Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Meeting with Sample Battalions of Ashura and Zahra Basij

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

It is very sweet and nostalgic for me to meet with you dear ones - a group of the best youth of this country, a collection of brave Basij forces - in this arena and to speak with other gatherings that have assembled across the country like you.

The Basij is like the revolution itself, a manifestation of divine verses. The essence of the Basij is of the same nature as the revolution. The characteristics that distinguished the Islamic Revolution throughout the history of revolutions, deepened its effects in the hearts of people in other countries, are present in this precious and dear collection known as the Basij. Just as the revolution was an unprecedented phenomenon, the Basij is also an unprecedented phenomenon.

In various countries, resistance forces are formed in different shapes. Imitating them, during the tyrannical regime, they created things here as well, but the essence and reality of the Basij is different from them in every way. If in the actions that others have taken in various countries around the world, reliance is on appearance, claims, and superficiality, and there is no news of substance, meaning, and spirit, in the Basij it is exactly the opposite.

The Basij of the oppressed, which Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) founded, was entirely spirit, spirituality, and soul. It happened that the beginning of the birth of the Basij coincided with the onset of the imposed war that occupied this nation in defense for eight years. Therefore, from the very beginning of its birth, the Basij entered the battlefield; a hard battle; a battle in which all the great powers of the world were behind the aggressive regime of Saddam, and on one side was the Iranian nation and the armed forces of Iran. In such a war, the Basij entered.

The entry of the Basij into this war caused the scene of the battle to be drawn in favor of spirituality - which was accompanied by empty hands but full of faith - in the astonished eyes of all the people of the world, and the whole world witnessed how the Iranian youth, with the capital of faith, relying on God, with self-confidence, entered the battlefield, designed the most complex military tactics, and presented a miracle like the opening of the city of Khorramshahr in front of the eyes of the world. The tactics that the faithful youth employed in the operations of the liberation of Khorramshahr, which led to its freedom, and the designs they made, are still instructive for those who are thinkers and experts in military matters; complex, dynamic, difficult tactics, seemingly impossible, but by the miraculous hands of the faithful Iranian youth, the innovative youth relying on God, they became practical and realized, unprecedented.

This spirituality, this reliance on spiritual and faith-based forces, this self-confidence, this courage, this humbling of all the manifestations of material life, moving in the way of God's pleasure, had no precedent anywhere; just as the Islamic Revolution itself had no parallel or precedent in history.

The Basij, like the revolution, is popular and remains popular. It is true that you take the form of military battalions affiliated with the resistance forces, you gain military readiness and have shown yourselves in the battlefield, and if one day the country needs military and combat forces again, you will be at the forefront; this is true, but war is not the entirety of the Basij. The Basij is extensive in all areas of life. When it is time for construction, the Basij is at the forefront; when it is time for assistance and services, the Basij is at the forefront; when it is time for very precise and sensitive research, the Basij forces are in the front lines. Today, look at the nuclear issue, in this complex and very difficult technology, the youth there, the devout youth, form the natural and true components of the Basij. It is the same everywhere.

The very active and pioneering Royan Institute, the late Dr. Kazemi, took pride in being a Basij member. The faithful and active youth there, their nature, their essence, is that of the Basij; there too is the Basij, there too is faith, there too is self-confidence, which is a characteristic of the Basij.

In all areas of life in our dear country and in the Islamic Republic system, the Basij is present. One aspect is this military aspect and military movements and military training and military discipline. Like the revolution itself, it is popular. Every element, every individual, every group that can carry this characteristic of the revolution with them is like the revolution, enduring and eternal; like an effective and active revolution that has an impact in its environment.

In the field of politics, being popular is the same; in the field of construction, it is the same; in the field of macro management of the country, being popular is the element of being popular. The revolution is popular, and the Basij is also popular.

The Basij, like the revolution, is nourished by Islamic teachings and religious conduct. Our revolution was not influenced by the so-called revolutionary movements that claimed to shake the heavens with their assertions. The embodiment of this devotion and adherence to religion was our great Imam; entirely committed to religion, in principles and branches, in the lofty Islamic teachings and in individual practice; this is how the revolution was born. The nation moved in this direction, they wanted this, they gave their lives for this. The Basij was born in the same way. The Basij is a religious collection.

