Article By David Lindfield
An Islamic scholar based at a Texas mosque praised slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as one of the “greatest martyrs” of the modern era, declaring that his blood “won’t go to waste” and predicting that his successor will continue his father’s legacy.
Sayed Jawad Wahedi, resident scholar at the Metroplex Organization of Muslims in North Texas (MOMIN), delivered the remarks during an August 21 Friday sermon documented by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).
Wahedi told worshippers that “the enemy” had made a “huge and grave mistake” by killing Khamenei, arguing that his death would ultimately strengthen the cause he championed.
“The enemy obviously has made a huge and grave mistake,” Wahedi said.
“That when you live your life for Allah, purely for him, your death won’t be void, especially if you’re killed, especially if you’re martyred.”
Wahedi warned that Khamenei’s blood “won’t go to waste.”
Khamenei was killed in February during the opening phase of the major U.S.-Israeli offensive against Iran when a strike hit his compound.
Several members of his family were also killed, while his son Mojtaba Khamenei was injured.
Mojtaba has since succeeded his father as Iran’s supreme leader.
‘One of the Best Individuals That We Can Remember’
Wahedi went further in his sermon, holding up Khamenei as an example for Muslims to study and emulate.
“One of the best individuals that we can remember is martyr Ayatollah Khamenei,” Wahedi told worshippers.
“The position he had, so much responsibility, so much opportunity to make mistakes, so much opportunity for Satan to infiltrate his life. But when you look at the path he took, it’s filled with sincerity.”
He described Khamenei as “one of the best examples” in the modern era of practicing God-consciousness and encouraged worshippers to study his life alongside Islamic scholars, martyrs, and the Twelve Imams.
Wahedi has served as MOMIN’s resident Islamic scholar since 2022.
According to his biography on the mosque’s website, Wahedi spent nine years studying Islamic jurisprudence, philosophy, and Quranic studies in Qom, Iran.
He has taught for more than 15 years and travels to Islamic centers around the United States to deliver sermons and lectures.
‘The Greatest Martyr in Our Era’
The Texas sermon was not the first time Wahedi publicly glorified Khamenei following his death.
During an April 10 appearance at the Shah-e-Najaf Islamic Center in Brentwood, New York, Wahedi spoke at a 40-day memorial for the former Iranian leader.
Standing beside images of Khamenei and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic, Wahedi described the slain Iranian leader in extraordinary terms.
“This great martyr Khamenei is indeed without a doubt, one of the greatest martyrs, and without a shred of doubt he is the greatest martyr in our era,” Wahedi said, according to MEMRI.
Wahedi argued that Khamenei could accomplish even more through his death than during his lifetime.
“Sometimes martyrs do things that their lives cannot actually do, but their blood can actually achieve something greater than even their lives,” Wahedi said.
He also condemned the United States and Israel over Khamenei’s killing, describing his death as an “attack,” an “assassination,” and a “terrorist attack” against a marja, or senior Shiite religious authority.
“The Shiites are mourning a leader, someone who lost his life for the children of Palestine,” Wahedi said.
Praise for Iran’s New Supreme Leader
Wahedi also used his remarks to praise Khamenei’s successor, Mojtaba Khamenei.
“We lost a great martyr, but alhamdulillah we have Ayatollah Sayyid Mojtaba Khamenei,” Wahedi said.
“You will see his leadership, inshallah.
Mojtaba Khamenei has yet to make a public appearance since succeeding his father.
Wahedi’s comments nevertheless make clear his admiration for the leadership of the Islamic Republic stretches beyond the slain supreme leader.
From a mosque in North Texas to an Islamic center in New York, Wahedi has publicly celebrated Khamenei as a martyr, praised the path he followed, and told Ame“He will be just like his father in some sense, even better, inshallah.”
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