Around 1957, I went to Iraq and visited Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr. He was very young then; he was around 25 years old. Even at that age, he was renowned as a virtuous person. I was younger than him; I was around 18 years old. Other members of his family were also talented, like the late Reza and Musa al-Sadr.
At the beginning of the Iranian revolution, when the news of Ayatollah Sadr’s martyrdom reached us, it was very hard on us. He was an intellectual pillar of the Islamic system and Islamic societies. Before the revolution, we were familiar with his invaluable activities and books. When the revolution became victorious, he issued meaningful messages. We had so much hope in him. God’s curse be on Saddam:—thank God he (Saddam) perished.
The late Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr was truly ingenious. We have many intellectuals who specialize in Islamic and ideological areas—in jurisprudence and other areas; nevertheless, the genius are rare: he was one of the rare ingenious intellectuals. His thoughts were beyond the works of others. He had also trained great disciples.
Imam Khamenei, June 8, 2004
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