Ayatollah Khomeini’s Mystical Poetry and its Reception in Iran and the Diaspora

There are many publications dealing with the political career of Ruhollah Khomeini (1902–1989), who transformed the political landscape of Iran and the Middle East after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Most of the research conducted in the West is on Khomeini's political strategies, while the influential role of mysticism in all facets of his life is ignored. This book is the first study examining Khomeini's poetry, mysticism and the reception of his poetry both in Iran and the West. It investigates how Khomeini integrated various doctrines and ideas of Islamic mysticism and Shiiism such as the Perfect Man into his poetry. Table of Contents Acknowledgments Notes on Translations, Transliterations and Footnotes Introduction Chapter 1. The Clergy’s Role in Politics Chapter 2. Ayatollah Khomeini’s Inner World: Mysticism and Poetry Chapter 3. Ayatollah Khomeini, the Topical Poet and his Quatrains (robâʿis) Chapter 4. Ayatollah Khomeini as an Antinomian Poet: Lyrical Poems (ghazals) Chapter 5. Ayatollah Khomeini, the Shiite Philosopher and his Panegyric Poems (qasides) Chapter 6. Reception of Ayatollah Khomeini’s Poetry in Iran and Abroad General Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index