Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Meeting with Basij Youth of Fars Province

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

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our master, Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure and chosen progeny; especially the Awaited Savior of mankind.

The gathering of Basij youth in any part of this country is accompanied by the fragrance of jihad; especially if that place is one where many eager hearts have been sent forth to the arenas of jihad over time, and their bravery has remained in history; this base, this center in Shiraz is one such place.

What is said here as a record in history, although there is a truth behind it - which I will refer to - is more importantly recorded in the book of the honorable scribes; recorded in the luminous pages of the truthful and the righteous servants of God; that which every human being should dedicate all moments of their life to and strive for; this is what Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) said in his last moments: "And for such a purpose let the workers work." If any effort is to be made by a person, what better goal for that effort than such a position, such a rank?

However, the issue of history is not a trivial matter. When you refer to the past history of this nation, you see that in the transfer and displacement of powers, the people of our country had no role; they had no partisanship; they had no effective and active presence. It was only in the Islamic Revolution that when the call of the revolution was heard from our unparalleled leader, the nation moved. The issue was not that a few elites of society, a current of society, or a group of individuals came to the forefront; it was the ocean of the nation that surged. And when the time for the sacred defense arrived, it was not just the conventional armed forces that felt a sense of duty; the entire populace moved; wherever there was a ready heart, wherever there was motivation, enthusiasm, and faith, they came to the forefront.

In this vast national assembly, what remained and became enduring like a good tree in this pure and clean land was this good tree of "Basij." The most committed, the most eager, the most motivated individuals who came to this scene were our vast Basij forces; they never left the scene empty.

The organization of the Basij was one of the innovations of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified). After the Basij was a collection of sacred motivations and a sense of responsibility and commitment, bringing it into the form of an organization was one of the lasting initiatives of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified). We saw that some leaders of Islamic countries explicitly stated that this was a very significant achievement. Truly, it was a great work that the Imam accomplished.

It was this Basij group - meaning the enthusiasts and volunteers - that led to the formation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It is true that the Basij is a part of the IRGC and is incorporated within it; however, in reality, the IRGC was formed from those who were pioneers and early members of the Basij and came to the forefront; this is the good tree.

Therefore, in the great work that was done in this country - namely the sacred defense - the country did not feel weak. Although we had significant differences in military power, equipment, and conventional capabilities compared to our enemy, all of our resources did not amount to a fraction of the enemy's resources - yet we did not feel weak. Even amidst the hardships during the sacred defense, the enthusiastic presence of the youth of this country filled hearts with hope and was effective. The Basij is such a good tree.

Many of you dear youth may not have experienced the sacred defense; you could not come to that battlefield; first, you must become familiar with the conditions of the volunteers and the faithful youth of that day; it is not just for you. Everyone should know what great miracles occurred from the faithful and hardworking Basij forces in the scenes of war during the sacred defense; this must be known by all. There are writings, good books have been written; I recommend that these books, which detail the lives of the commanders or those that report on the days of war and the difficult early years, especially be read by the youth. Immerse yourselves in the knowledge of what has passed in the history of the revolution; the value of the Basij becomes evident here. The Basij first attracted the elite; both academic and scientific elites, political elites, social activists, and pure and luminous hearts. It was a field where even student youth were attracted; the elderly whose time of effort had passed were attracted; even teenagers were attracted. And everyone felt that they were being quenched; their spiritual thirst was alleviated in the Basij, in their presence in those difficult arenas. Such was the arena of the sacred defense and the presence of the Basij in it.

Therefore, in the history of this country, this event is a lasting one; the formation of the Basij and the role it played in the sacred defense. However, I want to tell you that the role of the Basij is not limited to the battlefield and the arena of combat; although the battlefield is undoubtedly one of the manifestations of popular presence and the presence of the Basij. Our best forces, the purest intentions of our youth, the purest and most chaste elements of our youth can be present and organized in the Basij. This has been the reality. Wherever Islam is in need and the Islamic Republic feels the need, the Basij force can be present there; just as fortunately, in the field of science and education, we see and hear that Basij youth have achieved very good ranks and distinctions and have shown themselves. Wherever there is a place for presence - popular presence and the presence of active and motivated human resources - there is a place for the Basij.

You dear youth who are present today in the Basij and whose organization is under the responsibility of the Resistance, your feeling and perception of a person's responsibility towards Islam should be that you can be effective, you can accelerate this great movement, you can open knots, you can stand against various aggressions; whether political aggression, propaganda aggression, psychological warfare, or even military aggression. The Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic system and our country have the utmost need for this motivated and faith-driven popular presence; because the reliance of this system is on God and divine factors, and the most important divine factors are these popular faiths; "He it is who aided you with His victory and with the believers." God says to His Prophet: God supported you with His help and with the believers. This means that one of the manifestations of divine support, of divine power, is the support of the believers.

