Imam Khomeini was never in search of social or religious rank at his entire holy life as his Excellency would state his reluctance to take even a little step for nominating himself as a Marja‘ (the highest level Shia authority).
Some friends recall that in the year between 1962 and 1963, a number of his followers from Iranian cities as well as foreign countries, specifically Pakistan, would ask him to let them be the collector and distributor of different religious taxes in accordance with the precepts of his Risalah (practical treatise).
However, they could hardly get the Imam’s consent for this purpose.
The Imam while refusing such requests would state that:
“I Swear to God that I have not taken even a single step towards Marja‘iyat.”
Narrated by Hujjat al-Islam Mohammad Ali Ansari Kermani
Taken from: Exclusive Memoirs from Imam Khomeini’s Life, vol. 2, p. 101