Few figures in modern history have reshaped a nation’s identity as completely as the man who turned a religious idea into a theocratic state. If you’ve ever wondered how a Shia cleric from a small Iranian town became the face of a revolution—and why his legacy still commands headlines decades later—you’re in the right place.

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Birth: May 17, 1900, Khomeyn, Iran ·
Death: June 3, 1989, Tehran, Iran ·
Role: First Supreme Leader of Iran (1979–1989) ·
Known for: Leading the 1979 Iranian Revolution

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Led the 1979 Iranian Revolution that overthrew the Shah (Britannica)
  • Became first Supreme Leader of Iran in 1979 (Britannica)
  • Died on June 3, 1989, from a heart attack (Biography.com)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact birth year varies (1900 or 1902) across sources (Britannica)
  • Funeral attendance estimates range from 10 to 12 million (Britannica)
3Timeline signal
  • 1963: Arrested for opposing the Shah’s White Revolution (Britannica)
  • 1979: Returned from exile and established the Islamic Republic (BBC History)
4What’s next
  • His successor, Ali Khamenei, remains Supreme Leader as of 2025 (Brookings)

The table below lays out the six essential biographical facts, each of which traces Khomeini’s path from quiet scholarship to absolute political authority.

Six key biographical facts, one pattern: Khomeini’s life followed a trajectory from quiet scholarship to absolute political authority.
Label Value
Full Name Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini
Birth Date May 17, 1900
Death Date June 3, 1989
Place of Birth Khomeyn, Iran
Title Ayatollah, Supreme Leader
Religion Shia Islam

The implication: even foundational facts like birth year carry uncertainty (1900 vs. 1902), reflecting how Khomeini’s early life was less documented than his revolutionary years.

What was Ayatollah Khomeini known for?

Role as leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution

  • Khomeini led the 1979 Iranian Revolution that overthrew Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi (Britannica).
  • He returned from exile in 1979 after 15 years abroad (BBC History).
The upshot

Khomeini’s return wasn’t just a homecoming—it marked the moment a clerical leader replaced a monarch, setting a precedent that still defines Iranian governance.

Establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran

  • The revolution transformed Iran into an Islamic republic in 1979 (BBC History).
  • Khomeini became Iran’s ultimate political and religious authority for the 10 years after 1979 (Britannica).

Concept of Velayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurist)

  • Khomeini developed the theory that a senior Shia jurist should hold ultimate political authority (Britannica).
  • This concept was implemented in the 1979 constitution (Britannica).

The pattern: Khomeini didn’t just win a revolution—he invented a new form of governance that fused religious and political authority, a model that persists in Iran today.

What does Ayatollah mean in Iran?

Literal translation of the term Ayatollah

  • Ayatollah literally means “sign of God” in Arabic (Britannica).

Religious rank in Shia Islam

  • It is a high-ranking title in Shia Islam, used for senior jurists (EBSCO Research Starters).
  • Not all Ayatollahs hold political power; Khomeini’s role of Supreme Leader was unique (Britannica).

Difference between Ayatollah and other clerical titles

  • A “Marja” (source of emulation) is a higher rank than Ayatollah, serving as a reference for Shia followers (Britannica).
  • Khomeini himself was both an Ayatollah and a Marja—but his political role was unprecedented (Counter Extremism Project).

The catch: while the title “Ayatollah” is purely religious, Khomeini’s fusion of it with political authority created a hybrid that has no parallel in other branches of Islam.

What happened to Ayatollah Khomeini and how did he die?

Events surrounding Khomeini’s death on June 3, 1989

  • Ayatollah Khomeini died on June 3, 1989, from a heart attack (Biography.com).
  • He died in Tehran, Iran (Britannica).

Details of his funeral

  • An estimated 10 million people attended his funeral in Tehran (Britannica).
  • Some estimates range as high as 12 million (Britannica).
What to watch

The funeral itself became a political event: the massive crowds signaled how deeply Khomeini’s ideology had penetrated Iranian society, but also created a succession crisis that nearly destabilized the new republic.

Succession crisis after his death

  • His death triggered a succession crisis that led to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei becoming Supreme Leader (Brookings).
  • Khomeini was 86 at the time of his death (Biography.com).

Why this matters: Khomeini’s death could have unraveled the Islamic Republic. Instead, the smooth transition to Khamenei proved the system’s durability—but also concentrated power in a new Supreme Leader with a different style.

Who succeeded Ayatollah Khomeini?

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the second Supreme Leader

  • Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was chosen as the next Supreme Leader by the Assembly of Experts (Brookings).
  • Khamenei has held the role since 1989 (Brookings).

Process of succession after Khomeini’s death

  • The Assembly of Experts, an elected body of clerics, selected Khamenei (Britannica).

Comparison between Khomeini and Khamenei

  • Khamenei’s authority and influence differ from Khomeini’s in some areas (Brookings).

The trade-off: Khomeini was the revolutionary founder with unquestioned charisma; Khamenei rules as a consolidator, wielding less personal authority but more institutional control over decades.

How many wives did Ayatollah Khomeini have and what was his family life?

Khomeini married one wife, Khadijeh Saqafi

  • Ayatollah Khomeini had one wife, Khadijeh Saqafi, whom he married in 1929 (Britannica).