In the battlefields of the eight-year war, no one told the Basij youth to come and invoke in this way, to pay attention in this way, to worship in this way, to pray in this way; they surged from within, their hearts and faith led them towards devotion. Their existential fabric, which had gained more polish in that difficult field, taught them how to worship God; and they worshipped. These things you hear and read in the memoirs from that era about the worship of the Basijis, about the supplication and pure tears of the Basij youth in the battlefields, these sprang from their hearts. No one can teach this to anyone. These are not learnable; these spring from the depths of the heart and soul. The Basij is a devout and religious entity.

The Basij, like the revolution, is uncompromising with the enemies. The Islamic Revolution was pressured to retreat from its position in favor of the oppressive global rules; various pressures were exerted on the revolution and the Islamic Republic system for this purpose, one of which was the imposition of an eight-year war on this country. The revolution did not yield, the Imam did not yield, and the Basij will never yield in the face of pressures and oppressive rules and propaganda, nor will it take a step back.

The Basij is, in fact, that cover, that framework under which the best youth of this country can gather together to achieve the lofty ideals of this great nation. The Basij does not recognize age, gender, or class. Each of us, on the day we can truly consider ourselves Basijis, should take pride; and we do take pride.

For these characteristics, the enemies of this revolution have always targeted the Basij as one of their main points of attack. They accused the Basij. In the political arenas, political players said whatever they wanted against the Basij. The Basij, calm - like a calm and deep ocean - did not say anything in response to them and does not say anything; and do not say anything.

The Basij means that collection of the best elements of a country whose ambition, love, and hope is that this collection be inclusive; to encompass all individuals of this great nation. It is indeed so; we say twenty million, but in reality, the Basij should be tens of millions more than these numbers and amounts, and God willing, it is and will be.

When this nation stands firm, when this nation is not willing to give up its lofty ideals, when this nation does not become captive to the propaganda of the enemies, when this nation does not falter in its steps due to the usual political games in the world and does not deviate from its straight path, when this nation raises the flag of Islam with its powerful hands and encourages the Islamic nations and all the Islamic community with its presence and existence, this indicates that the Basij has been successful and will be successful, and the enemies of the Basij and the centers and institutions that are hostile to the revolution and its ideals must acknowledge and confess that they have failed.

The great force of the Basij is the great force of the Iranian nation. Dear youth! Sons! Daughters! Various classes! Faithful, vibrant, and innovative elements who have entered this great framework and vast collection! Raise your quality as much as you can so that you can influence the public space of society and bring more youth and more groups closer to that principled and ideal center. The popular Basij groups should think this way; the managers and administrators and supervisors of the Basij should think the same.

Today, the sacred Islamic Republic has been able to move towards its ideals thanks to these constructive elements - which are the same as the constructive elements of the Basij - and take the field from its enemies. Today, where are we, where were we twenty years ago, twenty-five years ago? In all fields, the Iranian nation has advanced, and the enemies of the Iranian nation confess in all fields and arenas that they have fallen short against the Iranian nation. And the Iranian nation has been able to continue this great movement. Other nations are also looking at you. The oppressed nation of Palestine, the bloodied and oppressed nation of Iraq are looking at you. Your vitality, your steadfastness, your dignity, your determination have an impact on their spirits. Today, you see that the Americans and their accomplices have once again resorted to holding an autumn conference, which I also referred to on Eid al-Fitr; it is "autumn"; it has withered; its name is indicative. They hope to provide some assistance to the usurping Zionist government through this; to compensate for past failures and to create a reputation for today’s officials of the White House. Today, everyone in the world and politicians know in advance that this conference - which will be held in a few days - has failed. Why is this? Because of the awakening of the Palestinian nation. And the awakening of the Palestinian nation is tied to the awakening of other nations, and at the forefront of them, the great and mighty nation of Iran, you faithful youth. Your movement, your slogans, your presence, your activities in global issues have an impact accordingly.

O Lord! Increase the exalted ranks of the pure soul of the Imam, who has shaped and nurtured these great youths of faith and lofty spirit day by day. O Lord! Gather the dear martyrs of this nation, the martyrs of the armed forces, the martyrs of the Basij, who heroically and unjustly - like their master, Amir al-Mu'minin, who was both oppressed and the bravest in the battlefields - were martyred, with the martyrs of Karbala. O Lord! Grant these dear youths of the Iranian nation to the Iranian nation. O Lord! Day by day, increase the honors of the Iranian nation and their youth.

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