Sayyid Mohammad Hossein Alamolhoda was born in 1958 (1337 SH) into the family of the great mujahid Ayatollah Sayyid Morteza Alamolhoda. During his university years, in addition to studying history at Mashhad University, he taught Nahj al-Balagha, Islamic beliefs, and Islamic history. He was among the fighters against the tyrannical Pahlavi regime, carrying out political activities in the cities of Mashhad, Kerman, and Ahvaz, and between the ages of 14 and 21, he was imprisoned and tortured multiple times by the regime. Following the victory of the Islamic Revolution, he became a member of the initial council that established the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Khuzestan. Prior to the outbreak of the war, he devoted his time to cultural activities. From the early days of the war, he was stationed in Ahvaz, overseeing the organization of Basij volunteers dispatched from across the country to the battlefronts. Two months into the war, he chose the critical border region of Hoveyzeh for his mission and departed for the area to establish the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and mobilize local tribes. During the Epic of Hoveyzeh (January 6, 1981 / 16 Dey 1359 SH), he and a group of Muslim Students Following the Line of the Imam charged into a sea of enemy tanks surrounding them. Following the martyrdom of his comrades, Hossein, shouting 'Allahu Akbar,' fired the last remaining RPG rockets at the enemy, destroying several attacking tanks; however, as ammunition ran out and the siege tightened, he attained martyrdom like his master Imam Hossein (AS) and surrendered his soul to his Creator.
Ayatollah Jazayeri, representative of the Imam and the Supreme Leader in Khuzestan, during a speech delivered at the Hoveyzeh martyrs' shrine, recounted his memories regarding Shahid Alamolhoda's insistence on ratifying the principle of Velayat-e Faqih in the Constitution. This excerpt from the remarks of the member of the Assembly of Experts for the Constitution at the time of the ratification is as follows:
In 1979 (1358 SH), the Assembly of Experts for the Constitution was convened to draft the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and prior to that, the draft constitution had been published in newspapers so that thinkers could voice their perspectives. During the time I was in Tehran, Shahid Sayyid Hossein Alamolhoda came to visit me twice, and in an agitated and deeply concerned state remarked: 'Why is there no mention of Wilayat al-Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist) in the draft constitution? If Wilayat al-Faqih is absent, all efforts will come to naught and the martyrs' blood will be in vain.' The political situation in the country was extremely intricate at the time, and there were diverse factions and numerous challenges within the constituent assembly.
At first, I did not pay much attention to Sayyid Hossein's words, but Shahid Sayyid Hossein Alamolhoda persisted and came to me for the third time; this time he was so distressed that he wept bitterly and said: "Why aren't you doing anything...?" I was deeply moved, and it was decided that I would go to Imam Khomeini (RA) to seek guidance. Imam (RA) was residing in Qom. I went to him and said: "In the draft of the Constitution, the principle of Velayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist) has not been mentioned, but some friends insist that this matter be included in the Constitution. Do you permit us to raise this issue?" Imam stated: "This is merely a draft and not the Constitution itself; you are free to write down your view and submit it to the representatives of the Assembly of Experts for the Constitution." I said: "I myself am a member of the Assembly of Experts for the Constitution." He replied: "Then raise it yourself."
After this meeting, I decided to raise the issue of Wilayat al-Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurist) in the Assembly of Experts for the Constitution. But the problem was that this issue was not related to any of the three committees of the Assembly of Experts at the time. Finally, it was decided that I would deliver a speech regarding the topic of Wilayat al-Faqih in the Assembly. In a speech, I presented the theory of Wilayat al-Faqih, whereupon several nationalist delegates strongly objected and turned hostile toward me.
However, after extensive debates, it was resolved that a special commission be established for this matter. The members of this commission were the oppressed martyr Ayatollah Dr. Beheshti, Mr. Mohammad Yazdi, myself, and a few others, and Banisadr also attended this commission. Following thorough deliberations, the framework for Velayat-e Faqih, its scope, authorities, and related topics was formulated and was approved by the members of the Assembly of Experts for the Constitution in the form it appears today in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Tasnim News Agency