Kashf al-Asrar (Unveiling of Secrets), written by Ruhollah Khomeini in 1943, is a foundational text that marked his first major foray into political and religious polemics. The book was a direct response to Ali Akbar Hakamizadeh’s Asrar-i Hazarsala (Secrets of a Thousand Years), which had criticized traditional Shi'ite practices.
: While Khomeini had not yet fully developed his later theory of Wilayat al-Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurist), Kashf al-Asrar
While Khomeini’s later work Hukumat-e Islami (Islamic Government) in 1970 formalized the doctrine of Wilayat al-Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurist), Kashf al-Asrar contains the larval stage of this idea. He writes that a "just and pious jurist" must supervise the government. Specifically, he calls for three immediate reforms: kashf ul asrar khomeini pdf
The revolution was theological from the start. The ideas that toppled the Shah—that a monarch is a usurper, that Westernization is "Westoxification," and that a jurist must rule—are all laid out in this obscure 1943 book.
WorldCat entry often lists the physical copies at: Kashf al-Asrar (Unveiling of Secrets), written by Ruhollah
In recent years, "Kashf ul Asrar Khomeini" has been digitized and made available online in PDF format. This has facilitated access to the book for a wider audience, enabling researchers, scholars, and enthusiasts to explore its contents and insights.
Khomeini rigorously defends the core tenets of Twelver Shia Islam against accusations of superstition. He writes that a "just and pious jurist"
Khomeini vigorously defends practices like the mourning of Muharram, ziyara (pilgrimage to shrines), and the intercession of the Imams, which critics labeled as "shirk" (idolatry).
Throughout the book, Khomeini also critiques what he sees as Western ideologies, including liberalism, socialism, and communism. He argues that these ideologies are incompatible with Islamic values and that they lead to chaos and disorder.
Addresses the validity and interpretation of prophetic traditions. Political Significance
Several key themes emerge in "Kashf al-Asrar":