Rereading of Imam Khomeini’s Ethical School in Malaysia
It was hosted by the Iranian Cultural Center in Malaysia and attended by Iranian and Malaysian intellectuals.
According to the center’s public relations office, the webinar was organized with a focus on “promoting ethics in perception of Imam Khomeini (RA)” in the international arena.
Hojat-ol-Islam Ali Kamsari, head of the Institute for Compilation and Publication of the Works of Imam Khomeini (RA), Azmi Abdul Hamid, president of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organizations (MAPIM) and an advisor to the prime minister of Malaysia, and Habibreza Arzani, Iran’s Cultural Attaché, delivered speeches at the webinar.
Hojat-ol-Islam Kamsari said, “In our time, when moral and humanitarian crises have engulfed the face of societies, rereading the moral thoughts of Imam Khomeini is doubly necessary. Imam Khomeini (RA), as one of the most influential thinkers and leaders of the 20th century, presented a moral system based on monotheism, justice, and human self-improvement that extends not only to the individual but also to the realm of politics and society.”
Referring to the challenges facing the world today in the realm of morality, justice, and human identity, he said, “The rapid pace of technological progress, cultural changes, and political competition have caused human values to be marginalized in many societies.”
In such an environment, he said, Imam Khomeini’s (RA) thought, as a model of the connection between ethics and politics, can be a spiritual and humane response to contemporary crises.
He added that Imam Khomeini believed that a society without ethics, despite material progress, is on the path to decadence. “He always emphasized that educating a person is the prelude to any social and political transformation and that reforming the individual is the foundation for reforming society.”
Hojat-ol-Islam Kamsari explained in detail the ethical principles in the Imam Khomeini’s thought, the connection between ethics and politics in his intellectual system, and the strategies for promoting this intellectual heritage globally.
He concluded by saying that Imam Khomeini’s thought offers a comprehensive model of the connection between ethics, mysticism, and politics; a model that can be a basis for redefining the concept of ethical governance in the contemporary world.
Azmi Abdul Hamid said in his address that in an era where material power has overshadowed moral awareness, the teachings of Imam Khomeini are a reminder of the fact that the foundation of Islamic civilization is based on morality.
“Imam Khomeini saw the Islamic Revolution not merely as a political movement, but as a profound spiritual and moral reform that redefined the way Islam interacts with the world.”
Azmi Abdul Hamid added, “Imam Khomeini considered morality to be the essence of human existence and warned that knowledge without morality leads to arrogance and oppression. He defined leadership as a kind of moral stewardship whose legitimacy stems from honesty and piety.”
In another part of his speech, the MAPIM chief said, “Imam Khomeini viewed science and philosophy from a deeply moral perspective and warned of the danger of science becoming immoral. In his view, a society that advances technologically but declines morally is in fact heading for destruction.”
In concluding his remarks, he emphasized that promoting ethics from Imam Khomeini’s perspective means rebuilding civilization based on justice, humility, and responsibility. “This ethical legacy continues to awaken the conscience of humanity and challenge the arrogance of power.”
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Arzani, the third speaker of the meeting, began his remarks by emphasizing the centrality of ethics in human life.
He said Imam Khomeini believed that ethics is the essence of humanity and the true standard of civilization. “In his view, ethics is not simply a set of social customs or outward behavior, but rather a comprehensive system of moral and spiritual education that shapes both the individual and society.”
He also referred to the noble hadith of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) who said, “I was sent to complete the noblest morals,” and added that the Prophet’s mission was a moral revolution to awaken the human conscience.
He considered one of Imam Khomeini’s most important teachings to be the revival of the concept of “Greater Jihad” and said, “Imam Khomeini considered the internal struggle with the self to be prior to any external battle and emphasized that if a person wins over his own self, a just and peaceful society will be established.”
He added that Imam Khomeini considered ethics as a guide to politics, economics and education and warned that if power is separated from ethics, even the most advanced societies will decline.
“He believed that the reform of nations begins with the reform of the youth and that moral education is the foundation of the stability of nations.
The cultural envoy said although Imam Khomeini’s moral thought was formed within the framework of Islam, it crosses religious and cultural boundaries.
He added that his emphasis on truthfulness, humility, justice, kindness and self-control is consistent with the common moral principles in all great human traditions and can be the language of dialogue between nations.
In another part of his speech, Arzani noted that today, more than ever, humanity needs to return to spirituality and morality.
He said that Imam Khomeini’s message is a universal call for coexistence, justice, and peace; a message that not only Muslims but all free people can relate to.
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He emphasized that if these teachings are institutionalized in education, politics, media, and the lifestyle of societies, one can witness the emergence of a more humane and just civilization; a civilization based on human dignity and love.
He concluded by saying that in a world suffering from materialism and moral confusion, Imam Khomeini’s message is a call for moral awakening. “If every human being corrects his heart, families will flourish, societies will prosper, and the world will move toward peace and tranquility.”
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