Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in a Public Meeting with Basijis

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

I welcome all of you dear brothers and sisters, especially those who have gathered here from various parts of the country, and I hope that the new year will be a year of success, vitality, and progress for each one of you and all the dear youth of our country.

Naming this year after the blessed "Great Prophet" carries a message; we must receive this message with all our being and proceed accordingly. It is not merely about honoring the year with the name of the blessed Prophet. The message is that our society - both individuals and the collective - must daily draw closer to what the Prophet dedicated himself to and exerted effort for. The lofty goals of the Prophet of Islam cannot be encapsulated in a single sentence; however, we can outline some of them as guiding principles for our work throughout a year, a decade, and a lifetime.

One guiding principle is the completion of moral virtues: "The mission was to perfect moral virtues." A society without individuals possessing good character cannot achieve the lofty goals of the Prophet's mission. What elevates individuals and society to high human ranks is good morals. Good morals are not merely about being pleasant with people; rather, they mean nurturing good traits and virtuous characteristics within oneself and reflecting them in one’s actions. A people who harbor envy among themselves, harbor ill will towards one another, engage in deceit, are greedy for worldly possessions, and bear grudges against each other cannot find happiness in such a society, even if the law is strictly enforced. If knowledge progresses and superficial civilization reaches its utmost glory, this society is not the desired human society. A society where individuals feel insecure among one another, where each person feels that they are envied, that others harbor ill will towards them, that conspiracies are being plotted against them, and that there is greed for their possessions, cannot have comfort. However, if a society is governed by moral virtues, where people are kind to one another, forgiving, and tolerant, where they do not covet worldly possessions, do not hoard what they have, do not envy one another, do not obstruct each other's paths to progress, and where the people possess patience and endurance, then even if that society does not have significant material advancements, its people will still feel peace, comfort, and happiness; this is what ethics is. We need this. We must cultivate Islamic morals in our hearts day by day. The individual and social laws of Islam are, in their own right, means for human happiness (there is no doubt about this); however, the proper implementation of these laws also requires good ethics.

For ethics to be established in society, we need two things: one is our own practice and struggle, and the other is the moral education that must be provided through education, training centers, and educational and scientific institutions at all levels; they are obligated to do this. This is one of the necessary tasks in the year of the Great Prophet; that is, we must make ourselves believers, Muslims, and followers of the Prophet in virtuous characteristics. We should prepare a list of vile and ugly traits and see which of them exist in us, and strive to set them aside. Likewise, we should prepare a list of good characteristics and strive to cultivate them through practice. Of course, the driving force for progress on this path is love; love for God, love for the Prophet, love for this path, love for the teachers of ethics - that is, the Prophets and the Infallible Imams (peace be upon them) - it is this love that propels a person forward on this path; we must cultivate this love within ourselves day by day. "O God, grant me Your love, and the love of those who love You, and the love of every action that brings me closer to You"; love for God, love for the beloved of God, and love for actions that are beloved to God; we must nurture these loves in our hearts. This is one aspect of the teachings of the Prophet in the year of the Great Prophet.

Another aspect is the issue of steadfastness and resilience. In Surah Hud, the Almighty God commands the Prophet: "So remain steadfast as you have been commanded, and those who have repented with you, and do not transgress." There is a narration from the Prophet that states: "Surah Hud has made me old"; meaning this Surah aged me due to its heavy burden. Which part of Surah Hud? It is reported that the intended meaning is this verse: "So remain steadfast as you have been commanded." Why does it age the Prophet? Because in this verse, it commands him to remain steadfast, to endure, and to show patience. This steadfastness itself is a difficult task. This is the "Straight Path"; the bridge of the Straight Path that has been depicted for us on the Day of Judgment. The essence of our actions and our path here is that bridge; we are currently traversing the bridge of the Straight Path; we must be careful. If a person wants to apply this caution in all their behavior, it will age them. However, more importantly, in my opinion, is the subsequent phrase: "and those who have repented with you." The Prophet is not only tasked with remaining steadfast himself; he must also compel the vast multitude of believers to remain steadfast in this path. Individuals who are simultaneously exposed to the onslaught of calamities and life’s challenges - enemies, conspirators, ill-wishers, and dominant powers - and on the other hand, are subjected to the assault of their own desires - the desires of the soul and the impatient heart that is attracted to the adornments of the world and drawn towards them - can deviate from this Straight Path to the left or right. The love of gold and silver, the love of money, the love of sexual desires, the love of status, and these are things that each place a noose around the heart of a person and draw it towards themselves. Resisting and remaining steadfast against these temptations so that one does not slip: "and those who have repented with you"; keeping the believers on the straight line between these two powerful attractions - the pressure of the enemy and the pressure of the inner desires of the lustful heart - and guiding them, I believe, is what aged the Prophet.

You know what the Great Prophet of Islam led Muslims through - whether in the Meccan period (thirteen years) or during the establishment of the government in Medina - through what slippery and difficult passages he guided them and brought them to those peaks? Such a monumental movement was beyond the capacity of any human being. Those people who understood nothing and had never caught a whiff of human ethics. The Prophet transformed them into individuals before whom the divine angels felt humbled by their greatness and radiance. This is steadfastness. Today we need steadfastness. We too, on one hand, are stirred by the colorful attractions of life, our hearts and desires are aroused. During the revolution, how many people did we see who had good hearts and beliefs; however, in the face of comfort-seeking, desires, power, and status, the praise of this and that, and the threats of the enemy, they could not endure, slipped to one side, and became opponents and sometimes adversaries of the path of God. Therefore, steadfastness is necessary. It is also necessary to stand firm against the enemy. The enemy threatens, makes promises and threats, constantly flaunts its might before the Islamic community and the vanguard, speaks with the language of force, and sometimes mixes the language of force with some sweet promises of deception to mislead hearts. Resisting against the deceptions and threats of the enemy is a great art; if a nation possesses this art, then it will reach the summit; to a point where the enemy sees no benefit in threatening and is compelled to either accommodate or surrender.

