Ayatollah Khamenei and Imam Khomeini

After hearing Imam Khomeini's heartfelt message while in the hospital following the June 27, 1981 assassination attempt, Ayatollah Khamenei released a statement to the Iranian nation. He opened it with a line of poetry by Fasih al-Zaman Rezvani:

Though my heart shatters as a sacrifice for your captivating gaze,

Let the great vessel stand safe, though a fragile jug may break

In this message, while expressing his gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and the public, he spoke of Imam Khomeini’s kindness with the utmost humility, writing:

"It's been four days since the incident, and by the grace of God and the tireless efforts of the wonderful staff at this hospital, I'm in very good condition and doing well. Whenever I reflect on how this event prompted our deeply revered Imam to show such grace and voice such heartfelt sympathy in his message, and how our great, heroic nation has raised their hands in prayer for me, I feel deeply humbled."

Following the failed assassination attempt on Ayatollah Khamenei, Imam Khomeini (ra) issued a message strongly condemning the terrorist act and praying for his swift recovery. He praised Ayatollah Khamenei’s character and services in truly exceptional terms. In the message, Imam Khomeini referred to Ayatollah Khamenei as "a descendant of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and the lineage of Hussain ibn Ali (pbuh)," stating that his only "crime" was serving Islam, the Islamic nation, and the people. 

He further lauded him as "a dedicated soldier on the war front, an inspiring teacher at the pulpit, an eloquent speaker at Friday and congregational prayers, and a compassionate guide on the Revolutionary stage," before praying to Almighty God for his health and continued service.

Later, as Ayatollah Khamenei began to recover and returned to his duties, Imam Khomeini (ra) expressed his joy at seeing him, saying: 

"This respected gentleman who has now made it with great difficulty... Mr. Khamenei... What exactly had he done that you wanted to kill him? And thank God you didn't succeed." 

He then went on to describe Ayatollah Khamenei’s character, adding: 

"If you search the entire world and look among all its presidents and monarchs, you will not find a single person like Mr. Khamenei – someone so deeply committed to Islam, whose heart is so genuinely set on serving this nation."

Ayatollah Khamenei's admiration for Imam Khomeini was so profound that, years later in an interview, he recalled how much he missed the Imam while hospitalized. To ease that longing, he would gaze at a portrait of the Imam hanging in his room. He even asked his attendants to position his bed so it faced the picture, allowing him to look at it at all times. In his own words, simply looking at the Imam's face brought joy to his heart and gave him a deep sense of peace and spiritual comfort.

This deep bond was entirely mutual. Imam Khomeini, too, repeatedly expressed his admiration, trust, and special regard for Ayatollah Khamenei, viewing him as one of the most committed, dedicated, and loyal figures of Islam and the Revolution.

In many surviving photos from the early days of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei is seen alongside Imam Khomeini, among his closest companions. This particular photograph captures that era, showing Ayatollah Khamenei standing amidst the crowd, in close proximity to the Imam. The year is 1963. Imam Khomeini is standing among his students, and Sayyid Ali Khamenei is a young seminary student, around 24 years old in this picture. This image captures the very beginning of the bond between the master, Khomeini, and his young student, Khamenei, who would later introduce a new order to the world.