This story was told by the Friday prayer leader in Qom, Ayatollah Mohammad Saeedi. Saeedi said he heard it from Khamenehi’s half-sister who learned it from the midwife who attended Khamenehi’s birth. The midwife reported that as Khamenehi emerged from the womb, he said, “Ya Ali.” The midwife said she responded, “May Ali protect you.”