From the Quran, with the Quran, for the Quran

On February 19, 2026, Ayatollah Khamenei’s final public appearance took place during a Quranic assembly. A circle of reciters sat within the Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah, with him in their midst. This image serves as a summation of Ayatollah Khamenei’s lifelong, intimate relationship with the holy book of Muslims.

This relationship had deep roots. In the years preceding the Islamic Revolution of Iran, he had initiated Quranic exegesis [Tafsir] discussions at the Imam Hassan Mosque in Mashhad. Although the security police of the Pahlavi regime shut them down, he pursued his Quranic research by compiling a specialized dictionary.

A year later, during the month of Ramadan, he delivered a series of 28 consecutive lectures at the very same mosque, titled: "Clarification of the main themes and general principles of Islamic thought based on the Quran." 

Day by day, he extracted the foundational intellectual pillars of Islam directly from the Quranic verses, linking divine teachings to practical obligations and social life. This collection was later published as a book titled An Outline of Islamic Thought in the Quran and translated into several languages.

Throughout the entire duration of his leadership, his speeches were consistently anchored in the Quran. In a single year alone, he referenced its verses 170 times across 68 different speeches. Among his most frequently repeated verses, themes of "standing firm against oppressors," "aiding the cause of God," and "harboring no fear of the enemy's threats" stood out above all else. He firmly believed that the backwardness of Muslim societies was a direct consequence of drifting away from this book, and that the only path to progress lay in returning to it.

To make this familiarity widespread, he would assert that Quranic recitation must become so prevalent that people can hear the divine word directly and without mediation. He consistently supported Quranic memorization initiatives and competitions, advising families to encourage their children to memorize the holy book. He also suggested that Muslims embarking on the pilgrimage to Mecca complete a full recitation of the Quran during their journey.

He recommended reading at least ten verses every single day and advised everyone to carry a pocket edition of the Quran. He viewed memorization as a stepping stone to deep contemplation, as repeating the verses provides the opportunity to ponder their deeper meanings. He envisioned a goal of ten million memorizers of the Quran across the country. His own life was a testament to this unbroken bond with the Quran. Whether traveling, attending meetings, or participating in congregational prayers, the Quran was always with him, and it remained in his hands on the very last day of his life, the moment his home was bombarded.

Photo: Ayatollah Khamenei reading the Quran while aboard an aircraft. He would say: "We must strengthen our relationship with the Quran day by day. Read the Quran in your homes. Even during idle moments, whenever you find a bit of free time, connect yourself with the Quran. Read and learn a portion of the Quran every day." February 6, 1992

Photo: April 25, 2020. A Quranic recitation gathering on the first day of Ramadan 1441 AH. Ayatollah Khamenei is seen closely studying the words of the Holy Quran.