The Qom seminary scholar’s community was established in 1958 by a group of prominent scholars and professors of the Qom Seminary, initially operating in secrecy as a completely clandestine organization. In 1963, when the Islamic struggles of the Muslim people of Iran began under the decisive leadership of Imam Khomeini (RA) and the cooperation of scholars, seminarians, and other segments of society, the Qom seminary scholar’s community —as a seminary-based organization—answered Imam Khomeini’s call and devoted all its efforts to supporting and continuing the struggle.
The Qom seminary scholar’s community, along with other revolutionaries, was active in printing, copying, distributing, and dispatching Imam Khomeini’s and other scholars’ statements to cities, sending seminarians to different locations to speak at public gatherings, issuing statements supporting Imam Khomeini, and engaging in any activities that would aid the struggle at that time.
During the uprising of June 5, 1963 (15 Khordad 1342), when Imam Khomeini (RA) was arrested by the Pahlavi regime and taken to Tehran, where he was imprisoned in a military barracks, the Qom seminary scholar’s community played a significant role in encouraging the people to rise up.
To prevent the Pahlavi regime from prosecuting and subsequently executing Imam Khomeini (RA) in a military tribunal, prominent scholars such as Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Hadi Milani and Ayatollah Rouhollah Kamalvand traveled from Qom and other cities to Tehran and engaged in activism.
The Qom seminary scholar’s community had a major role in this movement, with several of its members participating in meetings organized by scholars in support of Imam Khomeini (RA), playing an important part in guiding and ensuring the success of these meetings.
Around the same time, through the efforts of some members of the Qom seminary scholar’s community, several prominent jurists and maraji’ (sources of emulation) issued a statement endorsing Imam Khomeini’s religious authority (marja’iyyah).
Due to this widespread uprising and the efforts of the scholars and maraji’, the Pahlavi regime was unable to carry out its decision and reluctantly released Imam Khomeini (RA) on April 6, 1964 (17 Farvardin 1343), allowing him to return to Qom.
After his release and return to Qom, Imam Khomeini (RA) continued to lead the struggle. The Qom seminary scholar’s community, alongside other mujahideen—even at the forefront—continued its activities until Imam Khomeini’s famous speech on October 26 of the same year, where he harshly criticized the capitulation law (granting immunity to American military personnel in Iran) and issued a statement condemning it. As a result, on November 4, 1964, Imam Khomeini was arrested again, transferred to Tehran, and then exiled to Turkey, later to Iraq, and eventually to France.
After the exile of Imam Khomeini (RA), the heroic and struggling nation of Iran was deprived of his direct leadership, and the Pahlavi regime achieved its goal in exiling him—aimed to gradually erase his presence from the public memory, hoping that the people would become fatigued and disheartened from their struggles. During this period, the responsibility of the Qom seminary scholar’s community became heavier and more difficult, as it had to keep the people engaged in the struggle while also using the incident of Imam’s exile to expose the injustices of the Pahlavi regime.
In the middle of 1965, with Imam Khomeini’s (RA) transfer from Turkey to Najaf and the arrest of several members of the Qom seminary scholar’s community in early 1966, coupled with the regime’s increasing oppression and its ability to relatively consolidate its power, the Qom seminary scholar’s community organizational activities declined. However, its members remained deeply involved in the struggle.
Members of the Qom seminary scholar’s community, in collaboration with other scholars, seminarians, university students, and other revolutionary groups, continued their efforts in two main areas during Imam Khomeini’s absence: first, promoting and expanding the scope of Imam Khomeini’s religious authority (marja’iyyah) and keeping his name alive; and second, exposing the injustices and atrocities of the Pahlavi regime. The Qom seminary scholar’s community was fully active in this critical responsibility and maintained contact with Imam Khomeini (RA) through telegrams, letters, phone calls, or emissaries to receive his guidance in directing the struggle.
After the passing of Ayatollah Seyyed Mohsen Hakim (RA) in June 1970—who had led the Shi’a community for nine years following Ayatollah Borujerdi (RA)—the Shah’s regime sought to prevent the emergence of Imam Khomeini’s religious authority. During this time, the Qom seminary scholar’s community undertook significant steps to promote Imam Khomeini’s marja’iyyah, including issuing a statement signed by twelve scholars and jurists affirming Imam Khomeini’s preeminence (a’lamiyyah). This was achieved through the efforts of the Society and the signatures of several of its members, though it led to the arrest and exile of about 25 of them. Although some members of the Qom seminary scholar’s community were in prison and others had been exiled due to previous events, the organization became more active, holding meetings with the remaining members in a more structured and cohesive manner.
The connections between the Society’s members and activists in their respective cities and other regions led to the formation of a broad revolutionary network with the Qom seminary scholar’s community acting as the center of this movement.
On February 1, 1979 (12 Bahman 1357), at the height of the revolutionary movement, Imam Khomeini returned to Iran. Through his divinely inspired leadership and the relentless struggles of the heroic and martyr-nurturing nation of Iran, the Shah’s regime was finally overthrown on February 11 (22 Bahman), and the Islamic Revolution triumphed. At this point, the responsibility of the Qom seminary scholar’s community shifted from fighting the tyrannical regime to participating in the establishment and consolidation of the Islamic government.
For those interested in learning more about the activities and challenges faced by the Qom seminary scholar’s community from its formation to the present, they can refer to the various books published by the organization.
Among the most significant activities of The Qom seminary scholar’s community, alongside other clerics and segments of the revolutionary people of Iran, the following can be highlighted:
The goal of establishing the Qom seminary scholar’s community was to engage in political struggle, introduce true Islam, implement its teachings in Iran, and subsequently expand them internationally, while remaining steadfast on this path. It can be said that, from the beginning, the politically centered activities were the central focus during the Community’s formation. Realizing this great goal during the struggle for the Islamic Revolution took various forms, some of which have been noted above.
In this context, some members of The Qom seminary scholar’s community held positions in various institutions such as: