27th Memorial

Death of Imam Khomeini in the Mirror of Memories

Maryam Asadi Jafari
Translated by Natalie Haghverdian

2016-6-12

First symptoms of cardiac pain appeared in early 1979. Man of hard days of exile and steadfast leader of the Iranian people, suffered heart condition one year after the victory of Islamic Revolution. A medical group was in charge of Imam Khomeini’s health for 10 years of whom Dr. Hassan Arefi is to be mentioned. He would monitor Imam’s physical condition on a daily basis and later published his medical reports on treatments and terms in a book titled “Physician of Hearts”. However, such medical care was not merely concerning his cardiac condition.

During the eight years of holy defense, momentous decisions and handling country affairs continued to impose extensive physical pressure on the founder of Revolution until spring of 1989 when his health deteriorated and despite efforts of physicians and prayers of the public, Imam Khomeini departed at 22:20 on Saturday, June 1, 1989 and left his followers in grief. Late Ahmad Khomeini was with his father during his ill health and his other children and later Khadijeh Saghafi, his wife, dealt with this grief with patience and stamina.

The article ahead entails the memories of relatives, family members, friends and doctors of Imam Khomeini about the last moments of his life. However, most of the memories of relatives of the Imam just like of Fatima Tabatabai cover the event to the Revolution and therefore, there is no mention of the demise of Imam Khomeini in her book. Also late Sadegh Tabatabai who published two volumes of his memoirs passed away before finishing the whole series. Late Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini didn’t leave any memoirs behind and merely stated short indications in his articles pertaining to the anniversary of Imam’s death and late Khadijeh Saghafi recounted painful memories of those moments.

Since death of the leader of the greatest revolution of the twentieth century is unforgettable, we browse memoirs.

Family of Imam & Farewell with “Ruhollah”

Late Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini in his book "Reason of the Sun," says, "the last days of his life, Ali, my son who was three years old and Imam Khomeini like him very much, came to visit; Imam dismissed him from his room; he wanted to be only with God and then he summoned me and said that your mother has no one but God. Don’t do anything contrary to her desire. The last hours of his life I knew that within an hour or two he will join God. I knew so did the doctors but I didn’t say it. I didn’t dare. When I remember his physical pain and how he patiently endured the pain and didn’t complain, it makes me sad.

Late Khadijeh Saghafi in her memoirs of the dark days of Imam Khomeini’s illness says: “That morning, dear Fahimeh [Dr. Zahra Mostafavi] came. I was resting in bed. She said that Imam is under surgery and you can watch through CCTV. We went to the hospital. Dear Ahmad and Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani were in the hallway. We sat there. Couple of minutes later Mr. Hashemi said: “It’s better that women leave the hallway, a few authorities are here and would like to come in and the surgery is over.” I left the hospital and came home but Fahimeh sat there and said: I have to be here. I came home but I was worried. Finally I was informed that he is awake. I went to visit in the afternoon. I asked: “How are you feeling?” He looked at me with a sad look upon his face and didn’t answer and closed his eyes. I called him and said: Sir …. Sir …. He looked at me again but he couldn’t talk and closed his eyes again. I couldn’t stay any longer since there were authorities who had come to visit. I went to visit him every day but the last day when I went for visit in the morning he looked at me and said: “pray for me to go” and he closed his eyes and I thought he’s sleep. That day his condition was worse. I got worried. I went to the hospital at noon and told Fahimeh: He is not going to recover. He’s getting worse. Fahimeh said: Yes, I have the same assumption. All family members were worried about Imam but we couldn’t do anything. All we could do was to visit him in the hospital and pray for him. That day, at noon, he spoke a few words and elaborated on some issues. Then he looked at us and said: “Now leave. I want to rest.” We all left but Zahra [daughter of Mr. Eshraghi] stood there. Imam slept. When I went back in the evening he had trouble breathing. I held his hand. His hands were cold. I told Dr. Arefi: “It seems that your efforts and our prayers are not working.” The doctor checked his pulse and nodded to confirm my assumption.”

The author of the memoirs of Imam’s wife continues by describing: “despite back pain, she travelled the stairs at home and in the hospital three times that day to visit Imam but seeing his deteriorating condition affected her. She couldn’t bear it anymore and fell on the bed. She was suffering pain so we gave her two sleeping pills. Unfortunately, when she woke up early morning, Imam had passed away. She said: “Imam’s demise was the saddest event of my life. It was very difficult. I knew Imam was suffering. In time I realized that he will leave us. I was sick and couldn’t bear the grief. I have been strong and patient in my life and conquered a lot of suffering but I’m old and weak now and grief is taking toll.

