No Tears for Khamenei

2 March 2026 articles JAMIATUL ULAMA KwaZulu-Natal - South Africa COUNCIL OF MUSLIM THEOLOGIANS EDUCATING • ENLIGHTENING • SERVING Tel: +27 31 207 7099 Email: [email protected] Web: www.jamiat.org.za HEOLOGIAN 223 Alpine Road, Durban, 4091, KZN P.O. Box: 19551, Dormerton, 4015 NPO no.: 077-820 PBO File no.: 18/11/13/2215 pll jnagil aul pu 2nd March 2026 12th Ramadaan 1447 NO TEARS FOR KHAMENEI Official Iranian news outlets confirmed that Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Muslim reactions to this news must be guided by principle and fact, not emotion. While the Israeli-American coalition has long been immensely hostile towards the Muslim world, this does not erase the reality that Iran, too, has caused tremendous harm. One enemy opposing another does not transform either into a friend. Khamenei was the spiritual head of the Twelver Shia sect. Beyond theological differences; his leadership was tied to an ideological project that sought to expand Iranian influence across the region. A central aim of the Iranian revolution was to revive the legacy of the Safavid era by spreading Shi'ism and consolidating regional dominance. This vision materialised in the pursuit of a so-called "Shia Crescent" stretching from Lebanon and Syria through Iraq and Iran to Bahrain and Yemen. Despite its public slogans of "Death to America" and "Death to Israel," Iran's history reveals instances of quiet cooperation with global powers when it suited its own interests & agenda. The Iran-Contra scandal remains one well-known such example. Iran also assisted in key regional conflicts, including the U.S. invasion of Iraq and the removal of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Political rhetoric often masked strategic calculation. In its drive for regional control, Iran became deeply involved in conflicts across Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Its unwavering support for the deposed Syrian President Bashar al- Assad, stands out. Under Khamenei's leadership, backing Assad was framed as a religious duty. Militias were mobilised and the Syrian conflict resulted in catastrophic loss of life, displacement and destruction. Masaajid were altered, communities torn apart and countless families left grieving. For many Syrians who endured these atrocities firsthand, the news of Khamenei's death was met not with sorrow but with relief, even celebration! 1 Est: 1955 / 1374 A.H. JAMIATUL ULAMA KwaZulu-Natal - South Africa COUNCIL OF MUSLIM THEOLOGIANS EDUCATING • ENLIGHTENING • SERVING THEOLOGIANS Tel: +27 31 207 7099 Email: [email protected] Web: www.jamiat.org.za 223 Alpine Road, Durban, 4091, KZN P.O. Box: 19551, Dormerton, 4015 NPO no.: 077-820 PBO File no.: 18/11/13/2215 Supporting the Palestinian cause remains a moral obligation on the Ummah. However, allegiance in Islam cannot be reduced to a single political issue. No stance, however correct, erases a record of oppression elsewhere. History reminds us that good in one matter does not cancel wrongdoing in another. Justice in Islam is consistent and principled. At the same time, the foreign policies of the United States and Israel have also resulted in devastating humanitarian consequences, including civilian casualties, displacement and destruction. All oppression must be condemned unequivocally, regardless of who commits it. Accountability cannot be selective. The fact that Khamenei was killed by an adversary of the Muslim world does not elevate him to the status of a hero or martyr. Allah Ta'ala, in His wisdom, sometimes allows one oppressor to overcome another. As the holy Qur'an states: "In this way We appoint some oppressors over others because of what they have earned." (6:129) Muslims must rise above emotional reactions and assess events with clarity and justice. The path ahead for the Ummah remains long and challenging. Yet the removal of a ruler under whose leadership so much suffering occurred is not a cause for tears. May Allah Ta'ala bring goodness for the Ummah from the current events. Nothing is beyond His power. In Him alone we place our trust. Executive Committee Jamiatul Ulama KZN South Africa 2 Est: 1955 /1374 A.H.