In early 1970 Imam Khomeini gave a lecture series in the holy city Najaf on Islamic Government which later was published as a book titled variously Islamic Government or Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists (velayat-e faqih).
This was his most famous and influential work and laid out his ideas on governance (at that time):
- That the laws of society should be made up only of the laws of God (divine-orined laws of Sharia), which cover "all human affairs" and "provide instruction and establish norms" for every "topic" in "human life."
- Since Sharia, or Islamic law, is the proper law, those holding government posts should have knowledge of Sharia (Islamic jurists are such people), and that the country's ruler should be a faqih who "surpasses all others in knowledge" of Islamic law and justice, as well as having intelligence and administrative ability. Rule by monarchs and/or assemblies of "those claiming to be representatives of the majority of the people" (i.e. elected parliaments and legislatures) have been proclaimed "wrong" by Islam unless approved by the faqih.
- This system is necessary to prevent injustice: corruption, oppression by the powerful over the poor and weak, innovation and deviation of Islam and Sharia law; and also to destroy anti-Islamic influence and conspiracies by non-Muslim foreign powers.
A modified form of this Velayat-e Faqih system was adopted after Imam Khomeini and his followers took power, and he became the Islamic Republic's first "Guardian" and leader.
Some other famous works by Imam Khomeini include:
- Velayat-e Faqih
- Forty Hadiths (Forty Traditions)
- Adab-e Salat (The Disciplines of Prayers)
- Jihad-e Akbar (The Greater Struggle)
- Tahrir al-Wasilah
- Interpretation of Surah Fatihah
- Serr al-Salat (Secrets of Prayers)
- Interpretation of Dawn Pray
- Interpretation of Forces of Reason and Negligence Tradition
- Hajj