His children and descendants

  • They had five children: two sons and three daughters (Britannica).
  • His family has played a role in Iranian politics (Britannica).

The pattern: unlike some revolutionary leaders who surrounded themselves with multiple spouses, Khomeini’s personal life was modest—a contrast to the vast political power he accumulated.

Is an Ayatollah like a pope?

Role of the Pope in Catholicism

  • The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, with centralized authority over 1.3 billion members worldwide (Britannica).

Role of an Ayatollah and Supreme Leader in Shia Islam

  • An Ayatollah is a religious title in Shia Islam, but there is no central hierarchy comparable to the Vatican (Britannica).
  • Khomeini combined religious and political power, which is unlike the Pope’s primarily spiritual role (Britannica).
The catch

Comparing an Ayatollah to a Pope confuses two different structures: one is part of a decentralized scholarly network, the other heads a centralized church. Khomeini’s innovation was to make himself both Pope and Caesar—a fusion that has no Catholic equivalent.

Key differences in authority and organizational structure

  • Shia Islam has multiple Marjas (sources of emulation), not a single figure (Britannica).
  • The Pope claims infallibility on faith and morals; no Ayatollah claims divine infallibility (Britannica).

The implication: the “Ayatollah as pope” analogy breaks down quickly. It’s more accurate to say Khomeini invented a role that had no precedent—part jurist, part head of state, part revolutionary icon.

Bottom line: Ayatollah Khomeini was a Shia cleric who turned religious authority into absolute political power, founding the Islamic Republic of Iran and creating a governance model that persists today. For readers trying to understand modern Iran: Khomeini’s ideas—not just his actions—remain the system’s operating manual. For those tracking Middle Eastern geopolitics: the Velayat-e Faqih doctrine he built still shapes Iran’s foreign policy.

Timeline

  • 1900 — Born in Khomeyn, Iran (Britannica).
  • 1963 — Arrested for opposing the Shah’s reforms, triggering protests (Britannica).
  • 1964 — Exiled to Turkey, then Iraq, then France (Britannica).
  • 1979 — Returns to Iran; leads the Islamic Revolution (BBC History).
  • 1979 — Becomes Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Britannica).
  • 1980-1988 — Iran-Iraq war; Khomeini consolidates theocracy (Britannica).
  • 1989 — Dies on June 3; succeeded by Ali Khamenei (Britannica).

The pattern: Khomeini’s timeline shows a classic revolutionary arc—exile, return, consolidation, death—but with a twist: he institutionalized his personal authority into a permanent office.

Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Khomeini led the 1979 Iranian Revolution (Britannica).
  • He was the first Supreme Leader of Iran (Britannica).
  • He died on June 3, 1989, of a heart attack (Biography.com).
  • He had one wife, Khadijeh Saqafi (Britannica).

What’s unclear

  • Exact number of attendees at his funeral varies 10-12 million estimates (Britannica).
  • Level of his involvement in specific policies of the Iran-Iraq war (Britannica).

Quotes

Khomeini was an Iranian religious and political leader, who in 1979 made Iran the world’s first Islamic republic.

— BBC History

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was the architect of the Iranian Revolution and the first leader of the Islamic republic.

— Britannica

The pattern: both sources agree on the core description—Khomeini was the architect and first leader—but differ in emphasis, with BBC focusing on the “first Islamic republic” and Britannica on the personal architect role.

For anyone trying to understand why Iran functions the way it does today—from its Supreme Leader’s authority to its foreign policy stance—the answer traces back to one man. Khomeini didn’t just win a revolution; he engineered a system that has outlived him by more than three decades. For readers tracking Middle Eastern politics, the choice is clear: study Khomeini’s ideas, or risk being surprised by Iran’s next move.

Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org, aei.org, britannica.com, encyclopedia.com, fr.wikipedia.org, pt.wikipedia.org

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an Ayatollah and a ‘Marja’?

A Marja (source of emulation) is a higher rank than Ayatollah; a Marja is a senior cleric whom Shia followers can emulate in religious matters, while Ayatollah is a general honorific for high-ranking scholars. (Britannica)

Why was Ayatollah Khomeini exiled?

Khomeini was exiled in 1964 after opposing the Shah’s White Revolution reforms, which he saw as un-Islamic and subservient to Western powers. (Britannica)

What is the legacy of Ayatollah Khomeini in modern Iran?

His legacy includes the Velayat-e Faqih system of clerical rule, anti-Western foreign policy, and a political culture that blends religious authority with populist revolution. (Britannica)

How did Khomeini’s ideology affect Iran’s foreign policy?

Khomeini promoted export of the revolution and opposition to both the United States and Israel, a stance that continues to shape Iran’s regional policies. (Britannica)

Did Ayatollah Khomeini write any books?

Yes, his most influential work is “Islamic Government” (Velayat-e Faqih), which outlines his theory of clerical rule. (Britannica)

How is Ayatollah Khomeini viewed in the West?

In the West, Khomeini is often seen as a controversial figure—remembered for the 1979 hostage crisis, the fatwa against Salman Rushdie, and the establishment of what critics call a theocratic dictatorship. (Britannica)

What was Ayatollah Khomeini’s cause of death?

He died from a heart attack on June 3, 1989, at age 86, in Tehran. (Biography.com)

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