One of Imam’s daughters says: I didn’t look at my watch. I was rushing towards the hospital when I heard cries; I was running and realized that all men in the hospital area are running; they were all running in different directions; I got to the hall and say others running. I couldn’t imagine that it has happened …. I got to his bed, looking at him I thought he’s sleep. He had lost a lot of weight. The doctors said: his weight loss is because he is not eating … but God is my witness that when I saw him in that moment his face and body looked bigger … and I could see light shining from his face.”

Fatemeh Tabatabayi, wife of Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini describes the emotional status of Imam’s grandchildren: “that night, Ali was asleep. When we started crying he woke up and asked: “what happened?” I replied: “Nothing Ali jan! The mourning group for Imam Hossein is here.” Ali stook and said: “Let’s go. Let’s go see Imam.” I said: “No! He’s sleep.” I hugged him and I don’t know what he felt but he suddenly said: “let’s fly to the sky!” I said: “Why?” He said: “Imam is there.”

Farewell from Friends’ Perspective

Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani on June 1, 1989 in his diary wrote: "After morning prayer, I went to the hospital [Jamaran Cardiac Ward], and from there I went to the Majlis. In the news of foreign agencies there were no sign of any information on Imam’s condition. I undertook some administrative duties ... at three in the afternoon Ahmad Agha informed me that Imam’s condition has deteriorated and urged me to go to the hospital with other authorities... we got there as soon as we could. In his last moments, his breath was normal with no need of support. He was breathing heavily. He opened his eyes once and then closed again and it was his last look. The doctors started SPR immediately and tried electric shock and he started breathing again. They maintained the situation till 10:20 at night but there was no brain function. Once they told us that he’s breathing normally but the situation didn’t last … very soon cries were heard from the hospital and the house. I asked everyone to be patient and described the arrangements. It was decided to say “Tavassol Prayer” in mourning. Patience of household female members was admirable. I stayed there till midnight for arrangements. I returned home and took sleeping pills.

Mohssen Rafighdoust was also in the hospital that night: “I had heard about Imam’s ill health months ago; maybe winter of 1987. I know that his heart is being controlled with a wireless unit which is linked to Baghiyatollah hospital of Jamaran 2 with twenty four hours surveillance. I was in Cooperative Fund of Sepah at the time. I would visit Imam in the hospital every day. The night that Imam passed away, I went there in the evening. His son and doctors were in his room and the others were watching through the glass. It was almost 10 o’clock that Ahmad Agha came out of the room and said: “Join us and say farewell to Imam.” All authorities and clergies went in. Two rooms near Imam’s room were prepared for visitors and carpets were extended in the yard. I went in and kissed his stomach. I had a strange feeling and it was as if my chest was bursting. I ran to the street and sat in the alley. It was maybe half an hour later that Imam passed away. All authorities and clergies were invited since they knew that Imam will be with us for another two or three hour.”

Jafar Shir Ali Nia in his book “Story of a Life and Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khameni” quoted Ayatollah Imami Kashani and Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani: “Imami Kashani: it was sunset and Imam was not well. Along with some friends including the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mousavi Ardebili, Ayatollah Meshkini, Ayatollah Amini, members of Guardian Council we went to visit. We were discussing the special circumstances and what should be done after Imam …. The debate was on that Ahmad Agha informed us that Imam has passed away. Mahdavi Kani: during Imam’s ill health I was abroad for treatment but I returned to attend his funeral. On my way I encountered reporters who were willing to travel to Iran. The plane was full and some were willing to pay high to get a ticket. They thought that after Imam, Revolution and Islamic Governance will perish…”

Narrative of a Doctor

Dr. Iraj Fazel, is one of the members of the medical team assigned to control the condition of Imam Khomeini and he says: “On Friday, the situation had not changed. Imam’s situation would improve and make us happy but blood count formula as very high …. It was approximately eleven in the morning that changes appeared in his cardiac function curve which was of concern. I reached Ahmad Agha and told him that we are worried about the current situation and it is better for him to stay longer with Imam and have some serious talks since these moment are invaluable. The situation didn’t improve. Blood pressure was low and treatment was not working. Blood pressure ware being controlled with special machinery but it was dropping but Imam was conscious. He said his noon and evening prayers that day and it was three in the afternoon that he went into a cardiac arrest. By SPR we managed to revive him but Imam was unconscious… the condition was steady for a while … but his blood pressure dropped gradually and it reached to the lowest point and beating heart of Dear Khomeini stopped.