughout history truth has always been triumphant against falsehood.
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.
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
Public rallies on Tasoua and Ashura of 1978 also 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.