The Islamic Republic's reliance is on God - our diplomatic apparatus, the various activities of the governments of the world in the realm of international relations and conventional political activities, according to their own assessments, is considered among the active countries and our activities are deemed successful - yet we do not rely on any power, on any friend. Our reliance is on our own inner strength, which is the connection with God, reliance on God; concentrating divine blessings within human beings, so that their effectiveness can be multiplied; this is the task that is now upon the Islamic Republic system. Therefore, there is always a need for the Basij, whether in times of threat - whether political threat, economic threat, or military threat - and even in times when there is no threat. And fortunately, various segments of the people have responded to this need; in every part of this country, various segments from urban, rural, tribal, students, employees, school students, and other various professions of the country; from workers, from farmers, the response to the call for the Basij has always been heard. One example is our dear tribes, where your province is among the tribal provinces and the Basij of the tribes here is among the active Basij forces.

In various countries, the multiplicity of ethnicities and nationalities is one of their concerns; in our country, on the contrary. Our tribes have always been among the active and serious supporters of religion and the religious scholars and religious movements throughout time. Whenever we look back in history, we see it this way; in our time, it is the same. During the tyranny, these tribes of Fars stood against the tyranny's oppression. They wanted to force them to oppose the religious people, but they could not; they helped the revolutionaries and the fighters. Even where there seemed to be no help, their hearts were with them. This is our tribal assembly. In the rest of our assemblies, it has always been the same, and this readiness must exist.

We have said this many times: The Islamic Republic, by declaring the ideal of justice-seeking on an international level, has inevitably prepared enemies for itself. All those who believe in domination, oppression, and aggression in global interactions are opposed to the justice-seeking slogan of the Islamic Republic, they are angry; just as they line up against us with the slogan of national independence. All monopolists, all world oppressors, all those whose hands have unjustly and unlawfully reached into the resources of this country and plundered, when this country and this nation declare independence and cut off the influence of foreign agents, they naturally line up against us. One should not think that the enmity of the enemies is due to a specific stance taken by the Islamic Republic or a specific official of the country. The issue is the essence of the system and the structure of the system; the issue is the fundamental slogans of the system and the Imam.

The nations, in contrast to the arrogant powers, are with you. They admire the young Basijis of Iran. Your names, your memories, your actions have attracted many hearts in the Islamic world, even outside the Islamic world. Therefore, these threats exist, hence the popular presence and the Basij presence.

Whenever you see the waves of propaganda against the Islamic system from the arrogant powers, it seems that these waves are being reconstructed. Sometimes it is under the pretext of nuclear energy, sometimes under the pretext of human rights, sometimes with various other titles, disgraceful propaganda against the Islamic Republic is organized. However, who organizes this propaganda; it is the very stamp of those who organize this disgraceful propaganda; those who have committed the most violations of human rights. They have inflicted the most aggression on nations; they have plundered the most from the resources of human beings and nations; they are the leaders of this propaganda. But the Iranian nation is awake. The Iranian nation is alive.

You youth must always be vigilant. Deepen your religious knowledge and your revolutionary knowledge as much as you can. Like pieces of steel; "harder than iron" - as it is expressed in some hadiths and in some prayers - be impervious and penetrating and be strong against the enemy with a strong will.

If you want to fully secure and maintain this identity for yourselves, and God willing, those who will join you in the future in the coming generations, so that this good tree and this sacred movement continues, you must strengthen the foundations of knowledge in your hearts. I recommend that in the field of religious issues, the youth should utilize the high knowledge that is among the best, the works of Martyr Motahhari. Slogans are very good, orientations are very good; these orientations and slogans must be deepened. Youth should use the books of Martyr Motahhari, do not neglect the biographies of the commanders; awareness of the biographies of these martyrs of the path of truth. Primarily they are commanders, but it is not limited to commanders. I was reading a book that detailed the biography of a group, a part of a battalion of Basij in one of the attacks during the sacred defense. The presence of individuals in the battlefield, their very effective activities, their enthusiasm, their faith, the blow they dealt to the enemy, and ultimately the luminosity they gained in the battlefields, is reflected in their statements; and those who were martyred, their luminosity is reflected in their wills. I benefit from this. Whenever I read such things, I benefit, I use it. Open the door of this usage for yourselves. The hopes for the future of your country are you youth, and among the youth of the country, the most motivated and the most faithful create the greatest hopes for this country and this nation, and certainly the Basij is among them. We ask God Almighty to make this bright path, this good tree, this luminous identity for the Islamic Revolution more vibrant and flourishing day by day.

O Lord! Illuminate the hearts of these dear youth with the light of Your knowledge and with the great power of reliance on You. O Lord! Make the steps of these dear youth more steadfast in advancing the goals of the Islamic Revolution. O Lord! Unite our dear martyrs with Your saints. O Lord! Do not let our death be except in martyrdom in Your way. O Lord! Make our actions, our speech, our words, our hearts, and our entire existence in the service of divine goals. Make the sacred heart of the Awaited Imam (may our souls be sacrificed for him) pleased and satisfied with us.

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