Our nation has performed well in this regard from the beginning of the revolution until today and has remained steadfast. You Basijis are one of the prominent examples of this steadfastness. Once, during the Sacred Defense, the East and West of the world united against our nation; the nation stood firm; Imam stood like a steadfast mountain, and the nation responded to him. This steadfastness enabled us to succeed and triumph in this long and arduous war - eight years (!) - and the enemy was humiliated and belittled. All those hellish forces behind the Ba'ath regime were compelled to acknowledge the power and greatness of the Iranian nation. Later, in various forms and today in another form.

"Threatening" is one of the enemy's tactics; one of the enemy's methods is to threaten. In some cases, they may even carry out their threats; however, a nation that can maintain its greatness, dignity, identity, and interests in this arena of struggle will be one that does not retreat and stands firm. This steadfastness - "So as long as they remain steadfast for you, remain steadfast for them"; as long as the enemy is against you and presents its tools of threat and intimidation against you, you must remain steadfast - is repeated in several places in the Quran; steadfastness. A nation has interests - legitimate and permissible, rational and logical - and it rightfully seeks to attain these interests. A nation has potential in its youth, blessings in its land, and a position in its geographical location; a nation has the right to utilize these. The arrogant powers of the world (not just today, but historically) have become accustomed to laying claim to the interests of nations and saying, "This belongs to me." Wherever nations and their leaders have backed down, they have become bolder. The British took over the Indian subcontinent in the nineteenth century, drained its wealth like blood, strengthened themselves, and weakened India. This is how it is. When a nation retreats in the face of the greed of powerful enemies, it opens the field for them. In such a situation, it is not the case that they will say, "Let us be merciful to them, let us consider them"; no, as long as this nation retreats, they advance and without obstacles, sink their claws into the flesh and skin of this nation and as far as they can, weaken it and strengthen themselves.

Nations are always ready for resistance; the important factor is their leaders. You see, this Palestinian nation that stands firm today is the same Palestinian nation from fifty years ago. Back then, they did not resist, and calamities befell them; today they resist and force the enemy to retreat step by step. The Iranian nation today is the same nation from a hundred years ago. A hundred years ago, the officials of this country and this nation succumbed to the enemies, did not resist, and allowed the enemy to come and invade this land; they gained control over the economy, politics, resources, and oil of this country; the enemy advanced step by step. The Qajar dynasty opened the way for them; however, the enemy rewarded them by bringing the Shah to power; a servant of the bully, obedient to commands. Day by day, their dominance over this country increased. During the revolution, it was that same nation that, under the leadership of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), awakened, stirred the repressed grievances and accumulated pains of past eras, and propelled the nation from the depths of forgetfulness and humiliation to the heights of dignity. Today, the Iranian nation is one of the most esteemed nations in the world; not only in the eyes of Muslims but even in the eyes of its enemies. This is steadfastness. This path must be continued by the Iranian nation with full strength.

Now, today the issue of nuclear technology is on the table. Even if this issue were not present, another topic would arise; the enemy has this habit. Anything that is a source of progress for a nation is considered a threat by international powers; nations should not progress. If a nation had the capability to extract oil, refine oil, and obtain various products from oil, then why would the British come to take on the extraction and refining and pocket the profits? They used to exploit the nation’s weaknesses. Now this nation has reached capability, wants to manage its own country, wants to extract on its own, wants to cultivate its own talents, and wants to employ these talents for its own country; but they are upset.

Today, the enemy of the Iranian nation is primarily the United States and the Zionists; of course, the British are also stirring the pot. They stand against the interests of the Iranian nation; however, they label it as a global consensus; there is no global consensus! The global consensus is against American arrogance, against American interventions and occupations, against the warmongering and instigations of America across the globe; this is the global consensus. "Death to America" means that the Iranian nation and you youth must stand firm and move forward on this path. Fortunately, the officials of the country are all moving forward with firm steps and are steadfast in this path. Now, today the issue of nuclear technology is on the table, and the enemy's propaganda and the psychological warfare of Zionist media spread rumors that: Iran is making an atomic bomb, Iran is unwilling to negotiate with European and non-European countries; well, these are the words they say, actions they can take, and enmity they can express and do express; however, the truth of the matter is different; we know it, and they know it. The truth is that they oppose the progress of the Iranian nation; because this progress will forever obstruct their illegitimate interests in this country; hence, they oppose it. I said in Mashhad, the heart of the Americans is that we once dominated everything in this country, your revolution has curtailed our power; let us regain control; this is the heart of the Americans.

Today, thanks be to God, our youth, our people, both men and women, and all segments of our nation have found their path with awareness and vigilance and are moving forward. The officials of the country, thanks be to God, with courage and wisdom and by the blessing of this youthful and enthusiastic spirit, and the general inclination of our youth towards attaining higher levels in knowledge and action, are progressing on this path. God willing, this country will reach a point that will dissuade the enemies from attempting to interfere.

We hope that the Almighty God, by the blessing of the pure prayers of the Awaited Savior (may our souls be sacrificed for him), will grant all of you youth, Basijis, and the dear nation of Iran success, mercy, and grace, and God willing, you will be able to build the country in such a way during this period, in this moment that belongs to you, that future generations will be grateful to you and remember you fondly.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.